7 Fun, Free & Amazingly Beautiful Places in Cape Cod

Cape Cod, located in the eastern portion of Massachusetts, is one of the most visited destinations on the East Coast. With an abundance of top rated beaches, beautiful parks, plenty of natural recreation, historic lighthouses, and fun tourist attractions, I am not surprised that so many big city dwellers flock to the area each summer. “The Cape” as it is referred to by locals, consists of 15 towns within a 65 mile radius, stretching from Falmouth to Provincetown at the tip. The islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are also included.

For those of you who are curious, here are the 15 towns that comprise the area: Falmouth, Bourne, Mashpee, Sandwich, Hyannis, Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. I had the opportunity to daytrip to the region often as I lived in the Greater Providence metro which is an easy 1 hour drive. This allowed me to enjoy the busy attractions during the off season when the summer homeowners and vacationers were long gone.

All of these gorgeous towns offer their own unique attractions, parks, restaurants, and lodging. This iconic East coast favorite is one of the most beautiful places in the world. Even if you do not want to stay in the region, I recommend a daytrip from Boston or Providence to explore the beautiful National Seashore.

I have highlighted a few of my favorite places which are completely free to visit.

 1. Marconi Beach

I discovered this beautiful beach after taking a bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Part of the Cape Cod National Seashore’s 40 miles of beaches, Marconi is the most deserving of a visit. Not only is the scenery beautiful, but it is considered a great whale watching destination. Unfortunately, I’ve never seen any but this would be a cool experience. You will also find big waves here for swimming or surfing. The beach is very pristine with clean sand and water.

I love that this beach is not overly crowded even during the busy early summer months, therefore, making it a great choice for a lazy summer afternoon. So kickback and enjoy nothing but the sound of soft waves and beautiful views everywhere you turn. And keep your eyes peeled for seals and whales!

On an interesting side note, this beach was named after an Italian inventor named Guglielmo Marconi. According to this NPS article, he completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between England and the US in this area back in 1903. At the Wireless Station, you can enjoy a short 1 mile trek through white cedar and maple trees, learn more about the history, and enjoy great views of the Outer Cape.

2. Pilgrim Monument

Provincetown is the most popular vacation spot on the Cape. The main attraction, the 252 foot tall Pilgrim Monument, was built in the early 1900’s to commemorate the first landing of the Pilgrims in Provincetown. Did you know that the Pilgrims actually landed in Provincetown first before making their way to Plymouth? We learned this on a tour recently, and you can also learn more at the monument museum.

For spectacular views, be sure to climb the 116 steps to the top of the monument. The panoramic views of the harbor can’t be missed! While in P-Town, also be sure to check out Herring Cove and Race Point Beach. Both frequently rate amongst the best beaches in the US. Note: There is a $21 fee to climb to the top, although the monument itself can be viewed for free from several locations – the best being MacMillan Pier.

I also recommend a walk down Commercial Street if you are looking for another freebie. This eclectic area is home to all sorts of quirky shops that you can browse through. You can also visit most local art galleries for free and enjoy the various street performers. If you want to shell out a few bucks, treat yourself to a coffee shop or pastry at one of the local shops (we enjoyed the colorful decor of the Purple Feather).

3. Cape Cod Rail Trail

Taking a ride along Cape Cod’s gorgeous 22 mile paved bike path is an absolute must while visiting the area. Yes, it’s a lot of exercise, but the views are beautiful! You will pass so many picturesque towns including Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet. The path is mostly flat as it follows the route of an old railroad. This trail is one of many former railroad routes across the country that have been transformed into public recreational paths.

Riding this tree-lined path is so relaxing because you are completely immersed in nature. Everything is so gorgeous and natural – you will see beaches, marshes, cranberry bogs, and state parks along the way. Detours to top attractions such as Coast Guard Beach in Eastham and Marconi Beach just north of trail end in Wellfleet make the path even more attractive. As an added perk, there are a few cafes along the way including a great clam shack called Cobie’s and a delicious coffee shop called Hot Sparrow which serves the best ice cream ever (I love their cookie dough)! On a cool side note, this is the only path where I have seen a bike rotary! How cool is that?!

