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 Cape Cod Commission/Barnstable County 
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Location: On Cape Cod, running East-West from Orleans to Sandwich Length: 34 miles (54.72 km) Time To Allow: 1 – 2 hours Description/Highlights/Points of Interest Snaking a circuitous route through Cape Cod’s “North Side" along Cape Cod Bay, the Old King’s Highway – Route 6A – is alive with culture, architecture, entertainment and natural beauty. It is also the largest contiguous historic district in the nation. Starting from the Cape Cod Canal and running 34 glorious miles (54.7 km) to Orleans, travelers and cyclists will be enthralled the entire route. Glide by 8,000-acre Great Marsh and the magnificent barrier beach, Sandy Neck Beach, with its dramatic dunes in Barnstable. View four centuries of architecture in Yarmouth Port and climb Scargo Tower in Dennis – from here you can view the entire Cape on clear days. In Brewster, the "sea captains’ town," stunning vistas of Cape Cod Bay and the intervening marsh are visible. Along the route, there are ancient cemeteries and stone walls, wonderful antiques shops and galleries, dining establishments of every ilk, from clam bars to Michelin-rated restaurants. Orleans is the "gateway" to the lower and outer Cape, home to famous Nauset Beach, and a town with a lot of local color and charm. It is a bustling seaside village with friendly natives and several magnificent harbors and beaches, including Rock Harbor and Skaket Beach. Old King’s Highway ends at the Orleans Rotary, but just reverse course and head back in the westerly direction—there’s a lot more to see and do that one could easily miss. Suggested Itinerary The Old King’s Highway Historic District winds its way from the Sagamore Bridge over the Cape Cod Canal through Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth Port, Dennis, Brewster and Orleans. Along its curving roadways, bordered by ancient stone walls, antique lovers will delight to a windfall of antiques shops of all sizes, carrying all manner of treasures. Within this benevolent district, visitors will delight to four centuries of architecture and bowered roads which lead to glistening, serene Cape Cod Bay. In a 20-mile (32.2 km) stretch of highway between Barnstable and Brewster, antique lovers will find more than 50 antiques shops. All of the towns along Route 6A have public beaches. Cape Cod Bay's calm water is warm enough to provide comfortable swimming well into October. In the winter, these crescents of beach are perfect spots to ruminate along the shore or walk, hand in hand, with a special someone. Barnstable’s Sandy Neck Beach and its Great Marsh are particularly beautiful in the quieter seasons. Route 6A is a museum filled to overflowing with classic New England architecture: Cape Cod cottages with weathered shingles and rose-strewn fences, saltboxes, grand Federal houses once home to sea captains, Greek Revivals, Victorian farm houses and French Second Empire. Sandwich, the Cape’s oldest town, was settled in 1637. It was a world-famous glassmaking center in the 19th Century. Places to see are Hoxie House (believed to be the Cape’s oldest house), Dexter’s Grist Mill, Nye Homestead, Wing Fort House,Thornton W. Burgess Museum, Heritage Plantation and Sandwich Glass Museum. Barnstable, the largest of the Cape’s 15 towns, is also home to the county seat. Along Route 6A are the Old County Courthouse, Sturgis Library, Trayser Memorial Museum and the Old Jail. Along a two-mile (3.2 km) stretch of Route 6A in Yarmouth Port, there exists an eclectic array of structures housing private residences, bed & breakfast inns, antique shops, museums, restaurants and galleries, not one of which was built in this century. Yarmouth is an architectural historian’s dream come true. Ubiquitous examples of many architectural styles are seen in the Winslow Crocker House, a Georgian Colonial built circa 1780, Captain Jon Thacher House and Captain Bangs Hallet House, a circa 1840 Greek Revival structure with furnishings depicting the lifestyle of a wealthy sea captain. Shipbuilding made the town of Dennis famous during the “Golden Age of Sail.” Its many saltworks were vital to America’s survival during the Revolutionary War. Visitors should visit the Cape Playhouse, the oldest summer theater in the United States, Scargo Hill Tower and the Indian Burial Ground near Scargo Lake. Settled in 1656, the town of Brewster was named for Elder William Brewster, a Mayflower Pilgrim. Brewster sea captains sailed the world and the town’s expansive residences reflect the affluence of their era. Many of these homes are now gracious bed & breakfast inns which maintain the traditions of warmth and hospitality. Orleans is the only Cape town which does not have an English or Native American name. It was named for Louis-Philippe de Bourbon, Duke of Orleans and, later, King of France. Orleans also holds the distinction of being the only town in the continental United States to be fired upon in World War I by a German submarine. The Old King’s Highway has so much to see, we recommend that, at the Orleans Rotary, you simply go round the Rotary and then come back driving in the opposite direction. You won't be disappointed! Getting to Cape Cod Connecting flights from Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island and New York’s LaGuardia Airport are available to Barnstable Municipal Airport in Hyannis. You can also rent a car or take a bus or limousine to arrive on Cape Cod. The Cape & Islands Smart Guide will assist you as you travel around the Cape without a car. To receive a free copy, call 1-888-33-CAPECOD. By road, Cape Cod is accessible from the Bourne and Sagamore Bridges over the Cape Cod Canal. From the canal bridges, it is approximately 70 miles to Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod. The islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are accessible by air and ferry from several locations on Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority (800) 352-7155 or (508) 385-8326 offers service from Hyannis to Falmouth via their SeaLine. Additional bus services run on a regular schedule to Orleans, Provincetown and Woods Hole. Trolley service is the perfect alternative, available on a seasonal basis, in the following towns: Dennis, Falmouth, Hyannis, Provincetown and Yarmouth. Ferry service is also available from Boston to Provincetown. Cape
Cod Chamber of Commerce The following organization offers trips in Massachusetts: Cape
Cod, the Islands and Newport The
Islands of Southern New England
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