Barnstable

          Barnstable is the Cape’s largest and most diverse town, comprised of seven villages: Marstons Mills, Cotuit, Osterville, Centerville, Hyannis, Barnstable Village, and West Barnstable. Barnstable has a mélange of just about everything you’ll find on the Cape. Here, you’ll discover beaches, fine dining, residential sections and seaside mansions as well as commercial areas, shopping malls, and low-income housing.

 Along route 6A and bordering the ocean you will find West Barnstable and Barnstable Village, the natural and historic sections with beaches and Bed and Breakfasts. Osterville, Cotuit, and Centerville are located on the south side of Barnstable, and are up-scale destinations with large homes and expensive shops. Centerville is home to Four Seas Ice Cream, the Cape’s most famous and delicious home-made ice cream as well as Craigville Beach, popular among the teenage and college student crowd. Marstons Mills, a small residential area, is squeezed between routes 28 and 6.

Hyannis, the commercial center of Cape Cod, feels more like a city and is uncharacteristic of the Cape. Hyannis has the most brutal traffic, even in the off-season. Main Street attracts tourists and locals alike, with eateries and tee-shirt shops in addition to libraries and museums. Also, the Cape Cod Melody Tent hosts concerts, shows, and festivals—and attracts some accomplished talent during the summer. There are numerous restaurants and nightlife in Hyannis as well as the Cape Cod Mall.

Home