Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, the natural promontory jutting into the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts, has been a fixture in American tourism for well over a century, and Royal Holiday makes it easy to experience everything it has to offer. With two resorts situated in the Upper and Mid-Cape area near charming villages and seaside retreats, Royal Holiday members can enjoy a traditional New England vacation. From Bourne to Provincetown, Cape Cod offers something for everyone, from families looking to summer on the coast to those looking to vacation as the Kennedy family did.

One option for travelers is Mashpee’s Cape Cod Holiday Estates, which provides 1/3-acre lots and fully furnished units perfect for setting up a home base during your vacation. With its community amenities, which include an indoor pool, basketball and tennis courts, and putting green, as well as 2-bedroom units with jacuzzi tubs and full kitchens in all condos, the Holiday Estates offers a true home-away-from-home experience. Other Royal Holiday members may wish to stay at the Cape Winds Resort in Hyannis, further out along Cape Cod. With its wider array of room options, it’s the perfect location for couples and smaller families on holiday, and its condo units are equipped with kitchens and community access to a heated pool and clubhouse area. Given Cape Cod’s easy transportation and the wealth of activities throughout the region, both locations represent excellent jumping-off points for exploring the rest of the Cape.

The Cape’s long history, which stretches back more than a thousand years to the Vikings’ exploration of the area, makes for fascinating landmarks and points of interest, and Royal Holiday members looking to experience traditional Americana will find a treasure trove in Cape Cod. Museums dedicated to Shaker settlements, Native American tribes, and the natural history of the Cape itself are well worth the visit, while the area’s popular association with President Kennedy and his family is represented at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum. Hyannis, however, is also home to more lighthearted fare, like the Cape Cod Potato Chip Factory and the Cape Cod Beer brewery, both of which offer tours.

Others may wish to see and be seen at the fashionable resort towns throughout the Cape, many of which boast culinary and cultural delights during the height of the tourism season and throughout the rest of the year. In addition, walking tours provide glimpses of the Cape’s history while celebrating the beautiful homes and gardens of the area, as well as the quaint downtowns filled with shops and restaurants. LGBT Royal Holiday members may wish to sample the nightlife and daytime fun of Provincetown, Massachusetts’ capital for LGBT culture. And no trip to the Cape would be complete without touring some of the famed lighthouses strung along the coastline, many of which are still in operation and boast fascinating histories.

Of course, the Cape’s main claim to fame is its incredible beaches and waterfront activities. Fishing, whether in Cape Cod Bay or off Nantucket Sound, is a favorite local pastime, while water sports also predominate, as the Cape Cod National Seashore is world-famous for its handsome and well-kept beaches. For those looking to enjoy the water without getting wet, seal and whale watching can be found throughout the area, while others may want to don a wetsuit and get some East Coast surfing experience.