5 Tips for visiting the National Seashore on Cape Cod at the Captain Freeman Inn

by Donna Cain

We always love this time of year when our phone starts ringing and many of our guests are booking their summer stay at the Captain Freeman Inn.

I just have to smile as I think we all tire of the cold and snow and just naturally start thinking about warm weather and relaxing on the beach.

Cape Cod Beaches — Flower in the Sand on Cape Cod

What is so special about being an innkeeper is that we can act as each guest’s own personal concierge. We listen to guest’s experiences and love to explore Cape Cod, so we always have some tidbits and secrets to share with our guests to make their stay on Cape Cod extra special.

In 1961, President Kennedy designated the east shore of the Lower Cape to be a national park. Today, the 40-mile stretch of coast is recognized as having some of the best beaches on Cape Cod and includes the following beaches:

Coast Guard Beach in Eastham

The Great Beach, so named by Henry David Thoreau, starts here. This sandy strand offers opportunities to study coastal beach processes, including longshore transport of sand and coastal erosion.

Nauset Marsh is located behind the former Coast Guard Station. It is accessible by a pathway that leads to the bicycle trail bridge. Here, one can see shorebirds working the tidal flats in the warmer months and observe salt marsh grass systems close up.

Common terns on Cape Cod — Common terns in flight

Nauset Spit offers the opportunity to walk directly onto a barrier beach system and observe shorebirds and, during the winter months, seals. The inlet into Nauset Marsh is at the southern end of Nauset Spit. World-renowned nature writer, Henry Beston, wrote The Outermost House from his beach cottage located here.

Seal at the National Seashore — Playful seal on Cape Cod

We love to see the nesting plovers and playful seals as you walk the beach. Coast Guard Beach has received much publication and during the summer months can be busy. It’s a perfect beach to visit in the quiet season and mid day during the summer months.

Head of the Meadow Beach in Truro-

So many ships have piled up on the hidden sand bars off the coast between Chatham and Provincetown that those forty miles of sea have been called an “ocean graveyard.” Indeed, between Truro and Wellfleet alone, there have been more than 1,000 wrecks.

From the Head of the Meadow Beach at North Truro, the wreck of the Frances, which was sunk in a December gale in 1872, may still be seen at low tide. This is a great beach to explore in the quiet season.

Nauset Light Beach in Eastham,

Nauset Light Beach consists of a broad, sandy beach that is contained by a steep glacial scarp behind it. During winter months, the beach profile is considerably lowered, sometimes exposing features such as the brick foundation of one of the earlier Three Sisters lighthouses which can be viewed just down the road.

three sister lights houses- extraordinary history — Three sisters light houses

Our favorite, Marconi Beach in Wellfleet

The Marconi Area obtained its name from the famous Italian inventor, Marconi. From a site here, Marconi successfully completed the first transatlantic wireless communication between the U.S. and England in 1903. Check out our blog to learn about the Marconi museum in Chatham.

Here, the outer beach is famous for its then steep, forty-foot sand cliff (or scarp) located behind it.

Swimmers and beach walkers feel a sense of solitude here because the scarp and ocean provide an unbroken, pristine natural scene in all directions.

Race Point and Herring Cove beaches in Provincetown.

Seasonal restrooms, showers and changing rooms. The Old Harbor Life Saving Station is also located at Race Point Beach, and is open daily from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm.hangin

Check out this link for individual town beach information.

Here are a few tips we have learned over the years to make your beach experience at the National Seashore more relaxing.

We think the best kept secret is to go to the Head of the Meadow Bach in Truro. It’s by far the less crowded beach of the National Seashore
If you are over 62 or older consider purchasing a lifetime Senior Pass which may be purchased for $10 by U.S. citizens or permanent residents, an Access Pass, which allows you free access to any National Parks in the USA. These passes may always be purchased online.
Consider going to the beach either very early in the morning or mid afternoon. If you decide to totally miss the crowds and to leave the inn before breakfast we can always pack a picnic breakfast for you to enjoy on the beach.
Marconi is our all time favorite beach on Cape Cod. They are equipped with a large parking lot as well as shower and bathroom facilities. Also not to be missed is the White Cedar Swamp Trail.

White Cedar Swamp Nature Trail — White Cedar Swamp Nature trail in Marconi Beach area

5. Last but not least we love to recommend stopping at Fort Hill in Eastham. It is a wonderful place to experience nature, birding and the most spectacular sunrise. So ….if you are very adventuresome, arise early from your stay at the Captain Freeman Inn and drive to Fort Hill where you will see the most spectacular sunrise. It’s a most exhilarating way to start your day.

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