Harwich Port, Cape Cod Activities

Cape Cod offers a myriad of attractions, sites and activities for visitors to enjoy during a vacation. From sunrise to sunset over the waters of the Atlantic or Cape Cod Bay, there's something for everyone to see and do no matter what the season.

Below is just a sample of the many exciting and historical attractions to visit on the Cape:

• Built in 1797, Highland Light in Truro is the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod. It is also one of the most powerful lights on the East Coast, with a beam reaching 23 miles offshore. The Truro Historical Museum is located next door in the Highland House (508-487-3397).
  
• Nickerson State Park in Brewster is one of the best camping areas on the Cape. It offers great fishing, swimming, bicycling and hiking. Reservations are required in the summertime.
  Nickerson State Park
• Scargo Hill in Dennis offers one of the best views of the Cape and surrounding region from the top of its 28-foot rock & stone tower. It looks across Cape Cod Bay, offering a panoramic view from Provincetown to Boston.
  
• Sturgis Library in Barnstable, established in 1644, is the oldest public library in America. It houses a detailed genealogical history of early Cape Cod families and an extensive maritime collection (508-362-6636).
  
• Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary has over 750 acres of marshes, coastal dunes, and a cedar swamp filled with nature trails. There are exhibits, lectures and tours available for visitors year-round (508-349-2615).
  
• Whale watching in Provincetown is a popular tourist activity. Each spring whales travel over 4,000 miles to their summer home offshore near Provincetown, and sightings occur on a daily basis. Sperm whale sightings have also increased in the past several years. Cruises depart from Provincetown (Portuguese Princess 1-800-826-9300, http://www.whalewatch.com).

More popular regional attractions:

• Cape Cod Scenic Railroad - Stretches from Hyannis to Buzzards Bay; a 42-mile ride showcasing the Cape's natural beauty created by glaciers thousands of years ago (508-771-3800).
  
• Cape Cod Rail Trail - The Rail Trail starts in Dennis and follows old railroad lines through Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. It meanders through these six towns past forests, fields, marshland and cranberry bogs. You can walk, run, bike or rollerblade on this paved trail.
  
• Ferry cruises to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard - Numerous boats leave daily from Hyannis and Falmouth Harbors, including Hy-Line Cruises (508-778-2600) and The Steamship Authority (508-477-8600).