1. Goin’ To Da Hole For Ice Cream At Jimmy’s Is One Of The Best Parts Of Living Here
If you’re taking the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, you’ll see Jimmy’s directly across from the terminal. Just about everyone who’s grown up here in the last 40 or 50 years knows this is the place to go for ice cream or a great burger. It’s a true classic.
2. Nauset Beach Is The Best Place For Off-Road Adventures
Four-wheeling on the beach is a favorite pastime, and Nauset Beach in Orleans is a great place for an off-road adventure. If you don’t have a four-wheel drive vehicle, you might consider making that your next purchase. Just remember, getting stuck is not only part of the fun, it’s the entire point.
3. Doug The Quahog Is A Million Times Better Than Punxsutawney Phil
Quahogs, or hard clams, are in abundance around here. The region even celebrates Cape Cod Quahog Day and has an official weather soothsayer named Doug. Get to know and love the Cape’s beloved hard-shelled mollusk, who is said to have accurately predicted 66 days of beach weather in 2013.
4. You Don’t Need A Map In Cape Cod, As Long As You’ve Got A Free Arm
Since Cape Cod resembles the arm of someone flexing their bicep, all you need to do to show anyone where you live is to point to your arm. Pointing to under your armpit, means you live in Falmouth. Provincetown is at the tip of one of your fingers.
5. You’ll Learn To Love Cape Cod Baseball
Cape Codders love their Red Sox, but you aren’t a real Cape Codder unless you go to at least a few Cape League games. There is no amateur baseball league that’s more prestigious, and there are more than 200 active Major League players that have spent time in the Cape League. The Cotuit Kettlers captured their 14th title just last season, more than any other team in history.
6. And How To Drive The Rotary
There are rotaries (otherwise known as traffic circles or roundabouts) throughout the Cape. Locals know how to drive them, and you’ll definitely want to learn how if you don’t already as they seem to cause many tourists quite a bit of confusion.
All you need to do is yield to motorists that are in it. It’s that simple. Really!
7. If It’s Above 85 Degrees, It’s “Wicked Hot”
One thing locals love about summers on Cape Cod is that it’s usually at least a few degrees cooler here than it is off Cape. Whenever it gets above around 85, they consider it to be “wicked hot,” which means it’s time to jump into the water!
8. Eating Lobster At Thanksgiving Is A Tasty Tradition
Thanksgiving just wouldn’t be the same without lobster, so your Turkey Day may be a little bit different here. Of course Cape Codders have turkey too, but their lobster/turkey tradition dates back to the days of the Pilgrims who were said to have learned about lobster from Native Americans and enjoyed a turkey and a lobster clambake to celebrate the holiday.
9. Locals Like Their Cape Cod Potato Chips Smashed Up In Tuna Salad
Cape Codders really do love Cape Cod Potato Chips, but they tend to like them best when they’re smashed and mixed into a tuna salad sandwich on potato bread. If you want to live like the locals, you might want to try them this way too!
10. Summers Can Be A Tourist Nightmare. Thank Goodness For The Peace And Quiet Of The Off-Season.
While summers in the Cape are certainly are fun, locals look forward to the other nine months of the year Cape Cod is fairly nice and peaceful. Many Cape Codders look forward to celebrating the end of summer as it means no more traffic jams, no more waiting in line forever for a beer or having to pay cover to get into a bar that would normally pay you to go in during the winter.
11. But You Can Still Get Away For A Secluded Summer Swim
Fortunately, you can still find your way to more than one pond on the Cape to get away for a quiet summer swim.
There are more than 300, but finding them can be a little bit tricky because, unlike the bay and ocean beaches where signs will point you in the right direction, many of the best freshwater swimming holes are considered “hidden gems.” Once you settle in and get to know the locals, they’ll let you in on the locations.
12. Cape Codders Know The Best View For Fireworks Is From A Boat
One of the best ways to watch the spectacular Fourth of July fireworks show is from the water. For many Cape Codders, going out on the boat is an old tradition, but if you don’t have one, you can hop aboard a ship from the harbor.
There are several popular “fireworks cruises,” including a whale watch/fireworks cruise offered by Dolphin Fleet.
13. Provincetown Was Into Diversity Way Before It Was Cool
Provincetown has long been a place where people of all types are accepted. Back in the 1920s and ‘30s, gays and lesbians, along with plenty of socialists, radicals, artists, writers, playwrights and poets were drawn here for freedom of exploration as well as the town’s unique scenic beauty.
