Barnstable County is a county in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. At the 2020 census, the population was 228,996. The county seat is Barnstable. The County is comprised of fifteen towns and covers all of the land area typically identified as Cape Cod. Cape Cod and Barnstable County refer to the same area.
The Cape Cod National Seashore covers 43,607 acres (68.1 sq mi; 176.5 km2) on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The reserve includes lakes, woodlands, and beaches in the Atlantic coastal pine forest ecoregion. CCNS encompasses nearly 40 miles (64 km) of shoreline along the Atlantic-facing eastern shore of Cape Cod, in the towns of Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, Eastham, Orleans, and Chatham.
Brewster is a picturesque coastal town located on Cape Cod Bay in Massachusetts. The town sits at an elevation of 39 feet (12 m). Brewster's population was 10,318 according to the 2020 census. Brewster is also known for being home to Nickerson State Park, a 1,900-acre preserve featuring pine forests, hiking trails, and pristine freshwater ponds ideal for swimming and camping.
Dennis is a town located on the Cape Cod Peninsula in Massachusetts. It's a seaside resort town with colonial-style mansions along the northern coast of Cape Cod Bay and beaches along the Nantucket Strait to the south. The town had a population of 14,674 in 2020. The town comprises five charming, historically significant villages: Dennis, Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis.
The Edward Gorey House honors and preserves the life and work of Edward Gorey, an American author, illustrator, playwright, set designer, and costume designer. In honor of his legacy, the house, owned and lived in by Gorey himself, showcases his diverse and extraordinary talents while reflecting his unique personality.
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge is a fantastic location in Chatham, Cape Cod. Spanning over 7,600 acres, it's home to a wide variety of wildlife, including birds, seals, and horseshoe crabs. Established in 1944, the reserve protects all kinds of wildlife and features beaches, marshes, sand dunes, and ponds.
The Atwood Museum in Chatham, Massachusetts, is a historic landmark owned by the Chatham Historical Society. Housed in a restored 1752 home built by Captain Joseph Atwood, the museum explores the maritime history, local culture, and community life of Cape Cod through its galleries and exhibits.
Glassmaking is an ancient and beautiful art form. Come and experience the endless variety of colors and shapes that have captivated glassmakers and artists for millennia. The Sandwich Glass Museum offers you a journey through time, from prehistoric times to the present day, as they tell and celebrate the story of glassmaking in Sandwich, Massachusetts.
The Green Briar Nature Centre is a peaceful and beautiful oasis throughout the seasons. It's also home to Dr. Shirley G. Cross's Wildflower Garden and the Green Grass Forest, along with a Live Zoo, home to a variety of small animals… making it a great place to take the whole family!
Scusset Beach State Reservation is a public recreational area located in the town of Sandwich, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, east of the Cape Cod Canal, on land formerly belonging to the Sagamore Hill Military Reserve. Enjoy the 2.4 km of beach or take a stroll along the pier to watch the ships pass through the Cape Canal.
Located in the charming town of Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts, the famous Bass Hole Beach, also known as Gray’s Beach, is a beautiful Cape Cod attraction, known for its quarter-mile boardwalk above the tidal salt marsh, offering stunning sunset views, bird and wildlife viewing. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists seeking tranquility amidst natural beauty.
Chatham is located at the southeastern tip of Cape Cod. Chatham was originally a fishing community and has become a summer resort. The population was 6,594 as of the 2020 census and can swell to 25,000 during the summer months. The town consists of four villages, namely Chatham, South Chatham, North Chatham and West Chatham.
Orleans is a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The population was 6,307 at the 2020 census. The year-round commercial center of most Outer Cape communities, Orleans lies just as the Cape begins to flow northwest toward Provincetown. The dense forests thinned and disappeared, the sky seemed to open up, sand dunes, silver grass in the salt marshes and windswept grasslands appeared.
Harwich is a town located on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, the town had a population of 13,440. The town is a popular vacation destination, located near the Cape Cod National Seashore. Harwich's beaches are located on the Nantucket Sound side of Cape Cod. Harwich has three active harbors. Saquatucket, Wychmere, and Allen harbors are all located within Harwich Harbor.
The Nye Museum offers a variety of tours of historical sites and natural landscapes. Most visitors can spend about an hour exploring the museum, but you can stay as long as you like. When you arrive, head to the Visitor Center at Grange Hall, where staff will greet you.
Sandwich is a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts and is its oldest town. The population was 20,259 at the 2020 census. Sandwich is one of the first towns greeting visitors to Cape Cod, and one of the last they see when leaving. While the rest of the world may know Sandwich for its distinctive glassware production in the 1800s, the city's most enduring legacy is as the oldest town on Cape Cod.
Mashpee is a town on Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. As of the 2020 census, Mashpee had a population of 15,060. The town is the historic and modern home of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - federally recognized in 2007 - with its headquarters located in Mashpee.
Yarmouth is a town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The population was 25,023 at the 2020 census. One of the oldest towns on Cape Cod, Yarmouth has shoreline on both Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound and is home to three distinctive, historic villages – West Yarmouth, Yarmouth Port, and South Yarmouth.
Wellfleet is a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. The town had a population of 3,566 at the 2020 United States census, which swells nearly sixfold during the summer. Wellfleet is famous for its oysters, which are celebrated in the annual October Wellfleet OysterFest.
Truro is a town on Cape Cod in Massachusetts, comprising two villages: Truro and North Truro. Located slightly more than 100 miles (160 km) by road from Boston, it is a summer vacation community just south of the northern tip of Cape Cod, in an area known as the "Outer Cape". The population of Truro was 2,454 at the 2020 census.
