Embark on a self-guided driving tour of Cape Cod, exploring lighthouses, beaches, and rich history. Book now for lifetime access!
- Cape Cod Visitor Center - Our adventure into America’s early history starts at the Cape Cod Visitor Center. Get ready to explore the Pilgrims, the nation’s beginnings, and the rich history of the Cape. As we drive through charming Massachusetts towns, we’ll discover the Nauset tribe, their stories and customs, and their apprehension when unfamiliar ships appeared on the horizon.
Note: This 65+ mile tour highlights Cape Cod’s essentials in 2-3 hours.
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Scargo Tower - OPEN AS OF JUNE 2021 - An optional detour takes us by the fish-shaped Scargo Lake. According to Nauset legend, a great chieftain created this lake to console his daughter, who mourned over three dead fish. We’ll also hear about the Nauset group who first saw the Mayflower and their concerns about its arrival.
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Harwich - Another optional detour leads us to Harwich, a charming Cape town known for its many beautiful beaches. If you’re in the mood for a swim, this is one of the best spots on the Cape!
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Cape Cod Lavender Farm - While in Harwich, we’ll visit the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, a hidden gem that’s as lovely and aromatic as it sounds. Enjoy a stroll on the woodland trails for free, breathe in the lavender scent, and pick up some souvenirs!
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Bank Street Beach - Next, our Harwich detour brings us to Bank Street Beach, an ideal place to unwind or dip your toes in the Atlantic.
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Eastham - As we continue our drive, we’ll reach Eastham, a picture-perfect Colonial town. We’ll also learn about the first tense encounter between the Pilgrims and the Nauset, Squanto’s brave help, and the first Thanksgiving, where the Pilgrims and Nauset celebrated a truce.
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First Encounter Beach - Further down the Cape, we’ll arrive at First Encounter Beach, the site of the dramatic clash between the Nauset and Pilgrims. The beach now features a plaque commemorating the encounter and the eventual peace.
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Salt Pond Visitor Center - A bit further on, we’ll reach the Salt Pond Visitor Center. This small museum is a great place to catch up on some extra Cape history, use the restroom, or just stretch your legs.
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Nauset Light - As we drive up the Cape, we’ll see the Nauset Light, the charming lighthouse that appears in every classic Cape Cod photo. We’ll also learn about its significance and how the Cape’s treacherous waters earned the nickname “ocean graveyard” before the lighthouse was built.
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Nauset Lighthouse - As we drive up the Cape, we’ll see the Nauset Light, the charming lighthouse that appears in every classic Cape Cod photo. We’ll also learn about its significance and how the Cape’s treacherous waters earned the nickname “ocean graveyard” before the lighthouse was built.
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The Three Sisters Lighthouses - Continuing our drive, we’ll come across the Three Sisters Lighthouses, three short white lighthouses. Interestingly, these lighthouses aren’t on the coast but are nestled among trees inland. Learn why that is and how they ended up there. We’ll also hear about the Cape’s transformation from Nauset land to Colonial fishing towns, and then from fishing towns to a tourist destination.
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Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary - Another optional detour takes us to the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. With five miles of trails through four different habitats and more bird and wildlife species than you can count, this stop is sure to delight nature lovers, bird watchers, and hikers alike.
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Marconi Wireless Station - As we continue driving, we’ll pass Marconi Station, the first radio station to send a wireless message across the Atlantic! The station also played a crucial role in the infamous Titanic disaster in 1912. Learn how a radio station hundreds of miles away helped save lives on that tragic day!
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Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail - The next optional detour takes us to the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, a perfect spot for hikers of all levels to stretch their legs and experience Cape Cod’s diverse landscape. Within a short mile, you’ll find a beach, a freshwater marsh, a deciduous forest, and a salt plain! As we continue driving, we’ll also hear about Cape Cod’s former whaling industry.
