Dive into Fall on Cape Cod, also known as the Cape's Second Summer! After Labor Day, visitors can expect fewer crowds, warm temps, a chill vibe and fun outdoor adventures all the way through October. Visit Cape Cod and celebrate the seasonal contrast of vibrant blue ocean, shimmering gold foliage, and scarlet-drenched cranberry bogs.
Here’s how to savor autumn on Cape Cod.
Fresh Seafood
Dig into a fresh lobster dinner or succulent Wellfleet oysters at your favorite restaurant. With milder temps on the Cape, you can dine al fresco on outdoor decks and intimate patio spaces well into autumn.
Beaches
If you don't know the joys of a Cape Cod beach day in autumn, make this the year to experience it. Water temps remain mild, parking is free, and there's plenty of space to sprawl out on the golden sand. When the days start to cool, bundle up for a walk along the seashore!
Water Adventures
Cruise into one of our picturesque bays, kettle ponds or harbors on a kayak or paddleboard. Charter a fishing boat or go clamming to get your own catch of the day, go on an epic whalewatch adventure, or sail off into a beautiful Cape Cod sunset.
Walking Trails
Explore nature trails that wind through pine and oak woodlands, rivers and lakes, cedar swamps and salt marshes —a wonderland of Cape Cod habitats. Try these Great Family Hikes!
Fun-filled seaside festivals
Fall is festival season on Cape Cod! At the Harwich Cranberry & Music Festival on Sept. 17-18, shop for paintings, jewelry, photography, and other works of art while enjoying a wide variety of live on-stage entertainment! The annual Tennesse Williams Theater Festival takes place this year from Sept. 22-25 in Provincetown, where Williams spent several summers working on his classic plays. Experience the best in craft beer at the annual Cape Cod Brew Fest on Sept. 24 at the Cape Cod Fairgrounds in Falmouth. In October, the festival fun continues with Mashpee Oktoberfest, the Yarmouth Seaside Festival and Chatham’s wildly creative Pumpkin People in the Park. For more Fall events, visit our Events Calendar!
Gorgeous Colors
Often overlooked for showier parts of New England, Cape Cod is the perfect place to take in rich autumn colors. The garden path at Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich is pure eye candy this time of year; October brings colorful berries and hollies, with hydrangeas “antiquing” into pinks and reds. Here are a few of our favorite ways to experience the change in season on the Cape. Your Instagram feed just got a lot more colorful!
Biking
Hopping on a bike is one of the best ways to enjoy the Cape's natural beauty - whether it's mountain biking through wooded forests, a ride along scenic byways, or exploring the many paved trails. Here are some of our Favorite Bike Rides!
Farmers' Markets
Fall means crisp apples, mouthwatering corn and fresh cranberries. Thanks to an abundance of Farmers’ Markets on the Cape, you can get all that and more - including homemade breads, locally-grown pumpkins and handmade crafts.
Golf
Come autumn, golfers on Cape Cod rejoice. Reduced rates and easy-to-get tee times await at our 40+ golf courses Opens a New Window. , from Par 3s to more difficult courses that challenge even the most seasoned pros (it's also one of the most socially distanced sports around). Book your golf tee time online today!
Breweries and Vineyards
Get a taste of Cape Cod! Here's a look at some of the craft breweries, wineries and distilleries revolutionizing the Cape’s craft beverage scene. Or hop on a customized private tour with TapTastings Craft Brew Excursions.
Fall for the Arts
Explore Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum's exhibit “Our Story: The Early Days of the Wampanoag Tribe and the Pilgrims Who Followed.” Walk the 1.6-mile Kennedy Legacy Trail across downtown Hyannis for a glimpse into President Kennedy's life on Cape Cod, then visit the nearby JFK Museum for special exhibits and rare photos showing the Kennedy family's longstanding Cape connection. Admire seven galleries of fine art and an exquisite Sculpture Garden at Cape Cod Museum of Art in Dennis. In every Cape town - from Falmouth to Provincetown - there is a chance to "Capture the Arts" on Cape Cod! Here are several itineraries to guide you to Cape Cod's most popular cultural attractions and activities.
Come enjoy into a more intimate Cape experience, and book your Fall getaway on Cape Cod today.
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