Take the time to unwind with leisure activities on Cape Cod. While the Cape is well known for its harbors and marine activities, area businesses
and organizations also provide for all the assorted leisure activities you could want to pursue. Whether it’s a competitive sport or a solitary adventure, you’re sure to find an activity that satisfies your definition of leisure.
Leisure activities on Cape Cod are perfect for everyone, whether you’re a year rounder, a summer resident, or just visiting for a vacation.
5 Great Leisure Activities on Cape Cod:
1. Walk in the open air
For a stroll in the open air, look no further than the miles of walking trails on Cape Cod. A simple drive around the Cape will bring you past tons of trailheads, there’s lots to explore!
There are trails suited for a relaxing walk, others offer a more challenging hike. Many walks have great views of the water, no more so than The Knob in Woods Hole.
A favorite easy walking trail is found at the Long Point Wildlife Refuge Area where you can mix in some birdwatching and may see a variety of Cape Cod’s plants and animals.
Lowell Holly and the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail are also unique and fun options.
2. Cycle on One of Cape Cod’s Bikes Trails
Cape Cod has several great bike trails that are perfect for relaxing while biking. The trails are generally well paved, and a nice alternative to biking
on busy roads. Be sure to check out the Shining Sea Bikeway, Cape Cod Rail Trail, and Province Lands Trail.
These trails are ideal for cyclists who want to make a day of it, and you can even rent a bicycle at one of several shops right on the trail. Several shorter bike paths are scattered across the Cape as well. Pedaling along one of the trails is a perfect leisure activity on Cape Cod!
3. Golf, Tennis, and Bowling
If healthy competition is more aligned with your version of leisure, look to the golf courses, tennis courts, and bowling alleys. Golf and tennis both offer a chance to practice your skills, challenge your opponents, and still soak in the beauty of the great outdoors. Cape Cod Country Club in East Falmouth is a spectacular 18-hole public golf course on the edge of Coonamessett Pond with undulating fairways and gently sloping greens.
For Tennis, Oliver’s Red Clay Tennis in Wellfleet, owned and operated by a local family, offers eight well-maintained courts surrounded by lush trees giving you privacy unrivaled by other public courts and allowing you to 
enjoy nature while you play. Bowling, on the other hand, is an ideal diversion for a rainy day or when you just need a break from all that breathtaking scenery. Both 10-pin and candlestick lanes are available, and many bowling alleys also have arcades, pool tables, dart boards, and even bocce ball. Some have restaurants that are worth the visit on their own. The Alley Bowling and BBQ in Orleans, for example, serves “real” smoked BBQ plus handmade veggie burgers and homemade desserts, all with lane-side service or in the separate dining room. If you have a birthday or special event to celebrate, Cape Cod’s bowling alleys offer everything from side-by-side lane reservations to the VIP bowling room with private lanes and a private bar found at Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery & Arcade in Barnstable.
4. Ice Skating
Or, if trails and sports don’t suit your fancy, then check out the skating rinks. Alone or with friends and family, ice skating is a fun way to exercise 
and build focus, strength, and skill. Indoor skating rinks at arenas like Charles Moore Arena in Orleans have designated public skate times while they also offer lessons for beginners and provide space for figure skating and hockey activities. Outdoor rinks, like Brewster Community Ice Rink are operated by the town and open seasonally (weather permitting), giving you the opportunity to experience gliding on ice through fluffy white snowfall.
5. Relax on the beach
Cape Cod is known for its great beaches, and for good reason! Pack a bag and spend the day camped out on the sand with a swimsuit, drink, and good book. Don’t forget the sunscreen! The Cape has hundreds of great beaches, from the big tides and wide flats of the bayside beaches, to the big, surfable swells of the ocean-side. Don’t forget the great freshwater beaches that can be found on the shores of the Cape’s many kettle ponds.
Please feel free to share your favorite Cape Cod leisure activities experience with our audience!