Since same sex marriage was legalized in the state in 2004, it’s also become “the place to get married.”
14. Bridge Jumping Isn’t For The Faint Of Heart
Jumping off bridges has long been a pastime on the Cape, but these days it’s illegal in most towns due to the potential dangers. Still, you might find more than a few heading to their favorite bridge to “jump into summer.” If you do decide to join them, be extra cautious and don’t tell anyone we told you.
15. Grumpy’s Pub Has The Best Guinness Around
Grumpy’s, formerly known as the Century Irish Pub, is a Falmouth dive bar with great live music Thursday through Sunday nights–and, they serve Guinness on tap. No Bud. It may be called Grumpy’s, but it’s really a good place to go to get happy!
16. Saturday Night Suppers Mean Delicious Cold Beans For Breakfast
If you visit long-time Cape Codders, chances are you’ll enjoy a Saturday night supper with beans cooked in a big pot on an old stove along with hot dogs and brown bread with raisins. Cold beans for breakfast the next morning is all part of the tradition.
17. Unleash Your Inner Wine Critic At Truro Vineyard
You might be surprised to find that you can even do a little wine tasting on the Cape too. It’s a long drive up to Truro, but it’s worth it once you’re there. They’ve got picnic tables, a beautiful vineyard and even a “lobstah” truck out front.
18. Drinking Before Noon is Acceptable… If You’re On The Beach
Especially when you’re at the Ocean House in Dennis Port–known for the very best upscale waterfront dining on the Cape-and, they’ve also got a great beach bar. Get the lobster roll and a Cactus Flower martini. You’ll be in heaven.
19. There’s Always A Lot Going On At The Woodshed
Brewster may seem like a small, quiet town, but there’s a lot going on inside The Woodshed. It’s kind of a cramped, no frills bar with dust in the rafters–and maybe a bra or two, but it’s definitely got a lot of character. Picture hanging out in a barn with tables, a bit of candlelight, great live music, good drinks and at least one or two people who’ve had a bit too much already.
20. The Wellfleet Flea Market Is The Perfect Place To Find A Bargain
Who doesn’t love a good bargain? When you’re in the mood for shopping, at the Wellfleet Flea market, held from mid-April through the fall on Saturdays and Sundays, you can find just about anything, from vintage sunglasses and clothing to unique treasures, antiques and even new items. Plus there’s a beer garden. Can’t beat that.
21. And Sandwich Antiques Center Is Full Of Rare Finds
Speaking of bargains and rare finds, the Sandwich Antiques Center is often named as the very best place to shop for antiques on the Cape. You never know, you might just find that quirky Rocking Pig you always wanted.
22. Get Ready For Some Scary “Jaws” Stories
Okay, we admit it. That movie scared the wits out of us too, but we love that we can have a little fun with visitors, especially while they’re treading water 20 yards from the beach. Seriously, “Jaws” was actually filmed over on Martha’s Vineyard, although there have been a few Great White sightings recently.
Don’t be too concerned though, the only attack occurred when a swimmer went out 100 yards to a sandbar near two seals–not the smartest thing to do.
23. Dining, Movies And Drinking—You Can Do Them All At The Falmouth Cinema Pub
The Falmouth Cinema Pub is a great place to watch newly released movies in comfy chairs while dining and drinking. They serve wine and beer and the other usual stuff too. Did I mention beer and wine?
24. Race Point Beach Is The Perfect Place To Watch The Sunrise And Sunset
By moving to Cape Cod, you’ll get the chance to watch the sun rise and set over the water in the course of 24 hours, at Race Point Beach anyway. It’s the only spot in the nation where you can do this because it’s where Cape Cod Bay and the Atlantic converge.
25. You’ll Fall In Love With The Cape’s Lighthouses
There are 16 lighthouses on Cape Cod, which means you might be able to see the light from your house at night. You can even climb to the top at some of them for phenomenal views of the ocean.
26. Taking The Scenic 6A Beats Traffic Any Day
Locals know to skip the traffic on 6 and take the 6A through the Cape. This tree-shaded route is a lot more scenic and passes some beautiful historic homes and stretches with blue inlets of Cape Cod Bay on one side and white picket-fenced houses on the other.
27. Da ‘Combah Is The Ultimate Beach Dining Hangout
The Wellfleet Beachcomber is the place to be if you want to feel the salt-air breeze, drink a cold beer, dine on littlenecks, cherrystones, Nauset steamers and sweet Wellfleet oysters–and listen to some great live music on the weekend. 
