While summer days on Cape Cod are made for flip flops and fried clams, the destination also sets a romantic backdrop for quality time with your significant other. Here are some romantic (and fun) ideas for a great Cape Cod date.

Table for two
Gaze out over Cape Cod Bay with your favorite person at Fanizzi’s Restaurant By-the-Sea in Provincetown (pictured above), where 180-degree water views set the scene for an eclectic menu featuring craft cocktails and internationally-inspired entrees.  Overlooking Nantucket Sound, The Popponesset Inn in Mashpee's New Seabury village will surely dazzle; pair one of the restaurant's signature entrees with a summery cocktail at sunset to maximize the experience. The Grand Cru Wine Bar at the Cape Codder Resort in Hyannis is jumping on Friday and Saturday nights with the sounds of live jazz and lively conversation. Over at the Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar in Hyannis, choose an intimate table for two or a seat at the sleek bar to indulge in fresh oysters with your sweetie. For modern seaside elegance, the Ocean House in Dennis offers an extensive menu and cocktail list, stunning ocean views and an outdoor beach bar in season with live music. And award-winning cuisine featuring local ingredients awaits at Twenty-eight Atlantic at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club. It’s fine dining at its finest, and the panoramic views of Pleasant Bay are nothing short of spectacular.

Share a scoop
On a hot Cape Cod night, there’s no sweeter treat than ice cream for two. Four Seas Ice Cream in Centerville is an ice cream parlor boasting old school charm and dozens of homemade flavors (and just as many toppings). A giant banana split at the Sundae School is a great choice for two, or opt for one of their delicious frappe floats (with two straws.) The Cape Cod Creamery in South Yarmouth and Hyannis exudes old-fashioned charm in a converted Victorian style house. Enjoy a cone together on one of the outdoor adirondack chairs, preferably at sunset.

Get creative
Cape Cod offers great options to think outside the box with your date ideas.Take a whale watch excursion out of Provincetown, Plymouth or Hyannis, explore the vibrant gardens and vintage automobile museum at Heritage Museums & Gardens. Tee up for a relaxing round of golf, or rent bikes and hit the Cape Cod Rail Trail or Shining Sea Bikeway. Explore a new exhibit at the Cape Cod Museum of Art, go antiquing along Route 6A or climb to the top of Pilgrim Monument and enjoy views for miles when you reach the top. Tastings and tours are offered at both Truro Vineyards and Cape Cod Beer, or go on a customized local brewery tour with TapTastings Craft Brew Excursions.  And what says date night better than a summer movie under the stars at the Wellfleet Drive-In?

Catch a sunset 
We don’t want to brag, but the Cape is one of New England’s best spots for sunset walks along beaches and trails. Bring a blanket and bask in the dreamy views! Old Silver Beach in North Falmouth offers vistas across Buzzards Bay to Mattapoisett and West Island, creating a bold backdrop for fiery sunsets. It’s also a favorite spot for evening strolls enhanced by cool breezes. Nauset Light Beach on the Cape Cod National Seashore is easy to access and provides stunning views of the sunset behind the iconic red and white lighthouse made famous by Cape Cod Potato Chips. Race Point in Provincetown is a tranquil escape where you’ll be surrounded only by the sounds of the ocean lapping against the shore. For a full date night experience, take an Art's Dune Tours' sunset tour; you’ll have a front-row seat to catch the sun slipping down behind Race Point Light.

Spend a cozy night
For a peaceful retreat at the end of your romance-filled day, consider one of the Cape’s many bed & breakfasts or historic inns. The Palmer House Inn in Falmouth is housed in a Queen Anne Victorian house oozing with charm. The Chatham Inn at 359 Main offers a modern interpretation of classic Cape Cod style, while The Inn At Cape Cod combines comfort with luxury in their elegant Yarmouth Port space. The Platinum Pebble Boutique Inn in Harwich delivers breakfasts in bed and an atmosphere that mixes the best of boutique hotels and cozy B&B's. For understated luxury, AWOL - set amidst Provincetown's iconic moors - is a picture perfect retreat, complete with a guest-only bar and an outdoor firepit. Grab a cocktail at sunset and toast to your perfect Cape Cod getaway!