June 7, 2026

192. Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Whispers of Waves and Coastal Charm

Show Notes
Transcript

Travel Is Back episode 192. Johnny Mac heads to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Whispers of Waves and Coastal Charm.

Some episodes use AI for research, writing assistance, and occasional voiceover when Johnny Mac is unavailable. His point of view, and his insistence on finding the best local taco remains entirely human.

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Hey, we made it to Cape Cod, Massachusetts. If you've

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never been, you're in for a treat. Cape Cod is

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one of those places that feels like it's been plucked

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out of a postcard. Quaint little towns, sandy beaches that

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go on forever, and seafoods so fresh you almost feel

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like you've caught it yourself. This is a spot where

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you can kick back, soak in the coastal vibes, and

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just enjoy life at a slower pace. So grab your sunscreen,

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a pair of flip flops, and let's dig into what

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makes Cape Cod such a classic getaway. First things first,

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you've got to get your bearings. Cape Cod is shaped

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like a flexed arm, so locals will often refer to

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places as being on the upper arm, the elbow, or

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the lower arm. It's a bit quirky, but once you

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see it on a map, it makes sense. Most people

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drive in from Boston. It's about an hour and a

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half depending on traffic, but you can also take a

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ferry from Boston or the Islands if you're coming from elsewhere.

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If you're driving, you'll cross over the Cape Cod Canal

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via either the Sagamore Bridge or the Bourne bridge, and

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once you're over it feels like you've entered a different world.

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Let's start simple. You're here, You've dropped your bags at

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your rental, maybe a little beach cottage or a modest motel,

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nothing fancy. What do you do first? The beach. You're

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on Cape Cod, so head for the sand. The Cape

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has so many beaches and they're all a little different

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depending on where you go. If you're on the northern

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side facing Cape Cod Bay, you'll find calm, gentle waters,

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perfect for families or if you just want to float

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around without worrying about big waves. Mayflower Beach and Dennis

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is a favorite. It's got soft sand and at low tide,

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the water pulls back so far it creates these amazing

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tidal pools you can walk through. It's like the ocean

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gives you all this extra space to roam. If you're

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more into the rugged, big wave kind of beach, then

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head toward the Atlantic side. Nasset Beach and Orleans is

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incredible for that. The waves can get pretty strong, so

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it's popular with surfers and boogie borders. Even if you're

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not jumping in, it's a great spot to just sit

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and watch the power of the ocean, bring a chair,

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a blanket, and you can easily lose track of time

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watching the waves roll in. And then there's Race Point

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Beach up in Provincetown at the very tip of the Cape.

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This one's got a bit of everything. The sand dunes,

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the crashing waves, and even the chance to spot seal

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swimming by. It's not uncommon to see them poking their

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heads out of the water, which is always a fun

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little surprise. Okay, now you've done the beach thing, and

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maybe you're starting to get hungry. You're on Cape Cod,

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so let's talk seafood. Lobster rolls are kind of the

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unofficial food of the Cape, and you can find them everywhere.

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Some people like them cold with mayo, others prefer the warm,

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buttery kind. Both are great, and honestly, it's worth trying

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one of each, just to compare Sea Seed. Harbor Cafe

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and Dennis is a classic spot for lobster rolls, and

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the setting is unbeatable. It's right by the water, so

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you can sit at a picnic table, dig into your

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food and watch the boats come and go. It doesn't

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get more Cape Cod than that. If lobster isn't your thing,

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go for fried clams. They do them really well here,

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Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and just

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the right amount of braininess. Arnold's Lobster and clambar and

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eastam is a solid pick, and they've also got great

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onion rings if you're looking to round out your meal,

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and don't forget clam chowder. It's creamy, hearty and perfect

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for those cooler evenings when the breeze off the water

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starts to chill you just a little. After you've satisfied

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your seafood cravings, it might be time to explore some

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of the Cape's towns. Each one has its own so

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it's worth hopping around. Hyannis is one of the bigger

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ones in kind of a hub for activity. It's got

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a little bit of everything, shopping, restaurants, and the Cape

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Cod Maritime Museum, which is a cool stop if you're

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into boats or maritime history. Hyannis is also where you

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can catch ferries to Martha's Vineyard in Nantucket if you're

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planning to hop over to the island. And Chatham, down

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on the southeastern tip of the Cape, is a little

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more upscale but still has that small town charm. The

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downtown area is super walkable, with the lots of cute

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shops and galleries to pop into. If you're into lighthouses,

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check out the Chatham Lighthouse. It's still a working lighthouse,

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and while you can't always go inside, it's a great

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spot for photos and if you're lucky, you might catch

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a glimpse of seal swimming nearby. They tend to hang

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out in the waters around here, especially near the fish Pier.

