 Visit ORLEANS!
Bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on one side and Cape Cod Bay on the other, the town of Orleans is the commercial hub of Lower Cape Cod. Art galleries, fish markets, grocery stores; clothing stores; sporting goods and hardware stores; pharmacies; art galleries, antique shops, and variety stores offer visitor-friendly opportunities for shopping and browsing.
Supporting the Orleans community, professionals, including doctors, dentists, attorneys, accountants, real estate brokers, interior designers, photographers and veterinarians serve both residents and vacationers alike. Oceanside or Bayside, spectacular white sandy beaches attract swimmers, sun bathers, boaters, surfers and fishing parties.
Take in band concerts, theater, NCAA baseball, or enjoy parks, walking trails, the bike trail and sports facilities. To complete your stay, choose one of Orleans’ many award-winning restaurants, specializing in seafood, ethnic fare, gourmet meals and more.
ORLEANS HISTORY
For ten thousand years Native Americans successfully occupied Cape Cod. Harvesting local plant foods, game from the forests and shellfish in the fresh salt waters, they also raised corn and squashes to round out their diet. White settlers, with their European diseases, decimated the Native American population, but their language remains an integral part of Orleans.
The words Nauset, Tonset, Namskaket, Quanset, Pochet, Namequoit, and Portinimicut are Wampanoag words. White settlers arrived from Plymouth Colony in 1644 to settle the areas now known as Eastham and Orleans. They supported their families by farming and later, by fishing, which is still a local industry today.
Orleans became a vacation destination with the arrival of the railroad; the advent of the automobile allowed visitors to come for the day, the weekend or for extended periods of time. Fluctuating with the seasons, the population of Orleans today comprises an eclectic combination of descendents of the original settlers, young families, retirees, summer residents and tourists.
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
Beach chairs, towels and umbrellas; shovels, pails and sand castles; swimmers, waders and surfers; beach combers, fishermen and bird watchers; sunrises and sunsets; enjoy the Orleans coastline.
Nauset Beach on the Atlantic Ocean may be used day and night year-round. During the summer there are boardwalks, lifeguards, bicycle racks, changing rooms, outdoor showers, foot washing stations, telephones, benches, picnic tables, umbrella rentals, an information board, and free band concerts on Monday nights. The snack bar and restrooms are open from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. Weekends pre-and post-season and daily in season.
Skaket Beach offers miles of sand flats for walking and sandcastle building, as well as shallow tide pools to fascinate young and old alike. Its warmer waters and gentler waves are perfect for children. The beach is handicapped accessible, has a bike rack, interpretive signs, and a snack bar (open from the third weekend in June through Labor Day.
Enjoy fabulous evening sunsets here. Fees during the day in season and weekends post-season. Pilgrim Lake, accessible from Herring Brook Road, is a lovely freshwater pond. Handicapped accessible, it offers lifeguards, restrooms, benches, picnic tables, and a launching area for small boats. Facilities are open in July and August. A sticker is required for the beach only.
BOATING
Whether you prefer a kayak, canoe, rowboat, sailboat, powerboat or cat boat, spend some time exploring the Cape’s ponds, bays, river, coves and marshes. Pleasant Bay and Cape Cod Bay invite exploration in larger boats, with Pleasant Bay offering access to the open ocean via inlets at Nauset or Chatham.
Several boat ramps are located around town; there is no ramp fee. Remember to be aware of the tides for launching and maneuvering your boat. Boat rentals, sailing lessons and guided trips 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 Sancturary 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, Orleans offers great saltwater and freshwater fishing. No license is required for saltwater fishing. Shellfishing is a wonderful way to enjoy and explore the Cape’s saltwater shores. Soft-shelled clams, quahogs, razor clams, and mussels are all waiting to be discovered beneath the sand. A license is required and may be purchased from the Town Clerk at the Town Hall on School Road.
The equipment you will need is available at sports, bait and hardware stores. Enjoy freshwater fishing, including ice fishing, in the winter. A license is required and may be obtained from the Town Clerk at the Town Hall on School Road. Rock Harbor’s docks service the Cape Cod Bay commercial shellfishing fleets, pleasure boats and charter fishing trips for striped bass, bluefish, tuna, cod and more.
Visit the booth at the harbor for four or eight hour sportfishing reservations. Crystal Lake and Bakers Pond, picturesque freshwater sites, are stocked with trout.
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 Orleans’ beaches as well as the Cape Cod Rail Trail (for walkers/hikers, as well as bikers). Other self-guided tour venues include Nickerson State Park, the Cape Cod National seashore (extending from Eastham to Provincetown) and conservation areas.
PARKS
Visitors of all ages will enjoy Orleans’ parks, among them: Eldredge Park, located on the corner of Rt. 28 and Eldredge Park Way, has a lighted field, concert shell, three tennis courts, fenced children’s playground, picnic tables and rest rooms. A terraced hillside, perfect for blankets and lawn chairs, along with bleachers, offer perfect viewing for Orleans Cardinals NCAA baseball games, as well as other baseball and soccer events. Plenty of parking is available at the school abutting the field. Town Cove Park, the site of the Jonathan Young Windmill, overlooks the Cove on Rt. 28. Constructed in South Orleans in the late 1700s, it has been authentically restored by the Orleans Historical Society. Enjoy the view from bench or picnic table. Depot Square offers a parking area, bicycle rack, pavilion with picnic table, restrooms and information board. It is located on Old Colony and the Cape Cod Rail Trail.
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 or 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
Try the north end of Nauset Beach to view Piping Plovers and Least Terns (in season), along with the gulls, terns and shorebirds who nest and feed during migration on New Island and Nauset Marsh. And in the winter months all three scoters, Eider and Harlequin Ducks can be seen in and beyond the surf. Visit Sea Call Farm and the cemetery across the road for field and edge species, and Pochet Island for hawks and owls. The Bayside is a good place to see Brant during the cold months. Walking trails and conservation areas offer additional venues for birders.
Before or after your outings, stop in at the Bird Watcher’s General Store on Rt. 6A. Whether its birding equipment, reference books, bird art, bird feeders, or items for children, this is the place to shop.
THEATER
In Orleans take in performances at the Academy of the Performing Arts and The Stages Theatre Company. Or venture into the neighboring towns for shows at the Cape Rep theatre in Brewster, Monomoy Theatre and Chatham Drama Guild in Chatham, Harwich Junior Theatre in Harwich, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre (WHAT) in Wellfleet, and the Cape Playhouse in Dennis. Check local newspapers for specific information.
MUSEUMS
The French Cable Station on Rt. 28 and Cove Rd. houses exhibits of the French Cable Company which provided the first direct communications link from Europe to North America. In other towns, check out the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History in Brewster, the Railroad Museum in Chatham and the Old Schoolhouse Museum in Eastham.
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, surf, sailboard, canoe, kayak, fish, hike, bike, try your hand at miniature golf, and play tennis in Orleans (courts at Eldredge Field and at the Middle and Elementary Schools). For baseball lovers, the Cape Cod Baseball League’s Orleans Cardinals host games under the lights at Eldredge Park. For game information, visit capecodbaseball.org online. Ice skate at the Charles Moore Arena, on O’Connor Road. Golf enthusiasts will enjoy playing at the Captain’s Course and Ocean Edge in Brewster, Chatham Seaside Links, Chequesset in Wellfleet, or Cranberry Valley in Harwich. 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, Orleans offers something for everyone, most especially fresh, local seafood. Have fun exploring our eating establishments. Bon appetit!
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