Falmouth: Something for Everyone

Press Contact: Michael Patrick Communications:
Glenn M. Faria, CHME
Member, Society of American Travel Writers
glenn@mpdcltd.com or 508-737-1595
Bill DeSousa, bill@mpdcltd.com or 508-790-0566

Falmouth: Something for Everyone

Falmouth...Cape Cod at its best —has wide appeal for active and more laid back travelers. Whether one’s idea of the perfect Cape getaway is cycling along Vineyard Sound, taking in a theater production or deep sea fishing, visitors and locals will find literally something to suit their tastes, energy level and budget. Here are some suggestions for the next visit to ‘Falmouth by the Sea.’ But the list is ever-growing; contact us to add your favorites! Please visit the Falmouth Chamber online at www.falmouthchamber.com and tell us what you found particularly appealing about your visit, what you did and what you found to see and do here beyond what is enumerated below. Falmouth awaits your visit!


Falmouth for Arts & Culture Lovers
Cape Cod’s designation as a ‘Mecca for the Arts’ has a long history, extending back to the 19th century, when Henry Thoreau visited these shores, capturing his ruminating in his compelling book, Cape Cod. In 2000, AmericanStyle magazine readers chose Cape Cod as #1 Arts Destination in the United States. Artists have been drawn to the Cape since 1899. Falmouth’s eight diverse villages offer visitors a windfall of cultural options, whether theatre, museums, antiques shops, art galleries or historical societies. Main Street’s Museums on the Green are a good starting point. Here, visitors can gain historical perspective on Falmouth. Members of the Falmouth Garden Club maintain three different gardens on the grounds of Museums on the Green in Falmouth Village: a Colonial-style flower garden, an herb garden and a naturalized Memorial Garden. Visitors are welcome to stroll or relax in the gardens during daylight hours.
Visitors will be enamored with the breadth of Falmouth’s cultural options. There are artists and artisans in abundance. Some ply their crafts to capture a ‘Falmouth moment’ on canvas or film, while other artists don grease paint before setting out for the footlights. College Light Opera Company, whose repertoire includes classic Broadway stock musicals and light opera, regales its summer audiences at Highfield Theater. Drama and comedic productions are Woods Hole Theater Company’s forte. Falmouth Theater Guild, a community theater troupe, offers spring and autumn performances at Highfield. Falmouth offers a fine array of cultural attractions, performances and workshops through organizations such as the Cape Cod Conservatory and the Beebe Woods Arts Center on Highfield Drive. Summer’s College Light opera Company performs many of Gilbert & Sullivan’s musicals in addition to the performances of Falmouth’s Theater Guild, Woods Hole Theatre Project and summer band concerts on the Harbor.
Today, Falmouth is home to at least one dozen artists, galleries and potters. Falmouth’s scores of art galleries display the works of both local prominent and budding artists in a variety of media. Their works can be seen in many art shows, exhibits and fairs throughout the year. Nearby, the Americana collections of Heritage Museums & Gardens in Sandwich should not be missed. Instruction in fine or performing arts is offered at the Cape Cod Conservatory of Music & Art at Beebe Woods and at Falmouth Artists’ Guild.


Falmouth for Baseball Fans
Cape Cod Baseball League has been the premier amateur baseball league in the nation since 1885. And, in Falmouth, the Falmouth Commodores, one of the Cape Cod Baseball League’s teams, comprising college baseball players from all around the United States, is the team which calls our town home. Starting mid June, the Commodores play at Gus Fuller Field during its summer schedule, but the team plays all over Cape Cod among Cape Cod Baseball League’s ten teams. All games are free to the public and the schedule is posted at www.capecodbaseball.org.
For 2005, third baseman Matt Antonelli joined the Commodores for a second solid season, leading the league in runs scored and coming out with 47 hits and a .267 batting average. Mark Hamilton also returned for another stellar season, batting .272 with 33 RBIs (second most in the League) and six home runs. Catcher Jon Still and outfielder Chad Huffman, both new to the Commodores this year, proved to be valuable assets for the team. Team MVP Still held the highest batting average in the league for much of the season and ended up with 50 hits, 28 RBIs and a team-high .316 average, while Huffman was second in the league in runs scored and had the fifth-highest OBP and a batting average of .262. Shelby Ford, Brian Bocock, Brian Friday and Matt Antonelli all made consistently excellent plays in the infield while center fielder Brandon Bowser was known for his dazzling catches and cannon-like throws in the outfield. Southwest Missouri pitcher Brett Sinkbeil also had a standout season with a 2.38 ERA and 59 K’s. Just wait until the 2006 season begins!


Falmouth for Beach Bums
Because of its beautiful 68-mile coastline, Falmouth is a perfect locale for those who love the sea. The coast is one of Falmouth’s most beautiful and important natural resources and is home to the town’s 11 beaches. Two warm water bays cradle Falmouth—Vineyard Sounds lies south of Falmouth and Buzzards Bay borders it on the west. These bodies of water have an average summer temperature of 70° Fahrenheit and can be enjoyed through late autumn’s so-called ‘Indian Summer.’ Along this coast, residents and visitors alike enjoy twelve miles of beaches year-round. Windsurfing is permitted in the waters off public beaches before 9am and after 5pm. Trunk River Beach and a portion of Chapoquoit Beach are open any time, though parking is limited. Daily parking passes can be purchased from most lodging establishments in Falmouth. Resident stickers, weekly and seasonal passes may be purchased at the Surf Drive bathhouse. For information call
508-548-8623 from 8am to 5pm daily during the summer season.


