Barnstable is the largest municipality on Cape Cod, encompassing seven distinct villages including Hyannis — the Cape's commercial hub and the departure point for ferries to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. With miles of coastline on both Nantucket Sound and Cape Cod Bay, a lively arts scene, and a rich colonial history dating to 1639, Barnstable offers an unmatched variety of lifestyles within a single address.
Barnstable Highlights
- Seven villages: Hyannis, Barnstable Village, Centerville, Cotuit, Marstons Mills, Osterville, and West Barnstable
- Hyannis Harbor — ferry terminal for Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard
- Sandy Neck Beach — a pristine 4-mile barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay
- Home to the Cape Cod Baseball League, the country's most prestigious summer collegiate league
Sandy Neck Beach
A pristine 4-mile barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay with sweeping dunes, a salt marsh reserve, and access to the outer beach by foot or permitted 4WD. One of the finest undeveloped beaches on the Cape.
Cape Cod BayParking (fee)RestroomsNo lifeguards4WD outer beach access
Craigville Beach
A wide, sandy Nantucket Sound beach in Centerville village, popular for families with warm calm water, full facilities, and a classic Cape Cod summer atmosphere.
Nantucket SoundParking (fee)Lifeguards (seasonal)RestroomsConcessions
Kalmus Beach
Located at the entrance to Hyannis Harbor on Nantucket Sound, Kalmus is a favorite launch for windsurfers and kiters, with a wide sandy beach and full summer facilities.
Nantucket SoundParking (fee)Lifeguards (seasonal)RestroomsWindsurfing
Veterans Beach
A calm, sheltered harbor beach in Hyannis with a boat ramp, playground, and picnic area — ideal for young children and casual family outings.
Hyannis HarborParking (fee)Lifeguards (seasonal)RestroomsPlayground
Sandy Neck Beach & Barrier Beach
One of the finest barrier beaches on the East Coast, with 4 miles of white sand, dunes, and a salt marsh reserve accessible by foot or 4WD.
Hyannis Harbor & John F. Kennedy Memorial
A scenic working harbor with a waterfront park honoring JFK, whose family compound in Hyannisport made Barnstable famous worldwide.
Cape Cod Central Railroad
A scenic rail journey through Cape Cod landscapes, with dinner train excursions departing from Hyannis.
Osterville Village
One of the Cape's most elegant villages, with boutique shops, fine galleries, and some of Barnstable's most coveted waterfront properties.
Craigville Beach
A beloved sand beach on Nantucket Sound in Centerville village, popular for families and summer rentals.
The Black Cat Tavern
A Hyannis Harbor institution for fresh seafood and casual waterfront dining.
Spanky's Clam Shack
Classic Cape Cod clam shack on the harbor — fried clams, chowder, and lobster rolls.
Alberto's Ristorante
Elegant Italian cuisine in Hyannis, a long-standing local favorite.
Naked Oyster Bistro & Raw Bar
Upscale seafood in Hyannis with an impressive raw bar and Cape-sourced menu.
From CAI — Cape and Islands NPR Station
The small, black relatives of the blueberry grow all over the Cape and Islands.
Amateur cooks get by with a little ?kelp? from their friends and the results are pretty tasty.
Garlic scapes are in season at the Truro Farmers Market, and there are so many good ways to cook them.
A centuries-old Portuguese ritual rich with history, pageantry, and, most definitely, food.
Landscaping can direct major rainfalls to places where plants can use the water later.
An expert makes the case for eating "micro-livestock."
The hub offers food from 20 farms in the region.
For more than a hundred years, the state has been stocking ponds all over the Cape and Islands with locally raised trout. Mike Clark of Plymouth helps breed these fish at a series of outdoor pools in Sandwich.
On a Cape Cod blueberry farm, a newly arrived colony of bumblebees takes flight, beginning the careful work that transforms spring flowers into summer fruit.
Last spring, honeybee keeper Tim Colon of Vineyard Haven emailed me a fascinating recording.
We look at acorns, chestnuts, and hickories on the commercial food scene.
You know hostas? Those broad-leafed, perennial plants landscapers so often put in shady spots, or on the edges between gardens and lawns? Well, it turns out hosta shoots are edible. Really.
