Hotel at a Glance: The Villages at Ocean Edge Resort

The Villages at Ocean Edge Resort overlooks a Nicklaus Design golf course in the picture-perfect Cape Cod town of Brewster.

• Tee off: Guests enjoy exclusive access to a Nicklaus Design golf course.
• When hunger strikes: The resort has several restaurants and bars to choose from.
• Serve it up: Eleven tennis courts include clay and hard-surface options.
• Take a walk along 26 miles of trails. Some of the villas are right on the Cape Cod Bike and Rail trails. Bike rentals are available to guests.
• Take a dip: The resort has five pools, two of which are indoors. Guests also have access to the nearby Crosby Landing Beach, as well as to the private beach at The Mansion until Memorial Day.
• A cardio room is available at The Village, and fitness center available at The Mansion.
• Visit the museums: Both the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and the Cape Cod Museum of Fine Arts are open to the public.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Quaint Villages, Protected Beaches, and Miles of Shoreline

In the late 19th century, Cape Cod began to blossom into a summer vacation destination as visitors swapped crowded coastal cities for the sandy shores of eastern Massachusetts. Today, the arm-shaped peninsula encompasses a string of idyllic fishing villages, 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 11-mile Shining Sea Bikeway that wends from North Falmouth to Woods Hole.

Brewster is a small town dotted with historical mansions, many of which have been converted to bed and breakfasts. It’s also the site of Nickerson State Park, whose forests and ponds contrast with the marshes and beaches that mark the rest of Cape Cod.

But there’s also plenty to do in winter, when the crowds are a lot smaller. 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. Farther south, the Woods Hole Science Aquarium houses 140 marine animals native to the Northeast and mid-Atlantic region. You might even see marine biologists feeding the seals in the aquarium’s outdoor enclosure.

In the Lower, or Outer, Cape, you’ll find Eastham, nicknamed the Gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore. About 11% of the town lies within the protected area, which spreads across miles of swimming beaches, marshes, and ponds, accented by lighthouses and wild cranberry bogs. The seashore maintains several walking trails, including the Fort Hill Rural Historic District. While strolling, you’ll enjoy scenic ocean vistas, as Eastham is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cape Cod Bay on the other. Be sure to check out the Nauset Lighthouse, which has overlooked the Atlantic and helped guide vacationing British fish to shore since 1838.

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