TEXT & PHOTOS BY CHRISTOPHER KAZARIAN
There are many ways to explore Cape Cod, whether by foot, by air or by water, but the easiest is by car.
Not only are motor vehicles the most common form of transportation in the region, they allow tourists and locals alike the luxury of seeing almost every corner of the peninsula to get a flavor of what makes communities like Falmouth and Provincetown—and every town in between—so similar, yet so distinct.
The approach to Nobska Lighthouse is spectacular whether viewed from the beach or a car window.
In tackling Cape Cod, it is best to get advice from the experts, and that is where a group like the Falmouth Classic Car Club comes in handy.
The club organizes two summer cruises, allowing its members to
not only show off their wheels, but to spend a few hours enjoying the highways and byways of Cape Cod. As club president Tony DeMambro of Falmouth said, part of the allure of these cruises is that, “it is fun to go places.”
His vehicles of choice during the summer season include a ’63 Studebaker Hawk, a ’99 Viper and a ’04 Corvette, each of which bring an entirely new meaning to the word fun.
Any drive on Cape Cod begins with the basics, which is where Mr. DeMambro started. There are three major arteries that go west to east on Cape Cod: the historic Route 6A to the north; the faster Mid-Cape Highway, also known as Route 6, which intersects the region; and then the more commercial Route 28 to the south.
One of the many salt marshes and beautiful views that can be seen while traveling along Route 6A.
Mr. DeMambro said there are some who believe there are no real scenic drives on the Cape, a misconception he has run into in the
past. “When I lived in Maynard, before I moved to Cape Cod, I had a neighbor who asked me, ‘Why do you like the Cape? It is one road and you never see the beach,’ ” he recalled.
He was quick to correct that assumption by referencing Falmouth, where “you can drive for miles along the coast.” The town’s shoreline drive starts on Church Street in Woods Hole, and continues all the way to Central Avenue in East Falmouth with highlights along the way including Nobska Lighthouse, Surf Drive Beach and Falmouth Heights.
Another stretch of road that offers breathtaking views of the ocean that he recommended was Route 28 in Chatham, at the end of that Lower Cape community’s Main Street.
As an innkeeper, Charlie Preus is typically asked by guests at the 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center what roads are best to explore on Cape Cod. His answer is simple: Route 6A, which winds from Sandwich all the way to Orleans. “I always say 6A. It may be slow, but it is the prettiest ride on Cape Cod,” he said.
As to why, he said it is the old, historic homes, some of which date back to the 1600’s that are in close proximity to what is often referred to as the Old Kings Highway. First built as a Native American trail, Mr. Preus said, 6A “is very winding and very rustic. It is sort of like what Cape Cod was like” in its beginnings.
Even more modern fare, like mini-golf, on Route 6A has less flash than its counterparts on Route 28. And it is that old-fashioned quality which makes the course in Sandwich special, aligning perfectly with the road it sits on. “The Sandwich golf course was built in the 1950’s,” Mr. Preus said. “The same guy who started it, runs it. It is an institution.”
Route 6A is a popular driving route that affords views of many historic buildings, marshes and other natural vistas.
In Falmouth, Beth Colt is often tapped for her guidance of the local area by tourists staying at the Woods Hole Inn.
Starting from her inn on Water Street, she directs them down School Street to Quissett Avenue to Sippewissett Road and to Route 28A through West Falmouth, North Falmouth and Cataumet, a drive that intersperses views of the ocean with multi-million dollar homes and quaint shops.
And because her inn is so close to the Steamship Authority, she suggests that guests consider exploring Martha’s Vineyard by either
bringing their own car to the island or renting one there. “There are some great drives there,” she said. “The best is to get out to Menemsha and have a lobster roll or oysters at Larsen’s [Fish Market] or Home Port [Restaurant] and then go out to see Gay Head Light. People don’t realize that is one of the most remote places in all of New England. It is hard to get to… Our guests really love doing that trip.”
For motorcyclists, many group trips involve a restaurant as a destination. Chuck Torlone, president of Cape Cod H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group), said his favorites tend to be located close to his home in Falmouth: the Landfall Restaurant and Captain Kidd in Woods Hole, and the Lobster Trap in Bourne, all three of which afford customers views of the water.
While Mr. Torlone admitted that the local chapter of Harley Davidson enthusiasts often organizes its summer rides off-Cape, he was partial to one that stretches from Sandwich to Provincetown, taking Route 6A into Orleans before transferring onto Route 6 to the tip of Cape Cod. “It is a nice pleasant ride and depending on how quickly you drive, it could take you two to three hours to get from the Canal
to Provincetown,” he said. “It tends to be windy and hilly, and when you’re riding on a motorcycle, it is a lot of fun.”