Every September, Buzzards Bay Park comes alive when thousands of scallop lovers from around the country arrive by bus, train, automobile, and bike to savor plates of sizzling fresh seafood at the famous Bourne Scallop Fest. Other attractions at this autumn extravaganza include toe-tapping musical performances, a regional arts and crafts show, and amusement park rides galore. Go once and you'll definitely want to make it an annual event!

Shoppers in Bourne's villages enjoy an eclectic, whimsical mix of handcrafted gifts, antique finds, high-end home furnishings, and more reflecting the diversity of this far-flung community. Sagamore's Pairpoint Glass glimmers with luminous glassware in every color of the rainbow handcrafted by artisans in an on-site workshop. Just a few miles south of the Bourne Bridge, Paine's Patio has provided discriminating homeowners with fine casual and outdoor furnishings for more than a century.

The natural attractions of Bourne's villages include more than 1,500 acres of preserved woods and shoreline along the Cape Cod Canal, which are traveled daily by cyclists, walkers, and fishermen. At the famous Bournedale Herring Run just a mile south of the Sagamore Bridge, visitors and locals alike gather to watch several hundred thousand herring spawn every spring. From Mashnee Island's picturesque beaches, where young sailors learn the ropes on the protected Buzzards Bay with the popular Bourne Community Boating program, to Wing's Neck's quiet, piney woods that open to stunning water views, this entry way to Cape Cod is a nature lover's haven.

After exploring the wonders of Bourne, have a drink and savor fine dining while watching the sun set from the ocean-view location of Buzzards Bay's Beachmoor Inn & Restaurant. For homemade but colorfully presented and well-spiced Asian dishes, hop into Stir Crazy in Pocasset. The Chart Room at Kingman Yacht Center is reachable by boat and offers an unforgettable backdrop for a meal. There is a long list of dining options in Bourne's nine towns, from fine seafood eateries on tree-lined New England village streets to relaxed beachside grills where the burgers are hot and the cocktails are easy.

And if you want to watch the glories of a Cape Cod summer evening unfold before your eyes, climb aboard one of Cape Cod Canal Cruises excursion boats in Onset for a little moonlight and music under the stars.