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If you're up for a bit of a drive, head

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to Provincetown or Peatown as the locals call it. This

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is where the Cape ends, and it's got a totally

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different energy from the rest of the peninsula. Peatown is colorful, artsy,

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and super welcoming. The main drag, commercial Street is packed

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with funky shops, galleries, and cafes. It's the kind of

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place where where you'll find everything from handmade jewelry to

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a quirky T shirt you didn't know you needed. Provincetown

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is also known for its LGBTQ plus friendly scene, and

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the vibe here is just so open and fun. If

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you're into history, the Pilgrim Monument is a must see.

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It commemorates the spot where the Mayflower pilgrims first landed

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before heading to Plymouth. You can climb to the top

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for some incredible views of the town and the surrounding water.

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Now you can't leave the Cape without having some kind

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of ice cream experience. It's almost a rite of passage here.

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There are ice cream shops everywhere, and people get really

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passionate about their favorites. One of the most famous ones

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is Four Seas ice Cream in Centerville. They've been around

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since nineteen thirty four and their flavors have that old

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school homemade quality. Try the peach if it's in season,

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or the black Raspberry. It's just so good. Another spot

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worth checking out is Sunday School ice Cream, which has

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a few locations on the Cape. Not only is the

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ice cream fantastic, but the name is also a fun

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little play on words. If you're into nature and you

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want to see a different side of the Cape, there

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are tons of hiking and biking trails to check out.

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The Cape cod Rail Trail is a bit one twenty

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two miles of flat paved paths that run through several towns.

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You can rent a bike pretty easily if you didn't

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bring one and it's a great way to see more

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of the cape without being stuck in a car. The

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paths take you past cranberry bogs, through wooded areas, and

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even along some beaches. It's a really peaceful way to

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spend a morning or afternoon. For something a little more

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off the beaten path, head to the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary.

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They've got a network of trails that take you through

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salt marshes, woodlands and along the bay. It's a great

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spot for bird watching, so bring your binoculars if you

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have them, and even if you don't, it's just a

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beautiful place to walk around and feel connected to the

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natural beauty of the cape. Speaking of well Fleet, if

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you're an oyster fan, this is your town. Well Fleet

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oysters are famous for their clean, briny flavor, and you

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can try them just about anywhere in town. The Wicked

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Oyster is a nice sit down spot where you can

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get them prepared a few different ways, but honestly, sometimes

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the best way to enjoy them is raw with a

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squeeze of lemon. If you're here in October, the well

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Fleet Oysterfest is a huge deal. It's a weekend long

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celebration of all things oyster with shucking contests, live music,

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and of course plenty to eat. Now let's talk about sunsets.

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Cape Cod has some of the best sunsets you'll find anywhere,

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and there are a couple of spots where you can

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catch them at their finest. First is scack at Beach

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and Orleans. Because it faces west, you get this incredible

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view of the sun sinking into the bay, and when

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the tide is out, the sandbars create these little pools

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of water that reflect the colors of the sky. It's

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just magical. Another great spot is the Sandwich Boardwalk. This

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is one of the longest wooden boardwalks in the country,

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stretching out over marshlands and it's a peaceful place to

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watch the day wind down. If you're looking for a

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little history mixed in with your sunset, head to the

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Highland Light in Truro. This is the oldest lighthouse on

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Cape Cod and it sits on a bluff overlooking the ocean.

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The view from up there is incredible, especially as the

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sunsets and the skylights up in shades of pink and orange.

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It's one of those moments that makes you stop and

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just appreciate where you are. Before we wrap up, let's

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talk souvenirs. You're gonna want something to remember your trip by,

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and luckily the Cape has no shortage of local shops

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and artisans. One thing that's really popular here is salt

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water taffy. You'll find it in every town, but a

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lot of people swear by the taffy at Cavit's Candy

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and Provincetown. It's made on site and you can even

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watch them pull and cut the taffy through the window.

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Another class at Cape Cod souvenir is anything made from

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sea glass. You'll find jewelry, ornaments, and all sorts of

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little trinkets made from pieces of glass that have been

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polished smooth by the ocean. And there you have it.

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Cape Cod beaches, seafood, charming towns, and sunsets that'll make

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your Instagram feed explode. It's the kind of place where

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you can do as much or as little as you want,

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whether you're biking through a cranberry bog, stuffing your face

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with fried clams, or just sitting on a beach watching

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the waves. Cape Cod has a way of making everything

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feel just right. I've barely scratched the surface here, but

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Hopefully this gives you a good starting point for your

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own trip. I'm Johnny Mack and travelers Back

192. Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Whispers of Waves and Coastal Charm

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