Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod is the New England of daydreams: deep-blue Atlantic waters, red-striped lighthouses, white-winged sailboats. Visitors spend much of their time in Cape Cod Bay or the ocean itself. It’s no wonder, when there are so many sailing trips, sunset cruises, and dolphin- and whale-watching tours to sign up for. Cape Cod’s tidal rivers, estuaries, and marshes provide ample opportunities to explore by kayak or paddleboat for those determined to spend as little time on land as possible.

Still, landlubbers can find their own pleasures on Cape Cod. The John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum—not far from the Kennedy Compound—draws travelers from all over the world to Hyannis. History lovers can get up close to the Chatham Lighthouse, more than a century old and set near Cape Cod’s elbow, or swing out to Provincetown, at the very tip of the Cape, to visit the site of the Mayflower’s landing. The islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are both a ferry ride away. And, of course, there are lobster rolls, oysters, and fresh fish and chips to fuel you up along the way.