There are still many things to do and see on Cape Cod in autumn. With less tourists and less hot and humid weather, Cape Cod becomes the perfect location for a great getaway! Check out our list of ways to enjoy Cape Cod in the fall.
Through Mid-November
BARNSTABLE VILLAGE’S HAUNTED & HISTORY TOUR
Host Derek Bartlett will bring you down The King’s Road and stop at locations such as The Superior Court House, The Hedge House, Cobb’s Hill Cemetery and then you will GO INTO The Oldest Wooden Jail in America (photo above) that is actively haunted and many more locations. There are over 6 children entities that haunt locations throughout Barnstable village. For more information, click here.
Choose from many taprooms
SAMPLE SOME LOCAL CRAFT BEER
Looking for the perfect spot to grab a cold beer? Local craft beer can be found from Bourne to Provincetown, many with taprooms to sample the offerings. Some locations have both indoor and outdoor seating with light food offerings.
Click here for a list of the 15 best local breweries on the Cape.
Town of Barnstable has 95 miles of hiking trails from which choose.
Get Outside & Hit the Hiking Trails
There’s no time like the present to get outside and explore the special places Barnstable has to offer. The Barnstable Land Trust publishes a Trail Guide representing 34 locations and almost 95 hiking trail miles in the Town of Barnstable. In addition, the Cape Cod Pathways Trail Guide showcases 21 miles of trails, including spurs, that stretch across the Barnstable section of the multitown Pathways trail network. For for a detailed list of locations and to access the guides, click here.
One of Yarmouth’s biggest attractions, until Mid-October
explore yarmouth’s sand sculpture trail
As one of Yarmouth’s biggest attractions, this sand sculpture trail features over 30 family-friendly sand sculptures which change annually. The trail will be available for viewing from Memorial Day until mid-October.
Download the Sculpture Trail map and as you explore the Cape, take selfies to post on Facebook or Instagram or share with friends and family. Just be sure not to get to close or touch the sand sculptures! For more information, click here.
Fall is a great season for golf on Cape Cod.
play a great round of golf
The heat of summer has passed, and many courses are enjoying some of their best playing conditions of the year. Since it is no longer peak season, the rates for green fees, cart rentals and more usually drop in the fall. The courses are in good condition and the competition for tee times is nowhere near as intense as during the summer months. From Bourne to Truro, a wide variety of layouts are offered on 27 public courses that never fail to please and most courses on the Cape stay open all winter. You can access a list of public and private Golf Courses by clicking here.
October 14th -15th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
wellfleet oysterfest
Come celebrate with fun, tasty, and educational pop ups for all to enjoy. Shellfish and Wellfleet have long been intertwined. Enjoyed by native Pononakanet and later European settlers, commercial sales began in 1665. Wellfleet oysters are internationally renowned for their superlative flavor. Wellfleet’s centuries old shellfishing tradition continues to this day. Wild harvesters and shellfish farmers generate nearly $8 million in sales annually which is 25% of the state’s seafood landings! Click here to access a list of events.
The farm is open daily, dawn to dusk.
visit the animals at taylor-bray farm
Visit the animals! The friendliest animals have to be Henry, George and Dusty, their goats. Chloe is the Scottish Highland cow, reclining in the pasture. Despite her size, she is quite gentle but with those long horns, you don’t want to get too close. And of course, there are the sheep, donkeys and chickens. Come visit all of them. After you have seen the animals, walk out the boardwalk into Black Flats Marsh with Chapin Beach dunes to the west or left and beyond them, Cape Cod Bay. 375 year-old Taylor-Bray Farm (Est. 1639) is one of the oldest farming sites in the country, and has been run as a successful public-private partnership between the Town of Yarmouth and the Association. Generous funding from the town’s Community Preservation Grant Program has been a key to the farm’s 21st century revival. There are no fees at the farm, but your donations would be greatly appreciated. For more information, click here.
Saturday, October 7th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sunday November 19th from 1 to 3 p.m.
go for a hayride at the farm’s fall festival
The Fall Festival at Taylor-Bray Farm includes with hayrides along the Don McIntyre Trail, fresh apple cider, picking pumpkins, and old time games. Pumpkins, gourds, calendars, as well as Taylor-Bray Farm T-shirts, hats, activity books and crafts are on sale. Enjoy hot dogs, apple cider, apple cider donut holes and candy corn Rice Krispie treats. For more information, click here.
Plan that Autumn Whale Watch Now!
