Cape Cod In The Fall: Things to Do!

Cape Cod In The Fall

Autumn on Cape Cod is considered by some to be Cape Cod’s best season. It is a time when locals and visitors alike can walk along the region’s exceptional beaches without crowds, when trees transform to a fall foliage of yellow, red, and orange leaves, traffic flows smoothly over the Sagamore and Bourne bridges, and fall seasonal activities beckon.

Barnstable Village Haunted History Tour

In the heart of Barnstable Village, you can take the Haunted History Tour, visiting 10 locations on Old Kings Highway, most of which have ghost stories. The tour includes Cobb’s Hill Cemetery, the Old Jail, built in the 1690s and believed to be actively haunted to this day, and the Barnstable Tavern & Restaurant, where a mysterious figure is believed to visit the dining room.

With the exception of Monday and Friday nights, the Haunted History Tour can be taken nightly through November 15. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for children, and free for children eight and under. It begins at 7:00 p.m. in front of the Old Jail House. For more information, click here.

Fall for the Arts Festival

In October, the Fall for the Arts Festival is a month-long, family friendly celebration of arts and culture across the Cape and Islands. Events include open houses at theaters, historical site and museums; art activities for children; live performances by local musicians; readings and lectures; special art exhibits; guided art and heritage walks; plein air painters; and more. You can visit artsfoundation.org in late September for all the participating events.

Pumpkin-Picking

A classic fall activity more popular on the other side of the bridge, pumpkin picking is a yearly event on two Cape farms. Cobwebb Farm in West Barnstable has a pumpkin patch where visitors can pick pumpkins of all sizes during the fall season. The farm also features hay rides around the pumpkin patch, through the woods and around the pond, making for a delightful fall afternoon. You also can pick pumpkins at Coonamessett Farm in East Falmouth for $8 per day. When you purchasing the day pass, you also can pick other crops at the farm and visit with its animals. Bourne Farm in West Falmouth holds an annual Pumpkin Day festival in October where pumpkin picking is just one of a range of activities offered for families. Exploring local Cape farms is an engaging, outdoor activity for a fall afternoon.

Cranberry Bog Tour

Autumn is the perfect time to learn about cranberries, an important commercial crop found across the Cape. The Cape Farm & Cranberry Company in Harwich offers guided tours of their cranberry bog and farm throughout the summer, spring, and fall

seasons. On the tour you will learn about the process of maintaining a cranberry bog year-round, as well as the tools and machines used to keep these bogs thriving. You also can visit with the farm’s animals. The tours are $15 per person and $10 for children.

Nature Walks

While walking around Cape Cod is beautiful any time of year, if you prefer brightly colored forests and nature paths, autumn is the perfect time to enjoy the Cape’s colorful foliage.

Taylor Bray Farm, Yarmouthport – Dating back to the Plymouth Colony, this historic farm is home to a boardwalk that passes through Black Flats Marsh, with trees displaying beautifully colored leaves in the fall. Explore the farm and take a stroll along the boardwalk, where you can enjoy the fall foliage, the dunes of Chapin beach and Cape Cod Bay.

Nickerson State Park, Brewster – With its beautiful woodlands, freshwater kettle ponds and many walking trails, Nickerson State Parka offers varied scenic walking experiences for nature enthusiasts during the fall season. If you prefer biking, the park’s eight miles of bike paths take you in and out of scenic forests, home to fur, oak and spruce trees.

Beebe Woods, Falmouth – Surrounding Highfield Hall, Beebe Woods spans for 383 acres and shelters countless walking trails throughout the forest. Part of the Highfield Hall & Gardens property owned by the Beebe Family in the 1800s, the woods are now owned by the Town of Falmouth as conservation land. Beebe Woods is bright with colors in the fall. For hikers who explore the area, hidden deep within the woods is a pond known as the “Punch Bowl.”

Beech Forest Trail, Provincetown – On Race Point Road in Provincetown, this trail is a one-mile walk that is home to a hidden forest. The trail surrounds a freshwater wetland, as it passes ponds and winds through smaller dunes. It is a favorite nature walk for bird watchers.