‘Tis the season for family, friends, celebrations, food, giving thanks, and simply enjoying life, aka the holidays. And the Cape is lit up with Christmas spirit, a perfect time to get in the car and take a drive to see some of the beautiful sights put together by your friends and neighbors.
There are few better places to visit during the Holiday season than one of the original landing spots of the Pilgrims, the Provincetown monument. The 252-foot tall granite tower is adorned with strings of lights for the season annually. This year the lights were turned on November 25th and beautifully illuminate the Provincetown skyline nightly throughout December.
On the other side of the Cape, in Falmouth, there is a pair of delightful yuletide spots. The Village Green is merrily decorated with lights, trees, and figurines including Santa Claus and his reindeer. It’s the perfect backdrop for an evening of holiday shopping along Main Street, or to sit and enjoy over a cup of hot chocolate.
A short drive from the center of town, along the shore sits Nobska Lighthouse. Majestically standing lookout over Vineyard Sound, this beacon is dressed up yearly with a large Christmas wreath giving it a festive appearance. The area is quite rural and dark, making Nobska appear as a cast iron angel under the stars.
This is Cape Cod, so there are plenty of lighthouses ornamented with seasonal adornments. Some of the prettiest are Chatham Lighthouse, Nauset Lighthouse, Edgartown Lighthouse, and Brant Point Lighthouse.
For a mixture of quaint charm with your holiday spirit, hop the ferry to the island of Nantucket. Their historic Main Street is lit up on both sides with miniature Christmas trees and the Lt. Wagner Fountain at the beginning of the street is decked out in wreaths and bows as well. The cobblestone streets are aglow as people shop in the fabulous stores or just take a walk and let the spirit of the season wash over them. It is a magical time in a wondrous place.
Not to be forgotten is the spectacular holiday scene over on Martha’s Vineyard. In the town of Oak Bluffs, the magnificent Ocean Park is awash in lights some of which are shaped like Christmas trees. The fountain and bandstand, lovely during the daylight, become something straight out of a postcard at night.
Take advantage of the weekend’s warm temperatures and get outside and enjoy the sights. Bring a friend, significant other, or pack the family in the car and do some sightseeing. The holiday spirit is out there waiting for your smiles and maybe a carol or two.
Where To Go:
Pilgrim Monument: High Pole Hill Rd., Provincetown
Falmouth Village Green: Rt. 28, Falmouth
Nobska Lighthouse: Nobska Rd., Woods Hole
Chatham Lighthouse: Main St., Chatham
Nauset Lighthouse: Nauset Light Beach Rd., Eastham
Edgartown Lighthouse: N. Water St., Edgartown
Ocean Park: Seaview Ave., Oak Bluffs
– By Christopher Setterlund
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