Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

based on 11 reviews

Duration:3 hours to 5 hours (approx.)
Location: Bar Harbor, Maine

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Explore Cape Cod’s scenic beauty with this self-guided driving tour. Visit the Cape Cod Visitor Center, then ascend Scargo Tower for breathtaking views. Discover Harwich and its picturesque Cape Cod Lavender Farm. Relax at Bank Street Beach, and delve into history at Eastham’s First Encounter Beach. Stop by Salt Pond Visitor Center, marvel at Nauset Light, and visit the Three Sisters Lighthouses. Enjoy nature at Mass Audubon Wellfleet Bay, the Marconi Wireless Station, and serene trails.

Purchase one tour per car, not per person.

After booking, check your email to download the separate Audio Tour Guide App by Action, enter your unique password, and access your tour. These steps require good internet/Wi-Fi access. From there, follow the audio instructions and the route.

New, extra validity — now yours for an entire year! Use multiple times over multiple trips!

This isn't an entrance ticket. Check opening hours before your visit.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

1.
We begin our journey into America's distant past at the Cape Cod Visitor Center. Prepare to dive into the Pilgrims, the nation's origins and the long history of the Cape. As we begin our drive through picturesque Massachusetts towns, we'll learn about the Nauset tribe, their legends and traditions, and why they were wary when strange ships appeared on the eastern horizon. Note: This 65+mile-long tour covers the essentials of Cape Cod in 2-3 hours.
2.
An optional detour takes us past the fish-shaped Scargo Lake. According to Nauset legend, this lake was built by a great chieftain to comfort his daughter, who could not stop weeping over three dead fish. We'll also learn about the Nauset party who first spotted the Mayflower, and the fears they had about its approach.
3.
Another optional detour takes us to Harwich, a quaint Cape town known for its numerous beautiful beaches. If you fancy a swim, this is one of the best places on the Cape for it!
4.
While in Harwich, we'll visit the Cape Cod Lavender Farm, a secluded estate that's just as gorgeous and fragrant as it sounds. Walk any of the woodland trails for free, soak up the smell of lavender, and pick up a few souvenirs!
5.
Next, our Harwich detour will take us to Bank Street Beach, the perfect place to relax or dip your toes into the Atlantic.
6.
As we continue our drive, we'll enter Eastham, a perfectly picturesque little Colonial town. We'll also hear about the embattled first encounter between the Pilgrims and the Nauset, the daring assistance offered by Squanto, and the very first Thanksgiving, where the Pilgrims and Nauset celebrated a truce.
7.
Continuing down the Cape, we'll arrive at First Encounter Beach, where that dramatic skirmish between Nauset and Pilgrims took place. The beach now bears a plaque commemorating the encounter and the eventual truce.
8.
A little farther on, we'll arrive at the Salt Pond Visitor Center. This miniature museum is the perfect opportunity to catch up on some extra Cape history, use the bathroom, or just stretch your legs.
9.
As we continue our drive up the Cape, we'll spot the Nauset Light, the quaint little lighthouse that features in every quintessential Cape Cod photograph. We'll also learn about its importance, and how the Cape's rough waters earned the nickname of "ocean graveyard" before the lighthouse was built.
10.
As we continue our drive up the Cape, we'll spot the Nauset Light, the quaint little lighthouse that features in every quintessential Cape Cod photograph. We'll also learn about its importance, and how the Cape's rough waters earned the nickname of "ocean graveyard" before the lighthouse was built.
11.
Continuing our drive, we'll come to three squat white lighthouses called the Three Sisters Lighthouses. What's peculiar about these lighthouses is that they're not on the coast at all! They're actually nestled among a thicket of trees pretty far inland. Hear about why that is, and how they came to be there. We'll also learn about how the Cape transformed from Nauset land to Colonial fishing towns, and then from fishing towns to a tourist hotspot.
12.
Another optional detour takes us to the Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary. With five miles of trails through four different biomes, and more species of birds and other critters than you can count, this stop is bound to delight nature enthusiasts, bird watchers, and avid hikers alike.
13.
As we continue driving, we'll pass Marconi Station, the first radio station to ever send a wireless message across the Atlantic! The station also played a pivotal role in an infamous oceanic tragedy: the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. Learn how a radio station hundreds of miles away saved lives on that fateful day!
14.
The next optional detour takes us to the Atlantic White Cedar Swamp Trail, a perfect spot for hikers of all experience levels to stretch their legs and take in Cape Cod's varied terrain. Within a single, short mile lies a beach, a freshwater marsh, a deciduous forest, and a salt plain! Continuing our drive, we'll also hear about Cape Cod's former whaling industry.
15.
As we continue driving, we'll pass the Pilgrim Spring Trail, a short hike which leads to one of the first places the Pilgrims came after landing on the Cape. Here, the weary travelers found their first freshwater spring--an essential find in helping them survive. Afterward, we'll continue on toward Provincetown.
16.
As we drive through P-Town, we'll arrive at Macmillan Pier, where thousands of ships have launched over the years. Here, we get to see how past and present really intermingle on the Cape. These days, the pier is mostly used to launch whale watching expeditions.
17.
Our penultimate stop is the Pilgrim Monument: the tallest all-granite monument in the entire country! Every year since its completion in 1910, thousands of tourists climb the steps of this 250-foot colossus to get a panoramic view of the ocean from the top. It's well worth the trek! Next, we'll hear about the Mayflower Contract, the rough set of laws the Pilgrims set for themselves upon landing in the New World.
18.
Finally, we'll end up where it all began: the site where the Mayflower first struck land. Explore the park and imagine what it must have been like for the settlers, after ten harrowing weeks at sea, to step onto Nauset soil right here on November 11th, 1620. Our tour officially ends at this historic stop.

