Orleans MA

Orleans is one of the more commercial towns on Cape Cod, although the community works hard to maintain smaller, individually owned businesses and keep larger chain stores out. It was named for the exiled French duke of Orleans who made frequent visits there.

Orleans was settled in 1642 and incorporated in 1797. It claims the distinction of being the only place in the United States to be fired upon by the enemy in both World Wars. In World War I, a German submarine fired upon ships in the harbor and sunk four vessels. It is believed that one shell fired actually landed on the shore.

East Orleans contains much of the colonial architecture of the past, including the Historical Society and Museum, while the area around Rock Harbor contains more modern, and grand, beach houses.

A short way south of Rock Harbor is Skaket Beach, which offers panoramic views and calm waters for swimmers, though the beach area has more high grasses along with the sand. Nauset Beach, on the Atlantic Ocean side is for the more adventurous with a wide, sandy beach and large waves for body surfing or surfboarding. There is even a shop nearby where you can rent any equipment you might need. Nauset Beach also offers free concerts by the sea on Monday evenings in July and August. You can take a picnic dinner or indulge in the fried clams from the shack on the beach.

Those who prefer to stay out of the salt water can swim instead at Pilgrim Lake. There are also many freshwater ponds for fishing for perch and trout, but do not forget the proper permits. Full and half-day ocean fishing trips are available from a few establishments. Most provide all supplies and even clean your catch for you.

Orleans also offers a wide variety of shopping, from the Bird Watcher’s General Store, carrying everything for the birding enthusiast, to Oceana, which carries everything nautical to decorate your home and jewelry to decorate you, to specialty clothing stores stocked with designer overstocks at great prices.

For the sportsman who wants to get away and do some sport fishing, and their spouses or girlfriends who love to shop, Orleans is the spot on the Cape to be.