Bucket List Worthy Moments on Cape Cod

Grab your bucket list and get ready!
These are the top 12 bucket list worthy moments on Cape Cod!

Brewster Flats

The Brewster Flats is quite the Cape Cod gem. It’s rare to find such a site and the best spot to experience it is at Breakwater Beach in Brewster, on the bay side of the Cape. Twice daily, at low tide, the water recedes for several miles, well past what the eye can see. What’s left is 12,000 acres of beautiful rippled sand, little tide pools, shells, sea creatures and beached boats. It is the largest expanse like this in North America, right on Cape Cod! Walking the Brewster Flats is an amazing experience for nature lovers, beach lovers and people of all ages. Check out the Breakwater Beach Tide Chart and plan a visit! Bucket List Bonus: Breakwater Beach is a 7 minute walk from The Captain Freeman Inn!

Falmouth Road Race

Avid runner? Lover of breathtaking scenery while running? Want to contribute to a local organization that supports youth athletics, health and wellness? Then the annual, internationally recognized Falmouth Road Race may be your next run! Every August more than 300 teams comprised of thousands of elite and recreational runners run to raise money for a charity of their choice. On August 21, 2022, the Falmouth Road Race celebrates its 50th year of running! The seaside 7 mile course is not to be missed! Bucket List Bonus: Even if you aren’t a runner, go cheer them on! You will be in good company with tons of supporters, music and post-race festivities!

Shark Alley

In recent years, Cape Cod has become increasingly known for its growing shark population. Get up close and personal to these amazing predators. Down Cape Charters & Boat Rentals offers a tour of “shark alley”, the waters along Chatham, Monomoy Island and Nauset Beach. An experienced crew, along with a professional spotter pilot and plane above, search the waters while sharing shark information. Bucket List Bonus: Shark alley is also home to Cape Cod’s local seal population so this is your front row seat for watching those beauties and possibly, whales, dolphins and different bird species.

Lobster Rolls in a Picture Perfect Setting

It is easy to find delicious lobster rolls in every town on Cape Cod. But Sesuit Harbor Cafe in Dennis not only serves up one of the very best, but also in a quintessential Cape Cod setting. The café overlooks Northside Marina so there is plenty of action from in and outgoing boats. Order from a large menu, grab a picnic table in the sunshine looking out onto the water and enjoy! It doesn’t get much better than this! Bucket List Bonus: For obvious reasons, Sesuit Harbor Café is a very popular spot with locals and visitors. To beat the crowds, go for lunch or an early dinner.

Coast Guard Beach – Award Winner for Most Beautiful Beach

Coast Guard Beach, a shining star of the Cape Cod National Seashore, is located in Eastham. This breathtaking stretch of 20 miles of coast is consistently named one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Beaches in the US and in the past, named one of the Most Beautiful Beaches in the World. Soft sand, great waves (check out the surfers!) and sand bars make a visit to Coast Guard Beach a perfect Cape Cod day! From Memorial Day through mid-September, parking costs $20/day in a nearby lot and an open air shuttle delivers beach goers to the beach. Bucket List Bonus: Park for free at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. Then, grab your bicycle and hop on the bike trail for a lovely 1.6 mile ride to the beach. It’s a scenic ride on paved paths and a wooden bridge over the marsh!

Cape Cod Baseball Game

Cape Cod Baseball League is the premier amateur baseball league in the United States…since 1885! The league is comprised of ten teams, located all over the Cape. With a 40 regular game season, it is easy to catch a game! One out of every six Major League Baseball players used to play in the Cape Cod League! Bucket List Bonus: Attending a Cape Cod baseball game is a must do and because it’s so fun, there will be plenty of others doing it too! Arrive early for a close parking space, grab a hot dog and enjoy!

