Endless Exploration
Wellfleet creeps into your soul and sets up camp. We’re confident Outer Cape Cod and our Wellfleet boutique hotel will capture your heart and your imagination. So, let us help you find specific points of connection — your brand of Endless Exploration. To start you on your way, we’re sharing some of our own favorite things to do, see, sip, and savor in Outer Cape Cod and beyond. In fact, pay special attention to the “EC Tips” below for our best insider information or advice. But, your vacation is your special time away, so please let us know what inspires and interests you. We’ll point you to something you've never seen before. Or, we'll help you to rediscover a long-lost pastime. We know Wellfleet well and we’d love for you to love it too.
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Wander Wild Wellfleet
Wander Wild Wellfleet in Outer Cape Cod
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
Overlooking Wellfleet Harbor, the vast Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary offers a serene place to prowl Outer Cape Cod’s rugged landscape. Wide-ranging trails lead you through pine woodlands, a striking and biodiverse salt marsh, and a sandy barrier beach. And, each area of the park attracts a wide array of wildlife. Critters include turtles, frogs, and Fowler’s toads; chipmunks, squirrels and muskrats; fiddler crabs and other sea life; and seabirds of every variety. Additionally, the sanctuary features an award-winning LEED-certified nature center with an aquarium and exhibits. EC Tip: Don’t forget to ask our front desk for binoculars to help you spy the shy (and spry!) marshland wildlife.
Uncle Tim's Bridge
Connecting Hamblen Island to the central village, Uncle Tim’s Bridge is one of Wellfleet’s oldest and most beloved landmarks. Constructed in 1783 and restored in 2008, the wooden bridge is listed on the State Historic Register. It’s a joy (and photo-worthy) to both cross and view from afar. In the summer, massive pylons reflect in the water while kayakers and paddle boarders glide by underneath. Once you reach Hamblen Island, meander the walking trails that lead you to beaches along Wellfleet harbor. Lovely views and a peaceful setting make this a perfect place for a picnic. EC Tip: Best Instagram angles are to the right of the bridge catching the morning reflection, or right at the start of the bridge, capturing its long, skinny visage.
Cape Cod National Seashore
Encompassing nearly 40 miles of seashore and eschewing private development since its establishment in 1961, The Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS), is a rare beauty in the US — untouched oceanfront. And, stretching along this endless coast are pristine sandy beaches, ponds, marshes, lighthouses, coastal pine barrens, and wild cranberry bogs. The CCNS extends from Chatham to Provincetown, with the beaches and warrens of Wellfleet providing some of its most interesting and appealing scenery — reflecting Outer Cape Cod's past, and continuing, way of life. EC Tip: Visit the Salt Pond Visitor’s Center, which features a museum, CCNS orientation films, and a spectacular overlook of the Nauset Marsh to the Atlantic Ocean.
Cape Cod Rail Trail (aka "The Bike Trail")
Completely paved and mostly flat, the 27.5-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail will zip you past briny seaports, sandy beaches, and diverse landscapes. Located just a 6-minute pedal from the northern end, Endless Coast is the perfect starting and ending point for your bike, run or in-line skate. The route runs through Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham, and Wellfleet and follows 19th-century rail lines that carried vacationers to the once remote peninsula from Boston and New York City. EC Tip: If you pedal down as far as Harwich, don’t miss the Cape Cod Lavender Farm. One of the largest lavender farms on the East Coast, and overlooking Island Pond, its beauty will engage all your senses. Also, stop at Arnold’s Lobster and Clam Bar in Eastham to enjoy a delicious lobster roll.
The Wellfleet Kettle Ponds
Sometimes saltwater gets the best of you, you crave the shade, or you simply want a warmer water experience. Luckily, Wellfleet features a selection of kettle ponds that offer sweet spots for a quiet canoe or salt-free swim. And, with the smell of pine in the air, and picnic tables at most locations, the kettle ponds also are a great place to plan lunch and indulge in one of our take-out baskets. From Great Pond, to Long Pond, to Gull Pond, to those even lesser known, each serene pool offers something different. EC Tip: Ask our team for help determining the one for you.
