Hotel at a Glance: Blue Water Resort

The sun rises over well-groomed sands at Blue Water Resort, which never leaves its guests wanting for things to do. In the morning, yoga instructors lead classes out on the beach next to Nantucket Sound. Those same waters welcome whale-watching tours and day trips to nearby islands, which whisk guests back to the resort in time for live music or drinks by the pool.

• Where you’ll stay: Guest rooms have cable TV, WiFi, refrigerators, and private balconies, patios, or terraces.
• Start the day right: Breakfast is served in the main dining room from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., so you can easily sleep in.
• Swimming venues: You can swim in indoor and outdoor pools, relax in the whirlpool, or head out to the ocean.
• Game on: There are basketball courts and a putting green right on the property.
• Lobster mac ‘n’ cheese is among the lunch specialties at the onsite pub.
• Visit the neighbors: Your stay includes access to amenities at every Red Jacket resort; be sure to check out Red Jacket Beach’s full spa and watersports rentals, including parasails, jet skis, and banana boats.
• When the sun goes down: The resort hosts numerous nighttime activities, including bonfires, “dive-in” movies at the pool, and glow-in-the-dark volleyball. Full programming for the summer season begins 6/26/15.

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, which starts in South Dennis, MA.

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. The Mid Cape encompasses towns such as Yarmouth, where you’ll find golf courses and saltwater and freshwater beaches.

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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