Falmouth for Birders
Cape Cod’s location makes it one of the best spots along the Northeastern seaboard to view birds. During migration seasons, more than 260 different species of birds may make a stop in or near Falmouth to feed on marine worms, insects, crustaceans, and mollusks before continuing their long journey, which may have started in the Arctic Circle to end in South America, 12,000 miles away. Cape Cod lies about half way along the busy North American Flyway; Falmouth is a perfect area to feed and rest during these seasonal migrations. Make it a point to stop at East Falmouth’s 45-acre Ashumet Holly Reservation. H visitors can observe many bird species, depending upon season, including nearly three dozen nesting pairs of barn swallows which live in rafters one of the barns. Waquoit Bay Estuarine Research Reserve, in Waquoit, also is domicile to many seabirds and other bird species within its 2,500 acres.


Falmouth for Boaters (Canoers and Kayakers, too!)
Falmouth’s sheltered ponds, inlets, harbors and shoreline are ideal for kayaking and canoeing. Buzzards Bay, Vineyard and Nantucket Sound and inland waterways offer a spectrum of gentle to more challenging waters. Guided tours, lessons and equipment rentals are readily available. Sailors will enjoy the nooks and crannies of Falmouth’s crenulated coastline—all 68 miles of it—as well as the maritime history and lore in which them town is steeped. The town’s recreation department offers recreational sailing programs for all ages; inquire at Gus Canty Community Center at 790 Main Street. Falmouth Yacht Club also offers sailing classes to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. And there are at least 85 public slips for those not fortunate to have their own in Falmouth. There are deep harbors and inlets for all manner of vessel and craft. Kayaking is an ideal way to explore the town’s hundreds of otherwise inaccessible nook and cranny waterways. Canoeing is a more sedate and relaxing pastime and Falmouth’s lake and 56 ponds make this a Mecca for canoers. Canoe, kayak and boat rentals are readily available as are boating excursions from Falmouth and other harbors throughout town. For a glorious excursion on the water, take a sail on Liberté—a beautiful schooner.


Falmouth for Cyclers
Which cycler does not thrill to the liberating feeling of warm winds rushing past his ears, hair flying and eyes wide with wonder as he passes mile after mile of stunning beachfront and breaking waves? Cyclers will find Falmouth, with its 68-mile coastline stretching out before them, a cycler’s paradise. The picturesque, level terrain makes for an easy ride, with a few challenges here and there. The four-mile Shining Sea Bike Path, which winds its way through Falmouth from the Ice Arena to Woods Hole, is one of Cape Cod’s most beautiful cycling paths. In May 2005, town voters approved a $300,000 for design and permitting of the Shining Sea Bike Path to County Road in North Falmouth; the project is on Massachusetts’ improvement plan for construction in the federal fiscal year 2007 and the Path will eventually stretch for ten miles. Many cyclers prefer the serenity of the town’s quiet byways and along its many quiet side streets. No matter the course, cyclers will always find a new vista or secret, serene spot to be savored. Scenic guided cycle tours of Cape Cod and the Islands, including three-day Bed, Breakfast, biking and lunch tours, are available in town.


Falmouth for Equestrians
For 35 years, Fieldcrest Farm has been saddling children and adults up for hunt-seat lessons. While this is mostly a show barn, pleasure riders are also welcome. With ten school horses and three instructors, a rider of almost any riding level can be accommodated. This six-acre farm also offers indoor and outdoor arenas but no rentals. Group lessons are offered for half, three-quarter of full hour slots as well as private lessons. M-Sat 9am-5pm; 774 Palmer Avenue, 508-548-6671. Another facility, Highlander Farm offers lessons and riding at 49 Cloverfield Way, East Falmouth, 508-563-6866.


