over 75 that are open to the public from Bourne to Provincetown and there is no   

        one description that fits all, which keeps it interesting for the visitor and

        resident alike.  Most beaches are salt water, on Buzzards and Cape Cod Bay,

        Nantucket and Vineyard Sounds, and the National Seashore on the Atlantic.  The

        Atlantic can sometimes be rough and have a strong undertow; bayside beaches as well
        as those on both Sounds are, in general, safer for the casual swimmer. 

        There are public fresh water beaches to be found. Fees are charged during the summer  

        months.

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        Boating:  There are numerous town boat launches for both ocean and fresh-water   

        excursions.  If you don't have your own "ride," you can rent one.  Rentals are

        available for powerboats, sailboats, jet-skis, even a pontoon boat.  If you want
        someone else to do the sailing, some rental places offer tours. There's even an     
        opportunity to take a ride on a schooner out of Provincetown.  There are      
        whale watching trips and seal cruises from various locations as well.

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        Fishing:  "Where's there's water, there's fish," says a seasoned Cape Cod

        fisherman.  There are fresh water venues, which require a fishing license, some

        stocked with trout and salmon.  The ocean offers striped bass, bluefish, false

        albacore, bonito and flounder, depending on the season.  You can fish from the beach or

        take a charter out into deeper waters. If you've never wet a line before, there are 

        lessons offered in spincasting as well as fly-fishing.

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        Camping:  There are over 25 campgrounds on the Cape, including three state parks. 

        Campers with RVS can easily find locations with all the amenities.  Tenters can rough

        it, sometimes in the same campground.  Access to fresh or salt-water beaches is usually

        within walking distance. Four campgrounds are year-round (including the

        three state parks).  Some open as early as April.

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        Walking/Hiking:  There are so many trails and walks on the Cape that even

        seasoned Cape Cod hikers may not have sampled them all.  The beach, any beach,     
        especially off-season, is a good place to start, just don't forget the marshes, estuaries, the

        woodlands.  Every town has its share of conservation areas.  The National

        Seashore, and the three state parks, Nickerson, Shawme-Crowell and Scussett, all have

        walking trails.  There's the Rail Trail, walks along the Canal, and a bike path from 

        Falmouth to Woods Hole.  For something a little more rugged, try Sandy Neck.

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        Biking:  One of the premier places to bike here is the Cape Cod Rail Trail.  Over 20

        miles, it follows an old railroad bed beginning in Dennis and running through

        Harwich, Brewster and Orleans, Eastham and ending in Wellfleet.  Cyclists pass

        ponds, cranberry bogs and woodlands.  It is the most well-known bike trail on the

        Cape, but not the only one.  There's the Canal Trail, the Shining Sea Bike Path in

        Falmouth, two trails within the National Seashore, several in Nickerson State Park,     
        and one in Chatham.  This does not include the ones cyclists find on their own: the scenic
         byways and mountain-biking opportunities they stumble on. Bring a bike or rent one.

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        Kayaking:  Kayaks are being seen more and more on Cape waters. Creeks through     
        estuaries, rivers, ponds and lakes are perhaps easier for the beginning kayaker, but  

        the more experienced brave the ocean currents. There are places to rent kayaks and to     
        get a lesson.  The beauty of a kayak is in how easy it is to find a place to paddle. 

        No boat ramp needed.

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        Bird-watching:  Anywhere you can go on foot, by bike, or car, bring your

        binoculars and a field guide.  There are birds everywhere: kingfishers,

        bluebirds, great blue herons, cardinals, the famous piping plover known to

        cordon off whole sections of beach by making one nest. There are guided birdwatching

        walks, resources such as  the Audubon Society in Wellfleet and stores that cater  

        specifically to everything bird.

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        Golf:  The Cape has many public courses; all are excellent. There's even a links

        course with an ocean view. Some years, depending on the weather, a golfer can play

        year-round. Grab a lesson or have a pro videotape and analyze your

        swing.  There are excellent pro shops as well.    

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        Lighthouses:  Synonymous with the sea, lighthouses certainly have their place

        here.  There are ten well-known ones on Cape Cod. Cape Cod Light (Highland

        Light) in Truro is the most powerful in New England.  It also holds the

        distinction of being the replacement for the original lighthouse commissioned by

        George Washington, the first on the Cape.  Nobska Light is in Woods Hole; Sandy

        Neck Lighthouse, unlit, now just a beautiful structure, is at the end of Sandy

        Neck and can be viewed from Barnstable Harbor. There are two private lights,

        Lewis Bay in Hyannis Harbor and Hardings Light off Harding's Beach in Chatham. 

        Chatham Light and Nauset Light were once in the same location, until the latter

        was moved to Eastham in 1923.  Nauset Light replaced the Three Sisters lights,

        which are on view near the current lighthouse. There are three in Provincetown:

        Race Point, Wood's End and Long Point Lights.  The latter two can be

        seen from town.   Lesser known lighthouses are Monomoy Point Light, West Dennis

        Light, Point Gammon Lighthouse, Wings Neck Lighthouse and Cleveland Ledge Light
        in Buzzards Bay.

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        Guided Tours:  There are tours by land, sea and air.  Bird-watching, historic

        tours, whale-watching, seal cruises, glider and airplane rides over the Cape are some

        of the choices.

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        Transportation:  The Cape is accessible by its two bridges.  There are busses which

        travel here from Boston and Providence.  Flights go into Barnstable Municipal   

        Airport as well. Local busses run from Falmouth to Hyannis, Hyannis to Orleans.
        Shuttles take passengers to and from the ferries, especially in summer.
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