For a destination located in the small state of Massachusetts, Cape Cod offers so many different towns for a family vacation. Planning a Cape Cod vacation can sometimes be intimidating if you aren’t familiar with the area because it can be tough to figure out where to stay – there are so many options. Here are the best towns on Cape Cod for a vacation to consider for your next trip.
Dennis
Dennis is one of my favorite towns on Cape Cod. It consists of five villages – Dennis, Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis. Guests to Dennis can enjoy a variety of things, including some great restaurants, beautiful beaches, and a nice central location to many Cape Cod attractions.
See the best restaurants in Dennis here.
Wellfleet
Wellfleet, located in the Outer Cape Cod region, is most known for its delicious oysters. Guests to Wellfleet can enjoy the beautiful Cape Cod National Seashore, the Wellfleet Drive-In, and the famous Beachcomber beach bar.
Harwich
One of my favorite summer towns is Harwich. Made up of a few different villages – Pleasant Lake, West Harwich, East Harwich, Harwich Port, Harwich Center, North Harwich, and South Harwich, Harwich offers a cute downtown area with shops and restaurants.
Provincetown
Located at the very tip of Cape Cod in the region known as the outer Cape, Provincetown is a bustling artsy town with lots to do. Museums and historical attractions include the Pilgrim Museum and Provincetown Museum, the Race Point Lighthouse, and the Provincetown Art Association and Museum. To learn more: see things to do in Provincetown.
Chatham
This luxurious and elegant town is located in the lower Cape area, right in what is known as the elbow of Cape Cod (imagining the area of Cape Cod as an arm). Chatham is such a quintessential Cape destination, with beautiful beaches, quaint gift shops, and great restaurants. It’s one of my favorite towns for shopping on Cape Cod. See things to do in Chatham here.
Brewster
Located in the Lower Cape Cod area along Cape Cod Bay is the town of Brewster, MA. This town is known as the home of Nickerson State Park, which offers campgrounds, hiking trails, ponds, and much more. Brewster is also located along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a 25.5-mile paved trail that runs through several towns including Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet.
Yarmouth
Yarmouth, which includes the villages of Yarmouth Port, West Yarmouth, and South Yarmouth, is one of my favorite places on the Cape for families to visit. It’s centrally located on the mid-Cape, between Dennis and Hyannis (a village in Barnstable), making it the perfect place to stay if you want to take day trips to the different towns. See things to do in Yarmouth here.
Falmouth
This Upper Cape town is known for the 7-mile Falmouth Road Race, which is held annually in August. Because of its Upper Cape location, Falmouth can also be visited as a day trip from Boston. There is a lot to do, including some great shops, restaurants, and hotels. The town of Falmouth includes the villages of Woods Hole, Davisville, Hatchville, East Falmouth, North Falmouth, West Falmouth, and Quissett.
Mashpee
Located on the upper Cape is the fun town of Mashpee MA, and is one of the best places to stay if you are looking to shop. It’s bordered by Falmouth, Barnstable, and Sandwich, and includes the villages of Monomoscoy Island, Mashpee Neck, New Seabury, Popponesset, Seabrook, and Seconsett Island. Mashpee has a large shopping area and some chain stores but it is also beautiful and quaint. See more about the best towns on Cape Cod here.