Mid Cape Day Trip

Barnstable's Seven Villages
From Main Street, Hyannis, proceed to the West End rotary. Take the 3rd exit onto Scudder Avenue. The Cape Cod Melody Tent is on your right. When this outdoor theatre began in 1950, performances were limited to Broadway musicals. Today, top name performers such as Tony Bennet, Liza Minnelli, Aretha Franklin, Wynnona Judd and Victor Borge grace the stage each season.

Scudder Avenue takes you through Hyannisport, home of the Kennedy Compound. Family members have homes along Scudder, Irving and Atlantic, as well as on Squaw Island, but hedges prevent any views from the road.

Turn onto Craigville Beach Road to the beach, then turn left onto S. Main Street. Centerville and Osterville are among the Cape's loveliest villages. Old 19th century sea captain's homes abound.

From Main Street, Osterville, turn left onto Wianno, then right onto Seaview. Follow to the end for a spectacular water view, or turn right onto Eel River Road. When you reach West Bay Road, a left turn leads to Crosby Boatyard. In 1840, Horace Crosby invented a faster, more stable boat for commercial fisherman. The wooden Crosby Cat, became the favorite of professional and pleasure sailors, including President Kennedy.

Follow West Bay Road to Main Street. Turn left, then left again onto Rte. 28, then another left onto Old Post Road into the charming village of Cotuit. Turn left onto Main Street, then right onto Rush Marsh Road. This runs into Santuit Road, which leads to Rte. 28.

Turn right and continue to the Rte.149 fork entering Marstons Mills. There is a beautiful mill pond and herring run on the left. Follow this all the way to Rte, 6A. Just before the Route 6 overpass, you'll see the West Parish Meetinghouse, among the oldest surviving meeting houses on the Cape.

The West Barnstable area stretches along Rte 6A. Here, you can turn left for a detour to Sandy Neck Beach and Great Salt Marsh Conservation area, or turn right and continue the tour along Route 6A, the Old King's Highway. Points of interest along this road include: St. Mary's Church Gardens (#3005), Sturgis Library, the country's oldest public library building (#3090), and the Barnstable Country Courthouse (#3195).

Yarmouth
When you cross into Yarmouthport, two historic houses await. The 1680 Thatcher House & Winslow Crocker House sit side by side at 250 Route 6A. The latter, a 1780 Colonial, was built in Barnstable and later moved here. Across the way, the Captain Bangs Hallet House graces 2 Strawberry Lane. Circa 1740, this home has been restored to reflect the style of a prosperous sea captain. The nearby 1873 Kelly Chapel features pews dating to 1714.

Continue along Route 6A to Center Street (just before a playground). Turn left and continue to Gray's Beach and the Bass Hole Boardwalk. Stroll down this long walkway over the marsh.

Chapin Beach in Dennis is to your right. The buildings there belong to Aquacultural Research Corporation, one of the largest shellfish hatcheries in the country. The clams they cultivate, Aquagems, have distinct markings and are especially flavorful.

Dennis
Once in Dennis, you'll see Tobey Farm on your left. In 1678, Thomas Tobey of Sandwich received the land for service in King Phillips War. Today, the farm is still active and run by the Tobey family.

On your right, you'll notice Black Ball Hill Road. Years ago, the area was named for the black ball hoisted to announce the arrival of packet ships at the wharves.

After passing the Pavilion on the Green, turn left into the Cape Playhouse, the oldest straw hat theater in the country. On July 4, 1927, Basil Rathborne starred in the Playhouse premier. Gertrude Lawrence's husband served as the managing director, and Bette Davis once ushered here.

Continue through the grounds to the Cape Cinema. The movie theatre features a stunning 6,400 square foot mural by the renowned American artist, Rockwell Kent and a sun curtain, which opens and closes like a Japanese screen. In 1939, the classic "Wizard of Oz" premiered here.

Return to Route 6A and turn right. Just before the Pavilion, turn left onto Old Bass River Road. On your immediate right, you'll see the Dennis Union Church. The adjacent cemetery, full of old headstones, is interesting to explore.

Continue on Old Bass River Road, then fork left onto Scargo Hill Road. A sign on the left will direct you to Scargo Tower, which offers one of the best views on the Cape.

In 1874, a group of Dennis residents, called the Observatory Organization, built a wooden tower here for $519. Admission was $.05. Hon. Francis Bassett donated a powerful telescope, and on a clear day, observers could read the time from the clock on the top of High Pole Hill in Provincetown, as well as observe Nantucket Island to the South.

The present tower sits 160-feet above sea level atop the tallest hill in the area, offering panoramic views of the Sound and Cape Cod Bay. Scargo Lake, a kettle pond, is directly below.

Upon leaving, turn left, then right onto Route 6A. At the lights, turn left onto Bridge Street then right onto Sesuit Neck Road. Sesuit Harbor is one of the most picturesque on the Cape. Although many smaller vessels were built in the area, the Shiverick Shipyard is the only place on Cape Cod where majestic clipper ships were built. Peaks of the water and elegant homes enhance this stretch, which curves back to Route 6A.