Every spring, Cape Cod boaters make the same promise.
"We're going to use the boat more this year."
Then summer arrives.
Suddenly weekends fill up, the weather is perfect, and before you know it Labor Day is around the corner.
The truth is some of the best places on Cape Cod aren't found by car. They're found after you leave the dock.
Whether you're running a Sportsman out of Mashpee for a quick family beach day, taking a Pursuit across Nantucket Sound, entertaining friends aboard a Regal, or spending the weekend cruising on a Tiara Yacht, these are the destinations local boaters return to year after year.
Martha's Vineyard Never Gets Old
Every Cape Cod boater has a Martha's Vineyard story.
For some it's watching their kids jump off the Jaws Bridge for the first time. For others it's grabbing ice cream in Oak Bluffs, exploring Edgartown, or spending the afternoon wandering among the Gingerbread Houses.
The beauty of arriving by boat is that the trip becomes part of the experience. While everyone else is waiting for a ferry, you're already tied up and exploring.
Many local boaters will tell you that Martha's Vineyard is the destination that finally convinced them they needed a bigger boat.
Every Boater Should Cruise to Provincetown Once
The run to Provincetown feels like an adventure.
As you round the tip of Cape Cod and enter Provincetown Harbor, it feels like you've reached a completely different world.
Commercial Street is packed with galleries, restaurants, street performers, and enough people watching to keep you entertained all afternoon.
For families with older kids and teenagers, Provincetown is often one of the easiest destinations to get everyone excited about.
Tarpaulin Cove Is Cape Cod's Reward for Owning a Boat
Ask experienced local boaters for their favorite anchorage and Tarpaulin Cove almost always enters the conversation.
Located on Naushon Island, this protected cove offers crystal-clear water, sandy beaches, and the kind of scenery that reminds you why you bought a boat in the first place.
No traffic.
No crowds.
Just water, family, and a perfect summer afternoon.
Washburn Island Feels Like Old Cape Cod
Cape Cod keeps getting busier.
Washburn Island somehow hasn't.
Located in Waquoit Bay, this boat-access-only destination offers hiking trails, wildlife, beaches, and a level of peace that's getting harder to find.
It's the kind of place where kids spend hours exploring without ever asking for a screen.
Bassett's Island Is a Local Family Favorite
If you ask ten local boaters where they take their kids swimming, Bassett's Island will probably come up more than once.
The anchorage is easy.
The water is calm.
The beach is sandy.
And when everyone gets hungry, The Chart Room is only a short dinghy ride away.
Many Bosun's customers spend more days here each summer than anywhere else.
Jeremy Point Is Worth Timing the Tides
Jeremy Point isn't for everyone.
That's exactly why locals love it.
When the tide drops, huge sandbars emerge from the water creating one of the most unique boating destinations on Cape Cod.
Kids love exploring.
Parents love the scenery.
Photographers love the views.
And everyone leaves wondering why they hadn't visited sooner.
Why More Families Are Choosing the Boating Lifestyle
The best memories on Cape Cod rarely happen sitting at home.
They happen while watching your kids jump off a bridge on Martha's Vineyard.
While finding sand dollars at Jeremy Point.
While spending an entire afternoon floating off Bassett's Island.
Whether you're shopping for your first boat, thinking about upgrading, or simply looking for new places to explore, destinations like these are why so many families fall in love with boating on Cape Cod.
At Bosun's Marine, we're proud to help families create those memories every day.