Best Sunset Spot

On Cape Cod, there are so many great spots to view the sunset. However, we (and a whole bunch of other people!) think the best spot is Paine’s Creek, in Brewster. It is breathtaking view but Paine’s Creek has the very limited parking. There are just a handful of spots so get there early…it will be worth it! There are rocks to sit on, soft sand and the water’s edge to walk along and plenty of people watch the sunset from the comfort of their car. Bucket List Bonus: Kate’s is one of the best “seafood shacks” on The Cape. And, it’s a one minute drive from Paine’s Creek! So, grab a Captain Freeman custom beach chair, head to Kate’s and pick up dinner to enjoy while sitting on the beach watching the sunset! Perfection!

Whale Watch

Cape Cod is known for its unbeatable whale watching. The Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch, New England’s first whale watch, has a fleet that departs from downtown Provincetown, offering daily trips from April through October when the whales are here to feed. Each whale watch lasts 3-4 hours and is guided by the experienced crew and a naturalist. There are food and beverages for sale on board, multiple decks for viewing, lots of seating and restrooms. Bucket List Bonus: The Captain Freeman Inn partners with Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch for our whale watch package. Not only do we reserve your spot, but also give you a $50 gift card to the iconic Lobster Pot for lunch and a bag of whale watch necessities…cookies, water, granola bars, fruit, sunscreen and ginger (just in case you feel a little seasick). Check out the package here!

Oyster Farm

It’s pretty easy to find mouth watering oysters on Cape Cod. There are oyster beds in most of the waters here and oysters from different areas have distinct tastes. Oyster sampling to find your favorite is definitely fun but have you ever wondered what happens behind the scenes and through the process of harvesting oysters?  The Chatham Shellfish Company offers fun and interactive tours starting at their facility on historic Oyster Bay in Chatham. You’ll learn the different steps of the process and a little history and even take the a scenic trip on the oyster barge. Each tour lasts about an hour. Bucket List Bonus: During your tour, you’ll get to harvest your own oysters which you’ll devour at the end of the tour. Doesn’t get much fresher than that!

Provincetown Dune Tour

Art’s Dune Tours offers seasonal tours of the famed Provincetown dunes, a breathtaking and historical part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Sit back and take in the view from the comfortable SUV as your guide takes you through the dunes. Next, admire the gorgeous scenery, catch a glimpse of the artist dune shacks and learn history of the area. Then, hop out for photo ops! Tours run daily or if you prefer to enjoy the Provincetown sunset during your tour, book an evening one. You will not be disappointed! Bucket List Bonus: Early risers must check out the Sunrise Photography Tour . Such a unique experience!

Chatham Fish Pier

Chatham Fish Pier has something for everyone! The working fish pier, located on Barcliff Avenue Extension, has a large observation deck providing a front row seat to the coming and going of fishing boats, sweet seals bobbing up and down as they swim by and a stunning view of the harbor. Stop by the Chatham Fish Pier Market and take home right-out-of-the-water-fresh seafood or place an order to enjoy there at one of the picnic tables. Bucket List Bonus: Surprisingly, clam fritters are really hard to find on Cape Cod. They are served here (as they should be…fried to perfection, served in a brown paper bag with dipping sauce!) and they are out of this world! Check that off the bucket list!

Stay at the Award Winning Captain Freeman Inn

The Captain Freeman Inn is different. From the moment you pull into the driveway, you know it’s special. The striking building, gardens and 10 rooms are historic but modernized with every comfort and luxury to ensure an extraordinary getaway.

Gourmet breakfasts, 24 hour beverage stations, afternoon sweets, exquisitely designed guest rooms with private porches, fireplaces and spa bathrooms are only the beginning.

600 thread count sheets, luxurious bath and body products and a year-round salt water swimming pool with custom fire pit set the inn apart. Being centrally located on Cape Cod, close to  shops, galleries, restaurants and a 7 minute walk to Breakwater Beach, seals the deal. Pack your bags for an exceptional experience.

Bucket List Bonus: The spa team at The Captain Freeman Inn add next level relaxation. Book a massage or facial during your stay for the ultimate pampering.