With my eyes closed I can draw the indented shorelines of Cape Cod and the Islands. From our very inviting Main Street villages to the dramatic allure of beachfront cliffs at the National Seashore, I love it.
When approaching the Cape Cod Canal from Plymouth or Wareham, my first glimpse of either bridge still gives me a rush. They are bridges to some place else, bridges to a more peaceful way of life. The canal—its sunsets, ships, its fog banks, the energy of its tidal currents—is mesmerizing.
From the canal-side village of Buzzards Bay, along the coast of either side of the bay—from Onset to Padanaram and Westport, Red Brook Harbor to West Falmouth and Woods Hole—the villages and harbors retain a Norman Rockwell sort of simple charm. One of my favorite spots has been the island of Cuttyhunk at the end of the Elizabeth Islands, extending 14 miles southwest from Woods Hole.
Nantucket Sound extends east from Woods Hole, bordered by Cape Cod on one side and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket on the other. Traveling from the vantage point of Nobska Lighthouse in Falmouth, one passes the inlets of East Falmouth, the golf course bluffs of New Seabury in Mashpee, summer homes on bluffs in the Wianno section of Osterville, the curve of Craigville Beach, and the bluffs on Squaw Island in Hyannisport. Continuing east past Hyannis Harbor, an abandoned lighthouse marks Great Island in Yarmouth, and Bass River appears before the many warm-water beaches in Dennis. The harbors of Harwich are post card-perfect, while the shoreline of Monomoy in Chatham is ever-changing.
A parallel trip on the south side of Nantucket Sound has us going from the West Chop Lighthouse on Martha's Vineyard to East Chop Lighthouse, with the bustling steamship port of Vineyard Haven nestled between the two. We pass Oak Bluffs—lovingly known as "Cottage City"—Edgartown Lighthouse, and Edgartown Harbor on our way to Cape Poge Light on Chappaquiddick Island. Next comes Muskeget, Tuckernuck, and Nantucket Islands, with Brant Point Lighthouse marking the entrance to Nantucket Harbor and its wharf-front village. The Great Point Lighthouse marks the northeast tip of Nantucket, which long ago was connected to Monomoy Island extending south from Chatham.
From the barrier beach breaks in front of Chatham Harbor, the coast gradually rises to Nauset Heights in Orleans. The cliff-side shoreline extends through Eastham and Wellfleet to Truro, interrupted only by Nauset Harbor and an occasional storm break at Ballston Beach in Truro. From Pilgrim Heights in North Truro, follow the dunes around Provincetown to Race Point, back past Wood End Lighthouse and Long Point Lighthouse, all the way to the pier in Provincetown Harbor.
With the exception of naturally gorgeous Pamet Harbor, the coastline of Cape Cod Bay is high in Truro and continues to remain so until Great Island in Wellfleet. This handsome, tree-covered island forms the western shore of Wellfleet Harbor. The shoreline lowers through the beaches and marshlands of Eastham down to Rock Harbor in Orleans, where the low-tide flats stretch into Brewster. We have Sesuit Harbor in Dennis, Barnstable Harbor behind Sandy Neck, and the Great Marsh leading up into Sandwich. From the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, the coast rises again from White Cliffs to Plymouth Harbor.
In this 2010 Annual Guide issue, marking the 31st year of Cape Cod Life, I would just like to say thank you to all Cape Cod Life readers, advertisers, distributors, and staff. It is a privilege to work on Cape Cod Life and live the Cape Cod life. Here's to a happy and healthy 2010 for all of us.
My best,
Brian Shortsleeve, President and Publisher
