Cape Cod & the Islands are a wonderland of fun and unusual things to do

Massachusetts > Cape Cod & The Islands > Things to Do and See > 90 Great Things to Do in Massachusetts

Cape Cod and the nearby islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are more than ready to offer a glorious vacation for everyone in the family. Fun things to do cover a wide range: beautiful beaches, woods and dune walks, biking, shopping, jovial seasonal festivals of all kinds, nature museums, kids events and much more, all surrounded by the waters of the Atlantic or Cape Cod Bay. There is plenty of family lodging near the water along with luxurious beach and ocean resorts where you can get some pampering at a day spa. Natural beauty runs year-round.

ShoreWay Acres Inn

Historic Shore Street Falmouth, MA, 02541 Phone: 508-540-3000 Toll-Free: 800-352-7100

Neighborhood vibe while being close to the action a highlight of this historic inn

ShoreWay Acres Inn, an unique alternative to generic motels, prides itself on being family owned and operated, one reason families have been coming to this historic property for years, to relax in its indoor and outdoor pools, to let the kids play badminton on the lawn, dive into the “no-tech” toy chest or swing in the swings, to chow down on clambakes (or that complimentary hot breakfast) or tell stories and eat s’mores by the fire pits. Ask for rooms with a kitchen, or one opening onto an outside patio or balcony or, for more room, a studio or cottage-style accommodation. Nearby activities include a bike trail, Martha’s Vineyard ferry and a village stocked with fun stores and restaurants.

Visit our sister property - Green Harbor Waterfront Lodging

Island Queen

75 Falmouth Heights Road Falmouth, MA, 02540 Phone: 508-548-4800

Ferry ride lets you enjoy all Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard have to offer

Your 35 minutes sailing aboard the Island Queen, the comfortable passenger ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, features plenty of scenic views from the picture-window lounge and decks, but that’s only the beginning of the great things to do. On the Vineyard, explore the gingerbread houses of Oak Bluffs or the amazing red cliffs at Aquinnah or head to bustling Edgartown for shopping and dining. Back in Falmouth, there are fabulous beaches and bike paths as well as all the Cape has to offer, from its 14 lighthouses to Cape Cod Baseball League, arts venues, antiquing, nature preserves and historical sites. The ferry has a full-service snack bar, and parking is just 200 yards from the docks. Bring your bike or paddle board!

Art Shanties and Music Sparkle on Hyannis Harborfront

A gaggle of artists’ shanties lines Ocean Street along inner Hyannis Harbor in Hyannis, beckoning to visitors to enjoy manmade art on one side and the beauty of the harbor on the other. Eight-five artists will rotate in and out of the shanties during the season; many work there and enjoy talking with visitors. Stroll the boardwalk and visit artists and plan to eat a picnic in the park. Live music nearby. The shanties are operated by the Arts Barnstable. 508-862-4767

Come to the Kayaks, or the Kayaks Will Come to You

Where do you want a kayak rental service to be located? Within walking distance from the shore, of course. Island Spirit Kayak in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard rents out kayak and stand up paddle boards from a location right on Edgartown Oak Bluffs Road, on Joseph Silvia State Beach. In addition, the business, which is open daily in the warm-weather seasons, will deliver kayaks and paddle boards throughout the island. Finally: tours! Sign up for a paddling tour with a local expert. There is no more beautiful place to do it.

Island Queen Ferry - Getting to Martha's Vineyard is half the fun! Advance Reservations required - Click here to book your trip!

Cape Cod Lavender Farm: Even the Scenery Smells Good

Cape Cod Lavender Farm on Weston Woods Road in Harwich is exactly as the name states. Visitors may explore the ground in the company of a couple of friendly farm dogs, take pictures, and buy lavender-infused products like candles and skin care lotions, lavender lemonade, and even a lavender teddy bear. New in 2018 is the Enchanted Garden, with a shade garden, plantings embracing a stone replica of a medieval castle, fairy houses and delicious paths to wander. During harvest time in June and July, the beauty of the fields in bloom at the Cape Cod Lavender Farm is stunning. Open daily, April 1 through Columbus Day. 508-432-8397.

Art’s Dune Tours Are Unbeatable Adventure

For three generations, the family-run Art’s Dune Tours, located at 4 Standish Street in Provincetown, has been taking spellbound visitors on tours of the dunes of the Provincelands, a marvelous, otherworldly place of sky, sea, bending dune grass, and wind-sculpted dunes. On the tours, you will travel through the majestic dunes where your guide points out the dune shacks where famous artists and writers like Eugene O'Neill and Harry Kemp became inspired to create their art. You will also pass the remains of the Peaked Hill Life Saving Station and learn how the brave "life savers" enacted their heroic efforts to save the lives of thousands from the doomed shipwrecks. Access by the public to the dunes is limited, so this is the to see them. 800-894-1951

Children's Beach Is a Great Fit for the Little Ones

Children’s Beach (also called Harbor Beach) on Harbor View Way in Nantucket is just right for the younger crowd and parents. It’s an easy walk from town, with nice sand, a park for picnics, a playground, and a bandstand. Services include lifeguard, restrooms, showers, food service, picnic tables. Activities sponsored by Park & Recreation Commission are often held at this beach during the summer months. Sue the NRTA Jetties Route to reach this beach by bus.

