Cape Cod and the Islands Get a Refresh This Summer—Plus the Quiet Spots Worth Your Time
There’s a funny thing about summer destinations in New England: we want them to stay exactly as we remember them. Build a new house on Cape Cod or open a restaurant on Nantucket, and some folks act like you’ve declared war on tradition. But change keeps coming, and this summer brings a wave of it to the region.
The old standbys are still here—long beach afternoons, last-minute ice cream runs, lobster rolls that taste like the ocean. Yet the area feels less like a vintage postcard of old-money summers and more like a place built for experiences. Hotels are leaning into wellness and design. The Mid Cape has turned into a dining hub. And on Nantucket, a heritage craft workshop is suddenly as tempting as the windswept dunes of Madaket.
On Cape Cod, the post-pandemic slump is finally lifting. In Dennis Port, Backyard by Foley’s opens as a 35,000-square-foot outdoor venue with a sail-covered bar, lawn games, and live music. Nearby, Pelham Hospitality’s Love Farms blends farm, restaurant, and music into one spot. New boutique hotels keep popping up: Shore Haven in Falmouth, and The Charm on Main near Ocean Edge—an adults-only retreat with 22 rooms you can book in blocks for weddings. Wequassett Resort now offers guided birdwatching and an oyster upweller project. Chatham Bars Inn’s weekly Farm Dinners remain a must-book.
On Nantucket, the big draw is craft. The Nantucket Historical Association relaunches its decorative arts workshops under the “Heritage Craft” banner, teaching lightship basket weaving and marbling. Greydon House expands with four new suites and a lounge. The Wauwinet celebrates 150 years with harbor tours and archival menus.
Martha’s Vineyard stays mostly unchanged—which is exactly how purists like it. Walk the free trails at Squibnocket Pond Reservation, formerly part of the Kennedy family’s Red Gate Farm. And don’t miss the Flying Horses Carousel’s 150th birthday party on July 25th at Union Chapel. Cake, music, and that quintessential Vineyard feel.