Discover the Neighborhood
Discover the Neighborhood
Wellfleet Drive in
One of only 300 left in the US, this 1957 drive-in theater is like stepping back in time. Enjoy a movie (two for the price of one, actually) under the stars in the comfort of your own vehicle. Wash your windshield thoroughly and settle in. Plus, you don’t need to be self conscious about your popcorn munching for a change! The grounds also feature an indoor year-round cinema, a dairy bar, and mini-golf. EC Tip: While you can listen to the show via radio (tune in to 89.5 FM), try the original speaker boxes for a fun and nostalgic treat. Just remember, they MAY not work.
Wellfleet Farmers Market
Midweek stays at Endless Coast should always include a visit to the Wellfleet Farmers Market. Held on Wednesday’s from 8 am to noon in May through October, the market practically vibrates with energy and live music. And, if you buy an Endless Coast tote, you can fill it to the brim with great finds. These include spring seedlings, fresh ground coffee, baked goods, spice rubs, jams and jellies, salsas and preserves, local free-range eggs, garden-grown fruits and veggies, cut flowers and herbs, fantastic greens, cheese, honey, squash, local meat, and more. EC Tip: Get there early to get the best selections, and make sure to check out the yummy food trucks.
Wellfleet Harbor
Town pier at Wellfleet Harbor is the beating heart of town and an insightful place to wander. And, with 200 slips and nearly 400 moorings, it’s home to shellfish farmers, fishing charters, and a sailboat rental company. You can peek into the life of the Outer Cape Cod oyster industry or board a vessel for a day on the water. Stroll the pier and enjoy the view of the Duck Creek marshland. At pier’s end is the Jan Rutz Harbor Bandstand, named in memory of a longtime volunteer with the Wellfleet Historical Society. Throughout the season it serves as home to rock, blues, and jazz shows. And, every Wednesday night in July and August, it's the calling point for a weekly square dance. EC Tip: Look up as you stroll the pier and you just might see the comings and goings from a well-used osprey nest.
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater (WHAT)
Founded in 1985, WHAT is an acclaimed Outer Cape Cod non-profit theater just a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Two-time winner of the prestigious Elliot Norton Award, the theater was deemed "a jewel in Massachusetts' crown" by the Boston Globe. The theater offers plays, musicals, opera, and films in a state-of-the-art facility built in 2007 in honor of Julie Harris. A five-time Tony Award winner, Harris lived in nearby Chatham until her death in 2013. Though she declined to have the theater named for her, she did acquiesce to the stage itself being called the “Julie Harris stage.”EC Tip: Check out WHAT.org for the plays on stage during your stay.
Main Street Shopping & Art Galleries
Shake the sand from your hair and stroll through downtown Wellfleet. Historic, quaint, and home to endless handcrafted items, Main Street shops purvey coastal jewelry and decor, unique clothing, Wellfleet oyster shirts and caps, local pottery, and all types of seaside treasures. Dotted amidst the shops are numerous art galleries, including Gallery Antonia, Blue Heron Gallery, The Frying Pan Gallery, Left Bank Art Gallery, and more. Take home a piece of Wellfleet as an Outer Cape Cod memory for yourself as well as your family and friends. EC Tip: Cove Gallery features jazz performances on select Friday nights.
Truro Vineyards
Pioneers of maritime grape growing, Truro Vineyards produces 10 wines with intense flavor and lush varietal character. Sample the offerings in the vineyard’s early 1800s farmhouse tasting room and gift shop. Once the cantaloupe farm of Elton and Margaret Rich, the same warm, well-drained sandy soil that produced luscious melons now explodes with juicy grapes. In the early 1900s, the Riches cultivated the estate into a prosperous farm selling grain, milk, coal. . .and cantaloupes. Today, the vineyard continues the tradition with a new type of farming — growing estate Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, and producing varietals as far-ranging as Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel from purchased grapes. EC Tip: In 1930, artist Edward Hopper painted Rich’s House and returned a year later to paint Rich’s Barn. Take a guided tour of the property to learn more about this and other tales of its storied history.
South Hollow Spirits
Located on the same grounds as Truro Vineyards and led by the same team, South Hollow Spirits was the first distillery to open on Cape Cod since Prohibition. Crafting rums and gins using a 250 gallon copper pot and column still, the distillery prides itself in its small-batch spirits produced from locally sourced grains and ingredients. Developed free of artificial colors, sweeteners, and flavorings, these spirits are pure and full of natural zest. EC Tip: Don’t just sample the spirits, order a distillery-created cocktail and slowly sip it on the sprawling lawn in the sun.