Main Street Hyannis
The Cape's most active commercial district — national retailers, local boutiques, galleries, and year-round restaurants.
Osterville Village Shops
A curated collection of antique dealers, fine art galleries, and specialty boutiques in a picturesque village setting.
1856 Country Store (Centerville)
A charming and authentic country store in Centerville village operating since 1856 — stocked with penny candy, Cape Cod gifts, local provisions, and old-fashioned general store character that has made it a beloved landmark for generations of Cape Codders.
Cape Cod Art Center
Founded in 1948 and located in Barnstable Village, the Cape Cod Art Center is one of the oldest arts institutions on the Cape — presenting juried exhibitions, workshops, and classes in a beautiful historic setting year-round.
Cotuit Center for the Arts
A vibrant community arts center in the village of Cotuit presenting rotating gallery exhibitions, live performances, and arts education programs throughout the year.
Osterville Village Galleries
The elegant village of Osterville is home to several fine art galleries representing established regional and national artists in painting, sculpture, and photography.
Four Seas Ice Cream (Centerville)
A Cape Cod institution since 1934 and one of the most beloved ice cream parlors in New England. Located in a converted blacksmith shop in Centerville village, Four Seas is famous for its house-made flavors, seasonal operation, and decades of summer memories. Expect a line — it's worth it.
Polar Cave Ice Cream Parlour (Marstons Mills)
A beloved and charmingly quirky Barnstable landmark in Marstons Mills, known for its enormous selection of homemade flavors, generous portions, and the endearing collection of memorabilia that fills every corner of the parlor. A family tradition for generations of Cape Codders.
Courtesy of the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
April 25 - October 18, 2026
- What comes to mind when you think of cranberries? A crimson bog on a bright autumn day? Or maybe a Thanksgiving table? Whether covering our local bogs or garnishing our cocktails,...
April 25 - October 18, 2026
- In From Carriage to Classic: How Automobiles Transformed America, we present the origin story of the American automobile through 26 cars from Heritage’s permanent collection....
June 1 - August 14, 2026
- Spend your summer evenings with Hyannis Sound at our weekly Cape Cod shows in Falmouth, Chatham, Dennis, and Osterville! Join us from June 1 through August 14 for live a cappella...
June 4 - September 3, 2026
- Thursdays, 5:00 - 8:00 PM Chapter House Cape Cod, 277 MA-6A, Yarmouth Port Join Cape Symphony Presents for Thursday Night Chapters - a free, weekly summer residency at the historic...
June 25 - August 22, 2026
- 2026 Osterville Village Library 34th Annual Car Raffle - Tickets are on sale now!Win either a 2026 Audi A3 quattro or a Jeep Wrangler 4-door Sport 4x4 - winner's choice!The...
June 25 - August 27, 2026
- Canal Region Farmers Market📅 Thursdays, June 25 – August 27, 2026🕔 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM📍 Buzzards Bay Park, 90 Main Street, Buzzards Bay,...
July 7 - August 31, 2026
- Our ever-popular biennial installation of whimsical fairy houses will return to the Highfield grounds this summer! Our theme for the 2026 fairy houses will be Celebrations!,...
July 7 - September 27, 2026
- The country will celebrate 250 years of Independence in 2026. To honor this special Semi-quincentennial anniversary, Highfield will present a celebratory exhibition, O Beautiful:...
July 25 - August 8, 2026
- View the Plein Air works of art created by local artists painting in the gardens during the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival garden tours.For the sixth year, artwork will be on display,...
July 27 - August 2, 2026
- Hyannis HyARTS ARTIST SHANTIES Hyannis Harbor *two locations along the Walkway-to-the-Sea* OPEN MAY - OCTOBER Bismore Park & Harbor Overlook, on Ocean Street 12 seaside...
July 29 - July 31, 2026
- Bayberry Quilt Guild annual quilt show, over 200 quilts on display as well as vendors, demos, lectures, refreshments. Bayberry Quilters’ 43rd annual quilt show will be...
July 30 - August 1, 2026
- The Cape Cod Writers Center Annual Conference is a nationally-acclaimed multi-day event tailored for both aspiring and published writers of all genres. It provides attendees...
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