The Cape Cod Canal separates it from the mainland, turning the erstwhile peninsula into an island. The enormous quantities of cod caught by the fishermen here in the seventeenth century led to the name Cape Cod. Today Cape Cod is the retreat that everyone heads for if they need to take a break from the city.

Cape Cod encompasses many attractive towns, beaches and nature parks. The southern shore of Cape Cod, especially the towns of Falmouth, Hyannis and Chatham are very popular with tourists. Falmouth boasts of a church with a bell made by Paul Revere, houses from the colonial era and two good museums.

The central stretch of Cape Cod is relatively less developed. The Northern shore has a host of interesting towns such as Sandwich, the most ancient town in Cape Cod, Brewster with its 18th century mansions and the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History. At the outermost tip of Cape Cod lies Provincetown, a haven for artists and writers and with a prominent gay and lesbian community. Visit the Pilgrim Monument and the Provincetown Museum and the Seth Nickerson House, the oldest in town.

Not very far from Falmouth is the world famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute. Hyannis Port is famous for its association with the Kennedy family and is also the major commercial center of the region. Chatham, an old fishing village boasts of the Chatham Lighthouse and some excellent inns.

To get to Cape Cod, use any one of the several airports in the region that are served by national airlines -- the Barnstable Municipal Airport at Hyannis, the Provincetown Municipal Airport and the two island airports, the Martha's Vineyard Airport and the Nantucket Memorial Airport.

If you are driving, Cape Cod is accessible from Boston on the I-93 South and from New York, on the I-95 North. If you are taking the I-93, you cross the Cape Cod Canal at Sagamore and if you are travelling on I-95, at Providence, you turn off onto I-195 East to Route 25 East and cross the Bourne Bridge into Cape Cod. There are several bus services to the different towns in Cape Cod, especially from Boston.

The best way to get around in Cape Cod is by car as you can stop and explore wherever you wish. Biking is another option as there are several biking trails in the region.

In summer (June to August), Cape Cod is packed with holidaymakers and things can get difficult -- hotels rooms are all booked up and roads are full of traffic snarls. It is better to visit in May or September when one enjoy the beauty of the area without having hordes of people breathing down your neck. Temperatures rise to 78 °F in July and August. Winters are freezing as cold winds sweep in from the north and temperatures drop to 40 ºF in December and January.

Most towns in Cape Cod have plenty of hotels, B&Bs and inns to stay in. However, it is essential to book in advance if you are planning to go in summer. Prices are quite high during the holiday season. In the off-season, rates are quite discounted and one can stay quite cheaply. In summer (June to August), Cape Cod is packed with holidaymakers and things can get difficult -- hotels rooms are all booked up and roads are full of traffic snarls. It is better to visit in May or September when one enjoy the beauty of the area without having hordes of people breathing down your neck.

You will find snack bars, restaurants and cafes abound in this area. Seafood is the specialty of many of these places. Most eating-places are moderately priced, except those in Provincetown where eating out is an expensive affair. Big towns such as Hyannis and Provincetown are major nightlife centers --- there are many bars and nightclubs some featuring live music shows. Theatre is also very popular -- there are several theatre companies in the region such as the Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre and the Vineyard playhouse.

Local crafts and art are available in most of the towns – Edgartown in Martha’s Vineyard has fine antique and craft shops, while Wellfleet has the largest flea market in the area. Speciality shops in Nantucket sell basketry of different kinds. For more conventional shopping, visit the Cape Cod Mall in Hyannis.

Two popular getaways from Cape Cod are the island resorts of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Popular with celebrity holiday-makers including President Bill Clinton, Martha's Vineyard is seven miles south of Cape Cod. There are regular ferry services to the island and one can spend the day wandering around the island, either by bus or on rented bikes. Places to see include Oak Bluffs with its many Victorian cottages, Vineyard Haven with its shops, Edgartown for its beautiful gardens and large old mansions, the Chappaquidick Island nature reserves and the Aquinnah Cliffs with their multicoloured soil.

Nantucket, thirty miles from Cape Cod is a two-hour ferry ride away and again is a popular destination for the rich and famous. Once a major whaling center, Nantucket has an interesting Whaling Museum and scores of old houses and buildings. Visit the village of Siasconset with its beautiful beach and quaint houses. Go whale watching off the coast of Nantucket and spot several species of whales.