Falmouth for Families
Falmouth and environs is the perfect family destination. With so much to see and do here for families, many decide to purchase a second home nearby. Summer, of course, is the most popular time of year for events and sights and attractions, but Falmouth hums with activities for families year round. Here is a small sampling of the diversity. July’s Barnstable Country Fair—Cape Cod’s oldest—is replete with youth, agricultural and 4-H displays and contests, adult exhibits, arts & crafts, horse and oxen pulls, livestock, farmyard and horse shows and displays, children’s garden and crooked path, variety shows, petting zoo plus main stages shows and amusements midway. It is wonderful and heartwarming for the entire family. In Woods Hole, OceanQuest summer ‘Discovery Cruises’ give passengers an introduction to the major disciplines within oceanography. Passengers are actively involved manipulating equipment, collecting data, and discovering the wonder of ocean sciences. Adventure Isle—Cape Cod’s largest indoor/outdoor Amusement Center—features 25,000 square feet of indoor entertainment and the Cape’s only roller skating and roller- blading floor and bumper car dodge’em ride. The Lazer Runner’s lazer tag game have been combined with Cape Cod’s largest go-kart track and bumper boats lagoon, a super slide, miniature golf course, and kiddie rides along with two arcades, a restaurant, and function rooms. At Leary Family Amusement Center, near Town Hall in Falmouth, there are bowling, a video game arcade and all manner of family fun! In nearby Mashpee, Cape Cod Children’s Museum is where families learn and play together. With hands-on exhibits, pirate ship, planetarium, puppet theater, play area and daily programs, families will find plenty to do. From March to November, Plimoth Plantation is worth the reasonably short, scenic drive from Falmouth. This is Plymouth as it was in the 17th century: a centuries-old Wampanoag homesite, townspeople speaking the poetic language of Shakespeare’s England and more. Visitors speak with costumed role players portraying Plymouth colonists ("Pilgrims") going about their daily lives. At Hobbamock’s (Wampanoag) Homesite, Native staff practice and preserve traditional skills and speak about Wampanoag history and culture. On Plymouth’s waterfront, walk aboard Mayflower II, a full-scale model of the 17th-century vessel which made the trans-Atlantic voyage in 1620. Staff ensures a fun and fascinating visit for ‘time travelers’ of all ages. These are merely a few of the dozens and dozens of family activities to enjoy and partake in. Take a guided family kayak tour—or send the little ones to a ‘kids’ kamp’ kayak clinic, where they can learn the basics of kayaking in about three hours’ time at Cape Cod Kayak or Waquoit Kayak. These will merely whet your appetite … there are dozens of additional sights and attractions for families.


Falmouth for Fisherfolk
With almost 70 miles of coastline, fishing fanatics (or wannabes) are certain to find Falmouth an ideal spot to while away the hours surfcasting, on a fishing charter or merely snoozing until the line tugs. Whether a deep sea charter fishing excursion to find the really big prize fish or an afternoon sitting in the sun along one of the town’s quays or docks, the excitement and challenge of fishing is one not to be overlooked. Anglers can cast lines from one of Falmouth’s many docks, bridges and jetties or surf cast into the breaking swells off one of its pristine beaches. Many of its ponds and rivers also offer prime freshwater catches. Charter fishing excursions and boats are available in season. Licenses are required for fresh water fishing only.


Falmouth for Foodies
Throughout all of Falmouth’s eight villages, culinary folks will delight in the sheer variety of dining options—at least 50 places to dine. Of course, for those on a budget or who cannot steer clear of chain restaurants, there is an ample supply. However, for those who truly want to experience the culinary Cape as a gourmand, there are few towns which possess, for diversity of dining, the preponderance of eateries catering to nearly every taste and budget. Falmouth Village’s Main Street has recently experienced an influx of new restaurants—and locals have been quick to dub this strip ‘restaurant row.’ Visitors stepping out along Main Street here will be quick to second such an appellation. Naturally, when people hear ‘Cape Cod,’ they think ‘sea food.’ And rightfully so. However, Falmouth’s line-up of dining establishments pays equal homage to this Cape staple as well as continental and as many ethnicities as any world-class destination. Dine dockside (or within sight of the water) at many Falmouth restaurants, and dine by candlelight, hearthside, in a shiny 50s diner, on traditional continental cuisine in a period setting, at clam shacks and in many a posh dining rooms with starched white linens. Visit www.falmouthchamber.com/travel/results/restaurants/172 for a sampling of what’s on offer. Bon apetit!


Falmouth for Golfers
Falmouth provides a long and comfortable golf season throughout the year and its five spectacular public golf courses make Falmouth one of the most desirable places to visit and stay on Cape Cod. An entire golf vacation can be planned around Falmouth’s unique and picturesque golf courses. From lush rolling fairways with great views to links-style golf, Falmouth is sure to excite every golfer’s senses and challenge his or her skills. In 2007, Ballymeade was named as one of "New England’s 100 Must-Play Courses" by GolfStyles magazine Choose from the following courses: Ballymeade Country Club; Cape Cod Country Club; Falmouth Country Club; Paul Harney Golf Club; and Woodbriar Golf Club.


