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Boating in and around Cape Cod is amazing! We are so blessed to have such varied waters close at hand: some great fishing grounds for the prized striped bass and delicious blues; and deeper bluewater not far away where the big boys wait.  Cape Cod’s beaches are nothing less than wonderful and many of them are accessible for those with boats. We have inland waters on rivers and inlets that are explorable for bird watchers and picnic-goers alike.

The variety and beauty of our local waters are unsurpassed. So we’ve decided to present a short list of some of our favorite destinations, starting from our marina in Falmouth Harbor.Two of our destinations are short runs away; two others a little further afield that probably require an overnight stay. But that’s another great thing about our Cape Cod waters—there’s almost always a marina or mooring field where transient boaters can land a spot for an overnight.

So throw off those dock lines, hoist the anchor and let’s go!

MARTHA’S VINEYARD

The summer playground of vacationing politicians, media types and other escapees from the big cities, the island of Martha’s Vineyard lies just about eight miles south of Falmouth. Depending on the size and power of your boat, and the weather, wind and sea conditions, the run over takes about 20 minutes.

Once across Nantucket Sound, you will find several marinas in Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs –two of the charming towns on the island’s northern shore—where you can tie up to a mooring or find a space on a dock.

In Vineyard Haven, you can contact the Tisbury Wharf Company (508) 693 9300, the Vineyard Haven Marina (508) 693-0720, or the Vineyard Haven Moorings (508) 693-0720, to check on availabilities and costs for overnight stays.

Once on the island, there are plenty of fun things to do and see.  Visiting some of the island’s beautiful beaches is usually a favorite activity. Close to the towns of Vineyard Haven and Oak Bluffs, you will find some wonderful beaches at the Joseph Sylvia State Beach along Beach Road between Oak Bluffs and Edgartown; at the Oak Bluffs Town Beach near the Steamship Authority dock; Eastville Beach at the bridge between Oak Bluffs and Vineyard Haven; the Tisbury Town Beach next to the Vineyard Haven Yacht Club, and the Lake Tashmoo Town Beach at Herring Creek.

A bit further afield, but always popular, is the Aquinnah Public Beach, also known as Moshup Beach, near the famous Gay Head Cliffs on Martha’s Vineyard’s southwest corner.  There’s the Gay Head lighthouse nearby, too.  And if you’re looking for serious surf, any of the beaches along the Atlantic Ocean coast on the south of the island will fit the bill.

Martha’s Vineyard is a paradise for bike riders and hikers. You can find bike rentals anywhere in Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluff (or bring your own onboard) and set out to explore the island on two wheels. There are miles of hiking trails across the island as well, both in the leafy interior and along the shorelines.

MV has a busy summer schedule of festivals and fairs. The most popular is the Ag Fair, sort of the island’s own state fair, with lots of great food and things to see and do—it’s held every year in mid-August. Feeling literary? The MV Book Fair occupies weekends in July and August, with author events and talks all over the island. The International Film Festival happens in September, usually with a few stars on hand, and the Shakespeare at the Amphitheater festival sponsored by the Vineyard Playhouse, presents the Bard in all his glory during July and August. And for something completely different and lots of fun, check out the MV Wind Festival, with kite flying competitions and displays on the beach.

There are plenty of places to explore on MV. The towns of Edgartown, Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Menemsha are all strollable, with great shops, food and drink. Don’t miss The Campground, a collection of lovely Victorian cottages originally built for a 19^th century Methodist retreat, which really comes alive during the Grand Illumination in August, when the charming cottages are all decked in Japanese lanterns.

We can’t possibly list all our favorite restaurants and bars, but don’t miss the Offshore Ale Company in Oak Bluffs, a great handcrafted beer brewery; or Mad Martha’s in Edgartown, Vineyard Haven or Oak Bluffs for the best ice cream on the island and almost everywhere else.

 PROVINCETOWN

From Falmouth, it takes a little getting to get to P-town on the end of the Cape. The best way is to motor through the Cape Cod Canal and then a straight shot across Massachusetts Bay. We measured it at around 48 nautical miles, and, again allowing for the size and power of your boat and the weather conditions, it should take about an hour and a half.

There’s a good choice of marinas offering overnight slips and moorings in P-town:

Provincetown Marina, located adjacent to the MacMillan Pier offers seasonal slips, docking for vessels up to 250 feet and 100 moorings. Two-night minimum for weekend stays. Walking distance to downtown. Book on Dockwa or call (508) 487-0571 for information.

Long Point Marina offers seasonal slips for vessels from 35-140 feet, and is a short walk to the center of town. Book on Dockwa or call (774) 593-5120.

Flyers Moorings Boat Shop and Rentals, located on Commercial Street, has 100 deep water moorings and launch service. Check availabilities on Dockwa or call (508) 487-0898.

Provincetown Harbormaster is located on the main MacMillan Pier and can provide further information about moorings and slips in town. Contact the office at (508) 487-7030.

