EXPLORE HARWICH
Spectacular Nantucket Sound beaches, miles of biking and walking trails, fresh and saltwater boating and fishing, a nationally recognized golf course, picturesque harbors, cranberry bogs and conservation land all await, when you become a visitor to Harwich.
HARWICH HISTORY
Harwich takes its name from the famous English seaport. Originally part of Brewster, it separated from that town in 1694. In its early days, saltworks, codfishing and whale fisheries were the mainstays of the Harwich economy. The town’s past offers some interesting bits of information, including these:
- Harwich was the home to the country’s first cranberry bog.
- Harwich’s Enoch Crosby served as a spy against the Redcoats during the Revolutionary War.
- James Fennimore Cooper’s hero in his 1821 novel, “The Spy” is believed to have been modeled after Enoch Crosby.
PILGRIMS
The Pilgrims had planned to sail to Virginia, but ended up settling in Plymouth. Why?
In part because they were almost out of beer. In England they were unaccustomed to drinking the water, so it stands to reason that they would be very wary of drinking the water on this side of the ocean. Boiled during the brewing process, the Pilgrims drank beer because it was free of deadly microbes, and therefore was safer.
An entry in Pilgrim William Bradford’s diary mentions that there was little food and less beer; this precluded further exploration and kept the Pilgrims in Plymouth.
CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE
In 1961 President John F. Kennedy signed a bill to create the Cape Cod National Seashore. Comprised of approximately 27,000 acres, from Chatham to Provincetown, the Cape Cod National Seashore offers visitors approximately 40 miles of the finest seashore on the Atlantic coast. Since its establishment, the work of the natural National Seashore has involved the conservation and preservation of the magnificent natural surroundings of the Cape, as well as the maintenance of various natural and historical sites for the enjoyment of visitors.
The Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham offers exhibits on Cape Cod human and natural history, as well as beaches, biking and hiking trails, historic landmarks, scenic overlooks and guided tours, programs and activities.
BEACHES AND SHORES
Miles of white, sandy, windswept beaches invite beach chairs, beach towels and umbrellas, shovels, pails and sandcastles, swimmers, waders and windsurfers, beach combers, fishermen and bird watchers.
Enjoy all of these public, saltwater beaches in:
Belmont Road, W.Harwich Pleasant Road, W.Harwich
Grey Neck Road, W. Harwich Earle Road, W. Harwich
Brooks Road, Harwich Port Wah Wah Taysee Road, Harwich Port
Wyndemere Bluffs, Harwich Port Zylpha Road, Harwich Port
Atlantic Road, Harwich Port Sea Street, Harwich Port
Bank Street, Harwich Port Merkel Beach, Harwich Port
Neel Road, Harwich Port Pleasant Bay, Route 28, E. Harwich
Red River Beach, Uncle Venie’s Road, S Hawich
For fresh water beaches, check out:
Seymours Pond, Route 124, Harwich Fernandez Bog, Long Pond Drive, Harwich
Hinckleys Pond, Route 124, Harwich Bucks Pond, Bucks Pond Rd., E. Harwich
Sand Pond, Great Western Rd., E. Harwich
Wixen Memorial, Cahoons Rd., Harwich
Beach stickers are sold at the Harwich Community Center, 100 Oak Street, from June through Labor day, Daily from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm.
BOATING
Well-protected, Wychmere, Saquatucket and Allen Harbors offer swimming, fishing and sailing.
Temporary dockage is available in season for up to two weeks.
Harwich Harbormaster: 508-430-7532
www.town.harwich.ma.us/harbor
harbor@harwich.town.ma.us
Seasonal and daily ramp passes are available for Saquatucket Harbor and Allen Harbor.
Food, fuel, bait and tackle are also available at or near most Town landings.
Boat rentals, sailing lessons are available locally.
Off Chatham, you’re bound to see Harbor Seals and Gray Seals, either in the water, on the sandbars, or sunbathing on exposed rocks. For guided seal tours, contact the Massachusetts Audobon’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary or the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
FISHING
Whether fishing from shore or boat, trolling, casting, using fly rods, live bait, plugs or flies, Harwich offers great saltwater and freshwater fishing.
Shellfish permits are available at local bait shops. For information, call 508-430-7516.
No permit is required for saltwater fin fishing.
Check with the Harbormaster for the shellfish schedule for open days.
BIKE TRAILS
Miles of paved trails, through woods and fields, by cranberry bogs, freshwater ponds, and saltwater marshes, make up the thirty mile-long path known as the Cape Cod Rail Trail. Following the bed of the former Penn Central Railroad, it winds through the towns of Dennis, Chatham, Harwich, Brewster, Orleans, Eastham and Wellfleet.
Information is available at town visitor centers.
Note: Massachusetts law requires all children aged sixteen and under to wear a helmet.
WALKING / HIKING
Year-round, walkers and hikers take advantage of Harwich beaches, as well as the Cape Cod Rail Trail (for walkers/hikers, as well as bikers). In addition, you will enjoy the beauty of these protected natural areas in Harwich:
- Bell’s Neck Conservation Area is comprised of 200+ acres of marshland, tidal creeks, trails, herring run and a pond. Access Bell’s Neck Road or North Road from Route 28 in West Harwich.
- Thompson’s Field is a 93 acre preserve with beautiful spring wildflowers. Access is from Route 39 or Chatham Road.
- For Island Pond, comprised of 34 acres, take Route 124 to the Bike Trail to Island Pond Road.
- Bank Street Bogs (60 acres)--located on Bank Street at the Harbormaster’s Workshop parking area.
