From overlooked roadside attractions to eccentric museums and obscure natural wonders, Local Hidden Gems will showcase some of the unique and unexpected treasures that make America extraordinary. Let’s emphasize charm, surprise and delight.
Local Hidden Gem: Cape Cod, Massachusetts
We all need a dose of weirdness every now and then. It is a home remedy for the dreaded disease known as Wicked Bored-itis, which can strike at any time. It causes a lethargic state of debilitating melancholy, which can lead to chronic bad mood and endless hours spent sulking in a recliner, a condition known as melancholia.
Happily, Cabo Cod, Massachusetts, is home to eccentric and eccentric locales that are sure to lift your spirits or at least make you ask the eternal question, “What’s wrong with that?” Soon, your despondent mood will fade and your light, informed banter will wow the crowd at your next fancy cocktail party.
So here we go with some great off-the-beaten-path spots to explore our glorious peninsula!
Local Hidden Gems: A Spotlight on American Treasures in Our Backyards
Sagamore Hill Historic Site, Sandwich
While Scusset Beach State Reservation is best known for its sandy shore on Cape Cod Bay and the excellent fishing pier that extends into the Cape Cod Canalalso houses a trail that leads to the Sagamore Hill Historic Site, where a World War II artillery installation guarded the canal. The major concern was German submarines and their threat to military and commercial shipping.
Two 155mm cannons graced the top of the hill, nicknamed “Big Mary” and “Vicious Virgin.” They had a range of about 20 miles, but were never fired at an enemy target. Today it is possible to see the remains of the “Ready Rooms”, where ammunition was stored, and there is a beautiful view at the top of the trail.
Big Island, Sandwich
Of course, you’ve probably heard Big Island in Fleet of GoodAn epic Cape Cod National Seashore trail that can cover up to 13 kilometers in a round trip. But did you know that there is also a Big Island in Sandwich? I have to include Sandwich Island on this list because it is one of the most beautiful places I have visited on Cape Cod.
Start with a visit to Toolas Reserve in the east Sandwich, where a small parking lot provides a base of operations for the short trip to Great Island. After making your way through Toolas, walk to the end of Great Island Road where you will be greeted by an incredible view of the marsh. A grassy path, formerly used by ox carts to harvest salt hay, takes you to Ilha Grande – and a small trail on the island allows you to explore the interior.
Doane Rock, Eastham
I was recently involved in a little trouble in Rocha Doanethe cable largest glacial stone, when I came across a new sign that told visitors not to climb the megastone. But luckily, the Cape Cod National Seashore said the sign was placed there by mistake and that it was okay to climb the rock carefully. The sign has been covered up and will be removed, according to Seashore.
So now there is nothing standing between you and a great achievement in life: reaching the summit of Doane Rock! At approximately 18 feet tall, climbing the massive rock is not a good idea for young children or people with physical challenges or balance issues. But if you can make it to the top, it presents one of the best photo opportunities on the Cape.
Atwood-Higgins House, Wellfleet
See how the story begins, according to the National Park Service: “In 1920, George Higgins, a businessman from Brookline, Massachusetts, inherited his great-grandparents’ home on a remote corner of Bound Brook Island in Wellfleet. The property included a 1730s Cape Cod-style house. Now known as Atwood-Higgins House is one of the oldest in the region.”
But Higgins didn’t stop there. He assembled a collection of intriguing outbuildings, described by the park as “his sentimental take on a colonial-era estate.” This bucolic retreat, one of the Cape’s most peaceful spots, was donated to the Cape Cod National Seashore and you can walk the grounds and dream of simpler times.
Eric Williams, when not solving the curious mysteries of Cape Cod, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife, and other topics. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.
This article originally appeared in the Cape Cod Times: Cape Cod Local Hidden Gems to Visit: Whimsical, Whimsical, and Fun
