Grab my Ultimate Guide to Cape Cod and Nantucket!

The Ultimate Guide to Cape Cod & Nantucket
A travel guide written like a love letter to one of our happiest places.

I’ll never forget the first time I came around the corner of a fenced in meadow where horses were running. Shaker shingle houses dotted everywhere and my Barefoot Contessa playlist blasting with the windows down. The salty air was crisp as it blew into the open windows. Not to be dramatic, but a tear welled up in my eye. I had dreamed of a New England coastal vacation since I was a young girl. Now I was here, with my very own family and we were about to visit places I had pinned for years, hoping to take it all in one day. To me, Cape Cod isn't just a destination. It's a feeling. It's the smell of salty air and warm cedar. It’s colorful sailboats bobbing in the harbor the second you cross the bridge.

This guide exists to offer you the same eyes to see the Cape that will have you dreaming of your return year after year. Whether you’ve grown up summering here and just need fresh perspective and new ideas, or you’ve been planning a special trip here for as long as you can remember, The Ultimate Guide to Cape Cod & Nantucket will help prevent much confusion and give you the best days you could imagine. There is always something new to discover… always a hidden gem waiting around the bend of a sandy road.

What follows is a love letter of collected memories, traveling advice, visiting recommendations, must-see places, ways to plan ahead, navigation of the Cape, Nantucket need-to-knows, a sprinkle of incredible history about these places, and lots of opinions. LOTS of opinions. Think of it as getting coffee with a friend who just happens to have incredible taste and has done all the legwork for you. Can’t wait to see your pictures from the place we love!

What's Inside?

Cape Cod

✦ When to Go: An honest breakdown of every season from late May through October, the truth about hydrangea timing, crowd levels, and which trip type each season is actually best for

✦ Where to Stay: Airbnb vs resort, which towns put you close to what, our full Finding Your Home Base guide covering Provincetown, Chatham, the Outer Cape, Hyannis, and more

✦ Where to Eat: Coffee shops, bakeries, casual grab and go spots, seafood markets, nice dinner spots worth the wait, and the full lobster roll situation (which gets its own separate free guide included with your purchase)

✦ What to Do: Farmers markets every day of the week, the best beaches by age and vibe, Cape Cod Rail Trail, Wellfleet Drive-In, Cape Cod Baseball League, whale watching, cranberry bog tours, and rainy day plans

✦ The Lighthouses: Every lighthouse worth visiting with exactly what to expect at each one including Highland Light, Nauset Light, the Three Sisters, Chatham Light, and Nobska

✦ Where to Shop: Our full shopping guide covering Osterville village, Chatham boutiques, kids shops, Cape classics, and the most extensive antique and thrift breakdown you'll find anywhere including Route 6A, Home Again, Antiques Center of Yarmouth, Demos Antiques, Wayne's Antiques, and more

✦ Shipping Your Finds Home: The box size strategy, which shops ship directly, and how to shop without the suitcase anxiety

✦ Who's Coming: Full itinerary ideas broken down by girls trip, romantic getaway, and family trip so your days actually make sense for who you're with

✦ The Honest Budget Conversation: Real numbers for housing, food, and activities at every price point including the smart moves that save you thousands without sacrificing the experience

✦ Get to Know Nantucket: A full history of the island including the Wampanoag people, the whaling era, scrimshaw, the Nantucket basket tradition, and why the entire island is a National Historic Landmark

✦ Planning Your Trip: Day trip vs overnight, crowds and seasonality, exactly what to expect and when to go

✦ Getting There and Around: Full ferry breakdown including fast vs slow, what it costs, how to book, how to get there from Boston, and how to get around the island including the Wave bus, NanTukTuk, and the case for renting a Jeep on Turo

✦ Must-See Sights: Brant Point Lighthouse and the penny tradition, Sankaty Head, the beaches broken down one by one including Jetties, Steps, Surfside, Madaket, and the full Great Point drive-on beach experience including permit details

✦ Where to Eat: Wicked Island Bakery morning buns, Born & Bread, Something Natural, Provisions on the wharf, Walter's lobster roll, 167 Raw, Bartlett Farm, Cisco Brewers, Cru, The Nautilus, Toppers at The Wauwinet, Millie's, and The Juice Bar

✦ The Dreamiest Antiquing: Hospital Thrift Shop, Bon Ton, Sylvia's Antiques, Seconds Shop, Island Treasures, and exactly how to ship your finds home from the island

✦ Before You Wander: How to understand the island's geography, why you must pack layers, and the unique ecosystem that makes Nantucket unlike anywhere else in New England

✦ Before You Go Checklist: Everything to book and plan before you leave home so nothing falls through the cracks

✦ Daily Itinerary Template: A fill in the blank day planner in the format we actually use: coffee, breakfast, morning plans, lunch, afternoon plans, pre dinner plans, dinner, post dinner, and notes!

And, it's not just a guide. It's a handmade scrapbook, full of our real thoughts and pictures of our travels. It feels like traveling with friends!