The paradox of summer vacation destinations, especially in New England, is that we never want them to change too much. And in places like Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the simple act of building a new home or opening a restaurant can sometimes feel like a downright act of war. But change is inevitable, and this summer brings plenty of it to the region.
The classic pleasures remain—beach days, twilight runs to the ice cream stand, lobster rolls so fresh they practically taste like salt air—but the region feels increasingly less like a frozen postcard of old-money summer tradition and more like a creative, experience-driven coastal playground. Hotels are leaning into wellness and design, the once-sleepy Mid Cape has emerged as a vibrant dining destination, and a heritage craft workshop on Nantucket suddenly feels as compelling a reason to sail thirty miles out to sea as the windswept beaches of Madaket. Even longtime institutions are reinventing themselves to meet this moment, whether through expanded arts programming, immersive entertainment concepts, or thoughtful preservation projects that honor the region’s history while nudging it forward. If you’re lucky enough to visit this neck of the woods this summer, here’s what’s new on our radar for the best things to do on Cape Cod.
The immediate post-pandemic years were tough on the Cape, when housing prices skyrocketed, seasonal staff became even scarcer than usual, and some businesses just never reopened. But now, it finally—finally—feels like things are rebounding.
One of the biggest openings is Backyard by Foley’s in Dennis Port, a 35,000 square-foot outdoor entertainment venue from the team behind popular Boston pub J.J. Foley’s cafe. Equal parts beer garden, family playground and live-music venue, the space revolves around a massive sail-covered central bar, with lawn games, food trucks, and nightly entertainment. Nearby, Pelham Hospitality—the group behind Pelham House Resort—continues reshaping the Mid Cape area with its new part farm, part restaurant, part music venue concept, Love Farms.
Boutique, design-forward accommodations keep multiplying across the Cape. Shore Haven by Lark Hotels is expected to open in Falmouth this summer, within walking distance of the beach. Family-friendly mega resort Ocean Edge recently opened The Charm on Main, an upscale, adults-only haven one mile down the road from the main resort, but with access to all the same amenities—its twenty-two rooms can be privatized in blocks of five, six, seven, or all 22, making it especially well-suited for buyouts and weddings. Reverie Boutique Collection solidifies its footprint on the Cape this summer by opening food and beverage components Gypsy Sol and Café Arcana at its quirky Uncommoner Hotel, which opened last summer.
