With glimmering waters perfect for sailing, swimming and fishing, this idyllic beach town exudes laid-back charm.
Chatham is a typical New England coastal town with unspoiled beaches and an abundance of wildlife. Spend sunny days indulging in seaside fun on the fine sandy beaches and rainy afternoons seeking shelter in the fascinating small-town museums.
Climb Chatham Lighthouse for great aerial views of the surroundings. Snap a few photos of the vistas and this beautiful white building. Check ahead to see if a free tour of the lighthouse will be available during your stay.
For building sandcastles, swimming and sunbathing, head to Chatham Lighthouse Beach, the town’s biggest beach. Admire the ocean stretching out before you and look for seals in the water. Swim only in the designated area as conditions can be treacherous offshore.
Watch a movie at the Chatham Orpheum Theater, which dates back to 1916. When its classic white exterior is lit up, it gives the town a touch of Hollywood glamor. Go inside to see blockbusters, attend film festivals or view displays by area artists.
Visit Atwood House Museum for insight into Chatham’s history. The pretty house, built in 1752, maintains many original features from the 1700s and 1800s. The museum’s artifacts range from beautiful fine china to photographs showing visitors how life in the town was once lived.
In the Chatham Marconi Maritime Center, discover the town’s link to Guglielmo Marconi, an innovator in the field of communications. He experimented with radio technology in Massachusetts and used Chatham as the base for his invention’s receivers. The Chatham center was set up to send and receive Morse code messages to and from Norway. See videos about Marconi and his work, try using Morse code and learn about how old-fashioned radios worked.
To get here, fly domestically to Chatham’s own airport or drive 1.5 hours from Boston Logan International Airport. Buses connect Logan to Chatham, as well as to other destinations in the region, such as Hyannis and Harwich.