Briar Lane Jams & Jellies
This family run Wellfleet institution has produced the same fine handmade gourmet jams, jellies, and marmalades since 1932. The team at Briar Lane Jams and Jellies uses the same recipes, stirs each pot, and pours every jar by hand just as they’ve done since day one. They use only pure cane sugar and natural ingredients. The company’s roadside jam stand on Route 6 is open from May 22 through Columbus Day weekend in October, and is just two miles up the road towards Provincetown from Endless Coast. EC Tip: Try the homemade fudge.
Pedal, Paddle, Sail, or Seek
Pedal, Paddle, Sail, or Seek
Chequessett Club -- Golf, Tennis & Sailing
Set in an impossibly picturesque Wellfleet cove, Chequessett Club is open to the public and offers recreation to suit every taste and interest. A nine hole semi-links golf course (with separate tees to accommodate eighteen holes) boasts numerous water hazards as well as small, undulating greens, and is well-bunkered. Three Novo Pro Turf tennis courts sit nestled between the golf fairways and pitch pine woodlands. Book court time to volley on your own, or enjoy the organized tournaments, weekly Round Robins, and adult and youth clinics. Buy the club’s seasonal Sailing Privilege Membership and rent sailboats, kayaks, and SUPs at your leisure during your visit. EC Tip: Practice your rigging skills before your Outer Cape Cod vacation. Members and guests wishing to rent a sailboat must be able to rig the boat without assistance.
Fishing & Sailing charters
Cast away with a rod and reel or simply kick back on a boat and watch the waves. Either way, it’s pure magic to spend a day at sea. The waters off Wellfleet Harbor teem with game fish, so don’t be surprised if you haul in a massive tuna or striper from the stern of one charter boat or another. EC Tip: When the wind’s just right, Cape Cod sailing is a true dream. Sheltered from tyrannical gusts, the bay side of our endless coast is perfect for smoothly gliding into the sunset.
Windsurfing, Paddle Boarding, & Kiteboarding
Wellfleet is an ideal place to learn a wind or wave-powered sport. Try your hand at surfing, stand-up paddle boarding (SUP), or kiteboarding with Fun Seekers. Whether you’re a novice or simply a bit rusty, the Fun Seekers instructors will teach you to brave the waves in record time. Courses come complete with all the equipment and gear you need to tackle the ocean or marsh with confidence. EC Tip: If you enjoy yoga, but have never tried SUP, trust that years of balance and core training will have you mastering it in no time. You’ll also be surprised at how meditative it is!
Shellfishing at Powers Landing
Follow the tide reports and truck on out to Powers Landing for a low-tide extravaganza. Drive out on the beach and way out over the sand to harvest the quahogs, oysters, and other tasty items you’ll find squirming in the mudflats. Fill a bucket for dinner and steam or grill your catch right in our BBQ area. Don’t forget your non-commercial recreational permit, which allows you to enjoy this very Wellfleet activity legally and enjoy the fruits of your labor. EC Tip: Go all-in on the shellfish angle and tour a working farm. Check out the seasonal schedule here and book a tour for $10 and learn heaps about how shellfish are grown and harvested.
Whale Watching with the Dolphin Fleet
Board the Dolphin XI (brand new in 2019) and cruise coastal waters in search of dolphins and humpbacks. The Dolphin Fleet offers 3-4 hour trips guided by experienced naturalists. Enjoy the beauty of the outer cape as you sail the national seashore at the very tip of Cape Cod. Built with the newest eco-friendly technology, the Dolphin XI tracks our flippered friends effectively, but conscientiously. EC Tip: If you spot a whale and he pokes his head above the surface, that means he’s spyhopping in order to get a better view of his surroundings, namely you and your other passengers. It’s the holy grail of whale watching behavior, so be ready to look him in the eye!
Party With The Locals
Party With The Locals
July 4th Parade
Wellfleet’s Independence Day parade is good old-fashioned hometown hurrah at it’s best. With hot dogs and star-and-stripes everywhere, the whole town (and seemingly, the whole Outer Cape), gets into the patriotic action. It all begins with a nostalgic classic car parade at 9:30 am, with a judged float parade starting at 10:00 am. The route begins and ends at the town pier, a great place to catch the action. EC Tip: Bring your lawn chair and a small bag to hold the candy thrown from the floats.