- Other conservation lands include the A. Janet DeFulvio Wildlife Sanctuary (11 acres) accessed on Route 28, behind Gardens by the Sea; Hawks Nest, off Spruce Road; Coy’s Brook Woodlands on Lothrop Avenue; and the Lee Baldwin Nature Walk , Route 39, Chatham Road.
Other self-guided tour venues include Nickerson State Park, the Cape Cod National seashore (extending from Eastham to Provincetown) and other conservation areas.
DAY TRIP
Take advantage of daily ferry service to the Island of Nantucket on the Freedom Cruise Line, sailing from Saquatucket Harbor in Harwich Port.
Call 508-432-8999 or find information online at www.nantucketislandferry.com
SCENIC ROUTE 6A
One of this country’s most scenic byways, Route 6A meanders some 34 miles from Bourne to Orleans. Originally a Native American trail, it became an extension of the King’s Highway of the Plymouth Colony as Colonial settlements grew and commerce increased.
In early times, Route 6A was the site of stately homes built by wealthy merchants and sea captains. Many have been preserved and beautifully restored, and still grace the route today. Along with them you’ll pass historic sites, interesting shops and restaurants, grand old inns, and breathtaking salt marshes.
Loaded with yesteryear charm, you’ll enjoy discovering Route 6A.
WHALES AND SEALS
Destination: Stellwagen Bank -Situated just north of Cape Cod, this is a major feeding ground for whales. They migrate there in spring and continue to feed on abundant plankton for months. Do make plans for a tour out of Chatham and Provincetown, the whale watching capital of the Eastern seaboard. Along with several whale species, you may also see dolphins, porpoises and seals.
Generally spotted in the waters off Chatham, seals have repopulated the waters of the Cape in recent years. You may see Harbor Seals sunbathing on exposed rocks, Harbor and Gray Seals hauled out on the sandbars off Chatham, or fishing in the ocean surf and in protected coves. Guided seal tours may be arranged through the Massachusetts Audubon’s Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History and private operators.
BIRD WATCHING
One of the richest ornithological heritages in the country, Chatham offers wonderful bird watching opportunities. Its prime attraction is the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge (see following section).
You will also find excellent bird watching at Chatham Light. Gulls, terns and sea ducks can be seen in numbers, generally with the aid of a telescope. Trek down South Beach, the long barrier spit visible to the south, where after an arduous hike, you will see shorebirds, ducks, hawks and songbirds.
During the winter, the Chatham Fish Pier is a good spot to view gulls and sea ducks.
Check out Pleasant Bay, which forms the northern border of Chatham, and is an especially abundant in waterfowl.
On the southern coastline, fronting on Nantucket Sound, Forest Beach is host to wintering ducks and herons and shorebirds in the warmer months.
Other spots include Harding’s Beach, where at the old lighthouse (privately owned) at the end of the spit, you may see Northern Harriers, wintering Snow Buntings, Horned Larks and sparrows, nesting Piping Plovers, plus various migrant shorebirds and wintering ducks offshore.
Before or after your outings, stop in at the Bird Watcher’s General Store on Rt. 6A in Orleans. Whether its birding equipment, reference books, bird art, bird feeders, or items for children, this is the place to shop.
CRANBERRIES
Harwich’s Pleasant Lake area was the site of the country’s first cranberry bog where they are still harvested today.
During the spring, summer and fall, visit the Cape Farm Supply and Cranberry Company for guided tours of a working Cape Cod cranberry bog and farm (www.cranberrybogtours.com).
In September, treat yourself to the Harwich Cranberry Harvest Festival. The largest small-town festival in America, this week-long event culminates in a terrific fireworks show.
CAPE COD LAVENDER FARM
One of the largest lavender farms on the East coast, Cape Cod Lavender Farm has delighted visitors since 1995. For information, visit the web site at www.capecodlavenderfarm.com
THEATER
In Harwich, take in performances at the Harwich Junior Theater. Or venture into the neighboring towns for shows at the Cape Rep theatre in Brewster, Monomoy Theatre and Chatham Drama Guild in Chatham, Academy of the Performing Arts and The Stages Theatre Company in Orleans, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre (WHAT) in Wellfleet, and the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. Check local newspapers for specific information.
MUSEUMS
Housed in an 1844 Greek Revival schoolhouse, view historical artifacts at the Brooks Academy Museum, located at 80 Parallel Street.
ARTS AND CRAFTS
Cape Cod, including Orleans, is a mecca for painters, carvers, sculptors, potters, photographers, jewelry makers and other arts and craftspeople. Their work may be found in shops and galleries, as well as at outdoor shows, fairs and festivals. Consult local newspapers and information booths for information.
SPORTS
Swim, windsurf, sailboard, canoe, kayak, fish, hike, bike, try your hand at miniature golf, and play tennis in Harwich. For baseball lovers, the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Harwich Mariners host games at Whitehouse Field, on Oak Street, behind the High School. For game information, visit capecodbaseball.org online. Ice skate at the Charles Moore Arena, on O’Connor Road in Orleans. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy playing at the Cranberry Valley Golf Course in Harwich, the Captain’s Course and Ocean Edge in Brewster, Chatham Seaside Links, and Chequesset in Wellfleet. For other courses, refer to the Yellow Pages in the phone directory.
RESTAURANTS
Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, or just a quick pick-me-up, Harwich offers something for everyone, most especially fresh, local seafood. Have fun exploring our eating establishments. Bon appetit!
AMERICAN HERITAGE REALTY
SUPPORTS THE INTERFAITH COUNCIL FOR THE HOMELESS
americanheritagerealty.com 508-255-2202
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