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
With long summer days behind us, the pressure is on for the whales to feed as much as possible before winter comes knocking. We’ve been enjoying incredible trips with literally tons of hungry whales! Humpbacks, finback, and minke whales, with bonuses like dolphins, seals, and even ocean sunfish.
What are you waiting for? Book with a cruise now!
Open 7 days a week thru October
truro vineyards winery/distillery tour
Owned and operated by the Roberts Family, Truro Vineyards and South Hollow Distillery is perched between the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. They love crafting premium wines and spirits for your enjoyment and creating a peerless destination for visitors. Enjoy tastings, wines by the glass or a cocktail while having lunch from their food truck run by Blackfish Restaurant. Click here for more information.
Saturday, October 7th and Sunday, October 8th from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
yarmouth seaside festival
Founded in 1978 by a local South Yarmouth resident in the hopes of creating community spirit and pride in the Town of Yarmouth. Presented annually on Columbus Day weekend, the festival is the result of a tremendous effort by a small, volunteer committee. The festival has grown into a gala event which boasts a craft fair of more than 125 crafters from all over the country, continual musical entertainment, high‐quality children’s events, nature shows, a kayak and canoe race, pie‐eating contests, beach bonfire, road race, rides and games, and fireworks display. By bringing together our townspeople and tourists alike, they have captured a warm, fun‐loving, and FREE event for all to take part in and enjoy. For more information, click here.
go apple picking at crow farm
Nothing says fall as going to pick your own apples while enjoying the crisp autumn air on Cape Cod. Founded in 1916, the farm stand offers a variety of homegrown vegetables and fruits, including apples, pears, and sweet corn, in season, from the 40-acres behind the stand. There are also freshly baked pies, preserves, honeys, gourmet mustards, flowers and more.. The beautiful walk to the orchard for apple picking is approximately a quarter mile, taking about 5-10 minutes. They recommend bringing a wagon to cart children to the orchards or to carry your apples and pumpkins back to your vehicles and to enjoy the corn maze with your kids. Follow their Facebook page (click here) to see when each variety is ripening so you can better plan your apple-picking trip. For updates on days/times, before heading out we suggest checking their Facebook page, or their website or calling 508-888-0690.
Until Columbus Day
go on a lighthouse harbor tour
a Lighthouse Harbor Tour with Bay Spirit Tours offers a great vantage point to see some of the Cape’s loveliest lighthouses and other local points of interest, including the Kennedy Compound in Hyannisport. As an added bonus, your harbor tour will provide you with some great glimpses of the leaves turning color on the shore, too. Dress in layers, it can get a little chilly out on the water! For more information on a tour, click here.
through Columbus Day
charter a lobster roll cruise
Relax and enjoy the spectacular views from the decks of the “Lobster Roll” dinner cruise ship through Columbus Day. Glide through the calm waters of Sesuit Harbor and into the serene beauty of Cape Cod Bay with its incredible sunsets and picturesque coastline. Let us tempt you with your choice of fine foods artfully prepared on board. Our state of the art galley has been designed to prepare the freshest menu items available. Enjoy your favorite frozen drink, cocktail, wine or beer from either of the two upper or lower deck bars. Reservations are strongly recommended however, walk-ons are welcome. Planning a Birthday Party ~ Anniversary ~ Wedding ~ Rehearsal Dinner ~ Company Outing Family Reunion ~ Memorial Service ~ Fundraiser? Whether it’s Brunch, Lunch, Sunset Dinner or just a Cocktail Cruise, the S.S. Lobster Roll offers the perfect setting for your special event! For more information on a cruise, click here.
November 2nd thru November 5th
PROVINCETOWN FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL
This year‘s theme is LOCAL FOOD for GLOBAL WINES. We are highlighting all of our indigenous bounty from LAND & SEA. Our incredible partnerships will showcase Provincetown’s harvest!
The program books are being printed and distributed but if you can’t wait, here’s the full book in PDF form.
To see the Events Schedule, click here.
September to December
tour a cranberry bog
As cranberry harvesting season on Cape Cod occurs from September to December, autumn is the best time for a Cranberry Bog tour. Depending on when you go, expect to see cranberries ready for harvest floating on the surface of the bog, with fall foliage serving as the backdrop. For a list of cranberry bogs on the Cape, click here.
Looking for a fun fall getaway?
property cape cod vacations
Be sure to check out our boutique collection of vacation homes for your autumn vacation destination by clicking here!