Falmouth for Hikers
Bucolic wooded paths, ideal for short walks or all-day excursions, hikes or picnics, are abundant throughout Falmouth’s eight villages. While Falmouth’s population has grown rapidly over the past several decades, the town has wisely set aside many vast tracts of conservation land, making for great hiking, mountain biking, jogging, or just a nice afternoon stroll. Beebe Woods, Washburn Island, Crane Wildlife Reserve, Cornelia Carey Sanctuary (“the Knob”) and the Moraine Trail are all beautiful areas set aside specifically for preservation and the enjoyment of Falmouth’s residents and visitors. Visit the following for walks in Falmouth’s Long Pond http://www.cctrails.org/falmlong.htm. Maps of hiking and walking areas, including brief descriptions of conservation lands, is available from the Falmouth Conservation Commission, 59 Town Hall Square, Falmouth, MA 02540, (508)548-7611. Here are some details about some of Falmouth’s truly great hiking and walking areas.
Goodwill Park: Information trail system in 85 acres of wooded area; public beach along Grew’s Pond is located along the east side of Route 28 (Palmer Avenue); Beebe Woods: Comprises 387 acres of woodlands with well-marked trails for walking, cross-country skiing and bird watching. The land was given to the Town of Falmouth by Mr. and Mrs. Josiah K. Lilly III in 1966. Although the Woods show no evidence of colonial dwellings, the relative youth of trees and stone walls indicate that this area provided lumber, firewood and pasture land to Native Americans and early colonists. The Woods are a part of larger holdings acquired in the 1870’s by James Beebe, a Boston dry goods businessman, whose holdings later became Jordan Marsh. He was one of the earliest of Falmouth’s summer residents. After the last Beebe son’s death, the land passed through several owners, and in 1966 was slated for a 500-home development when the Lillys purchased it for conservation. Beebe Woods hosts an extensive network of walking trails that cover miles of varied terrain, wooded ridges and steep-sided hollows encircle the picturesque pond know as the “Punch Bowl” deep within its interior. Trails connect at the southern end of Beebe Woods to Peterson Farm. It is located adjacent to the newly protected 88-acre Peterson Farm with access from Ter Heun Drive and Highfield Road (parking at the Cape Cod Conservatory). Washburn Island: Here are 334 acres for swimming, fishing, walking, primitive camping (no toilet facilities). It is owned by Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (administered from South Cape Beach State Park, Mashpee). It is accessible by boat only from Town Landing Road on Waquoit Bay off Cotuit Road. Ashumet Holly & Wildlife Sanctuary: Offers well-marked network of trails on 45 acres of woodlands and fields encircling a large freshwater pond; contains 8 species of holly trees and more than 130 species of birds have been sighted here. The sanctuary is located on Ashumet Road, north of Route 151. Maps are available at the visitor center (or MA Audubon Society, 286 Ashumet Road, East Falmouth 02536 508-563-6930); admission charge. Salt Pond Area Reservation: Forty acres with trails along Salt Pond and parking at Mill Beach parking lot and along roadsides. The Reservation is owned by Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries (881 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth 508-548-0711. Bourne Farm: Comprises 34 acres managed by Salt Pond Areas Bird Sanctuaries; ancient working farm with paths for walkers through a woodlot west of the railroad line; farmhouse and barn built in 1775. There is parking off Route 28A. Sea Farms: 67 acres on Bourne’s Pond and Israels Cove; trails for hiking and birdwatching (access from Gayle Avenue; parking area in Davisville, East Falmouth). Spohr Garden: This magnificent and idyllic spot comprises the Gardens and Oyster Pond. Visitors should take a leisurely walk through this idyllic six-acre garden on the banks of Oyster Pond. The Garden is open to visitors in early spring when thousands of daffodils explode into color with their awakening, soon followed by blooming rhododendrons and daylilies. Sit by the pond and bask in the beauty of flowers and birdsongs and enjoy its tranquility. Stroll the winding grassy paths and observe the many nautical treasures and other artifacts collected by Charles Spohr in his lifetime. Margaret and Charles D. Spohr began creating this wondrous setting around their home in the 1950s and welcomed the ever-growing number of visitors who had heard of its beauty. Charles Spohr died in 1997; his wife died in 2001, at which time the gardens passed to the Spohr Charitable Trust which supports the garden’s upkeep. Admission is free to the general public and one can get a preview at www.spohrgarden.org. Crane Wildlife Reserve: These 1,600 acres of open space and woodland are ideal for walking, mountain biking, hunting, bird watching and horseback riding. Off Route 151. Cornelia Carey Sanctuary (‘the Knob’): Where the road winds around Quisset Harbor to the dead end, there is a sign announcing “Private Road,” with a turnstile in front of a large house. Visitors should go through the turnstile, over a stone-fortified causeway to a small wooded area of red cedar and oak. This opens to a bare, grassy promontory high up, offering amazing views of Buzzards Bay, the Elizabeth Islands and spectacular seaside sunsets free for all to enjoy. Hiking trails wind through 13 acres of this protected bird sanctuary with magnificent views all around. From Route 28, right onto Quissett Harbor Road to the dead end; located at the end of Quissett Road, but there is only limited parking. The Moraine-Mock Hiking Trail: Featuring a walk time of 30 to 80 minutes, varying by choice of 13.8 acres of trails, this locale is geographically diverse. Rich in geological and human history, the moraine tract derives its name from characteristic ridges, boulders and kettle holes left as the margin of the Laurentide glacier melted. Park at tennis courts on Blacksmith Shop Road (off Route 28A) in West Falmouth.


