Coast Guard Beach

Thoreau once walked the 40 miles of the Cape’s pristine eastern coast and wrote a whole book on the experience. JFK, also a fan, ensured that the shoreline and its marshes, freshwater ponds, and lighthouses were preserved for future generations. On the southern end of the protected strip sits Coast Guard Beach. With its rolling dunes and ever-shifting conditions—roaring one day, serene the next—it’s a breathtaking place to stroll, lounge, picnic, or surf. Doane Road, Eastham, 508-255-3421.