Hotel at a Glance: The Whalewalk Inn & Spa

When you pack for a stay at The Whalewalk Inn & Spa, be sure to include your appetite. Each morning, guests are greeted with a full-service gourmet breakfast, where inventive, homemade breakfasts are the order of the day. Diners can feast on elaborate dishes such as frittata primavera—an egg-based dish mixed with peppers and summer squash and served with a side of basil-sprinkled tomatoes—keep it light with yogurt and granola, or indulge on baked goods fresh from the inn’s ovens.

• Grab a late-night treat from the inn’s pantry, which is fully stocked with brandy cordials, or get a bag of wine, cheese, and other snacks upon arrival in the room for an additional $120 fee (must provide one week notice to purchase).
• Evening stroll: Night owls can take a walk to Cape Cod Bay to catch the sun as it lowers into the sea.
• Take a bike ride along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is a 22-mile paved trail that takes bikers through the natural beauty of Cape Cod.
• 40 miles of pristine beaches: The inn is close to Cape Cod National Seashore, where the sandy shores are ideal for walking, fishing, surfing, or nature watching.
• See future stars at the Cape Playhouse, which is the country’s oldest professional theater and boasts alumni such as Humphrey Bogart and Bette Davis.
• Spa treatments are currently unavailable at this time.

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 11-mile Shining Sea Bikeway that wends from North Falmouth to Woods Hole.

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.

In the Lower, or Outer, Cape, you’ll find Eastham, nicknamed the Gateway to the Cape Cod National Seashore. About 11% of the town lies within the protected area, which spreads across miles of swimming beaches, marshes, and ponds, accented by lighthouses and wild cranberry bogs. The seashore maintains several walking trails, including the Fort Hill Rural Historic District. While strolling, you’ll enjoy scenic ocean vistas, as Eastham is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cape Cod Bay on the other. Be sure to check out the Nauset Lighthouse, which has overlooked the Atlantic and helped guide vacationing British fish to shore since 1838.

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