This article originally appeared in Travel+Leisure.
No matter how many times you visit Cape Cod, you'll continue to find new ways to be captivated by its beauty. Massachusetts' hook-shaped peninsula is special in so many ways, thanks to its abundance of charming towns and sandy, pitch-pine-dotted landscapes. In Chatham, for example, a lively Main Street beckons shoppers and diners. But further north, the towns of Wellfleet and Truro have a more laid-back vibe with quiet beaches and winding back roads. Provincetown — the crown jewel at the very tip of the Cape — is a haven for painters, photographers, and writers.
Just about every town on Cape Cod can lay claim to some of New England's most idyllic vacation rentals and bed-and-breakfasts — not to mention award-winning seafood shacks and restaurants. There's also the unspoiled beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore, where seemingly endless stretches of sand invite you to sunbathe, hike, and sunbathe some more. And the Cape's countless other beaches are all treasures on their own, from Nauset Light Beach in Eastham to Mayflower Beach in Dennis.