Explore the Outer Cape

There is something for everyone on Cape Cod. The Inn at the Oaks is located on the Outer Cape and is considered the gateway to the National Seashore. You can spend a day relaxing at our wonderful beaches, take a bike ride on the Cape Cod Rail Trail, go bird watching on our local trails, visit our many museums or shops and of course, enjoy the many fabulous restaurants.

Soft light on the Old Harbour Life Saving Museum, Race Point Beach, Cape Cod. Photo taken at dusk in the dunes on a scenic beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts . Cape Cod is famous, worldwide, as a coastal vacation destination with some of New England's premier beach destinations

A Great Blue Heron rests behind the tall grasses in a Cape Cod marsh.

highland lighthouse at cape cod built in 1797

Cape Cod Provincetown port Massachusetts US

Silhouette of couple drinking wine at sunset beach

Eastham is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod.

The national seashore visitors center in Eastham

The three sisters lighthouses in Eastham MA

View of a wetland from a hill on Uncle Tim's Island, in Wellfleet

Boardwalk in the autumn forest on Cape Cod

People sitting on a picnic table and having a conversation — Photo credit: Organic Photography

Local Attractions

Outer Cape Beaches

Coast Guard Beach – Eastham (Wheelchair accessible)
Nauset Light Beach – Eastham
Cahoon Hollow Beach – Wellfleet
Head of the Meadow Beach – Truro
Herring Cove Beach – Provincetown
Marconi Beach South – Wellfleet
Nauset Beach – Orleans
Race Point Beach – Provincetown
Skaket Beach – Orleans
White Crest Beach – Wellfleet

beautiful bay side beach with waves and footprints

Beach shot on the atlantic ocean side somewhere on cape cod with many people under the sun

A group of seals in the water — Photo by Kenneth Holmes

a couple enjoying the sunset from the beach at low tide

Gardens and Town Cove, in Orleans, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.

Local Bayside and Pond Beaches

These beaches are managed by the Town of Eastham Recreation and Beach Department and require a Town of Eastham Sticker from early June until after Labor Day. Daily Passes or Visitor Beach Stickers may be purchased at First Encounter or Cooks Brook Beaches. Click on the link below for detailed information.

https://www.eastham-ma.gov/recreation-beach-department/pages/beach-parking-daily-passes

Boat Meadow
Campground
Cole Road
Cooks Brook Beach (Daily Parking Sticker Required, handicap accessible)
Corn Hill Beach
First Encounter Beach (Daily Parking Sticker Required, handicap accessible)
Great Pond (Lifeguards)
Hemenway Landing
Herring Pond
Salt Pond
Sunken Meadow Beach
Thumpertown
Wiley Park (Lifeguards)

Biking Trails & Bike rentals

The Cape Cod Rail Trial (CCRT), is a 28-mile world famous cycling trail that runs through the towns of Yarmouth, Dennis, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet. No motorized vehicles are allowed which makes the 10-foot-wide paved surface safe for cyclists, walkers, runners, or inline skaters. Formerly the old Cape Cod Railroad right of way – used in the mid-1800’s through 1960 to bring passengers and freight service to all the Cape – the trail passes by lovely ponds and lakes where you can stop to swim or enjoy a picnic lunch. The trail is well marked, and maps are available at numerous information booths as well as online. The trail is patrolled by local police bike patrols. Bicycle and rollerblade rentals are available at the several bike rental shops located along the trail. There are several other bike trails on Cape Cod including the Cape Cod Canal Trail managed by the Army Corps of Engineers, the Shining Sea Trail in Falmouth, several trails within the Cape Cod National Seashore in Eastham to Coast Guard Beach, Province Lands Trail in the Dunes of Provincetown, and Head of the Meadow in Truro. Most of the local and park beaches provide bike racks for security.

Trails closest to the Inn at the Oaks

The Cape Cod Rail Trail is easily accessible around the corner from the Inn, right behind Little Capistrano Bike Shop.
The Nauset Bike Trail is a paved trail which starts at the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor’s Center and ends 2 ¼ miles later at Coast Guard Beach. The Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center is across the street from the Inn.

Bike Rentals

Little Capistrano Bike Shop Eastham and South Wellfleet www.littlecapistranobikeshop.com 508-255-6515
Idle Times Bike Shop Eastham, Orleans, Wellfleet www.idletimesbikes.com 508.255.8281

Bridge in marsh waterway on Cape Cod, Massachusetts with dramatic clouds

Scenic view from fort hill overlooking the marsh

Great Island Trail 1 - view to the salt pond

Beautiful Sunset in Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts

Curved Boardwalk in the Maple Forest at Fort Hill Park on Cape Cod in Massachusetts

Sand dunes in the Province Lands at Cape Cod National Seashore,

Walking & Hiking Trails

The Massachusetts Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary in Eastham and Wellfleet has 5 different walking trails.
The South Eastham Conservation Area & Upper Boat Meadow system connects
- Fort Hill Trail
- Doane Trail
- Red Maple Swamp Trail
- Nauset Marsh Trail
- Buttonbush Trail
- Cedar Banks Trail
The Glacial Ponds Trail System connects
- Lady Slipper Trail
- The Nickerson Property
- Cottontail Acrea

Local Golf Courses

A golf lover’s paradise with over 24 golf courses. For a complete list use the link below.
https://easthamchamber.com/visit-stay/golf

Golf Courses closest to the Inn at the Oaks

Captains Golf Course
1000 Freeman’s Way, Brewster, MA 508-986-1716
Chequessett Club
680 Chequessett Neck Rd, Wellfleet, MA 508-349-3704