Falmouth for History Buffs
Falmouth was settled in 1660 by a dozen Quaker and Congregationalist families from Barnstable and Sandwich fleeing religious repression. After receiving permission from Plymouth Colony, these kindly folks settled Succanessett (or Succonessitt)—“place of the black shells” in Wampanoag. Succanessett was incorporated in 1686 and in 1693 the name was changed to Falmouth, after the English port in Cornwall from whence Bartholomew Gosnold, alleged discoverer of Cape Cod, and his 32-man crew departed. Gosnold first landed at Woods Hole, not far from Nobska Point on May 31, 1602.
Falmouth’s green was cleared and set aside as common land for the town’s 600 residents in 1749. Here, the town’s militia drilled (and cattle grazed) as it became clear that a war of independence from Great Britain was inevitable. During the American Revolution, Falmouth was one of the few Cape towns fired upon by the British, whose ships attempted to send landing parties ashore, but were driven back by heavy fire from townsmen. During the War of 1812, the British again unsuccessfully tried to subdue Falmouth. In 1812, the British ship Nimrod sailed into Falmouth Harbor, its captain demanding the turnover of the town’s canons. The refusal to acquiesce precipitated heavy fire, and the Elm Arch and Nimrod Inns still proudly display their battle scars.
Falmouth developed principally as a farming community. Once the Puritans realized just how fertile the soil was, they quickly outnumbered the Quakers. Soon the town’s triangular green was dominated by the white clapboard First Congregational Church (circa 1708), whose bell was cast by Paul Revere and which bears the inscription “The living to the Church I call and Unto the Grave I summon all.” As Falmouth’s wealth grew, the Episcopal Church came to dominate and the neo-Gothic St. Barnabas Church stares directly at the Congregationalist Church across the green. Cranberries and strawberries were leading crops and, in fact, around the turn of the century, Falmouth was the leading producer of strawberries east of the Mississippi. St. Barnabas’ lawn is the venue for late June’s Strawberry Festival. Salt was also an important industry in Falmouth. In 1845, Falmouth’s 42 salt works produced in excess of 24,000 bushels.
A whaling fleet was based in Woods Hole and a stone building here, Candle House, was the site of a candle making operation which used spermaceti whale oil. Shipbuilding was also an important maritime trade. At one time, of 300 families domiciled in Falmouth, 148 households were headed by sea captains.
After the War of 1812 and American Civil War, Falmouth prospered from fishing, agriculture and manufacturing and became Cape Cod’s first “summer colony,” a respite for the wealthy and a haven for free thinkers. In addition to the elite, scientists, such as Louis Aggasiz (who founded the research colony in 1888 which became the internationally famous Marine Biological Laboratory) were drawn here. In the 1930s, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute was established, and went on to become one of the world’s most acclaimed research facilities on ocean sciences.
Visitors can learn a lot more about Falmouth history at the Falmouth Historical Society’s Museums on the Green and Woods Hole Historical Museum.


Falmouth for Movie Buffs
In summer 2005, the 14th Woods Hole Film Festival, held at the spectacular peak of summer in this charming, eclectic village by the sea on Cape Cod, ran eight glorious days. For those eight days, attendees had a choice of 70 films—feature and shorts—selected from hundreds of submissions from around the world. The Festival, which features a special section of Cape Cod filmmakers, has been called “the best film festival in the Northeast” by Moviemaker magazine. It’s easy to see why. The stars align, and no, this isn’t about Hollywood stars. Instead, the peak week of summer in the educated village that many consider the Cambridge of Cape Cod is a perfect time and place for innovative filmmakers to find a smart and interested audience. And this year, once again, the audience is in for a treat of original works from around the world, and especially from New England. The town also boasts two movie theaters—each with five screens—which offer evening and matinee performances. Mention too the “Movie Under The Stars which takes place at Margaret Noonan Park on Main Street weekly for families during the summer (bring lawn chairs, picnic baskets, etc., weather permitting)




Falmouth for Museum Goers
Falmouth is home to historic and picturesque Bourne Farm, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Exhibit Center, Falmouth Museums on the Green (Falmouth Historical Society), Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole Historical Museum and National Marine Fisheries Aquarium not to mention all of the historic sites around town and nearby. Here is a smattering of museums in Falmouth, but there are many other spots not to be missed. The staff at the Falmouth Chamber office at 20 Academy Lane, just off Main Street downtown Falmouth, can assist in planning a perfect day at the town’s many museums. Armed with maps and brochures, even the most discerning museum-goer will be satisfied that Falmouth’s got a lot of history and science in every step!

