Named for the large quantities of cod caught by its
founder ship in 1602, Cape Cod is a 70-mile (113km) peninsula
likened to a flexed arm bent at the elbow, extending from the main
body of Massachusetts. It is the premiere vacation destination in
New England, with charming historic towns and small villages, miles
of sandy beaches, and wind-sculpted sand dunes. Millions of
visitors from around the world flock to the amazing natural beauty
of the Cape, and although known as the playground for the rich and
famous and mostly geared for big spenders, there is plenty of sun,
sea, and sand for everyone to enjoy.
Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape's 'fist', is the
happy centre of New England and long renowned as an artistic colony
with more than 20 art galleries. It's also the liveliest resort
town on the Cape. Stretching from Provincetown, which was the
landing site of the first Pilgrims in the 17th century, down to the
pretty town of Chatham are 40 miles (64km) of dunes and desolate
beaches protected within the Cape Cod National Seashore. Wellfleet
is a quieter, picturesque town untouched by commercial development,
and famous for its oysters. The commercial towns along the
horizontal stretch of the arm offer shopping, exquisite dining, and
beach activities, but there is also whale-watching, walking, and
biking.