Wellfleet Oysterfest
Truly the biggest celebration of the year, The Wellfleet OysterFest brings town alive for a weekend full of food, art, music, fun and games, storytelling, cooking demonstrations, nature walks, oyster grant tours, and much more. Coordinated by Wellfleet SPAT (Shellfish Promotion and Tasting, Inc.), a non-profit organization devoted to sustaining Wellfleet’s shellfishing and aquaculture industries, this annual celebration of the town’s famous oysters, (and clams) also features a road race. But the highlight is the extremely popular oyster shucking contest. Amateurs compete for the fun of it, and some of Wellfleet’s home-town shuckers have gone on to compete nationally. EC Tip: Good with a knife and quick-wristed? Get in on the action. Top three winners get cash prizes.
Get Sand In Your Stuff
Get Sand in Your Stuff
Ocean Beaches in Outer Cape Cod
Cahoon Hollow Beach
Home to the Beachcomber bar and restaurant, Cahoon Hollow is perhaps the most popular beach in Wellfleet with lifeguards, restrooms, attendants on duty, and volleyball nets scattered here and there. Very large and sometimes too windy, Cahoon Hollow nevertheless is hopping in the summer, so arrive early, especially on weekends, as the parking lots usually fill by late morning. EC Tip: If the party crowd is what you are looking for, Cahoon Hollow is the beach scene on which to see and be seen.
Lecount Hollow Beach
Also known as Maguire Landing Beach, Lecount Hollow is slightly closer to Route 6 than other Wellfleet ocean beaches, and like some others, has very steep dunes. This makes for beautiful views, but requires lugging umbrellas and beach gear up and down the sand. EC Tip: Tote your towel here if you desire a less crowded spot.
Marconi Beach
Popular for surfing and boogie boarding, Marconi Beach was named for Italian inventor Guglielmo Marconi, who successfully transmitted the first transatlantic wire communication in the US from its shores. It offers broad, sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay from the overlook atop a steep sand cliff. During summer, restrooms and outdoor showers prove a godsend for sea sports enthusiasts. EC Tip: Seals often frequent Marconi, frustrating the surfcasters struggling to snag the striped bass and bluefish cruising the breakers.
Newcomb Hollow Beach
A large, picturesque ocean beach with an attendant on duty, Newcomb Hollow is great for all ages. The northernmost ocean beach on the Wellfleet strip, it features massive dunes, loads of soft white sand, and gentle waves that cater to young swimmers. Soft evening breezes make it a popular nighttime fishing spot. The only drawback is a rather steep dune that serves as an entrance, which may be challenging for some. EC Tip: It’s not uncommon to see the spout of a distant passing whale from Newcomb Hollow. This beach also is a good surf spot.
White Crest Beach
Often less crowded than other Wellfleet beaches, White Crest is a lovely windswept beach just south of Cahoon Hollow. Good surfing waves and lots of parking make it a great choice if Marconi or Cahoon Hollow are too packed. Access back to the car park requires climbing a steep dune, so plan for a little exercise. EC Tip: White Crest offers a myriad of hiking and walking trails.
Bay Beaches in Outer Cape Cod
Duck Harbor Beach
Duck Harbor is the only Wellfleet Bay Beach that isn’t located on Wellfleet Harbor. Calm, warm waters, gentle dunes and beautiful views make up for sand that can be a bit stiff and strewn with rocks. The view of Provincetown over the water is top notch. EC Tip: Duck Harbor Beach is THE place for sunsets.
Indian Neck Beach
This beautiful beach on outer Wellfleet Harbor offers very calm water, lots of sand at low tide, and benches add to the relaxing vibe. EC Tip: Ideal for families and children.
Mayo Beach
Smallish, with warm, calm water, Mayo Beach features lots of seashells and occasional sea glass. Waving sea grass and lovely views add to its allure. Bike rack. Located next to the Wellfleet Town Pier, Mayo Beach is great for young children, as a playground is right across the street. EC Tip: Several restaurants and a bike rack are just steps away.