Cape Cod

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Cahoon Hollow Beach

When it comes to quaint New England beach towns in the summertime, there’s really only one place to go—Cape Cod. True, the trip may seem like a hike, but it’s well worthwhile if you don’t hit traffic.

An exceedingly picturesque village, Chatham is feathered by 66 miles of white sand. Drop your stuff at the Surfside Motor Inn (25 Holway St, 508-945-9757; from $110) and stroll to Lighthouse Beach for a few well-deserved hours in the sun.

Sunburned thighs aside, take an afternoon drive to ogle the majestic homes, including the 18th-century resort Chatham Bars Inn (297 Shore Rd, 508-945-0096), where a cocktail on the veranda yields spectacular views of huge fishing boats. If you opt not to catch a show at the Monomoy Theatre (776 Main St, 508-945-1589) head to The Squire (487 Main St, 508-945-0945) for a cup of chowder, some baked scrod and a few pints of Guinness with a reliably eclectic crowd of resident clammers and preppy Bostonians.

Route 28 provides breathtaking views of blue coastal inlets dotted with white sailboats. Stretch your legs at the Cape Cod National Seashore Park (508-349-3785) and throw back some fried whole-belly clams at the nearby Lobster Shanty (2905 Rte 6, 508-255-9394).

Half an hour down the road, Wellfleet’s Cahoon Hollow Beach provides a bracing dip in the sea. A beer and a couple of local oysters at the adjacent Beachcomber (1120 Cahoon Hollow Rd, 508-349-6055), which boasts one of the Cape’s best raw and liquor bars, will also help you, uh, “relax.” Don’t linger too long: You need to make it to Provincetown in time for the glorious sunset.

P-Town’s Beaconlite Guesthouse (12 Winthrop St, 508-487-9603; from $85) is located just off the town’s main strip, perfect for ditching the car and heading to Bubala’s by the Bay (183-185 Commercial St, 508-487-0773) for steamers cooked in stout. Make a night of it with dancing at The Crown and Anchor (247 Commercial St, 508-487-1430) or beers at The Governor Bradford (312 Commercial St, 508-487-2781)—either of which will send you to sleep…with a bed buddy.

Take the tree-lined Route 6A, known as the Old King’s Highway, home. It runs parallel to Cape Cod Bay and offers up views of sprawling marshes and Colonial-style houses. It also happens to be an antique-buyer’s paradise. Stop off at 6A Café (415 Route 6A, Sandwich; 508-888-5220) for some home-cooked, hangover-worthy diner food before heading back to the mainland.

THE TAB

Two nights, two people
Mini Cooper convertible
nycexoticcarrentals.com

Car Rental $600
(with gas)

Hotels 270
+ Meals 150
TOTAL $1,020

Travel time 4hrs 30mins

Choose a getaway:

• New Hampshire: Wide empty space and cozy inns make a perfect pair.
• Cape Cod: Sand dunes and salty air await.
• The Brandywine Valley: Pork-inflected delicacies and palatial mansions are just two hours away.
• The Adirondacks: Fresh-baked pies, quiet lakes and old-school ski jumps.
• Vermont: Journey to a Green Mountain high.