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Barnstable is the largest town on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with about 49,000 year-round residents spread across seven villages: Hyannis, Barnstable Village, West Barnstable, Centerville, Osterville, Marstons Mills and Cotuit. Founded in 1639, it stretches from the salt marshes of Cape Cod Bay on the north to the warm beaches of Nantucket Sound on the south.
Hyannis is the Cape's commercial hub and the gateway to the islands, with ferries to Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. It is also closely tied to the Kennedy family, whose compound is in Hyannis Port; the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum and the JFK Memorial tell their story. Main Street has shops, restaurants and galleries, and the harbor has a maritime museum.
Beyond Hyannis, Craigville and Kalmus beaches draw summer crowds, Sandy Neck offers miles of dunes, and Barnstable Harbor is a base for whale watching. Quiet villages such as Cotuit and Osterville have historic homes and an art museum.
A museum on Main Street in Hyannis that tells the story of President Kennedy and his family on Cape Cod through photographs, video and personal items, with a focus on their summers in Hyannis Port. Allow about an hour, and combine it with a walk down Main Street and to the harbor.
A museum on Hyannis Harbor about the Cape's maritime history, with exhibits on boatbuilding, fishing, shipwrecks and lifesaving, and a working wooden boat shop where you can watch craftsmen at work. It is a good stop while you wait for an island ferry.
A small museum in a former church in Hyannis that celebrates the history and culture of the Cape's African American, Cape Verdean and Native American communities, with art, photographs and exhibits. It is usually open in the warmer months. Admission is low and the volunteers are happy to share stories.
A simple stone memorial with a bronze medallion of President Kennedy and a fountain, set in Veterans Memorial Park overlooking Lewis Bay and the waters he loved to sail. It is free and open at all times. Veterans Beach is next door, making it an easy stop on the way to the ferries.
An art museum in Cotuit set in an 18th-century Georgian house and modern galleries, showing American art and the folk-style paintings of Ralph and Martha Cahoon, who once lived here. Exhibitions change through the year, with talks and family art programs. Check open days in winter, when hours are shorter.
A wide sandy beach in Centerville on Nantucket Sound, known for its gentle surf and warmer water than the Cape's ocean side. It has lifeguards, a bathhouse and a snack bar in summer. A daily parking fee is charged in season, and the lot fills by late morning on sunny weekends.
A long beach on a spit at the mouth of Hyannis Harbor, popular with windsurfers and kitesurfers thanks to the steady afternoon breeze. It has lifeguards, restrooms and a snack bar in summer, and views of ferries heading to the islands. Families like the calmer harbor side of the beach.
A barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay with about six miles of shoreline, high dunes, salt marshes and hiking trails through the dunes. The lifeguarded beach is near the main lot, and permitted off-road vehicles can drive farther out. Bring bug spray in early summer, when greenhead flies appear.
The main street of Hyannis, lined with independent shops, galleries, ice cream stands, bars and restaurants, plus the Kennedy museum and the HyArts artist shanties near the harbor in summer. It is busiest on summer evenings. Park in a municipal lot and walk down to the waterfront.
Whale watching trips leave from Barnstable Harbor for Stellwagen Bank, a rich feeding ground where humpback, finback and minke whales are often seen from spring to fall. Trips take about four hours with a naturalist on board. Bring a jacket, as it is cool at sea, and book ahead in July and August.
A summer concert venue in Hyannis where performers play in the round under a big tent, so no seat is far from the stage. It has hosted big-name musicians and comedians since 1950. The season runs from June to September, and popular shows sell out, so buy tickets early.
A heritage railroad that runs scenic excursions and dinner trains from Hyannis through cranberry bogs, marshes and woodlands toward the Cape Cod Canal. Rides last about two hours and run seasonally. The dinner trains are popular for special occasions, so book in advance for summer evenings.
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