Marine Biological Laboratory: Learn more about Woods Hole’s Marine Biological Laboratory at Pierce Visitors Center at 100 Water Street. Free 1½-hour tours (led by retired scientists) include a 20-minute slide show. Visitors are then guided through impressive mazes of fiberglass tanks, pipelines and hoses to view species used in research—a guided side trip to view undersea wonders and tours of the Marine Resource Center. Observe living marine organisms at play and learn why they are important in biomedical research. What do toadfish tell scientist about how our balance system works? What do clams have to do with cancer? What does your vision have in common with that of a horseshoe crab? Tours are on offer summer weekdays by reservation. MBL is open weekdays 10am to 4pm and Saturday 10am to 2pm. Free tours are held at 1 PM Monday through Friday from mid-June through the end of August; reservations 548-3705, ext. 423. Visit WHOI Exhibit Center’s new display “Titanic Lost and Found” on the 1985 discover and the 1986 exploration of the wreck of the Titanic. Hear Bob Ballard and members of the ’85 & ’86 teams describe what it was like to be involved and see images of the wreck on the seafloor. Learn why Ballard went to the Titanic, display on the technology developed and highlights of some of the science that came out of the discovery and exploration plus a model of the wreck (see how the ship lies in two pieces on the ocean floor relative to each other). Woods Hole Historical Museum comprises Bradley House, next door to the Library, Yale Workshop and Swift Barn (housing the Small Boat Museum). Bradley House contains two galleries with exhibits that generally change annually. The third gallery contains a permanent scale model of Woods Hole, circa 1895. The Archives (Woods Hole Historical Collection) are also here. Swift Barn houses the Small Boat Museum. Displays include: an 1890s Woods Hole Spritsail boat (SPY); a Herreshoff 12½, a Cape Cod Knockabout; a Mirror dinghy; a 1922 Old Town canoe; a Woods Hole Chamberlain dory; and many boat models and maritime artifacts. Other small boats on the campus include two additional Cape Cod Knockabouts; two Beetle cat boats (under restoration) and its latest gift: a 1905 Spritsail boat. The Yale Workshop, circa 1892, recreates the domain of a 19th century Renaissance man who summered in Quissett: Leroy Milton Yale, Jr. Yale was a pediatrician by profession, he was also an accomplished fly fisherman who made his own rods and tied his own flies. He wrote articles for Scribners Magazine on sporting subjects, was a photographer and a well-known artist who founded the New York Etching Society as well as an expert woodworker. The Workshop, which had been adjacent to Yale’s Quissett house, “The Barnacle,” (since demolished) contains a display of artifacts, many original, as well as some acquired as representative of the era, including books, maps, nineteenth century tools, equipment, etchings and artifacts appropriate to Dr. Yale’s interests.
Woods Hole Science Aquarium, at Albatross and Water Streets in Woods Hole, displays 16 tanks of regional fish and shellfish. Magnifying glasses and a dissecting scope help you examine marine life, and several hands-on pools hold banded lobsters, crabs, snails, starfish, and other creatures. The top attraction is two harbor seals, on view in the outdoor pool near the entrance in summer; you can watch their feedings daily at 11 and 4; admission is free. www.nefsc.nmfs.gov/nefsc/aquarium .
Cape Cod Children’s Museum is a place where families can learn and play together. Come and explore our facilities located in Mashpee. With lots of hands on exhibits, our own pirate ship, an indoor planetarium, puppet theater, toddler play area, gift shop and daily programs, visitors will find plenty to do as they make new friends and learn about the Museum’s many programs while children are free to explore, touch and discover. There are storytelling followed by parents and child participating in an ‘act-out’ session, puppet making, and songs or felt board activities, arts & crafts, interactive song, dance and movement class, familiar folk dances and all kinds of interesting and innovative classes. www.capecodchildrensmuseum.org.
Several other prominent museums are located in or around Falmouth, including the Falmouth Historical Society, Heritage Museums & Gardens of Sandwich and Plimoth Plantation, known internationally for its re-creation of an authentic 1627 Pilgrim village and Hobbamock (Wampanoag) Indian homestead. For additional information about these and other museums, visit the comprehensive listing at www.falmouthchamber.com/travel/results/fun/247.


Falmouth for Rainy Day Visitors
“Rain, rain, go away …” not necessarily. Sometimes, visitors need a break from the sun and might otherwise not take in some of Falmouth’s most enduring, exciting and educational attractions and activities. So, if the skies open during a visit to Falmouth, take heart. Here are some terrific suggestions for the sole visitor, couple or entire family which are certain to entertain, captivate and teach!
Falmouth Museums on the Green are located on a two-acre complex in the heart of historic Falmouth village. Two 18th-century houses showcase period furnishings, china, toys, vintage clothing (including a “laundry room” filled with Victorian underwear), fine art and heritage quilts. Special exhibits capture the excitement of Falmouth’s 19th-century whaling industry, the “science” of pre-Civil War medicine (be happy you live in the 21st century!) and the life of Katharine Lee Bates, Falmouth-born author of America the Beautiful.
The reconstructed Hallett Barn completes the trio of historic buildings on the Museum property. This hand-pegged structure houses hands-on exhibits, try-on costumes from Colonial and Victorian times, a working antique hand loom, a sleigh that was used on the property in the early 19th century and activities designed for the young and young-at-heart. But be wary of your conduct, lest ye end up in the stocks just outside the barn door!
Cape Cod Winery features ten acres of gently-sloping vineyard and cultivates five varieties of grapes which are processed and bottled on the premises. Tours and tastings Thursday—Sunday (July & August); open May-October. 681 Sandwich Road, Falmouth. Falmouth Museums on the Green. Marine Biological Laboratories has much to explore, rainy day or not! Learn more about MBL at Pierce Visitors Center (100 Water Street, Woods Hole). Observe living marine organisms at play and learn why they are important in biomedical research. What do toadfish tell scientist about how our balance system works? What do clams have to do with cancer? What does your vision have in common with that of a horseshoe crab? A visit here is sure to incite curiosity and learning! www.mbl.edu
Woods Hole Science Aquarium was voted “Best Rainy Day Activity on the Upper Cape” for a third year and “Best Kids’ Activity on the Upper Cape” (in Cape Cod Life magazine’s 2005 Best of the Cape and Islands Readers’ Poll.) This small public aquarium displays approximately 140 species of marine animals found in Northeast and Middle-Atlantic U.S. waters. The Aquarium features an outdoor seal pool, 20 tanks and 15 aquaria with fish and invertebrates, two touch tanks where children can gently touch marine animals, and a behind-the-scenes area where visitors can talk to the staff as they go about their daily tasks of caring for the animals. The Aquarium was established in Woods Hole in 1885 and is the country’s oldest marine aquarium for public education and scientific research. It is owned by the federal government and run by NOAA Fisheries. Nearly 100,000 people visit the aquarium every year, including 10,000 children in school groups, but rain or shine, the whole family will enjoy a visit here! http://aquarium.nefsc.noaa.gov/
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution has a lot to see, do and learn for rainy day (and every other day) visitors. Here are some suggestions from its staff. What Can I See at the WHOI Exhibit Center? Auditorium: Discover Planet Ocean video. Vehicles for exploration: ABE (Autonomous Benthic Explorer) model; JASON model; REMUS (Remote Environmental Monitoring Units). In the lobby, visit the WHOI kiosk (with video clips explaining WHOI history, Alvin History, Education programs and research departments). Alvin Room: A full-scale model of Alvin personnel sphere with real components from Alvin. Viewport: A cutaway of personnel sphere and actual ‘viewport’ (shows how sphere is constructed to withstand pressure). Alvin Under Pressure: artifacts and displays showing how Alvin components withstand pressure of deep sea. In the hallway: Learn More Computer, a kiosk with interactive modules showing plate tectonics, earth anatomy, and types of fault lines. Hydrothermal vent mural painted by honors students from Falmouth High School (the mural illustrates life at hydrothermal vents). Upstairs Main Exhibit Hall: Hydrothermal Vents, a display of vent creatures and rock formations with computer animation showing how vents are formed. Learn More Computer: a kiosk with interactive modules showing vent anatomy, vent biology, and link to Dive & Discover. Learning from Mud: a display on how oceanographers take core samples of the sea floor and find clues to past climate and earth’s history from the sediments and the fossils found in the sediments. Marine Mammals display highlights areas of WHOI research: hearing—displays of dolphin and whale ear bones; tagging technology—how biologists and engineers work together to understand marine mammal behavior; marine mammals sounds computer—a range of sounds created by marine mammals; right whale tail model—used by researchers to test disentanglement techniques to save the endangered right whale. And the newest exhibit: Titanic Lost and Found. Here, audio and video displays on the 1985 discovery and 1986 exploration of the wreck of Titanic. Hear Bob Ballard and members of the ’85 & ’86 teams describe what it was like to be involved and see images of the wreck on the seafloor. Learn why explorers went to the Titanic plus observe a display on the technology developed and highlights of some of the science that came out of the discovery and exploration. See a model of the wreck and how the ship lies in two pieces on the ocean floor relative to each other. For additional information, go to www.whoi.edu/home/index_about.html.


