Cape Cod

Barnstable

Barnstable is the biggest and most varied town on Cape Cod. It runs from the quiet pastoral beauty of Route 6A to the bustling blocks of downtown Hyannis. It also encompasses the villages of Cotuit, Osterville and Centerville, which have resisted the commercial real estate boom so prevalent on the Cape, and maintained their charm and high-priced privacy. Barnstable, in the north, reaches all the way to Cape Cod Bay, and the setting changes dramatically. Along Route 6A, there are marshes and fields, great stone walls, stately old sea captains' homes, and many of the town's handsome official buildings. Barnstable Harbor is a lovely sheltered entrance to Cape Cod Bay, and the launching point for all kinds of boat activity, including fishing and whale watch trips.

Running along the northern coast is Sandy Neck, one of the Cape's most famous beach areas. Its golden dunes reach for miles along the Bay. Wildlife abounds in the marshes, and visitors can walk, bike or off-road it to observe the fascinating and fragile ecological balance that is so unique to the Cape. Some worthwhile visits are the Osterville Historical Society Museum, the Trayser Museum, called 'the Memory of Barnstable'; and the Sturgis Library, which has extensive genealogical materials. And after you've seen all the sights, you might want to run up to Sunset Hill, just for the thrill of seeing the sun set over the Atlantic. Unforgettable!