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Cape Cod

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The island of Cape Cod, north of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, is divided into four sections - the Upper Cape, the Mid-Cape, the Lower Cape, and the Outer Cape.

• The Upper Cape. This is the portion of Cape Cod that is nearest the mainland of Massachusetts. The towns of Bourne, Falmouth, Mashpee, Sandwich, and Wareham are located here. The most commonly used ferry to Martha's Vineyard is also located in the Upper Cape.
• The Mid-Cape. The towns of Barnstable, Dennis, and Yarmouth are part of the Mid-Cape, and many breathtakingly beautiful Cape Cod beaches are located there.
• The Lower Cape. This is the narrowest part of Cape Cod, and it is comprised of Brewster, Chatham, Harwich, and Orleans.
• The Outer Cape. Some of the highest ranked American beaches, including the Coast Guard, are located on the Outer Cape. Its towns include Eastham, Provincetown, Truro, and Wellfleet. It is also believed that the Pilgrims originally landed on Eastham's Nauset beach, not Plymouth Rock.

Cape Cod got its name from one of the many explorers that found it during the years of exploration - Bartholomew Gosnold. Even John Smith mentioned it, and the Pilgrims are said to have landed there in 1620. In addition to its historical distinction as the landing site of Pilgrims, it now holds the honor of being a top tourist destination in the United States. Though the island actually has a steady population of 230,000, their tourist population increases dramatically between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Many businesses even open and close based on when the tourists will be on the island, during the comfortable New England summer. Fun things to do while visiting include experiencing some of the Cape products, like the shellfish, lobster, and cranberries, or to go whale watching.

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