Hotel at a Glance: Blue Rock Resort

The centerpiece of this Cape Cod resort is its par 3 golf course, whose 18 challenging holes have earned nods from Sports Illustrated and Golf Digest . The Geoffrey Cornish–designed course sprawls across 3,000 yards and features four water hazards. You can get views of the course from the resort’s heated outdoor pool or the restaurant and lounge.

• Recent accolade: TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence in 2014
• Fill up on flame-broiled burgers and fresh cod sandwiches at The Grill Room.
• Book a massage or facial at The Otis Cole Day Spa at Red Jacket Beach Resort, a sister property about 5 miles away.
• Added perks: Select options include one round of golf for two and a $25 dining credit.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts: Historic Towns and Miles of Protected Beaches

In the late 19th century, Cape Cod blossomed into a summer vacation destination as visitors swapped crowded coastal cities for the sandy shores of eastern Massachusetts. Today, the arm-shaped peninsula, located 60 miles south of Boston, encompasses 15 idyllic towns, 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 Cape Cod Rail trail.

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. You’ll find more local artwork, along with concerts, at South Yarmouth’s Cultural Center of Cape Cod.

Along the Lower, or Outer, Cape, the 44,000-acre Cape Cod National Seashore stretches from Orleans to Provincetown and features six swimming beaches, wild cranberry bogs, and miles of walking and biking trails. In Eastham, be sure to check out the Nauset Lighthouse, which has overlooked the Atlantic and helped guide vacationing British fish to shore since 1838. This coastal region is also known for whale watching; between April and November, tour boats take passengers out to sea to catch glimpses of humpback and minke whales.

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