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Stellwagen Bank just off Cape Cod Bay is a world-renowned whale feeding ground, making Cape Cod one of the best places in the world to spot these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. From April to October, migrating humpbacks come to feed off the plethora of fish stocking this fertile waterway. Finbacks, orcas, pilot whales, and right whales are also frequent visitors; other marine life you may spot include sun-bathing seals, frolicking sea turtles and playful dolphins leaping through the waves. Book your whalewatch encounter and bring your camera for what’s sure to be an Instagram-worthy experience.
The Great Outdoors: Six Hidden Treasures on the Cape & Islands
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You’ll find the peaceful respite you crave in Martha’s Vineyard’s MyToi Gardens, a Japanese-inspired secluded hide-away nestled on Chappaquiddick Island. Winding footpaths take visitors through the meditative nature of the landscape, which include a birch walk, camellia dell, stone garden and hillside garden. You’ll be surrounded by flora and fauna, both native and exotic, as you take a relaxing tour of the island on Poucha Pond, which can be reached over an arched bridge. From there, it’s a leisurely walk to the salt marshes and the wildlife preserve.
Photo by D. Welch
Go On An Epic Whale Watch
There’s a reason the indigenous peoples of the Wampanoag tribe chose Aquinnah as their ancestral home. Located on the western end of the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Aquinnah is a place where red clay cliffs rise off the beaches and the color of the ocean is like nothing you’ve ever seen. As the ancient center for life of the Wampanoag people, Aquinnah was also a seafaring destination. The Aquinnah Circle Cultural District boasts man-made and natural landmarks, including a historic redbrick lighthouse, the picturequse clay cliffs, the Aquinnah Cultural Center, a stunning beach and the quaint Shoppes at Aquinnah, offering authentic New England foods and tribal handcrafts such as Wampum jewelry, baskets and one-of-a-kind souvenirs.
An absolute must-do for any nature and New England architecture lover is Nantucket’s ‘Sconset Bluff Walk. There’s no parking for this secret path, but if you head to the end of Front Street in Siasconset, you’ll catch the walk just past the path to Codfish Park. Follow the signs and prepare to be awed. This storied trail winds along the east shore bluffs, allowing you a spectacular view of rose-covered cottages and lavish summer homes on one side and the bluff down to the Atlantic Ocean on the other. In the distance, picturesque Sankaty Head Lighthouse calls.
Sconset Bluff Walk on Nantucket
The peaked hills and majestic dunes of the Cape Cod National Seashore make for an otherworldly environment. Against a stunning ocean backdrop, hikers can explore a vast sea of red beach plums and wispy beach grass amongst the giant hills of sand. Or discover the dune shack “village,” comprising 19 historic shacks built in the 1800s that still stand today. The landscape that inspired authors like Eugene O’Neill, Tennessee Williams, Annie Dillard, and Jack Kerouac is sure to instill a sense of wonder in you, too. For those who want to venture deep within, Art’s Dune Tours offers guided tours and sunset clambakes on the beach.
Explore the Aquinnah Circle Cultural District on Martha’s Vineyard
Explore the Dunes of Cape Cod
Walk the MyToi Gardens on Martha’s Vineyard’s Chappaquiddick Island
See Nantucket in a whole new way with a four-wheel drive through the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge, a ruggedly beautiful coastal environment of rolling dunes, cedars, and beach grass. Spread out over 1,110 acres are two long peninsulas, where deer, raptors, seals and shorebirds play. Your trip will end at the historic Great Point Lighthouse, also known as Nantucket Light. Located on the northernmost point of the island, Great Point Lighthouse is a sight you won’t want to miss; by car or boat.
Explore Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Refuge on Nantucket
If you love the outdoors, it doesn’t get much better than Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. Of course there are beautiful
beaches, but you might be surprised by the treasure trove of other outdoor hidden gems just waiting to be discovered. Whether it be a hike on the bluffs, a whalewatch adventure, or discovering an enchanted garden, there are so many ways to enjoy the natural paradise that the Cape and Islands offer. You just have to know how to find them!
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Once you’ve experienced these hidden treasures of Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard, there’s still so much more to see and do outdoors. Plan your adventure at capecodchamber.org, mvy.com and nantucketchamber.org.
Photo by R. Cheek
Photo by R. Cheek
Photo by Emily Elisabeth Photography
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Funded by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism