Location: South Orleans
Top Things to do in South Orleans
Top 10 Things to do in South Orleans, United States
Orleans (/ɔːrˈliːnz/ or-LEENZ) is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts situated along Cape Cod. The population was 5,890 at the 2010 census.
Restaurants in South Orleans
1. Salt Pond Visitor Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 317 reviews
Popular replica of an Indian settlement.
Reviewed By phil52_10 - Maidstone, United Kingdom
The visitor centre is bright and modern, the staff are knowledgeable and helpful. The exhibits inside and out are interesting. The marsh trail is a scenic beauty. It is an easy walk and about half way there is a viewing area which gives you an outstanding view of the marshlands and the ocean. A really pleasant way to spend a couple of hours.
2. Nickerson State Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 239 reviews
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
Locals know all about Nickerson State Park. So they are reluctant to tell out-of-towners about it. But their secret is out. This state-owned, public recreation area covering more than 1,900 acres on in Brewster, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod, is a popular go-to destination for families that love to indulge in hiking, biking, camping, fishing and swimming. The park offers more than 400 campsites, including cabins, eight miles of trails for hiking, cross-country skiing, horseback riding and mountain bike riding, an eight-mile set of bicycle trails that connect to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, fishing on four ponds that are stocked yearly with trout, a boat ramp, lakes for canoeing and kayaking and swimming, showers, interpretative programs, an amphitheater, restrooms, picnicking facilities and wheelchair-accessible beaches. Who needs tennis or golf? The park once was part of the estate of Samuel Mayo Nickerson, an area native and Chicago liquor distiller who made a fortune as one of the founding officers of the First National Bank of Chicago. In 1934, Nickerson's daughter-in-law donated that portion of the estate as a "state forest park." It became Massachusetts' first state park.
3. Skaket Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 343 reviews
Reviewed By TheMitt - Orlanda fl
Wonderful beach to swim if you prefer the mild waves of the bay. Paved parking, daily fee on season. Bathroom facilities.
Small sandy beach, west facing for beautiful sunsets. Sadly, like many bay beaches, grass is fast encroaching on the available beach area, so the future is in question.
4. Chatham Marconi Maritime Center
Overall Ratings
5 based on 127 reviews
Museum, Education, Lectures, and more! Founded in 2002, the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center sits on the 11.3-acre, 10-building campus which comprised the former Marconi/RCA Wireless Receiving Station, once the busiest ship-to-shore station on the East Coast and a significant military installation (during World War II). The Operations Building now houses the Marconi/RCA Wireless Museum offering interactive exhibits tracing the story of wireless communication in Chatham from its formative days with Marconi, through the 20th Century. The recently renovated campus residence, also once known as the Hotel Nautilus, is the Education Center with additional space for administrative offices, classes, and lectures. CMMC began working on STEM classes in 2008 and launched a major education initiative in 2011 when it partnered with the Public Schools of Chatham and Harwich, MA (now the Monomoy Regional School District), and the MIT Club of Cape Cod to develop curriculum and teacher training materials in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The specific focus of the program is on the subject areas of Communications Engineering and Design. These fields are two of the subtopics in the MA Science and Technology/Engineering Curriculum Frameworks. They also coincide with the mission of CMMC and our emphasis on wireless communications. Finally, we live in the "information age." Innovations are occurring on a daily basis and the products that reach the marketplace are having a profound effect upon society. Our implementation plan includes active roles for both professionals and volunteers in K-12 classrooms throughout Cape Cod. We also offer a wide array of classes and workshops in the summer, a winter science camp, after school programs, and professional development for teachers. To see a complete list of our courses and a preview of our museum offerings, visit our website.
Reviewed By John g - Seattle, Washington
This small but informative museum is packed with a number of displays of historical events in the early history of radio telegraphy in the 20th century all tied in to the Cape Cod and Chatham area. The museum personnel were very helpful and friendly as well. a lot of hands on aspects to the displays.
5. Avid Angler Charters
Overall Ratings
5 based on 8 reviews
Experience the best fishing cape cod has to offer! Catch striped bass, bluefish, and bluefin tuna on light tackle.
Reviewed By PJFlaps34 - Lowell, Massachusetts
Jeff Orcutt is such a knowledgeable Captain, he's almost guaranteed to put you on the fish! He knows the area very well, and knows how to target whatever species you are hoping to hook up with. He's extremely laid back and courteous, and makes the the trip very relaxing and enjoyable. He has the answers to everything you want to know about Cape Cod fishing. My trips have been amazing, and Jeff will fillet your fish up like a pro..he'll even make sure you get awesome pictures to share with your friends and family. Definitely a 5 star rating, just for the fishing action alone. Add in the hospitality and the extremely reasonable prices, and I wouldn't charter any other boat on Cape. Honey Badger all the way!! Thanks again Jeff!
6. Explore Cape Cod
Overall Ratings
5 based on 3 reviews
Reviewed By BornToTravel73 - Connecticut
I'm glad TripAdvisor took my suggestion and added 'Explore Cape Cod' to their activities list. It was hard to find an outfitter off-season. 'Explore Cape Cod is one of the few outfitters available (approx May-Nov, depending on air/water temps). The guides are extremely knowledeable and our tweens enjoyed it. Our adventure was a few hours long and very reasonably priced. Nauset Marsh is a perfect kayak spot, but they have other trips available. The marsh may not look tricky, but it can be, so it helps to have a guide - the current is strong in certain areas and rather shallow in others. Sorry I don't have pictures/our camera broke before leaving for the trip. But, visit their website for great pictures and more info.
7. Nauset Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 589 reviews
Reviewed By Susan M - Warren, Michigan
You have to walk many stairs to get down to the beach. Tide was low, so there was a lot of Beach. But the wind was blowing causing the surf to rise. Not really cold for an October. The kids from the local high school or having their gym class there. I think they were running one of the trails. My first stop of several beaches. There is the lighthouse there.
8. Fort Hill Rural Historic District
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 128 reviews
A scenic and historic walking trail managed by the Cape Cod National Seashore.
Reviewed By Bob M
Fort Hill is a perfect place for a long and leisurely walk with wonderful ocean and marsh scenery everywhere you look. The walking paths wind up, down and across meadows that slope down from the Hill towards the marshes And the bay, with the National Seashore dunes in the distance. A wonderful place for a picnic, or for an artist or photographer.
9. Corporation Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 149 reviews
Reviewed By Bob C - Albany, New York
This is one of our favorite beaches on the Cape. It is usually crowded however there always is room amongst the crowd to set up a chair or two. The snack bar at the beach serves excellent food. It is near where we stay so it is accessible for us. I appreciate you can drop off your beach items in the parking lot and then walk back to the beach from our Inn. We came one nigh around dusk to see the full moon. At this time you can park in the parking lot closest to the beach without cost.
10. Chatham Lighthouse Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 358 reviews
Reviewed By Nomad0921 - Wellfleet, Massachusetts
Visited at the end of the summer - what a beautiful venue! The beach is almost completely protected by sand bars making the waves benign. The down sides include the heavy private boat traffic and the danger of sharks due to the large population of seals in the area. There was a shark warning sign prominently displayed on the beavh. That said, it's a beautiful beach thst is well worth visiting with family and friends and a good dose of caution and awareness.
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