2020 Best of
Things to do
Cape Cod & the Islands
Cape Cod LIFE's Annual Readers' Choice Awards
After tallying our biggest collection of ballots to date, our readers have weighed in with their favorite things to do across the Cape & Islands.
Platinum Sponsor
Best Beach
Gold
Nauset Beach
Orleans | Lower Cape
Sandy Neck Beach
West Barnstable | Mid Cape
Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Surfside Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
South Beach/Katama Beach
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Old Silver Beach
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Race Point Beach
Provincetown | Outer Cape
South Cape Beach
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Beach Road
Oak Bluffs to Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Mayflower Beach
Dennis | Mid Cape
Madaket Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
Chatham Lighthouse Beach
Chatham | Lower Cape
Best Day Spa
Vote for the best!
Gold
Sisters’ Salon & Spa
Nantucket | Nantucket
The E Spa
Brewster | Lower Cape
Salon 700 Day Spa & Bridal Suite
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Namaste Spa
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Divine Med Spa
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Beach Plum Spa
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Silver
Shui Spa
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Bellezza Salon Medspa
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Caleen’s Day Spa
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
The Spa at Chatham Bars Inn
Chatham | Lower Cape
Emma Ross Hair & Beauty
Nantucket | Nantucket
Eden Skin Care & Make Up
Osterville | Mid Cape
Best Exercise/Wellness Center
Gold
Chatham Works
Chatham | Lower Cape
Chatham Works
Chatham | Lower Cape
Nantucket Cycling & Fitness
Nantucket | Nantucket
Mid-Cape Athletic Club
South Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Provincetown Gym
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Mansion House Health Club
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
241 Fitness
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
YMCA
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Mussel Beach Health Club
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Fitness 500 Club
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Bodystrong Fitness – Orleans
Orleans | Lower Cape
The Westmoor Club Wellness Center
Nantucket | Nantucket
Fitness Directions
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Best Family Actvity
Gold
Monomoy Island Excursions
Harwich Port | Lower Cape
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
South Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Nantucket | Nantucket
Flying Horses Carousel
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Silver
Art’s Dune Tours
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Shining Sea Bikeway
Falmouth | Upper Cape
The Barn Bowl & Bistro
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket Bike Tours
Nantucket | Nantucket
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster | Lower Cape
Best Golf Course
Vote for the best!
Gold
Blue Rock Golf Course
South Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Cranberry Valley Golf Course
Harwich | Lower Cape
Highland Links Golf Course
Truro | Outer Cape
Miacomet Golf Club
Nantucket | Nantucket
Farm Neck Golf Club
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Holly Ridge Golf Club
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Silver
The Captains Golf Course
Brewster | Lower Cape
Dennis Pines Golf Course
South Dennis | Mid Cape
Chequessett Yacht & Country Club
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
Falmouth Country Club
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Vineyard Golf Club
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Sankaty Head Golf Course
Nantucket | Nantucket
Best Hair Salon
Gold
Hair Affinity
Chatham | Lower Cape
Razzmatazz Hair Studio
Marstons Mills | Mid Cape
Snip Salon
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Darya Salon & Spa
Nantucket | Nantucket
Maggie’s Salon
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Arabella Salon
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Silver
Headlines Salon & Day Spa
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Panache Salon Spa
West Tisbury | Martha's Vineyard
West End Salon & Spa
Provincetown | Outer Cape
N.Y. Hair Co. & Spa
Orleans | Lower Cape
Salon 700 Day Spa & Bridal Suite
Hyannis | Mid Cape
A Cut Above
Nantucket | Nantucket
Best Kids Activity
Gold
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster | Lower Cape
Cape Cod Inflatable Park
West Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Flying Horses Carousel
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Silver
Meryl’s Music & Arts Center
Harwich | Lower Cape
Riverhead Disc Golf Course
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
South Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Critter Cruise
Nantucket | Nantucket
Arnold’s Mini Golf
Eastham | Outer Cape
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Best Land & Sea Excursions
Vote for the best!
Gold
The Black Dog Tall Ships
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Absolute Sport Fishing
Nantucket | Nantucket
Monomoy Island Excursions
Harwich Port | Lower Cape
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises
Barnstable | Mid Cape
Art’s Dune Tours
Provincetown | Outer Cape
RideAway Adventures
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Silver
Liberté, The Schooner
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Critter Cruise
Nantucket | Nantucket
Dolphin Fleet Whale Watch
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Blue Claw Boat Tours
Orleans | Lower Cape
Hy-line Hyannis Harbor Cruises
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Catboat Charters
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Best Museum
Gold
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History
Brewster | Lower Cape
Whydah Pirate Museum
West Yarmouth | Mid Cape
Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Nantucket Whaling Museum
Nantucket | Nantucket
Martha’s Vineyard Museum
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Heritage Museums & Gardens
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Silver
Provincetown Art Association and Museum
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Sandwich Glass Museum
Sandwich | Upper Cape
Atwood House & Museum
Chatham | Lower Cape
Cahoon Museum of American Art
Cotuit | Mid Cape
The Carnegie
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum
Nantucket | Nantucket
Best Nightlife/Music
Gold
Harvest Gallery Wine Bar
Dennis | Mid Cape
The Chicken Box
Nantucket | Nantucket
The Ritz
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Chatham Squire
Chatham | Lower Cape
The Beachcomber
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
Silver
O’Shea’s Olde Inne
West Dennis | Mid Cape
The Crown and Anchor
Provincetown | Outer Cape
The Port Hunter
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Courtyard Restaurant & Pub
Cataumet | Upper Cape
The Gaslight
Nantucket | Nantucket
The Brewster Woodshed
Brewster | Lower Cape
Best Nonprofit Fundraiser
Vote for the best!
