Cape Cod, peninsula, southeastern Massachusetts, crossed at its base by the Cape Cod Canal. The cape is surrounded by Cape Cod Bay to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Nantucket Sound to the south, and Buzzards Bay to the southwest. The cape is deeply indented; in shape it resembles a flexed arm. It extends eastward about 56 km (about 35 mi) and then northward about 48 km (about 30 mi). The width varies from about 32 km (about 20 mi) between the towns of Sandwich and Woods Hole at the neck to a few hundred meters at the tip near the town of Provincetown. The cape is sandy, hilly, and thickly forested in spots and contains many lakes and ponds. Cape Cod is well known as a popular summer resort and has excellent facilities for swimming, fishing, and boating. Fishing is an important industry, especially in Provincetown, which has one of the largest and safest harbors on the Atlantic seaboard. The cape has a number of lighthouses, including Chatham Light at Chatham, and Cape Cod Light at Truro.

Although the Cape was originally connected to the mainland, the Cape Cod Canal, which opened in 1914, effectively transformed Cape Cod into a large island. Three bridges span the canal from the Massachusetts mainland to the Cape. Vehicles can cross onto the Cape via the Sagamore Bridge and the Bourne Bridge; the other is the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge.

The Upper Cape is the section of Cape Cod closest to the mainland. This portion of the Cape includes the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee. While part of the town of Barnstable is located on the Upper Cape, it is more commonly considered to be in the Mid-Cape area. Falmouth is the home of the famous Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and several other research organizations, and is also the most-used ferry connection to Martha's Vineyard. Falmouth is composed of several separate villages, including East Falmouth, Falmouth Village, Hatchville, North Falmouth, Teaticket, Waquoit, West Falmouth, and Woods Hole, as well as several smaller hamlets that are incorporated into their larger neighbors.

The Mid-Cape includes the towns of Barnstable, Yarmouth and Dennis. The Mid-Cape area features many beautiful beaches, including warm-water beaches along Nantucket Sound, e.g. Kalmus Beach in Hyannis. The Mid-Cape is also the commercial and industrial center of the region. There are seven villages in Barnstable, including Barnstable Village, Centerville, Cotuit, Hyannis, Marstons Mills, Osterville, and West Barnstable, as well as several smaller hamlets that are incorporated into their larger neighbors.

The Lower Cape is the narrower portion of the cape, where it bends sharply to the north. This section includes the towns of Harwich, Brewster, Chatham, and Orleans.

The Outer Cape is the outermost part, containing the towns of Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. This area includes the Cape Cod National Seashore and is home to some of the most popular beaches in America such as Coast Guard Beach and Nauset Light Beach in Eastham.

The large area of water spanning from Plymouth to Provincetown, bordered to the north by Massachusetts Bay and enclosed by Cape Cod, is Cape Cod Bay; west of Cape Cod is Buzzards Bay. To the south lie Nantucket Sound; Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard (both large islands); and the mostly privately owned Elizabeth Islands in the town of Gosnold, of which the most populated is Cuttyhunk.

Cape Cod experiences a tourist season each summer between Memorial Day and Labor Day, as the New England cold gives way to a brief but comfortable summer. Many businesses are specifically targeted to summer visitors, and close during the 8 to 9 months of the "off season." In the late 20th century, tourists and owners of second homes began visiting the Cape more and more in the spring and fall, softening the definition of the high season and expanding it somewhat. Some particularly well-known Cape products and industries include cranberries, shellfish, and lobster.

Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod, also berths several whale watching fleets who patrol the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary. Most fleets guarantee a whale sighting (mostly humpback, finback, and sei whales), and one is the only federally certified operation qualified to rescue whales. Provincetown has also long been known as an art colony, attracting writers and artists. Many hotels and resorts are friendly to or cater to gay and lesbian tourists and it is known as a gay mecca in the summer.

Cape Cod is popular for its outdoor activities like beach walking, biking, boating, fishing, go-karts, golfing, kayaking, miniature golf, and unique shopping. There are 27 public, daily-fee golf courses and 15 private courses on Cape Cod.

Real Estate: Massachusetts: Boston

Cape Cod Times