With so much to see and things to do in Cape Cod, it’s easy to plan a day-long excursion filled with sightseeing and activities. While you can’t possibly do it all in one day, try picking a spot and checking out the local treasures like a light house over looking the shoreline, a nature trail, a museum, an historic landmark, a picnic on the beach, a busy harbor, and a downtown marketplace.

On the main Cape, towns like Falmouth, Hyannis, Chatham, and Provincetown have it all. The Ocean Science Discovery Center at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution is a great educational experience near Falmouth. Follow that with a ride on the Shining Sea Bikeway and a walk out to The Knob to see myriad of birds at the Cornelia Carey Sanctuary. Then, check out Nobska Light and watch an incredible sunset from Old Silver Beach. Or, spend the day further out on the Cape in Hyannis which offers views of the busy Hyannis Harbor, tributes to John F. Kennedy at his Memorial overlooking Lewis Bay and the John F. Kennedy Museum, the Cape Cod Maritime Museum for a survey of nautical history, and a bustling Main Street with shops, restaurants, and historic architecture.

Further east in Chatham, start with visits to the Marconi Maritime Center and Atwood House and Museum for a taste of Cape Cod’s past then finish it off with a walk along a section of the Cape Cod National Seashore and a stop at the iconic Chatham Light before dinner. Or, for a long day as far out on the caps as you can get, visit Provincetown where the castle inspired Pilgrim Monument towers over the town. Explore the shops and restaurants on Commercial Street along the harbor and watch the ferries stop at MacMillan Pier. Take a walk through the enchanting Beech Forest then venture out to Race Point Light and relax for awhile at Race Point Beach. Before sunset, venture along the Cape Cod National Seashore to Herring Cove Beach for a spectacular display of color as the sun dips in to the bay.