Barnstable, MA Outdoor Activities

In the depths of Cape Cod swim delicacies such as sea-bass and fluke. With backgrounds in both commercial and recreational fishing, the captains of Helen H Fleet lead anglers on trips for these catches, motoring to fishing grounds such as Nantucket Sound. The four-boat fleet, which ranges from the 30-foot Sea Hawk to the 100-foot Helen H, lets the captains accommodate small charters of one to five anglers as well as party cruises. Crews rent out rods and reels, as well as sell refreshments in between anglers' bouts with feisty bass or boots stuck to the ocean floor. Targeted species change with the season, and Helen H Fleet's captains also charter whale- and seal-watching excursions whenever the creatures migrate along Cape Cod.

Captain Mike, a Coast Guard–licensed boater, takes singles, pairs, and groups of three onto the water in a boat built in 2011 and checked daily for safety. Parasailers prep for their ascent by strapping into equipment garnered from the world's leading parasail equipment manufacturers. A multicolored parachute then pulls them soaring into the blue firmament for a thrilling ride and views typically only seen while inside a paper airplane.

The six different parasailing experiences cater to varying tastes, with the Wet 'n' Wild option guaranteeing a dunk in the water and the Elevator Gone Mad flight promising patrons a quick shot into the air before falling gently back to earth. For another means of taking in the sights, the crew sets up beach-goers with safe, speedy jet skis that can hold up to three passengers.

A stately colonial clubhouse overlooks Ballymeade Country Club's 18-hole course, where golfers roam across a fertile expanse of rolling Cape Code terrain. The par 72 course presents undulating fairways that give way to multitier greens where even gentle putts send balls rolling over deviously steep slopes. As golf carts ascend to grassy hillcrests, golfers can bask in views of the surrounding landscape, such as the cerulean waters of Buzzards Bay, which is most visible from the 11th green. Journeys through the horticultural haven conclude with majestic flair at the 581-yard, par 5 18th hole, where the fairway doglegs right on its path to a large green stationed behind a small pond.

Most physical confrontations involve a level of personal risk, but at Cartland of Cape Cod, fun-loving competitors let robotic Boxerjocks do the swinging. Safely tucked away in a cage of steel, operators trigger sidesteps with the thrust of a joystick and jabs with the punch of a button. The unusual attraction is just a taste of what the epicenter of family fun has to offer, from vintage Indy-style go-karts to colorful bumper boats and water-balloon slingshots. Visitors who want to keep dry can head to the 20-hole mini-golf course, batting cages, and the area of classic coin-operated kiddie rides, and can still escape the heat with a scoop of ice cream rather than laboring to befriend an iceberg.

EcoTourz’s cache of bikes and kayaks furnish unique perspectives of the Upper Cape’s natural splendor and Sandwich’s historical charms. Guides usher small groups of kayakers down Historic Mill Creek, where herons and osprey soar above the tall grass while conspiring to overthrow the neighborhood mockingbirds. On dry land, EcoTourz staff rents out bicycles and divulges prime pedaling spots, such as the marsh-lined Sandwich Boardwalk or some of the Cape’s oldest buildings.

You're in the woods playing hide-and-seek. Tucked behind a log, you hear, "Ready or not, here I come!" and then wait for the sound of footsteps to trod past. The steps fade, and you break for base. But then the seeker closes in, but he doesn't need to get close enough to touch you—he just needs a clear shot to tag you with a paintball pellet.

Cape Cod Paintball's founders—friends who spent nearly a decade designing the facility's 14 outdoor fields—love to blend childhood games such as hide-and-seek with the grown-up thrill of paintball. Each course integrates both natural and artificial terrain—picture freestanding timber and brush piles juxtaposed against industrial cable spools, upturned sections of corrugated tubing, and wooden fence panels. Through this mash-up of cover, players split into teams for standard paintball games such as Capture the Flag, or more updated childhood games such as Cops and Robbers. Cape Cod Paintball's team also caters to group play with private parties, and mans a pro shop stocked with gear from brands such as Tippmann and Dangerous Power.