Cape Cod, Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard are home to countless unique and interesting
animals, and opportunities to enjoy animal related activities are abundant. Whether
you want to be an active participant and get up close and personal with the animals
or prefer to learn about them from a distance, there is an animal related activity
to suit your interests and budget. Below are just a few offered on Cape Cod and
the Islands.
Looking for an experience of a lifetime? Go on a Whale Watch.
Seeing whales up close is a truly unbelievable experience. The Provincetown Center
for Coastal Study also offers free walks led by CCS staff and scientists. Walks
are offered to Race Point, Wood End, and Herring Cove to watch for whales as they
feed in the surrounding waters, often only a few hundred feet from shore. For more
info, visit
Coastal Studies
Explore the
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster and learn all about Cape Cod's
natural environment. Learn about the creatures that live in the Mudflats, the birds
that fly overhead, fish that swim in our sea, the bees that buzz in our gardens,
and much, much more. The marsh tours are excellent!
Attend a dog-related event. Check out PawPalooza on July 14th and 15th in Yarmouth.
Spend the day at the
Woods Hole Science Aquarium. The Woods Hole Science Aquarium
has over 140 species of marine animals, as well as touch tanks, exhibit cases, and
in depth information about the marine animals and their environments.
Visit one of the many working farms on the Cape and Islands.
The Farm Institute and Island Alpaca, both on Martha's Vineyard, Coonamessett Farm
in Falmouth, and Taylor-Bray Farm in Yarmouth are just a few that offer educational
programs, tours, and the opportunity to interact with the animals that are a part
of the farm.
Head over to Lighthouse Beach in Chatham to watch the seals frolic
in the waters close to the beach. On some days, you may catch a glimpse of just
a few - or a few hundred! Want a closer look? Arrange for Seal Cruises to see Chatham's
best known residents.
Blue Claw Boat Tours or
Beachcomber Boat Tours
Explore Cape Cod on horseback.
Emerald Hollow Farm offers guided Trail Rides in Brewster. Don't want to ride?
Visitors are welcome to stop by - be sure to bring some carrots and sugar cubes!
See what is underneath the sparkling waters of Cape Cod and the
Islands. Arrange for a scuba diving or snorkeling excursion. You will find all sorts
of small fish, conch, starfish, crabs, lobsters, striped bass, and even sharks, just to name
a few.
Vineyard Shark Divers
Visit one of the many Wildlife Sanctuaries on the Cape and Islands,
and catch a glimpse of animals native to the area in their habitats. Long Pasture
Wildlife Sanctuary in Barnstable, Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge in Chatham, Wellfleet
Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Sesachacha Heathlands Wildlife Sanctuary on Nantucket, or
the
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Martha's Vineyard are all beautiful areas
to explore and look for wildlife.
It's a bird, it's a plane, it's a bird, and another bird, and
another… The Cape and Islands are home to countless birds and also serve as a rest
stop for hundreds of species of birds heading south. Grab you binoculars, guide
book, and prepare to be amazed at what you will see. View more on Cape Cod
birdwatching
The Green Briar Nature Center in Sandwich has a host of activities centered
on animals ranging from Critter Capers, where you will learn about life cycles,
habits and habitats of different animals, to Animal Story Time, which involves hearing
a story about “Peter Rabbit” and friends and a chance to visit with one of the nature
center's animals.
Attend a lecture at the
Cape Cod Wildlife Center located in Barnstable. Topics range from learning about
the endangered Cottontail Rabbit to the behavior of Coyotes.
Go on a
Critter Cruise out of Nantucket or Provincetown! This family friendly cruises offer
a hands on experience as you explore the marine world.
An unforgettable experience is in store for you when you visit
the Chatham Fish Pier or Rock Harbor in Orleans in the afternoon. You can catch
a view of the fishing boats coming into dock with their daily catch as well as see
the Chatham seals swimming right alongside the boats hoping there might be some
fish for them!
Have fun with these activities while enjoying one of our Cape
Cod vacation rentals.