Falmouth, Massachusetts
Falmouth, Massachusetts is an ideal location for enjoying a Cape Cod vacation. As early as the 1830s Falmouth served as a connection point for steamers heading to Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, thus ushering in an era of offshore tourism. Falmouth was named after its sister city in England, and is one of Cape Cod's oldest resort communities. A beautiful and historic Village Green and more coastline than any other Cape community draws visitors in droves to this idyllic New England town. If getting active is your idea of a great vacation, a day's itinerary can include beach combing, fishing, sailing, golf, parasailing, bicycling, hiking, shopping, sight-seeing, and any number of outdoor pursuits.One of the best research centers dedicated to studying the patterns of the ocean is on Cape Cod. The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI, or "hooey") discovered the Titanic and created a whole new range of small submersibles, notably the Alvin, used in discovering the great ocean liner's final resting place. The WHOI Exhibit Center has two floors of displays illustrating ecological studies and discoveries made by the center. Visitors will leave understanding the life cycles of jellyfish, and will be amazed at the life forms that reside on the ocean's floor. The Woods Hole Science Aquarium has exhibits focusing on local waters. There are also "touch tanks" where the little ones can get up close and personal with various sea creatures. The aquarium is considered the oldest of its kind in the country.
If working on your tan is your favorite vacation activity, Falmouth has plenty of beaches where you can practice this hobby. Falmouth Heights Beach is great for families with small children due to the calm waves and the gentle slope into the water. This was one of the first summer colonies in the Cape, and some of the grand mansions built in the 1800s still overlook the beach. Old Silver Beach serves up the kind of frenetic fun one would expect in a popular beach community. This beach faces west, making it an ideal spot for enjoying a summer sunset. Windsurfing is also a popular pastime due to the ever-present winds.
Cape Cod is located right in the migratory pattern of over 300 species of birds. One of the best places to view them is at the Ashumet Holly & Wildlife Sanctuary in East Falmouth. This 45-acre preserve abounds with aviary and floral life. Named for its 65 different varieties of holly, the preserve was a gift to the Audubon Society by Wilfrid Wheeler. Trails meander through the sanctuary taking visitors past 1000 holly trees and other exotic species such as a Japanese umbrella pine and a Manchurian redwood. The setting is natural without manicured gardens.
