One of the short films is about the discovery of an 11,000-year-old campsite in 1990. It’s joined by five other short films on a rotating schedule. The film was made in 2018 by Northern Light Productions. In the theater, you can see a 14-minute orientation video - “Standing Bold.” It plays every hour, highlighting the cultural and natural history of the Cape and Seashore. The Salt Pond Visitor Center lobby is only a small preview of what’s in the rest of the facility. Did you know that there used to be much more land than what you see today? On the map, you can see the Cape’s location in the Gulf of Maine and how natural forces have shaped and continue to shape the land. There’s a big topographic map that shows the glacial history of the Cape. It’s the starting point for learning everything you could want to know about the Cape Cod National Seashore. There’s more to do in the Salt Pond Visitor Center lobby than get information about your next stop. photo courtesy of Things to Do at the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor Center Start in the Lobby On top of that, the facility has a lot of fantastic educational and interesting things to do and see. In addition, the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center features self-serve information boards and is staffed by knowledgeable rangers who can answer any questions you may have. Then, pick up some of the trail and resource brochures to enrich your experience. You can grab a trip planner to help you decide where to visit next. This visitor center has all of the information that you could want about this protected area. While it seems counterproductive not to begin at one end or the other, this facility is the main visitor center for the Cape Cod National Seashore. We recommend the Salt Pond Visitor Center in Eastham.
Along this stretch of coastline are trails, beaches, and lighthouses that you can visit for yourself.Ĭonsidering the length of the landscape, you might wonder where to start.
The Cape Cod National Seashore consists of protected marshlands, uplands, ponds, and more - from the outer islands of Chatham to the tip of Provincetown. photo courtesy of An Overview of the Cape Cod National Seashore Salt Pond Visitor Center The best activities, restaurants, museums, events, views, and much more!Ĭlick here to request the guide.
NATIONAL SEASHORE FULL
Cape Lookout offers more isolation than any other public lands with vehicle access on the east coast.Get our free Cape Cod Vacation Guide, full of the best things to do in Cape Cod.
And South Core has the Cape Lookout Lighthouse which can be climbed during the season. Portsmouth Village on North Core is well worth a visit but you'll likely have to drive through a quarter mile of water to get there - kind of fun actually. Bug spray and sun lotion should be at the top of the list. Ice is available from the Park Service offices and potable water and restrooms with showers and flush toilets are located nearby. Each island is roughly twenty miles in length and, other than a few restricted areas, you're free to find a spot anywhere between the dunes and the high tide line that suits your fancy. Four wheel drive is a must.Īctually, there are no sites. Only tent camping is permitted on Shackleford but private ferry services capable of carry a half dozen or so vehicles provide access to South Core and Portsmouth so truck campers and pop-up trailers are ideal when searching for that perfect site. The Seashore consists of three barrier islands off the central NC coast - Shackleford Banks, South Core Banks and North Core Banks (more commonly called 'Portsmouth Island' by those of us fortunate enough to live in the area). Most of the info you'll need to have a safe and enjoyable visit is available on the Park's website. Cape Lookout National Seashore is an unknown nobody when compared to its more heavily visited northern sister, Cape Hatteras.