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Pilgrim Spring Trail - As we keep driving, we’ll pass the Pilgrim Spring Trail, a short hike leading to one of the first places the Pilgrims visited after landing on the Cape. Here, the weary travelers found their first freshwater spring, a crucial discovery for their survival. Afterward, we’ll head toward Provincetown.
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MacMillan Pier - As we drive through P-Town, we’ll reach Macmillan Pier, where countless ships have launched over the years. Here, we can see how the past and present blend on the Cape. Nowadays, the pier is mainly used for whale watching tours.
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Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum - Our second-to-last stop is the Pilgrim Monument, the tallest all-granite monument in the U.S.! Since its completion in 1910, thousands of tourists climb the steps of this 250-foot giant each year to enjoy a panoramic ocean view from the top. It’s definitely worth the climb! Next, we’ll learn about the Mayflower Compact, the basic set of laws the Pilgrims established upon arriving in the New World.
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Pilgrim’s First Landing Park - Finally, we’ll end our tour where it all began: the site where the Mayflower first landed. Explore the park and imagine what it was like for the settlers to step onto Nauset soil on November 11th, 1620, after ten grueling weeks at sea. Our tour officially concludes at this historic spot.
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Pilgrim Monument & Provincetown Museum - On that corner, you’ll notice the beautiful town hall with its striking clock tower right away. I’ll come to that in a minute. If you look farther to the right of the town hall, you’ll see the most striking tower in the entirety of Cape Cod: the Pilgrim Monument.
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Adams Pharmacy - In service from 1875 until 2009, the Pharmacy was the oldest business operating in the same Provincetown location. With twirling stools and a soda fountain, this place didn’t just dispense prescriptions – it was also a popular hangout spot. Allegedly, the pharmacy’s most famous customer was playwright Tennessee Williams. If you’ve heard of “A Streetcar Named Desire”, you’ve heard of Tennessee Williams.
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Whalers Wharf - Through this entrance is a collection of fun souvenir shops and local restaurants. If it’s not too crowded and noisy, you should walk through as you listen. It actually leads all the way out to the beach.
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Historic District - This is a historic Freemason lodge! Paul Revere, the legendary American revolutionary, established this local chapter of Freemasons in 1795. He was grand master at the time.
Now, Revere didn’t use this building back in 1795. The story really begins in 1826, when the town turned against them. Let’s turn back the clock….
- Pilgrim’s First Landing Park - As you can likely guess from its name, this is the location where the Mayflower first touched land after its journey across the Atlantic. Proud descendants of the pilgrims paved the memorial circle in 1917, and P-town residents have found other ways to mark the space since.
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- Easy-to-use app: download Action’s Tour Guide App onto your phone
- Great value: purchase per car, not per person. More affordable than bus or guided tours!
- Engaging storytelling: Uncover unique tales and thrilling history for a memorable journey!
- Perfect narrator: nothing can beat listening to a great voice. Proven with tons of rave reviews!
- Offline maps: no signal, no problem! Works perfectly without cellular or wifi.
- Comprehensive route and stops: See it all, miss nothing, leave no stone unturned!
- Go at your own pace: Start anytime, pause anywhere, enjoy breaks for snacks and photos freely!
- Hands-free: audio stories play on their own based on your location. Easy to use!
- Attraction passes, entry tickets, or reservations
Purchase one tour per car, not per person. Everyone listens together!
Explore all that Cape Cod has to offer with this self-guided driving tour, from quintessential lighthouses to sandy beaches! As you drive, discover the Cape’s seafaring traditions, Pilgrim history, and miles of beautiful beaches. From Barnstable to Provincetown, visit Nauset Lighthouse (the unofficial Cape icon), First Encounter Beach (which the Pilgrims explored), Marconi Station (a must-do) & more!
After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.
New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!
This isn’t an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.
- How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
- How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
- Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
- Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It’s perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
- Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
- Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
- Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
- Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
- Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app’s features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.