The Cape Cod Day Trip:
Xplore a Day Trip to Falmouth Massachusetts
Falmouth, which encompasses Woods Hole and several other villages, is the second-largest municipality on Cape Cod after Barnstable. Early settlers were drawn to Falmouth because of its proximity to Buzzards Bay, Vineyard Sound, and Nantucket Sound. In the late nineteenth century, the municipality transitioned from a collection of agricultural and fishing villages to a popular summer retreat.
Planning a Trip to Falmouth? Let’s Take a Closer Look at Some of the Town’s Top Attractions.
In 1829, Woods Hole erected the lighthouse on Nobska Point. That first year, Nobska Light guided more than 10,000 vessels through the waters of Vineyard Sound (to the south) and Woods Hole Passage (to the northwest). In these early years, Nobska Light’s beacon consisted of ten oil lamps with 14-inch reflectors, which the keeper kept lit through the night with sperm oil.
Old Silver Beach is located on the western shores of Buzzards Bay in Falmouth. Thanks to the warm currents that flow through Buzzards Bay, the water at this busy beach is always the right temperature. In the summer, both locals and visitors flock to Old Silver Beach to play in its warm waters and sunbath on its sandy shores.
The Cornelia Carey Sanctuary (the Knob) in Woods Hole is a serene nature walk with spectacular views of Buzzards Bay. The Knob, which hugs the warm waters of Quissett Harbor, is also an ideal habitat for waterfowl and other birds. Over the years, birdwatchers have seen more than a hundred species of birds in the salt marshes that line this coastal bank.
The Shining Sea Bikeway connects North Falmouth with the scenic village of Woods Hole. On the way, the 10-mile bike path passes through downtown Falmouth and next to the sparkling waters of Vineyard Sound. Avoid Falmouth’s notorious summer traffic by riding a bike, taking a run, or skating down the coast of Falmouth on this picturesque bike path.
The Woods Hole Film Festival celebrates 30 years of bringing independent films to the Upper Cape in 2021. The festival consists of eight event-packed days beginning the last Saturday of July. This year’s festival, running from July 31st through August 7th may of course look a bit different than previous years, but will nevertheless go on!
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) in Falmouth is a research center and higher education facility dedicated to the study of marine science. The institution looks at marine plants, animals, and microbes, as well as the changing geology and climate of the ocean. At the Ocean Science Discovery Center, visitors can learn all about WHOI and its mission.
