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Chatham (Massachusetts)

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Overview

Chatham is at the "elbow" of Cape Cod in Massachusetts, and includes the villages of North Chatham, South Chatham and West Chatham. Its beautiful beaches, harbors, coastal scenes and its interesting village shops make it

Wikivoyage guide · 16 sections

▸Introduction420 chars

In 2007 Chatham was recognized by the National Trust for Historic Preservation as one of America’s Dozen Distinctive Destinations.

▸By car770 chars

From Route 6 take Exit 85 (old exit 11); go left off the ramp onto Route 137 South; go straight through one set of lights (by car dealership); go straight (actually a right dogleg) at the four way stop at Queen Anne Rd. ( The Corner Store on corner); continue to the Route 28 intersection (the road will end). Turning right (west) will bring you into the South Chatham neighborhood, while turning left (east) will lead you through Chatham's Main Street (the local name for Route 28). Driving straight (or more precisely, left and then an immediate right up a driveway) brings you to Chatham's Tourist Information Center, sponsored by the local chamber of commerce. This is an excellent first stop, as the Center's volunteers can provide local context and suggestions.

▸Get around223 chars

Remember that traffic is heavy on summer weekends. If leaving on Sunday, try to avoid mid-day.

Facts

Rank

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Coordinates

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Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia199 words

WBP editorial3

Seasonal rhythms for the discerning visitor

Chatham operates on a quiet‑summer pulse and a serene winter lull. In July and August the town’s streets swell with weekenders, and the harbour becomes a hub for classic‑sloop races; book a morning slot at the community dock to watch the crews ready their rigs before the tide turns. Come September, the crowds thin and the local fisheries open their doors for catching‑and‑cooking demonstrations, offering a hands‑on glimpse of the region’s lobster heritage. Winter, though stark, reveals a coastline dotted with frost‑kissed dunes – ideal for reflective walks with a thermos of hot cider, and the occasional seal haul‑out that draws wildlife photographers without the summer fanfare.

Beyond the lighthouse: subtle cultural currents

Most visitors associate Chatham with its iconic beacon, yet the town nurtures a modest artistic circuit that thrives in the off‑season. The historic downtown hosts a rotating series of pop‑up galleries in former fish‑mongering warehouses, where local painters reinterpret the Atlantic’s colour palette. A short walk from the main beach lies the Chatham Historical Society’s courtyard, which quietly stages live‑music evenings featuring folk musicians from neighbouring Orleans. These events are rarely listed in mainstream guides, but they provide an authentic immersion in the community’s narrative, blending maritime lore with contemporary creative expression.

More in cities0

▸Museums809 chars

6 Atwood House Museum (Chatham Historical Society), 347 Stage Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 508 945-2493. (updated Jun 2018)

7 Godfrey Windmill (Chatham Windmill, historic Chatham Grist Mill), 125 Shattuck Place, ☏ +1 508 945-5175, chathamwindmill@gmail.com. M W F 10AM-3PM Jul-Aug. Built in C1797, the historic Godfrey Windmill was fully restored in 2009-12 so that it can once again grind grain just as it did in the 18th and 19th centuries. The mill is open for guided tours during the summer months. On special Grinding Days, the mill is set in operation and grinds corn. For more information about tour dates and times, special events, and detailed directions, please visit the mill's website. Free, donations welcomed. (updated Jun 2018)

8 The Railroad Museum, 153 Depot Rd. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Free. (updated Jun 2018)

▸Tours1,029 chars

Chatham Charters, 1470 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-7806. Enjoy a full or half day fishing the waters around Chatham for bluefish or striped bass with Captain Matthew Swenson. (updated Jun 2018)

Monomoy Island Ferry, 1 Wikis Way, ☏ +1 508 237-0420. Provides a 90 minute tour giving an up close and personal look at hundreds of seals on Monomoy Island and the waters surrounding. The tour also includes a walking tour of the Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge along the entire west side of the Monomoy Islands to take a look at the Monomoy Lighthouse and sightings of white-tailed deer, owls, seals, and other wildlife. (updated Jun 2018)

Outermost Adventures, 83 Seagull Road (Off Morris Island Road, one-half mile south of Chatham Light), ☏ +1 508 945-5858. Shuttles to South Beach and North Monomoy Island. One hour seal watch cruises. (updated Jun 2018)

Stick 'n Rudder Aero Tours, 240 George Ryder Rd (Chatham Airport), ☏ +1 508 945-2363. Rent a biplane (and pilot!) for another way to see the beaches and seals. (updated Jun 2018)

▸Events749 chars

The Annual Hookers Ball, 150 George Ryder Rd. Held on the first Saturday in August. Under the Big White Tent on George Ryder Road, Chatham VFW. The Hookers Ball has grown from a small gathering at a raw bar to a 700 person bash, complete with a live and silent auction, seafood buffet and raw bar, live music, open bars, and dancing! Presented by the Cape Cod Commercial Hook Fishermen's Association. (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Band, 15 Chatham Bars Ave (Kate Gould Park). On summer Friday nights from before the 4th of July to the Friday before Labor Day, the Town Band plays a concert in the park. They start at 8:00 PM and they last about an hour and a half. Bring a chair and a blanket. This is something your little ones would definitely enjoy.

▸Buy663 chars

Main St. Chatham is host to many small and distinctive shops. The best time to visit is late May/early June or September when the crowds have left. There is always plenty of free parking, but make sure to park within the lines because the police are notorious for ticketing naive tourists.

