Explore Eastham, MA

GREAT POND
Eastham boasts two Atlantic-facing beaches that
dominate the National Park’s shoreline. Coast Guard
Beach has long been considered one of America’s
finest beaches thanks to its sweeping dunes and
stunning marshlands. Nauset Light Beach is also a
gem, and is adjacent to the oft-photographed Nauset
Light. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places,
the lighthouse is also recognizable for being featured
on the Cape Cod Potato Chips bag.
The Eastham section of the National Seashore is home
to two of the Cape’s most beloved hiking spots – Fort
Hill Trail and Red Maple Swamp Trail. Fort Hill crosses
open fields, offers breathtaking views of Nauset Marsh
and is a popular destination for birders. Red Maple
Swamp Trail features an elevated boardwalk over Red
Maple Swamp, and its surrounding woodlands are at a
glorious peak in fall.
Outdoor enthusiasts will flock to the Cape Cod
Rail Trail and Nauset Bike Trail, both of which are
accessible right from the Salt Pond Visitor Center. The
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CAPE COD TRAVEL GUIDE « 2021
Nauset Bike Trail is the shorter of the two and connects
to several scenic hiking trails, as well as to Coast Guard
Beach.
Throughout Eastham, you’ll find art galleries,
antiquing, gift shops and clothing boutiques, along
with great restaurants and cozy cafes.
The town’s whaling industry roots can be explored
at Eastham’s Captain Edward Penniman House, a
French Second Empire style house built in 1868 and
once owned by one of the Cape’s most famous sea
captains. Peruse the Penniman family’s written records
and artifact collections, which provide insights into the
people and places the family visited on their whaling
voyages. More of the town’s history can be discovered
at the Eastham 1869 Schoolhouse Museum, a oneroom schoolhouse used by the town until 1905.
Exhibits include shipwreck treasures, Native American
artifacts, a 13-foot jawbone from a 65-foot finback
whale, U.S. Life Saving records and memorabilia from
the school itself.
capecodchamber.org

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