25 Fun Things to Do in Cape Cod

Make the most of your Cape Cod vacation by taking advantage of these activities that are great for tourists of all ages.

1. Go on a Whale Watch: There are a number of companies that run whale watches most leaving from either Provincetown or Barnstable. Prices range from $35-$55 for adults. Beware the waves can get a little choppy at times therefore make sure you take some Dramamine before the trip if you are prone to seasickness.

2. Play Mini Golf: Cape Cod has some great places for mini golf. A popular spot is Pirates Cove in South Yarmouth. There is a back and front course which are both equally fun and filled with pirate themes. Another great place for mini golf is at Bass River Sports in South Yarmouth; there you can also participate in the batting and soccer cages along with a driving range.

3. Visit the John F. Kennedy Museum: Located in Hyannis the museum has multimedia exhibits of photographs and video that display the life of JFK and his family focusing on their time spent on Cape Cod.

4. Visit the National Seashore: The Cape Cod National Seashore is a great place to go for some outdoor fun. The shore stretches from Orleans to Provincetown. There are bike trails, beaches, and guided tours available. Check the Cape Cod National Seashore website for more information on how to get there and what to do when you are there.

5. Tour the Lavender Farm: Cape Cod has its own lavender farm located in Harwich. You can go on a self guided tour of the farm and purchase some of the lavender products at the shop.

6. Kayak: A great way to view the beauty of the Cape Cod scenery is kayak tours. There are numerous companies that have kayak tours, rentals, and lessons. RideAway Kayaks is one company located in east Sandwich that offers rentals and tours of various locations.

7. Eat Ice Cream: Of course the summer isn't complete without a trip to get an ice cream cone. One place to get a great ice cream is Four Seas in Centerville. Four Seas is the third oldest ice cream shop in New England and always has 24 flavors of ice cream on hand. Another great ice cream shop in Cape Cod is Sundae School, located in Dennisport. Sundae School has ice cream and frozen yogurt made right in the shop and has old fashioned ice cream parlor décor as an added touch.

8. Shop: There are many great places to shop in Cape Cod. Downtown Hyannis has some great gift, clothing, and jewelry shops. Route 6A is a very scenic drive with many gift and antique shops along the way.

9. Go to a Play: The Cape Cod Playhouse operates in Dennis throughout the summer. This is a great idea for a night out.

10. Visit the Lighthouses: Cape Cod is famous for its numerous historic lighthouses. They are located all across the cape. The Cape Cod travel website has a great guide to visiting the historic lighthouses.

11. Tour the Cape Cod Chip Factory: Find out how these popular chips are made. Free tours are given Monday through Friday from nine to five at the factory in Hyannis. The Cape Cod Chip website has directions and more information.

12. Go to a Performance at the Cape Cod Melody Tent: Bands, singers, and comedians perform throughout the summer months to large crowds at the tent. Tickets are available through the Melody Tent website.

13. Attend a Baseball Game: The Cape Cod Baseball League has many teams representing towns across the cape and featuring upcoming major league stars. The league is a non-profit organization therefore only a small donation is asked of fans.

14. Go to the Drive-In Theater: The drive- in theater is a great place to go for a date or a fun night with the kids. There is a drive-in theater in Wellfleet that has a snack bar and a playground. The theater has two showings a night usually a showing of a G or PG movie around eight o'clock and a film for older audiences starting around ten o'clock.

15.Visit the Sandwich Glass Museum: Learn about the history of glass making in the area, see live glass blowing shows, and view the exhibits of marvelous glass work.

16. Go on a Wednesday Walk: The Museum of Natural History in Brewster hosts walks to various hidden scenic areas on the Cape. Walks usually last about two hours and preregistering with the museum is required.

17. Visit the Woods Hole Science Aquarium: The aquarium features seals and fish with many educational activities. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from11-4 pm and admission is free but a donation is suggested.

18. Go Jam Tasting: The Chatham Jam and Jelly shop has over 75 flavors of homemade jam and jelly available daily for taste testing.

19. Climb the Pilgrim Monument: The 252 foot tower is located in Provincetown, is a commemoration of the Mayflower Pilgrim's first landing and the views from the top are fantastic.

20. Visit Cuffy's of Cape Cod: Cuffy's sells low priced Cape Cod t-shirts, sweatshirts, and hats for you to purchase as souvenirs of your vacation on the cape.

21. Parasail: A fun activity for the adventurous is parasailing over Cape Cod's waters. Dennis Parasail has a certified crew and fair prices. They also have photo packages available to purchase so you can bring memories of your time in the air home with you. Check out their website for a video of a sail. If you are not going to be on the lower cape during your vacation you can check out their other site in Provincetown.

22. Bike the Rail Trail: Stretching from Dennis to Wellfleet the rail trail is for biking walking, and horseback riding. There are numerous stops for food, restrooms, and a break by the beach.

23. Taste Some Wine: Truro Vineyards has free wine tastings at 1pm and 3pm from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

24. Get Some Fudge: Cape Cod has numerous candy shops in every town and almost all of them have great fudge and taffy. Take a trip downtown and taste some of the great flavors or bring some home as a souvenir.

25. Fly Kites on the Beach: A great activity for the young and the old and the scenic beaches of Cape Cod are a perfect backdrop for flying kites as high as possible.