The Chatham Candy Manor, 484 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-0825. Homemade fudge. (updated Jun 2018)

Marians Pie Shop, 2022 Main St, ☏ +1 508 432-9439. Chicken pies and pastries. (updated Jun 2018)

Yankee Ingenuity, 525 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-1288. Wide selection of art prints, clothing, glassware and assorted other items all emblazoned with Cape Cod motifs. (updated Jun 2018)

▸Eat1,746 chars

1 The Blue Coral, 483 Main St, ☏ +1 508 348-0485. A seafood restaurant that is eclectic, fun, and charming, and very family friendly. If your little one are not fans of seafood, don’t fret, they have a children’s menu (and full drink menu!). (updated Jun 2018)

The Chatham Squire, 487 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-0945. A great place for fresh seafood and a night out with your friends. (updated Jun 2018)

Corner Store, 1403 Old Queen Anne Rd, ☏ +1 508 432-1077. This is where the locals eat. Breakfast & lunch burritos and amazing panini sandwiches fresh, fast & fun (great prices as well). (updated Jun 2018)

Del Mar Bar & Bistro, 907 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-9988. A nice restaurant near downtown Chatham with a unique artistic setting. If you're on a budget, the pizzas are an excellent choice. (updated Jun 2018)

The Red Nun Bar & Grill, 746 Main St, ☏ +1 508 348-0469. This is the perfect place to have a drink with your friends because it's never too crowded. $8-$11 (updated Jun 2018)

2 The Impudent Oyster, 15 Chatham Bars Av, ☏ +1 508 945-3545. A fave. Creative menu, and a tad pricey. Convenient to shopping village. (updated Jun 2018)

3 Chatham Fish & Lobster Co., 1291 Main St, ☏ +1 508-945-0545. 9AM-6PM daily. Great place to enjoy lunch/dinner: lobster rolls, hamburgers, fried seafood, sandwiches/wraps, salads, and daily specials. (updated Jun 2018)

4 Chatham Pier Fish Market, 45 Barcliff Avenue Extension, ☏ +1 508 945-3474. 10AM-8PM daily in season. Watch fishermen unload your dinner just minutes before it arrives on your plate. (updated Jun 2018)

Carmine's, 595 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-5300. 11AM-9PM. Nice, small pizza shack right at the center of Chatham. Serves pizza, calzones, coffee, smoothies and salads. (updated Jul 2019)

▸Budget690 chars

1 The Chatham Motel, 1487 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-2630, toll-free: +1-800-770-5545. Within a mile and a half of town center. A/C, refrigerator, cable. $85-$185 low/high season. Mid-week discounts.. (updated Jun 2018)

2 Chatham Seafarer, 2079 Main St, ☏ +1 508-432-1739, toll-free: +1-800-786-2772, fax: +1 508-432-8969. Nice location, nice folks. $85-$200 low/high season. (updated Jun 2018)

The Hawthorne, 196 Shore Rd, ☏ +1 508 945-0372, fax: +1 508-945-9041. Waterfront with private beach. Kitchenette units and motelrooms as well as one private cottage. $185-$225 /night. (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Highlander, 946 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-9038, fax: +1 508-945-5731. (updated Jun 2018)

▸Mid-range663 chars

Captain's House Inn, 369 Old Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 508 945-0127, fax: +1 508-945-0866. (updated Jun 2018)

Queen Anne Inn, 70 Queen Anne Rd, ☏ +1 508-945-0394, toll-free: +1-800-545-4667, fax: +1 508-945-4884. Variety of rooms. Antique furnishings. (updated Jun 2018)

Old Harbor Inn, 22 Old Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 508-945-4434, toll-free: +1-800-942-4434, fax: +1 508-945-7665. 8 rooms (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Gables Inn, 364 Old Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 508-945-5859, toll-free: +1-800-628-6972, fax: +1 508-945-7087. (updated Jun 2018)

Carriage House Inn, 407 Old Harbor Rd, ☏ +1 508-945-4688, toll-free: +1-800-355-8868, fax: +1 508-945-8909. 7 rooms. (updated Jun 2018)

▸Splurge1,133 chars

Chatham Inn, 359 Main St, ☏ +1 508-945-9232, toll-free: +1-800-332-4667, fax: +1 508-945-3769. 18 rooms. $120 -$300 high/low season. (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Wayside Inn, 512 Main St, ☏ +1 508 945-5550, toll-free: +1-800-242-8426, fax: +1 508-945-1884. 56 rooms Top notch. (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Tides Waterfront Lodging, 394 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 508 432-0379. 24 rooms Top notch.

Pleasant Bay Village Resort, 1191 Orleans Rd, ☏ +1 508 945-1133, toll-free: +1-800-547-1011, fax: +1 508-945-9701. One and two bedroom suites with full kitchens. Heated pool, A/C. AAA Three Diamond. (updated Jun 2018)

Chatham Bars Inn, 297 Shore Rd, ☏ +1 508 945-0096, toll-free: +1-800-527-4884. Year round. One of the top hotels world-wide. AAA Four Diamond. Right on the Atlantic -- beautiful, luxurious and pricey. Choose from hotel rooms and suites, to cottages, to spa suites, and even indulge yourself in one of the hotel's special packages. There is a heated ocean front pool surrounded by cabanas, cushioned lounge chairs, and the hotel's private beach. The hotel also offers offers many activities for the kids. (updated Jun 2018)

Practical travel craft: navigating the Cape’s narrow arteries

Driving into Chatham during the peak months can feel like threading a needle; the main thoroughfare narrows to a single lane in several spots, and parking is limited to municipal lots that fill by mid‑morning. Savvy travellers park at the outer‑edge lot on Route 28, then stroll or bike the short distance into town – a 15‑minute ride that lets you avoid the afternoon traffic surge. For cyclists, the Cape Cod Rail Trail links directly to Chatham’s bike‑friendly lanes, offering a scenic alternative to the congested road and the chance to stop at seaside cafés that greet you with fresh, locally‑roasted beans.

Introduction

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