ADDITIONAL INFO

• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• How to access: Once you book a tour, you’ll get a confirmation email with instructions. Follow the instructions right away: • Download the separate app • Enter the password • Download the tour • MUST DO while in strong wifi/cellular.
• How to start the tour: Open Action’s separate audio tour guide app once onsite. • If there is just one tour, launch it. • If multiple tour versions exist, launch the one with your planned starting point and direction. • Go to the starting point. (Note: no one will meet you at the start. This tour is self-guided). • The audio will begin automatically at the starting point. If you face audio issues, visit the FAQ. • Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Amazing Savings: why pay for an expensive, crowded, and limited bus tour — priced per person! — when you can have ONE amazing audio guide on your OWN phone for your WHOLE group?
• Flexibility and Convenience: • Use the tour app anytime, on any day, and over multiple days. It's perfect for tailoring your exploration and revisiting your favorite spots on future trips. • Start and pause the tour whenever you like, taking breaks and exploring side excursions at your own pace, free from the constraints of a group.
• Comprehensive Tour Experience: •The app provides a full itinerary, travel tips, narrated audio stories, scripts, images, videos, and recommendations for additional activities. • Enjoy a private experience without the crowds, ideal for personalized stops and photo opportunities.
• Ease of Use and Accessibility: • The app is hands-free and activates stories via GPS, offering support through call, chat, or email. • There is no need for a continuous cell or Wi-Fi connection as the GPS map works offline.
• Memorable Keepsakes: • Utilize the app’s images to create a photo book or share on social media, ensuring you have high-quality, crowd-free memories from your trip.
• Preparation: • After booking, download the app and the tour using a strong Wi-Fi connection. • Review the tour at home before your trip for a better experience.
• Starting the Tour: • Open the app upon arrival at your destination. • Select the appropriate tour based on your starting point. • Head to the starting location; the audio will begin automatically. • Follow the suggested route and adhere to the speed limit for an optimal experience. • By following these instructions and taking advantage of the app's features, users can enjoy a personalized, flexible, and in-depth exploration of their destination at their own pace and convenience.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Posted By : KellyR
Took a little work to get the tour going after buying on Viator—had to download the Viator app and then the third party app and it felt like a lot of steps to get to the tour. Once it was up and running, it worked well. I didn’t have any problems with the app or the tour. In terms of the tour itself, it was good. We found a few places we probably wouldn’t have found or stopped at ourselves that were really fun and I’m glad we did it. I do wish there were more pieces of information along the way. It felt like we drove in silence a little bit too much. I would have appreciated more stories or history during those places and a couple of the stops were a little short on info. Overall, though, a well done tour that is very helpful to learn the Cape. A few tweaks would make it great.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-07-10 10:57:32

Posted By : Sandy J
Listened to this as we drove from Dennisport to PTown. Interesting facts. Only complaint was that the GPS with it was sometimes confusing and slow to point out whennwe needed to make turns. But glad we ised it on the drive. Saw things we might have missed.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-06-15 08:15:05

