Boston to Barnstable

Soon after escaping the Boston area traffic, you can look back on the city from the perfectly positioned vantage point of World’s End Reservation. This Frederick Law Olmstead-designed park in Hingham rests on a scenic spit of land reaching into Hingham Harbor. 4.5 miles of wide carriage paths roll gently toward the summit of Planters Hill: a grassy resting point with views extending over the rocky coastline to the Boston skyline.
Due to its popularily, World’s End requires advance passes for weekends and holidays. Walk-in admission is only on week days as capacity allows. Reserve a pass online at their official website.

No coastal journey in Massachusetts is complete without a lighthouse visit (or two!). Start by visiting the Old Scituate Light, a beacon dating back to 1810. The tower itself is occasionally open to the public for open houses, but visitors are welcomed to walk the perimeter paths and take in the scenery of Scituate Harbor at any time — just keep in mind that the lightkeeper’s cottage is a private residence!

Continue down the coast to Plymouth, the Massachusetts town where The Mayflower — the ship carrying the first Pilgrim settlers to the New England — is thought to have first landed on shore. A number of landmarks in Pilgrim Memorial State Park commemorate this early colonization of America. There’s the Mayflower II, a replica of the historic tall ship, and Plymouth Rock, an anti-climactic but nonetheless popular stone where the Pilgrims reportedly first touched land. Nearby, Plymouth Patuxet Museums offers an authentic experience of a 17th century Pilgrim village.

Dillons Local is a staple of the Plymouth culinary scene. A menu of traditional New England pub food pleases most palates, but they aren’t afraid to keeps things fresh with a few New American twists. Take, for instance, the Cape Cod Reuben, which replaces the corned beef typically found on this classic deli sandwich with fried local cod.
Dillons is open 11:30-21:30 Monday-Saturday and 10:00-20:00 on Sunday. They don’t take reservations, but you can call ahead to join the waitlist at 774-404-7913.

The village of Woods Hole (a part of Falmouth) is a world-renowned hub for marine research. Visitors can drop into the Ocean Science Discovery Center at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution to learn about the exploration vessels and latest research, including the REMUS SharkCam, which follows a Great White Shark. Proceeds from the gift shop benefit WHOI's research, education, and outreach activities.
The Discovery Center is open 11:00-16:00 Monday-Friday. Closed Saturdays and Sundays. Find more information on tours and events online.

Añejo is a staple of the Lower Cape dining scene, with locations in Falmouth and Hyannis. Head into the downtown Hyannis location for a dinner of Mexican-inspired classics that also embrace the coastal cuisine of Cape Cod. Enjoy a mezcal or a margarita in the tequila lounge or on the patio under the massive weeping beech tree.
Add your name to the waitlist online at their official website.

Spend the evening on the Great Marsh at the Lamb and Lion Inn. These quaint accommodations off Route 6A feature cozy fireplace rooms, a swimming pool and jacuzzi, and a breakfast buffet with locally-sourced ingredients. Best of all, you’re only a short distance from Sandy Neck and the Great Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary, prime locations for enjoying the nature that thrives near Cape Cod Bay.