Llamas and Jamaican Dinner Make Farm Visits Fun

Coonamessett Farm at 277 Hatchville Road in East Falmouth is a farm and research enterprise with a sideline in entertaining and educating the public. On a visit, you can visit with alpacas, goats, sheep; pick your own flowers and vegetables; eat at the Farm Café; attend an off-beat workshop; visit the flea market and the general store. Great for families. Starting in June, there is a Farm Dinner on Friday evenings and a Jamaican Buffet on Wednesday evenings with live Jamaican music (check farm website for schedules). Phone: 508-563-2560

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Old Sturbridge Village - More than a Museum!

Walking Trails Criss-Cross This Beautiful Island

Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation is the local land trust for the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Among other tasks, the foundation maintains public trails for hiking, bicycling, bird-watching, and cross-country skiing, and horseback riding. At the foundation’s website, under “Lands & Trails,” you can find detailed descriptions, maps, and driving directions for dozens of public walking trails on Martha’s Vineyard. The foundation offers a free app called TrailsMV that provides up-to-date accurate maps of all public trails, detailed property information and photographs, and more.

the West Tisbury Farmers Market, on Martha's Vineyard

Going to Market on the Island

A lazy day or weekend on Martha’s Vineyard is a perfect time to wander to the West Tisbury Farmers Market, which is open on Saturdays and Wednesdays at the 35 Panhandle Road in West Tisbury. The combination of the brightly colored floral bouquets, the scent of freshly harvested produce, the savory edibles offered and the music on Saturdays all combine to truly create a feast for the senses. Bring your children to visit the alpacas and enjoy the live fiddle music. And watch for the chance to try some more exotic treats, like wheatgrass juice and Vietnamese spring rolls. Market run mid-June to October 30. 508-693-9561.

Find Contemporary Art and Advice from an Expert

A wide variety of interesting contemporary artwork is open for your browsing pleasure at The Gallery at Four India Street, a popular stop in Nantucket since it opened in 1989. The gallery’s focus of interest is American fine art paintings, sculpture, art glass and photography. Visit to enjoy, purchase, or even to get expert direction on creating a personal collection from the gallery’s owner, Kathleen Knight. 508-228-8509. Open daily, year-round.

In the Footsteps of Pilgrims

Pilgrim Spring Trail and Small's Swamp Trail , part of the Cape Cod National Seashore, are easy loop trails about one mile long, accessible off Route 6 at the Pilgrim Heights area sign in North Truro. The trails wind around a kettle swamp and marsh and offer wonderful views of Pilgrim Lake, sand dunes, the salt meadow, and the Atlantic Ocean. A stone marker identifies the site of the first fresh water the Pilgrims found. Trails are marked with information about local history and nature. This is a fine, easy walk for people of all ages, with views of typical Cape Cod landforms and living creatures.

Tuck in to Truro for Wine and Spirits Tastings

Truto Vineyards and South Hollow Spirits at 11 Shore Road in North Truro is a lovely, relaxing place where tours and tastings of wine and spirits are held daily from May through Thanksgiving. The main house is located behind a wide expanse of law dotted with shade trees and picnic tables. Behind the house, tastings are conducted on a flower-decked patio. Inside, a gift shop offers all manner of fun gifts and books related to Cape Cod wines and the drinking and collecting of wine. Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, noon-5 p.m. Tastings are offeredon the hour and half-hour, and free tours are conducted of the wintery and distillery. 508-487-6200

An Evening at the Drive-In

Remember when times were good, gas was cheap, and summertime meant hanging out with your friends at the drive-in? At the Wellfleet Drive-In at 51 State Hwy. (Route 6) in Wellfleete it’s not hard to imagine the innocence of that bygone era. From the film projectors to the snack bar and even the sign on Route 6, not much has changed here since 1957. Tickets are cheaper than today’s multiplex rates, admission always includes a double feature and the outdoor theater has a playground that opens up before the show and during intermission in case the kids are having trouble sitting still. Open from May through early October. 508-349-7176.

Not Your Average Community Center

Wellfleet Preservation Hall at 335 Main Street in Wellfleet is a wonderful resource driven by heartfelt people promoting arts, entertainment, and classes for the body and mind. It is very much a locally run operation, and equally welcoming to seasonal visitors. The Hall is a creative re-use of a former church. Special events that happen every year include the Garden Party & Birdhouse Auction, the Oysterfete, and Taste of the Town smorgasbord. Throughout the year, live music and dance parties bring every style of music. In summer, you are invited to many fitness programs. 508-349-1800

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