Hotel at a Glance: Red Jacket Beach Resort

Red Jacket Beach Resort has a 1,000-foot-long, private beach with complimentary chairs, towels, and umbrellas where you can enjoy the unparalleled natural beauty of Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound. You can play a game of beach volleyball, or take a dip in one of three swimming pools—one indoor, two outdoor.

• A room with a view: Oceanview rooms have sweeping views of Nantucket Sound from private balconies or patios.
• Signature spa services at The Otis Cole Day Spa include the custom facial with Aveda’s Botanical Kinetics line, rosemary-mint body wrap, and a 60- or 90-minute massage that combines Swedish and deep-tissue techniques; some options in this Getaway include a $70 spa credit per stay.
• Traditional Cape Cod cuisine is on the menu at the onsite restaurant; Specialties include New England clam chowder and fish tacos made with local haddock.
• Resort reciprocity: Guests of Red Jacket Beach Resort can use the facilities at any of its four sister resorts on Cape Cod free of charge.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Historic Towns and Miles of Protected Beaches

In the late 19th century, Cape Cod blossomed into a summer vacation destination as visitors swapped crowded coastal cities for the sandy shores of eastern Massachusetts. Today, the arm-shaped peninsula, located 60 miles south of Boston, encompasses 15 idyllic towns, rolling dunes, and 300 miles of sandy shoreline—and it’s still the place where many East Coasters choose to spend their leisurely summer days. Popular attractions include fresh-seafood restaurants, quaint stores, and bicycle trails, such as the 22-mile Cape Cod Rail Trail that wends through Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. Yarmouth, one of the oldest towns on the Cape, is filled with historic homes, several sandy beaches on Nantucket Sound, and a lively nightlife that’s a big hit with visitors.

On the uppermost tip of the Cape, the free-spirited art colony of Provincetown attracts visitors year-round. This is one of the best places to head for a vibrant nightlife scene—there are cabarets, bars, and lounges aplenty. Pop into the Provincetown Art Association and Museum to check out local artwork, both historical and contemporary.

Along the Lower, or Outer, Cape, the 44,000-acre Cape Cod National Seashore stretches from Orleans to Provincetown and features six swimming beaches, wild cranberry bogs, and miles of walking and biking trails. In Eastham, be sure to check out the Nauset Lighthouse, which has overlooked the Atlantic and helped guide vacationing British fish to shore since 1838. This coastal region is also known for whale watching; between April and November, tour boats take passengers out to sea to catch glimpses of humpback and minke whales.

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