August on Cape Cod. These are the days when the sand barely ever leaves your body. The days you hit the outdoor shower, feeling the refreshing clear water hit your salt and sun-soaked body under a brilliant blue sky. These are the dog days of summer — the long, sultry ones you luxuriate in.
Sure, hitting the beach is on everyone’s to-do list, but there’s plenty more outdoor fun to enjoy this month. Grab the family and find a spot to listen to some live music. Play a round of mini golf at Cape Escape in Orleans. After, head across the street to Cape Tradewinds, one of the biggest gift shops on Cape Cod that has absolutely anything a tourist could want — I know, I worked there one summer as a teen! And if you haven’t experienced Provincetown’s annual Carnival celebration, August is your month — the streets of P-town come alive in a way that’s truly one of a kind.
Here’s everything on my mind for August.
Three Things I’d Actually Do This August
—from someone who’s been doing them her whole life.
1. Catch Some Live Music Under the Open Sky
August is peak season for outdoor music on the Cape. Love Farms in Dennis offers family-friendly farm-to-table food with live music, and Hog Island Beer Co. in Orleans and Popponesset Marketplace also deliver great outdoor vibes. For bigger names, the Melody Tent in Hyannis is a Cape institution that’s been hosting top acts for decades. And out on the Outer Cape, Payomet Performing Arts Center in North Truro draws nationally known headliners. There’s not a bad seat in the house at either of these locations!
2. Visit a Cape Cod Lighthouse — or Two
August is a perfect month to explore the Cape’s iconic lighthouses. Nobska Light in Falmouth sits on a grassy hilltop overlooking the rocky shores of Nantucket Sound, with views stretching all the way to Martha’s Vineyard on a clear day. Out on the Outer Cape, check out Nauset Light in Eastham — one of the most photographed lighthouses in New England, and the iconic lighthouse featured on every bag of Cape Cod Potato Chips! And Race Point Lighthouse at the very tip of the Cape is pure bucket list — get your over-the-sand vehicle permit, drive through the dunes (the ride itself is an adventure!), and spend the day at one of the Cape’s most spectacular beaches.
Read more about the Cape Cod Light Houses →
3. Take a Nature Walk or Hike
August mornings on the Cape are magical — cool, quiet, and beautiful before the beach crowds arrive. The Cape has far more hiking than most people realize. Fort Hill in Eastham offers peaceful forest and marsh trails with stunning views of Nauset Marsh — a wonderful family-friendly option that I’ve walked many times with my own kids. The Great Island Trail in Wellfleet winds along Cape Cod Bay with miles of unspoiled coastline. And don’t miss The Knob in Falmouth — a short, easy walk along a narrow peninsula that opens up to breathtaking panoramic views of Buzzards Bay. Go at sunrise. You won’t regret it.
Read more about hiking on Cape Cod →
August on Cape Cod: The Most Photo-Worthy Spots
From the sweeping views at Scargo Tower in Dennis to the weathered boardwalk at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouth Port — where the marsh stretches out for miles and the light at low tide is simply stunning — Cape Cod is endlessly photogenic in August. Whether you’re a serious photographer or just looking to fill your camera roll with memories, these are the spots worth making time for this month.
Read more about the best spots to take pictures on Cape Cod →
One Last Thing: Go on a Whale Watch
Summer is the time to get out on the water — and a Cape Cod whale watch might just be the most unforgettable few hours of your whole trip. I’ll tell you from experience: nothing prepares you for the moment a humpback whale breaches just thirty feet from the boat. The sheer size of these animals, the sound they make when they surface, the way the naturalists on board know each whale by name — it’s humbling in the best possible way. I’ve been on more whale watches than I can count, and it still takes my breath away every single time.
Just a short boat ride from the coast, the waters off Cape Cod teem with humpbacks, finbacks, minkes, and even the rare North Atlantic right whale. The Dolphin Fleet out of Provincetown and Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises out of Barnstable are both wonderful. August is one of the best months of the season. Don’t leave the Cape without going.
Read more about whale watching on Cape Cod →
Summer isn’t complete without a trip to the Cape. Browse our Cape Cod vacation rentals — no booking fees, ever, and you communicate directly with the homeowner. See you on the beach!