Falmouth for Runners
The seaside town of Falmouth is perhaps one of the Cape’s most idyllic places to run. Seaside vistas along Surf Drive provide a compelling backdrop for any running excursion. Also, the moderately challenging terrain—including some of the Cape’s steepest uplands—provides the perfect continuum of exertion for all levels of runner. Many winding country roads provide moderate exercise as well as some of the Cape’s most bucolic and serene landscapes, including seawards vistas, for this sport.
So compelling is both the destination and terrain, that Falmouth is the site of the world-renowned Falmouth Road Race. This Race is seven miles long and begins in front of the Woods Hole Community Center, near the drawbridge on Water Street. The course proceeds out of Woods Hole and takes a right onto Church Street, then winds around Nobska Lighthouse and continues along the winding, hilly, tree-lined road. At three miles the course emerges from the woods and continues for 1½ miles along the beach, right next to the waters of Vineyard Sound. It then turns left onto Shore Street and, 400 yards later, right onto Clinton Avenue. At the end of Clinton Avenue it turns left onto Scranton Avenue, then 600 yards later right onto Robbins Road and the top of Falmouth Harbor. At the end of Robbins Road it turns right onto Falmouth Heights Road and continues until runners once again meet the ocean. At this point it turns left and heads up the hill and down the road to the finish line, near Falmouth Heights Ball Field. The first three miles are narrow, hilly, winding roads, while the last four miles are flat with a steep hill at the beginning of the last ½ mile. The 2006 race will be on Sunday, Aug. 13. Please re-visit www.falmouthroadrace.com in January 2006 for more information.
Begun in 1978, run for first 6 years at Otis AFB and for past 20 years on a scenic one-loop certified course in Falmouth, the Cape Cod Marathon has been named one of the ten “Most Scenic” marathons in America by Runners’ World magazine and New England Runner Magazine designated the event “1996 Road Race of the Year.” The one-loop course begins and ends at the Village Green in Falmouth center. The first 10.5 miles are relatively flat, with the exception of one short hill at 3 miles, as the course goes east along the shore for about five miles and then heads inland through the farmland and cranberry bogs of East Falmouth. When the course turns onto Thomas Landers Road, the route climbs for 1.5 miles about 70 feet to the highest elevation of the course (about 100 feet above sea level). From mile 12 to mile 15, the course heads south into West Falmouth and is primarily downhill or flat. There is a 3/4 mile downhill at mile 12 that starts that sequence. Between mile 15.5 and 23.5 the course proceeds south into Woods Hole and picks up the first part of the Falmouth Road Race course, going past Nobska Light at mile 22. This 8 mile stretch of terrain consists of a non-stop series short rolling hills mixed in with some flat and with some noteworthy hills (1/4 - 1/3 mile) at 15.5, 17, 20, and 22 miles. Just beyond 23.5 miles, the terrain flattens out again for the last 3.2 miles along the Vineyard Sound shore and back to Falmouth center. The first part is easy, the latter is a test. The people who do well on this course (and consistently year in and year out, 25% of experienced marathoners PR on this course) follow the following formula: go out easy, take plenty of fluids, and save energy for the hills. To get a flavor of how to run this course, check out the history section. The accounts of the ’88 - ’93 races will give you considerable insight. Although the course is not closed to traffic, it is run on secondary roads and monitored by the police and numerous volunteers, who man intersections, provide radio communication, medical support, tired runner pick-up, etc. www.capecodmarathon.com.


