Things to Do, Lighthouses, and Area Facts in Cape Cod

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is a 65-mile-long peninsula stretching into the Atlantic Ocean. On this peninsula are 15 quaint, nautical towns, each with a personality and character of its own. Included are Barnstable, Falmouth, Yarmouth, Mashpee Commons, Chatham, Hyannis and Sandwich.

Cape Cod History
Native Americans hunted, fished and farmed in the Cape Cod area, developing a unique relationship with the land and its ecosystems. Throughout the 1500s, fishermen and explorers sailed along the peninsula, and in 1602, Bartholomew Gosnold took note of the waters' many codfish and named the peninsula "Cape Cod." In 1620, the Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower landed at Cape Cod. Today, the Cape endures as a popular vacation spot and travel destination.

Origin  of the definitive Cape Cod-style house
Fishermen and sailors built their houses to withstand the weather and conditions of Cape Cod. Cape Cod houses were simple, practical and built to last. Built low to the ground to protect from wind, Cape Cod houses faced south to soak in a maximum of the sun's rays and warmth. Roofs were built at a steep angle to prevent accumulation of snow. Wooden shingles were seldom painted, but left instead to weather to a dark gray color. Today, the Cape Cod style house continues as a unique, picturesque reminder of the roots of the community.

Lighthouses on Cape Cod
The treacherous Cape Cod shoreline, once known as The Graveyard of the Atlantic, has seen over 3,000 shipwrecks in the past 300 years. Because of the navigational challenge it presents to ships and boats, over 200 lighthouses have stood as beacons in the night to guide and protect ships from wrecks at sea. Today, seven lighthouses on Cape Cod remain functional, while many others still stand as landmarks.

• Lighthouses to See: Nobska Point Lighthouse (Woods Hole), Stage Harbor Light, Chatham Light and Monomoy Light (Chatham), Nauset Light and Three Sisters Lighthouses (Eastham), Highland Light (Truro) and Race Point Lighthouse (Provincetown).

Cape Cod Activities
Cape Cod lacks neither activities nor beauty. As an old Patti Page song promises:

"If you're fond of sand dunes and salty air
Quaint little villages here and there
You're sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod'"

Cape Cod offers outdoor opportunities such as hiking, swimming, boating, golf, baseball and windsurfing. Unique restaurants and shops nestled along main streets lie in each town. Cape Cod Whale Watch Cruises (Provincetown) offer 2-1/2 hour catamaran voyages guaranteed to spot whales. Horseback riding is available at Moby Dick Farm (Brewster) and motorcycles for touring can be rented at Highway Pegs (Hyannis). Visit beaches and parks, such as the Cape Cod National Seashore, Heritage Museum and Gardens and the ZooQuarium. Plenty of museums and family entertainment await visitors as well.