Whig Street
Field Guide
The Cape is best when it’s simple—beach days, fried food and oysters, too much ice cream, and as much fresh air as you can get. It’s not about chasing a scene; most places have been here forever (and we love them for it).
This guide rounds up our go-to spots—the ones we return to year after year—plus a few newer gems worth shaking up the routine for. Nothing fancy, just the good stuff.
The Basics + Things We Never Skip
Beaches:
Corporation or Howes (our go-to for all-day fun + a snack bar), Mayflower (the most popular - and crowded - bayside beach), Bayview, or Chapin’s (don’t miss sunset at low tide here). The landing at the end of Nobscussett Rd. is our favorite morning beach walk at low tide—quiet and peaceful before the crowds roll in.
Stocking Up:
DPM for a classic butcher counter, home essentials, and a BLT for the beach.
Ring Brothers for a bigger seafood and meat selection, organic produce, and a great juice bar.
CapeAbilities for farmstand produce and pantry staples (we also love the drive to Chatham Bars Inn Farmstand).
Dunn & Sons for a special bottle of wine.
Big Rock Oyster for a dozen fresh, unshucked oysters straight from the harbor.
Eating + Drinking:
Sesuit Harbor Café (If the wait too long, skip the line—just hit the raw bar and bring a chilled bottle of red from home).
The Pheasant for a special meal and the coziest New England vibes.
Ice Cream Smuggler: Faves include Salty Caramel, Coconut, and Grape-Nut—just trust us.
Mom & Pops for burgers + sunset on the beach (it’s a bit of a drive, but worth it).
Hangar B for breakfast—grab a coffee and potato donut while you watch the planes take off.
Red Cottage for classic diner-style breakfast.
Snowy Owl for coffee (we hit the Brewster location more than we’d like to admit).
Hikes:
Wing Island Trail in Brewster (low tide only!), Great Island Trail in Wellfleet, or Dune Shacks Trail in Provincetown (home to the tallest, wildest dunes we’ve ever seen—not an easy hike, but worth it).
Activities:
Pirates Cove for mini golf, Cape Cinema for movies, Cape Playhouse for local theater, and the Museum of Natural History for exploring with little kids (the mud kitchen and butterfly house are highlights).
Hop on a ferry to Nantucket or Martha’s Vineyard for an easy day trip.
And definitely carve out time for shopping (and exploring) in Wellfleet or Provincetown.
Drinks + Dancing:
Baleine for the best wine list on the Cape,
Woodshed for live music (can get rowdy in summer),
Beachcomber for lunch, frozen drinks, local swag, and sweeping views of the Wellfleet coastline.
Truro Vineyards is also a great day trip—outdoor games, food truck, and fresh oysters from Blackfish.
For the Explorer
Some stay strictly local all summer—and wouldn’t dream of making the drive from Dennis to Wellfleet (let alone Provincetown) in July. We get it. But we’re not those people. We’ll happily drive 30 minutes for the right breakfast sandwich, a dreamy farmstand, or a favorite hike. We almost root for an overcast day just to have an excuse to explore.
If that sounds like you, here’s your town-by-town guide to the best of the Cape Prefer to keep it close? There’s plenty worth discovering just around the corner.