Cape Cod History

Cape Cod is a curling peninsula only 70 miles long that encompasses hundreds of miles of beaches and more freshwater ponds than there are days in the year. The ocean's many moods rule this thin spit of land, and in summer, it has a very sunny disposition indeed. The "arm" of the Cape has beckoned wayfarers since pre-Colonial times. These days, more than five million visitors flock from around the world each year to enjoy nature's nonstop carnival, a combination of torrid sun, and cool, salty air.

On the Cape, days have a way of unfurling aimlessly but pleasantly, with a round of inviolable rituals. First and foremost is a long, restful stint at the beach (you can opt for either the warmer, gently lapping waters of Cape Cod Bay or the pounding Atlantic surf). The beach is generally followed by a stroll through the shops of the nearest town and an obligatory ice-cream stop. After a desalinating shower and perhaps a nap (the pristine air has a way of inspiring snoozes), it's time for a fabulous dinner. There are few experiences quite so blissful as sitting at a picnic table overlooking a bustling harbor and feasting on a just-caught, butter-dripping, boiled lobster.

European settlers waited nearly 3 centuries to go splashing in the surf, but ever since the Victorians donned their bathing costumes there's been no stopping the waves of sun-, sand-, and sea-worshippers who pour onto this peninsula and the islands beyond every summer.

Experienced travelers are beginning to discover the subtler appeal of the off season, when the population and prices plummet. For some, the prospect of sunbathing with the midsummer crowds on sizzling sand can't hold a candle to the chance to take long, solitary strolls on a windswept beach, with only the gulls as company. Come Labor Day (or Columbus Day, for stragglers) the crowds clear out, and the whole place hibernates until Memorial Day weekend, the official start of "the season." It's in this downtime that you're most likely to experience the "real" Cape. For some, it may take a little resourcefulness to see the beauty in the wintry, shuttered landscape (even the Pilgrims, who forsook this spot for Plymouth, didn't have quite the necessary mettle), but the people who do stick around are an interesting, independent-minded lot worth getting to know.

As alluring as it is on the surface, the region becomes all the more so as you become more intimately acquainted with it. One visit is likely to prompt a follow-up. Although you can see all of the Cape, and the islands as well, in a matter of days, you could spend a lifetime exploring its many facets and still just begin to take it all in. Early Pilgrims saw in this isolated spot the opportunity for religious freedom, whaling merchants the watery road to riches, and artists the path to capturing the brilliance of nature's palette. Whatever the incursions of commercialism and overdevelopment, the land is suffused with spirit, and it attracts seekers still.

Nantucket Island “The Faraway Land” as translated from the language of the native Wampanoag tribe is located 30 miles off the south coast of Cape Cod.  The island is 14 miles in length and 3 1/2 miles wide. It is a beautiful oasis of over 40 % conservation land with plentiful beaches accessible to the public for all to respect and enjoy.

Nantucket is rich in history. In 1602, an Englishman named Bartholomew Gosnold first sighted the Island and then it was settled in 1659. In the late 1600s whales were found off shore and between 1750 and 1840, the Island was one of the major whaling ports in North America.

With the decline of the whaling industry in the 1880s, Nantucket became a Mecca for the tourism industry and is still drawing people to its natural and everlasting beauty along with its first-rate attractions, accommodations and restaurants.  Nantucket, the only location in North America to have the same name for the island, town and county has a year round population of over 10,000 and then swells to 50,000-60,000 during July and August.  

The Fourth of July holiday with its celebration of town sponsored family events feted up and down the beautifully cobblestoned Main Street, culminates with a spectacular Fireworks Show on Jetties Beach in the evening.  In the off-season, the Island although quieter, is still well-known for its excellent restaurants, charming lodging establishments and historical locations available to the public. 

Nantucket is easily reachable year round by ferry boat or plane service.  During the busy summer season, the Town encourages visitors to limit bringing their cars over by providing a seasonal shuttle system giving the community an essential transportation option around the Island.  There are miles of town maintained bike paths, town owned beaches and beautiful harbors for moorings all enhancing the experience on the Island.  From the beautiful sunsets of Madaket to the charming small village of Siasconset, the public can view the beautiful landscapes, historic homes or wide spread beaches until reaching their special and personal Nantucket destination.