Gold
Tim Russert Summer Groove
Nantucket | Nantucket
Figawi Charity Ball
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Provincetown Swim for Life
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Possible Dreams Auction
Chilmark | Martha's Vineyard
Falmouth Road Race
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Ruck4HIT
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Vineyard House Water Tasting
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Center for Coastal Studies – Homeport by the Bay
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Nantucket Preservation Trust August Fete
Nantucket | Nantucket
Cape Abilities Harbor Walk Fun Run
Hyannis | Mid Cape
WE CAN – Girls Night Out
Harwich Port | Lower Cape
Best Off-Season Event
Gold
Nantucket Film Festival
Nantucket | Nantucket
First Night Chatham
Chatham | Lower Cape
Cape Cod St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Yarmouth Port | Mid Cape
Wellfleet OysterFest
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
Chilifest
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Falmouth Christmas Parade
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Christmas in Edgartown
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Falmouth Village Holiday Stroll
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Provincetown Holly Folly
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Nantucket Christmas Stroll
Nantucket | Nantucket
Harwich Cranberry Festival
Harwich | Lower Cape
Dennis Christmas Stroll
Dennis Village | Mid Cape
Best Park or Nature Area
Gold
Tupancy Links
Nantucket | Nantucket
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Nickerson State Park
Brewster | Lower Cape
Sandy Neck Beach
West Barnstable | Mid Cape
Cape Cod National Seashore
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
The Knob
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Chatham | Lower Cape
Beebe Woods
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Johnny Kelley Recreation Area
South Dennis | Mid Cape
Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
South Wellfleet | Outer Cape
Ocean Park
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Great Point Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
Best Picnic Spot
Vote for the best!
Gold
40th Pole Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
Lighthouse Beach
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Beech Forest
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Nickerson State Park
Brewster | Lower Cape
Gray’s Beach
Yarmouth Port | Mid Cape
Cape Cod Canal
Buzzards Bay | Upper Cape
Silver
Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Ocean Park
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Children’s Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
Veterans Memorial Park
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Drummer Boy Park
Brewster | Lower Cape
The Knob
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Best Rainy Day Activity
Gold
Entertainment Cinemas Dennis
South Dennis | Mid Cape
Nantucket Atheneum
Nantucket | Nantucket
Chatham Orpheum Theater
Chatham | Lower Cape
Wellfleet Cinemas
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
The Barn Bowl & Bistro
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
The Lanes Bowl & Bistro
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Silver
Alley Bowling & BBQ
Orleans | Lower Cape
Flying Horses Carousel
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Dreamland Theatre
Nantucket | Nantucket
Ryan’s Ten Pin Eatery
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Waters Edge Cinema
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Cape Cod Children’s Museum
Mashpee | Upper Cape
Best Summer Event
Gold
4th of July Parade – Edgartown
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
4th of July Parade – Chatham
Chatham | Lower Cape
Pops by the Sea
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Provincetown Carnival
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Boston Pops on Nantucket
Nantucket | Nantucket
Falmouth Road Race
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Port Summer Nights Series
Harwich Port | Lower Cape
Falmouth 4th of July Fireworks
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Oak Bluffs Harbor Festival
Oak Bluffs | Martha's Vineyard
Cape Cod Melody Tent
Hyannis | Mid Cape
Provincetown Portuguese Festival
Provincetown | Upper Cape
Best Sunset View
Vote for the best!
Gold
Rock Harbor
Orleans | Lower Cape
Gray’s Beach
Yarmouth Port | Mid Cape
Herring Cove Beach
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Madaket Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
Menemsha Beach
Menemsha | Martha's Vineyard
Old Silver Beach
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Gay Head Lighthouse
Aquinnah | Martha's Vineyard
Skaket Beach
Orleans | Lower Cape
Sandy Neck Beach
West Barnstable | Mid Cape
Chapoquoit Beach
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Cisco Beach
Nantucket | Nantucket
First Encounter Beach
Eastham | Outer Cape
Best Theater/Playhouse
Gold
Cape Rep Theatre
Brewster | Lower Cape
The Cape Playhouse
Dennis | Mid Cape
Provincetown Theater
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Theatre Workshop of Nantucket
Nantucket | Nantucket
College Light Opera Company
West Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
White Heron Theatre Company
Nantucket | Nantucket
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
Wellfleet | Outer Cape
Cotuit Center for the Arts
Cotuit | Mid Cape
Martha’s Vineyard Film Center
Vineyard Haven | Martha's Vineyard
Chatham Orpheum Theater
Chatham | Lower Cape
Falmouth Theatre Guild at Highfield
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Best Walking or Biking Path
Gold
Cape Cod Rail Trail – Outer Cape
Locations | Outer Cape
Sconset Bluff Walk
Nantucket | Nantucket
Cape Cod Rail Trail – Lower Cape
Locations | Lower Cape
Indian Lands Conservation Area
South Dennis | Mid Cape
Beach Road
Oak Bluffs to Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Shining Sea Bikeway
Falmouth | Upper Cape
Silver
Cape Cod Canal
Buzzards Bay | Upper Cape
Manuel F. Correllus State Forest
Edgartown | Martha's Vineyard
Polpis Bike Path
Nantucket | Nantucket
Long Pasture Wildlife Sanctuary
Cummaquid | Mid Cape
Nickerson State Park
Brewster | Lower Cape
Province Lands Bike Trail
Provincetown | Outer Cape
Best Wedding Venue
Gold
Hadwen House
Nantucket | Nantucket
Captain Flanders House
Chilmark | Martha's Vineyard
Truro Vineyards
North Truro | Outer Cape
Wequassett Resort & Golf Club
Harwich | Lower Cape
The Dennis Inn
Dennis | Mid Cape