There are plenty of things to do in and around Provincetown. First, block some time just to wander up and down Commercial Street and its adjoining blocks. In the summertime, P-town comes alive with great restaurants, bars, coffee shops, shops and stores and just peaceful people-watching! It’s a charming New England town with a spirit all its own.

Outdoor enthusiasts can bike the Province Lands Bike Trail that winds through the Cape Cod National Seashore, hike to the top of Long Point to enjoy stunning views of the harbor and the Atlantic coast, visit the Dune Shacks Trail to hike through the dunes and enjoy the scenery, join one of the whale watching expeditions that leave from MacMillan Wharf, or just chill out at one of the beautiful beaches around town, including Herring Cove Beach or the Race Point Beach.

If you’re into arts and culture, you have to visit the Provincetown Art Association and Museum to see the town’s vibrant art scene. Provincetown Theater offers live theater, music and dance performances all summer long. The Pilgrim Monument and P-town Museum are great places to learn about the Pilgrim’s arrival in the New World (they landed first at Provincetown before venturing on the Plymouth) and the town’s long maritime history.

Again, there are too many great restaurants to list here. Scout online or ask friends who’ve recently visited for recommendations—seafood is king and P-town is a gourmet’s delight!

NANTUCKET

Another popular summer escape for the rich and famous, Nantucket is also a good day trip for boaters from the Cape. Located about 27 nautical miles south-southeast from Falmouth, you should be able to motor over in about an hour, assuming the conditions are good.

Make sure you have good charts and put the Brant Point Lighthouse to starboard to enter the boat basin.

Slips and moorings are in high demand in the summer season (usually a three-night minimum), so book early if you can. The Nantucket Boat Basin at the southern end of the waterfront before the town pier has 240 slips and moorings that can accommodate vessels from 35 to 316 feet, has a full-time concierge to make restaurant reservations and other activities.  Book on Dockwa or call (508) 325-1350 for information. Nantucket Moorings offers 120 slips for boats up to 185 feet and has a launch service for its moorings. Book on Dockwa or call  (508) 228-4472 for info.

There are plenty of beaches to visit on Nantucket. Some of the favorites include Cisco Beach, Madaket Beach and Jetties Beach. Again, the south shore beaches are on the open Atlantic and provide the best surf conditions.

As one of America’s first whaling centers, the Whaling Museum is an important stop, operated by the Nantucket Historical Society. The historic Hadwen House, now a museum, is filled with artifacts and information about Nantucket’s earliest residents. The Jethro Coffin House is another 18th century home, one of the oldest on the island, built by a famous whaling sea captain.

Just strolling around the cobblestone streets of Nantucket provides a flavor of Colonial life on this island. Today, the downtown area is filled with wonderful shops, coffee shops, bars and restaurants to fit any taste.

Hundreds of miles of bike trails crisscross the entire island and provide hours of fun and relaxation. And Essex Park offers walking trails, a playground and many picnic areas.

Fishermen flock to Nantucket, either to take their own boats out or to join a charter vessel. The fishing offshore and all around the island is some of the best in all New England.

You’ll love the ice cream flavors offered at the popular Juice Bar; and the local Nantucket Brewery is the headquarters for the island’s craft beer scene.

And the best part of visiting Nantucket is free—every night, weather permitting, the sunsets are nothing less than amazing!

CUTTYHUNK

The Elizabeth Islands extend southwest off the coast of Falmouth and provide a protective arm at the end of Buzzard’s Bay. The last island in the chain is called Cuttyhunk, and it’s a mostly empty island of about 580 acres with a population under 100. It’s part of the town of Gosnold, named after explorer Bartholomew Gosnold who landed on the island in 1602, spent 22 days harvesting sassafras root and left, claiming the first European settlement in the New World!

There still may be some sassafras growing on Cuttyhunk, but the main attractions these days include a small sandy beach that changes shape from storm to storm, some excellent fishing grounds, and a pretty little harbor with few modern amenities except a popular ice cream store!

Cuttyhunk is a little more than 16 nautical miles from Falmouth Harbor, about a half hour trip (dodging the ferries making their way to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket). You can book an overnight slip from Cuttyhunk Marina (508) 990-7578 –up to 50 feet only—but most captains will just want a temporary mooring to come ashore and spend an hour or so exploring. These are available on a first-come basis. Inside the harbor, hail the marina office on VHF 09 and if a mooring is available, they’ll direct you (and send a boat out to collect!).

Once ashore you can choose among Isla Tacos on the Fish Dock (fish tacos, churros and sodas), Soprano’s Pizza, the Fish Market on the town dock for fresh seafood (raw) and cooked lobster and the Ice Cream Stall. That’s about it.

You can walk around, visit the local beach (wherever it’s got to), birdwatch, relax and enjoy the solitude. Fishing around the island and the rest of the Elizabeth Islands is great.

That’s our list of fun places to visit by boat around the Cape. If you have suggestions for other boaters, send them to us here at Oyster Harbors Marina and we’ll share in future articles.