What to do in Cape Cod while house and pet sitting

Cape Cod’s sandy beaches and picturesque coastal views have long drawn summer visitors from nearby Boston and New York. This Atlantic peninsula is also home to some excellent restaurants, museums and gardens, and the beautiful islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard are just a short boat ride away. 

We’ve put together a list of some of the best things to do in Cape Cod if you’re travelling there for house and pet sitting - have fun exploring this stunning part of the United States!

Cape Cod attractions

1. Cape Cod National Seashore: The headline attraction in Cape Cod is the beautiful beaches and woodlands that stretch for around 64 kilometres (40 miles) along the peninsula’s east coast – if you’re looking for things to do in Cape Cod, this is the number one. The National Seashore was given protected status in 1961, and millions of visitors now arrive each year to amble beside its attractive forest ponds and along the windswept sands. In addition to its natural beauty, the seashore boasts several places of historic interest, including the Marconi Station, the site of the first two-way transatlantic radio transmission.

2. Heritage Museums & Gardens: The Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich, Massachusetts, sprawl across some 100 acres, and there are some delightful plants and sights to discover along the winding paths. The McGraw Family Garden of the Senses features a rich mix of colours, textures and scents that are designed to promote wellbeing, while elsewhere you’ll find thousands of rhododendrons, hostas, daylilies and various other flowers. Inside you’ll find a collection of classic US cars from the late 1800s to the 1960s as well as various other slices of Americana – there’s even a working fairground carousel from 1919.

3. Sandwich Glass Museum: Dating back to 1637, Sandwich is the oldest town in Cape Cod, and it was the site of major glass works in the 19th century. The Sandwich Glass Museum houses a collection of around 5,000 pieces of glassware, many of which date back to the early 1800s, but the museum also features a working glass furnace which is used to give hourly demonstrations of glass blowing techniques. 

Free things to do in Cape Cod

1. Cape Cod Rail Trail: This former railway line was converted into a public trail in the 1970s, and now it provides an excellent way to explore the towns and countryside of Cape Cod by bike or on foot. The trail is paved for most of its 40-kilometre (25-mile) route, and passes through the towns of Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans and Eastham, finally terminating at Wellfleet in the Cape Cod National Seashore. There are various bike rental shops along the route, and dogs are permitted – you might also see the odd horse rider trotting along the way.

2. Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge: At the southern end of the Cape Cod peninsula lies Monomoy Island, which has been protected as a haven for migratory birds. The wildlife refuge covers some 31 square kilometres (7,600 acres) of dunes, ocean, beaches and marshes, and visitors are dazzled by the sight of thousands of sea and shore birds, including terns, piping plovers, American oystercatchers and egrets. To the south of the island you’ll also find Monomoy Point Light, a now disused cast-iron lighthouse that dates from 1849.

3. Provincetown: Right at the northern tip of the Cape Cod peninsula lies Provincetown, where the Mayflower pioneers stopped over before heading on down to Plymouth. It’s home to the 76-metre (252 feet) Pilgrim Monument, which supplies spectacular views of the coastline below, as well as housing a museum about the local area. Provincetown is famed for its sandy beaches, and the area is also noted for its many art galleries and vibrant LGBTQ+ scene.

Fun things to do in Cape Cod

1. Wellfleet Drive-In: Drive-in movie theatres were once widespread across the United States, but the Wellfleet Drive-In is one of the few remaining examples in the country. Dating from 1957, the Wellfleet offers the traditional drive-in experience – simply motor up and tune your car radio to 89.5FM to hear the movie soundtrack. A snack bar offers the usual popcorn, hot dogs and burgers, and the summer season is usually packed with memorable double features.

2. Blue Claw Boat Tours: One of the essential things to do in Cape Cod is explore the beautiful coastline, and Blue Claw Boat Tours is one of several boat companies offering excursions to see the local wildlife, or simply to enjoy the scenery. Blue Claw has around half a dozen tours to choose from, including a seal watching tour and a sunset cruise, and their boats are also available for private charter trips.

3. Martha’s Vineyard: Located around 8 kilometres (5 miles) to the south of the Cape Cod peninsula, the island of Martha’s Vineyard is noted for its plethora of high-end boutiques, art galleries and distinctive 19th-century architecture. There are six towns on the island, and Oaks Bluff in particular is known for its brightly coloured and fancifully shaped ‘gingerbread cottages’, while Edgartown was once a major whaling port and is made up of many wonderfully preserved historic buildings. And if Edgartown feels familiar, that’s because it stood in for the town of Amity in Steven Spielberg’s Jaws!

What to do in Cape Cod with pets?

1. Pilgrim Bark Park: The Pilgrim Bark Park in Provincetown was created in 2008 by a not-for-profit association set up by city residents. The 1-acre park is fully fenced and dogs are allowed to run around to their heart’s content without a lead – and there’s even a separate section for smaller dogs. The park is also decorated with a series of installations by local artists, including doggy-themed benches and a whale-tail sculpture.

2. Dog-friendly beaches: There’s a variety of dog-friendly beaches to choose from in Cape Cod. The Cape Cod National Seashore encompasses six beaches, all of which allow dogs provided they are on a lead. Elsewhere, the rules vary from town to town, but generally speaking, leashed dogs are allowed on beaches during the off-season months, but not in the summer months. However, some local authorities permit dogs all year round: for example, dogs are allowed to roam without a leash on the aptly named Dog Beach in Provincetown at any time of year.

3. Whale watching: Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome on board whale watching trips organised by the Dolphin Fleet of Provincetown. Trips typically take around three to four hours and whales visit Cape Cod between April and October. Various other boat-trip operators will also take dogs on board as long as they are on a lead, but check with individual firms before you book.

Best restaurants in Cape Cod

1. Cuvée at Chatham Inn: Fine dining in Cape Cod doesn’t come much finer than the Cuvée restaurant at the Chatham Inn. The four-course menu includes delights such as East Coast oysters, octopus and New England lobster, as well as Japanese wagyu beef and Berkshire pork belly. A seven-course tasting menu is also available, there’s even a chef’s table in the kitchen so you can enjoy watching the culinary spectacle unfold. But beware – such fine dining doesn’t come cheap, and you’ll need to book a table well in advance. 

2. Keltic Kitchen: If you‘re looking for a hearty, filling breakfast, the Keltic Kitchen in Yarmouth is the place to go. The Irish Farmhouse Breakfast is delicious and suitably enormous, and customers also rave about the eggs benedict, French toast and corned beef hash. Next door to the restaurant you’ll find the Keltic Kottage, which sells a range of authentic Irish foods.

3. Relish: Relish in Provincetown is a high-end bakery and sandwich shop that marks the perfect spot to pick up lunch. The freshly made sandwiches are excellent and there’s a range of vegan, free range and organic options to choose from. Best of all is the fantastic range of cookies, cupcakes, macaroons, pies and cakes – it’s foodie heaven.  

Wherever you go exploring in Cape Cod, we hope you have a wonderful trip – and we hope your furry friend has a brilliant time, too!

If you’ve just discovered Trustedhousesitters and you’re interested in finding out how it all works, take a look over here to see how to become a pet sitter yourself and get the chance to travel and stay in places all over the country. And if you’d like more travel guides and pet advice, head over to our blog for more helpful articles.