Far too often, we don’t enjoy enough of the places where we live. Cape Cod is a world-class vacation destination yet those who live here often get inundated with work, errands and running a family and they fail to fully enjoy their communities. As we are in the midst of a beautiful summer,  we wanted to share a list of our favorite things to do for a Cape Cod staycation that locals may not have experienced yet!

Cape Cod Staycation

Staycations, a vacation the area in which you live, are rising in popularity. A recent survey found that 53% of Americans have taken a staycation. With the reduced cost and less time spent packing and waiting in airports, that number may continue to rise as more realize the potential in their own backyard.

#1. Visit the Provincetown Dunes

The extraordinary Provincetown dunes are part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Preserved by President Kennedy in 1961, the park protects this unique ecological system of the dunes to ensure the preservation of its beauty and the natural habitat living in it. On your tour, you’ll learn about the efforts of conservationists and the National Seashore Park Service to stabilize the ecosystem. Art’s Dune Tours offers daily tours, sunset tours, lighthouse tours and more.

#2. Enjoy tastings at a Cape Cod Winery

Cape Cod has many options for those looking to cleanse the palette with a refreshing glass of vino. Cape Cod Winery in East Falmouth offers tastings seven days a week under their large post & beam tent. On the Outer Cape, Truro Vineyards offers fine wines for tasting. Founded in 1992, its main house and estate date back nearly two centuries. First Crush Winery in Harwich is another option for those wine aficionados.

#3. Let’s go Ride a Bike…

Time to dust off the bike that has been sitting idly in the basement and take it for a spin. Cape Cod has many options for bike paths and trails (totaling a whopping 114 miles). Find the trails nearest you, and download trail maps, here.

#4. Experience Nature in Full Bloom

Currently celebrating their 50th anniversary, Heritage Museums and Gardens in Sandwich offers 100 spectacular acres of trees and shrubs, designed gardens, exquisite flowers and sweeping lawns. A signature Cape event is the upcoming Hydrangea Festival taking place from July 8-July 17.

#5. Spend the afternoon Whale Watching

Cape Cod offers some of the finest whale feeding grounds located off Cape Cod Bay. With departures from many Cape towns, there are an abundance of options for those looking to experience a relaxing boat cruise with guest appearances from some of the world’s largest mammals. The Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce offers a full list of whale watching options.

#6. Take in a show at the Cape Playhouse

The Cape Playhouse has a special place in American theatre history as the longest-running professional summer theater in the country. Since its birth in 1927, the Cape Playhouse has seen a long line of famous actors including Julie Andrews, Betty White, Humphrey Bogart, Henry Fonda and many more. This year’s lineup of shows include The Importance of Being Earnest, Little Shop of Horrors, Once, A Chorus Line, Noises Off, and Deathtrap.

What’s happening across Cape Cod?

For a full calendar of events, visit our Concierge Calendar and be sure to sign up to receive monthly emails highlighting the best events!