Posted By : brad m
Could not get this to work. Absolute waste of money
Just kept asking to book after I had paid and followed the cryptic instructions
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-06-14 07:22:43

Posted By : angieaX7646ML
Overall, great audio tour...and I've been on many!! Easy navigation, solid narration, and interesting facts! There's 1 planned restroom break, which was necessary and thoughtful, altho I wish there were more. Having never gone to PTown, I got way more from this tour than I bargained for. It's the off season, so it was mellow and chill. I had no issues with parking and crowds. I couldn't imagine doing this tour in the thick of the season tho. I do wish there were recommended food and touristy venues included in the tour too. While the map showed a ton of places, was hard to know which to choose. The recommendations I'd give to other patrons doing this tour are
1. Beware of the traffic. Leaving the cape was a nightmare of traffic and slow moving. I didn't think it'd be that bad on a Sunday off season.
2. Plan for more driving time if you do any of the detours which are also nice. I started skipping a few because I wanted to get to the good stuff.
3. Take the Pilgrim monument tour, I missed out. It looked like it would be great.
4. If I had it to do all again, I'd do it over multiple days and really enjoy the beaches and what Ptown has to offer.

Hope your experience is great! Highly recommended!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-04-10 07:14:18

Posted By : kporter9876
Let me start by saying that 2-3 hours is not accurate unless you don't do any of the detours. I did most of them and it took me about 6 hours. This was a pro for me because it filled my Sunday afternoon. And it was nice that there were additional narrations within the detours.

However, this was two to three times more than I've paid for other self-guided tours, and therefore, I would've expected it to be pretty perfect. But there are a few things that need to be fixed.

First, because I was doing this solo, it got tricky finding my way along the route and detours at times. Second, there was no "go to this stop" button like it said to get you back to Google Maps, which would've been incredibly helpful in finding my way back after the detours when I needed to keep my eyes on the road, especially on tricky/rural roads. Third, some of the narrations weren't timed well and a couple of them said to turn with no or almost no warning, and others cut off because the next stop approached and the narration changed.

So, I'm glad I did it but I've done amazing self-guided that were much cheaper, so this one should be updated.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2023-03-27 18:00:07

Posted By : Steven_P
A really good app tour. It follows your course and locates where you are before starting each point/section. It can be a little glitchy sometimes and start the next section before finishing the previous one so you may miss a bit. Would recommend it less for solo travellers as trying to drive and keep control of the app can be a little difficult. Great way of exploring though. Oh, and allow a minimum of 4 hours!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2022-11-01 09:12:22

Posted By : Alexandra_S
The tour gives you a great chance to drive and get bits of history at the same time. First encounter between Pilgrims and Native Americans was truly awesome.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2022-08-25 16:23:01

Posted By : terryp421
The audio tour was interesting and informative. The street directions were a bit hard to follow. We saw some great sights.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2022-06-07 18:18:13

Posted By : Kathy_O
Things were not as expected. We ended up traveling by 6a instead of 6 so for the first part of the trip did not use. I used at later sites but things were closed or not there anymore such as Wydah Museum in Provincetown.
Even though things such as beaches were supposed to be open restrooms were closed often.
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2022-04-04 09:47:09

Posted By : GoPlaces41878888546
This was a great tool to visit many spots on the Cape.

If you don’t start from beginning, pre-recorded directions can get confusing as the navigation wants to take you back to start.

However, if you follow the blue dot of where you actually are in real time on the map, you can figure it out (I was the co-pilot). Might be harder to do if your solo.

The tour have interesting info and showed us great sites!

Get started early if you want to hit all the spots- we did not and it was still worth the buy!
Rating : full ratings
Posted On : 2021-11-23 11:45:02

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Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

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ADDITIONAL INFO

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Partner Resources

How it works

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Tickets

Cape Cod Self-Guided Driving Audio Tour

WHAT'S INCLUDED ⟱

WHAT TO EXPECT ⟱

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ADDITIONAL INFO ⟱

CANCELLATION POLICY ⟱

Partner Resources

How it works

Travel

Insurance

Adventure

Contact

WHAT'S INCLUDED

WHAT TO EXPECT

ADDITIONAL INFO

CANCELLATION POLICY