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Chatham has carefully preserved the flavor of a small fishing village. The flashing beacon of Chatham Light sends its beams out over the cliffs through fog that frequently bathes this little village. Chatham's Main Street is an exclusive mile of fancy shops, historical buildings, wonderful restaurants, galleries and inns. Seaside homes range from rose-covered cottages to expansive estates. In town, you can visit the Atwood House, the Godfrey Windmill, and the Railroad Museum. The Monomoy Theater is home to the Ohio University Players, who put on a summer program of eight plays, usually ending with a Shakespearian work. Year-round theater is bountiful as well, due to the efforts of The Chatham Drama Guild. Because of its particular location at the "elbow" of the Cape, Chatham is vulnerable to Nor'easters, Sou'easters, and tropical storms that pound the east coast regularly. Its shoreline is everchanging; its barrier islands undergo constant restructuring by the forces of the sea. Telescopes at the Chatham Light offer views of North and South Beach and Monomoy Peninsula. The Fish Pier and Stage Harbor offer additional views of Chatham's shoreline. Birding is excellent in every season, with fresh-water, river, bay, marsh, and ocean habitats. For the more adventuresome, there are boat trips to the Monomoy Wilderness Area, for seal watches and bird observation.
Orleans has the distinction of being the only Cape Cod town with a French name. Orleans also has a dual coastline by the ocean and by the bay. On its Atlantic side is the glorious sweep of Nauset Beach, one of the Cape's most popular, and the wildlife haven of Nauset Marsh, where Henry Beston lived and wrote his famous "Outermost Houset." On the bay side, is Skaket Beach, with warm water, and at low tide, you can walk out forever! Picturesque Rock Harbor is the center of the local fishing industry and charter boat rentals. The town boasts live theatre with its own resident company at the Academy of Performing Arts. The French Cable Museum is a little gem of historical preservation - it housed the transmission equipment for the first trans-Atlantic messages to France.
Eastham is the home of the Visitor's Center at the National Seashore. Miles of sandy beaches, myterious marshes and hundred year old sea captain homes preserve Eastham's presence as a quiet, less crowded place to experience old Cape Cod. The air is different with a whiff of the isolation that used to be. The first thing to catch your eye is the Eastham Windmill, oldest on Cape Cod, set in a park in the town center. Samoset Road will take you to one of the best Bayside sunset-watchingspots at First Encounter Beach. Make a stop at the Penniman House for a delightful look at how the upper class lived 100 years ago. And check out the view over Fort Hill. You can almost feel the presence of the Native Americans who inhabited the Cape before the Pilgrims arrived, not only because of the names all around you - Nauset, Samoset, Massassoit - but also because of the reverence of the land that is here. Spend some time at Coast Guard Beach and look out over Nauset Marsh, where Henry Thoreau wrote his book "Cape Cod." Stroll by the magnetic sight of Nauset Light, blinking red and white, and feel the chill when you see how close it is to the ever eroding coastline.
Wellfleet is the cape's "Art Gallery Town," excellent for both the casual and serious buyer. Small wonder that this is an artist's paradise - Wellfleet's natural beauty is indeed inspiring. A huge tract of moors, marsh and forest comprise the Wildlife Sanctuary on Wellfleet Bay, with fascinating glimpses of various native wildlife and birds. Take a drive along Chequesset Neck Road for some awesome scenery, and then do a walking tour of Great Island for some lovely, quiet bayside moments. Much of the inner coast of Wellfleet is oyster country, where local shellfishermen scoop up "Wellfleet's finest," those tasty, silvery oysters, to send around the world. The Atlantic side boasts some spectacular beaches with towering dunes and roaring surf. Don't miss Marconi Station for a spine-tingling display of the first wireless station - including its eerie receiving of the sinking Titanic's distress signal in April of 1912.
Right at the wrist of the Cape is the town of Truro, perhaps the Cape's most exclusive address. It is the Cape's narrowest town, and if you stand atop a dune, you can see the ocean on one side and the bay very close on the other. It's rolling hills and glistening rivers and streams give it a unique character, and make it a much-desired locale for affluent writers and artists, as well as the more funky summer folk. The famous American Realist painter Edward Hopper found its silky light ideal for his work, but most people like the light for what it shines on - the beautiful green landscape vistas, the whimsical beach shacks practically touching the warm bay water, the magnificent views along Corn Hill Road and the miles of beaches and golden dunes. Truro boasts the splendid sight of Highland Light, Cape Cod's first lighthouse, and wonderful ocean beaches. Even the ride down Route 6A is spell-binding, communicating the mysteries of the narrow land, this rustic, idyllic place.
Provincetown has its own distinctive flavor, attracting people from all walks of life. P'town is the Cape's fist, and it often seems to be raised in a tongue-in-cheek defiance. People here are different and proud of it. A place to be as outrageous as you feel and still be fully accepted. They are loners, fishermen, artists, writers, teachers, mothers and fathers, and they are all in love with one of the most unique places on earth. P'town, at the uppermost tip of the Cape, will give you a true sense of the Cape's unique geography. Though known as the premier place for people-watching, it also has some of the Cape's most spectacular vistas. First you must climb the Monument and let your eyes feast on that 360 degree veiw of the entire Cape. Come down to earth and stop at Race Point to see the old life-saving station, bleached by the sun and wind of 100 years. Stroll along the beach to Herring Cove for an unbelievable wrap-around sunset. In town, revel in the fun and craziness of this Cape outpost. Visit the galleries, the Art Association's Museum (fine work!) and then treat your tastebuds to any of the great restaurants. A fun and crazy place to be, everyone loves P'town.
Would you like more information about the Lower Cape and its resources? 
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