4. Great Island Trail

One of the most beautiful places to explore in the Cape, by far, is the gorgeous Great Island Trail, one of the 11 trails of the National Seashore. Hiking this secluded trail will give you the feeling of being alone on a deserted beach: it really offers you the chance to escape and enjoy a solitary nature experience. No photo can accurately portray the beauty of this trail.

Along the way, you will pass amazingly diverse scenery including salt marshes, forests, sand dunes, and a gorgeous unspoiled, deserted beach.  The view from Great Beach Hill (pictured above) is nothing short of spectacular. The full loop is approximately 8 miles long and hard to walk in some spots due to the sand, but worth it for the solitary, picturesque landscapes. Leave the phone at home and enjoy a wonderful trek through nature at its’ finest! Out of all the hikes I’ve completed thus far in the state, this is the one where I felt most connected to nature.

5. Scusset Beach State Reservation

This gem is located on the East end of the Cape Cod Canal. Scusset is a great place to watch the boats pass by on the Bay. To all the beachcombers out there, seaglass is abundant with lots of chances for finding beautiful rare pieces. Arrive early in the morning for your best chance of finding one of these frosted gems. To anyone unfamiliar with seaglass, it’s basically trashed glass turned into gems via years and years of tumbling along the ocean. I found so many beautiful pieces here including and old piece of a Coke bottle my first jewelry grade piece!

The clean, smooth sand is perfect for morning walks and jogs. You won’t find a lot of shells here so it’s a great beach walking destination. Located right next to the beach is the Cape Cod Canal path, an excellent place to bike, run, or walk. The beautiful views, abundance of recreational activities, and opportunities for collecting seaglass easily makes this my top beach pick for walkers, beachcombers, and fitness buffs.

6. Cape Cod Canal Path

The Cape Cod Canal Bikeway travels 8 miles down the canal before finally hitting beautiful Scusset Beach. Beautiful views of waterfront homes with their adirondack chairs out front, amazing views of the Bourne and Sagamore bridges, and lots of big boats passing by will keep you entertained throughout your flat (but very windy!) journey down the canal. This path just screams summer in New England to me.

This canal path is a great place to exercise, whether you are a biker, runner, or walker – if this path doesn’t motivate you to get out there and get going then nothing will! At the end of the path, you can enjoy some much needed R&R at Scusset beach. It’s often quite windy so my legs get in a great workout – I treat myself to a little break at this beautiful beach afterwards.

7. Cape Cod Provincelands Trail

There is no better way to experience the beauty of the Provincetown area than by getting out there and seeing it for yourself. The hilly 5+ mile Provincelands Trail offers tremendous views of the beautiful sand dunes that Cape Cod is so famous for. I find this trail so relaxing and I love seeing the serene marshes, cranberry bogs, forests, and saltwater kettle ponds along the journey. While this trail is scenic, it’s quite hilly, and thus, most recommended for avid cyclists and fitness buffs.

From the path, you can access both Race Point and Herring Cove beaches. Although the hills are pretty tough, the beautiful serene views of the dunes more than motivate you to keep pedaling along. Overall, it is a short, yet memorable bike ride that definitely ranks amongst my top rides in Massachusetts.

Hiking & biking tips

For long bike rides and hikes always bring enough water. I used to always run out until I finally got a hydration backpack. These handy backpacks hold more than enough water so you do not have to worry about hydration along the way. The weight is evenly distributed on your shoulders, and thus, they are very comfortable for hiking, biking, and even jogging. I use mine for everything – even for walking around Orlando theme parks. As an added bonus, there are storage pockets for your phone, car keys, sunblock, etc. It holds 1.5L of water which should be enough for a single day outing.

Get out there early in the morning, especially during the summer season. This is when all these trails and attraction will be the least crowded. From my experience, Cape Cod does not get as crowded as other tourist destinations across the country because it is so spread out – the exception is Provincetown, which is the go-to spot for tourists. Get here early if you want the free street parking!

Obviously, it will be much too cold in the winter months to enjoy the beaches and biking. Spring and early fall are great weather-wise and also considerably less crowded.

If you intend on taking a whale watching or harbor cruise in Provincetown, be sure to check on Groupon Boston. There is almost always some deal available. I have also found restaurant coupons.

What are your favorite things to do in Cape Cod? Have you visited any of the places on my list? Share with us on our Facebook page.