Falmouth for Theater Goers
Falmouth’s professional theaters offer Broadway productions, classics, musicals, light comedy and drama. Here are some offerings for theater goers.
Cape Cod Theatre Project brings together playwrights of new American plays with professional directors and actors—often straight from Broadway—for staged readings. The Cape Cod Theatre Project presents staged readings of new American plays by both emerging and established playwrights each July at Falmouth Academy. The Project has helped develop the work of such prominent playwrights as Lanford Wilson, Paula Vogel and Neil LaBute, as well as work by promising writers Anne Marie Healy, David Schulner, Garth Wingfield and Etan Frankel to name just a few. Notable directors who have worked at the Project are Marshal Mason, Christopher Ashley, Kate Whoriskey, Gabriel Barre and Pam Mackinnon. All have worked on and off Broadway. The Project has also attracted many of the country’s most outstanding actors including Bill Pullman, Anna Paquin (Academy Award winner), Frank Wood (Tony Award Winner), Amy Ryan (Two time Tony Nominee), Johanna Day (Tony Nominee), Diedre O’Connell (Obie Award winner), Jeffrey Carlson, John Cunningham (Obie Award winner), Josh Hamilton, Marin Hinkle, J.C. McKenzie and Miriam Shor among many others. Since 1995, the Project has presented 38 plays, 25 of which have gone on to stages around the country. In the 2004-2005 season, six plays went to New York: Wilder by Eric Cressida Wilson, Between Us by Joe Hortua, The Ugly American by Mike Daisey, BFE by Julia Cho, Modern Orthodox by Daniel Goldfarb, and Manuscript by Paul Grellong. In January 2006, a 6th play, Almost Maine by John Cariani will open. This is the theatergoer’s opportunity to experience the birth of an exciting new play before it goes on to stages around the country. (July only). www.capecodtheatreproject.org
College Light Opera Company: An independent nonprofit educational theatre founded in 1969, is currently produced by Robert A. and Ursula R. Haslun. The Company provides fine Broadway stock musicals to summer audiences on Cape Cod, while giving young talent a chance to begin a career in music theatre. The group consists of 32 talented singers, a fine 17-piece orchestra, and 12 dedicated technicians. The Company is selected annually from applicants in colleges and universities all across the country. The members of the Company are dedicated to learning the various techniques of music theatre under the guidance of a trained professional staff. The Company (largest resident theatre company in America) performs nine operettas and musicals each season with full orchestral accompaniment. It is one of the only summer music theatres which performs with full pit orchestra. Its 86 members spend the summer working in a professional atmosphere free of other academic responsibilities. The Company performs at the air-conditioned Highfield Theatre in Falmouth and plays to enthusiastic standing-room-only audiences throughout the season. 508-548-0668 www.collegelightopera.com.
Falmouth Theatre Guild: The Cape Cod Conservatory of Music and Dance is located directly across the parking area from this theater. Summers, the College Light Opera Company fills the theater with its musical productions through August. Falmouth Theatre Guild returns every September and stays until the month of May. Both Falmouth Theatre Guild and College Light Opera Company share in the upkeep and maintenance of the Highfield Theater. Falmouth Theatre Guild presents three or four productions per season; one in September, one or two during the holiday season, and another in the spring.
www.falmouththeatreguild.org
Woods Hole Theatre Company: This non-profit, tax-exempt organization has been in residence in the village of Woods Hole since 1974. Its purpose is to engage in and promote the cultural growth of the community of Woods Hole and vicinity. WHTC operates year round, producing a wide variety of plays at affordable prices. Its traditional home is the historic Woods Hole Community Hall of 1878. 508-540-6525 www.woodsholetheater.org


Falmouth for Windsurfers
Falmouth’s Old Silver and Chapoquoit Beaches are probably the best wave sailing sites on the Massachusetts coast with the best southwest winds. West is straight onshore, which can make it tricky to pass the shorebreak. On a big day (4.0 and smaller) expect logo mast waves. Once past the shorebreak, windsurfers will encounter big swells that can be mast high in high winds. These beaches attract the most advanced sailors in the area and are favorites of Nevin Sayre. If the surf overwhelms you, or you want to take a break, it is possible to sail in the harbor on the other side of the road. There you will encounter very flat water and slightly weaker winds. Windsurfing, around for 25 years, is relatively simple to learn for beginners and, with a few simple lessons, they can be off for hours of great, safe fun. The technology has improved tremendously with wider and more stable boards and fins. (Note: Chappaquoit Beach is closed to non-residents between Memorial Day and Labor Day.)

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