The town of Barnstable (pronounced BARN-stuh-bul in case you were wondering) is the largest town on Cape Cod and is also one of the oldest towns, offering a history that dates back almost 400 years, well before our nation became an independent one. Today, the town is known for its seven villages, its vibrant personality, and for being home to some of the finest Cape Cod escapes from Pretty Picky Properties, offering the chance to live the classic Cape Cod lifestyle while also experiencing luxury that you may not find anywhere else. We want our guests to feel comfortable and at home, not just when residing under the roofs of our Barnstable retreats, but while exploring all this beautiful town has to offer, and as such, we have created this ultimate Cape Cod travel guide to the town, ensuring that you will discover everything you want to see, do, or taste, simply by scrolling down the page!
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The Seven Villages of Barnstable
The villages of Barnstable each reflect a charm and personality all their own and are destined to where your favorite adventures will take place. Below we have listed a little bit about each village, offering a peek into all the ways a Barnstable vacation on Cape Cod will bring you a joy you may not expect to enjoy. Additionally, we will also provide a glimpse into the rentals we may offer in each village, giving you a clearer idea as to what you may expect from your vacation experience. We may not offer properties in every village, but we can assure you that the ones we do will be close enough that you will be able to explore all that Barnstable has to offer, without having to spend all your time traveling from place to place!
Barnstable Village and West Barnstable
It can be confusing when you have a town, a village, and a county all named Barnstable and perhaps even more confusing learning that Barnstable Village and West Barnstable are two separate and distinct entities, but we will talk about the differences below.
Barnstable Village
Barnstable Village is the oldest of the seven villages, and its history makes it one of the more popular of the seven villages. Home to one of the oldest colonial buildings in the country, the Sturgis Library, located at 3090 Main Street, was built in 1644 and today is still fostering literacy, curiosity, and the hunger for learning in all who visit. Barnstable Village is also where the Barnstable Comedy Club has been entertaining guests since 1922. Located at 3171 Main Street and open from November through June, the plays and musicals performed here add light to a dark winter’s night.
West Barnstable
Offering perhaps the most dramatic beach on Cape Cod, Sandy Neck Beach is one of West Barnstable’s biggest claims to fame, stretching out for 8 miles on Cape Cod Bay. The beach and the protected 8000-acre Great Marsh offer the best place to watch the blue heron, for those who are into that sort of thing, but for most, spending the day on soft sands, frolicking in the surf will be your favorite adventure. Or will it be? Luke’s Love Boundless Playground, located at 2377 Meetinghouse Way Route 149 in West Barnstable, is a special place, having been designed to allow children of all physical abilities a place to play and offering play structures that have been created to include options for the wheelchair bound as well.
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Our Properties in These Villages
The homes we offer in Barnstable Village and West Barnstable range in size, but all will offer the comfort you need, the luxury you crave, and all the extras that make vacation travel your favorite thing to do. Spend your days exploring Cape Cod, devouring delicious food, and come home to these spacious abodes to relax and revel in family nights spent playing board games, watching movies on state of the art televisions, and simply sitting out on the back patios, watching the sun set and the moon rise.
Centerville
Although it is Brewster that is known as the Ship Captain’s Town, Centerville, so named for its location in the center of Barnstable, could share this title, once serving as the hometown to many wealthy ship’s captains. Many of their homes still stand today, including “The Captain’s House,” which is located directly across the street from the Centerville Historical Museum on Main Street, and although there aren’t any tours offered, you can still see it when visiting the museum.
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Craigville Beach
Known for being calm and warm, Craigville Beach is one of the most popular beaches in the area, and we advise our guests to plan on spending at least one day swimming, boating, even hunting for shells and sea glass while savoring the serenity of the sea.
1856 Country Store, 555 Main Street
The building of the 1856 Country Store begun its life as a building in which cranberries were stored all the way back in 1840, but it has served as a local general store since 1856 and today is where visitors can buy gifts, souvenirs, and penny candy. Its history makes it a popular stop for tourists, and although we can’t say your visit to Centerville wouldn’t be complete without stopping in, we CAN say it will be a fun place to explore, and you might be sorry if you skipped it.
Four Seas Ice Cream, 360 S Main Street
Visitors and residents have been savoring the frosty treats served at Four Seas Ice Cream since an old blacksmith shop was transformed into an ice cream shop in 1934. Today, a visit to Four Seas is an iconic Cape Cod activity, and this shop is now the oldest continually run ice cream parlor in the entire state of Massachusetts.
Pretty Picky Properties in Centerville
Our Centerville properties are larger ones, designed to handle the needs of big traveling groups with charm, grace, and style. Offering luxury amenities that may include pools, firepits, and enclosed porches, your time spent in our Centerville escapes will be comfortable and filled with fun!
Cotuit (Pronounced kə-TOO-it)
The village of Cotuit is a quiet and peaceful one, known more for its family oriented activities and pristine beaches than for being a tourist destination. Oregon Beach is probably our favorite beach in this town, offering stunning views of Nantucket Sound and providing a more secluded and wonderfully private beach experience for beach goers. The world famous Cotuit oysters come from this town, with the Cotuit Oyster Company dating back to 1857 farming the unique sea treats known for their complex and briny taste. If oysters are a favorite of yours, you may want to time your visit to coincide with the Cotuit Oyster Festival, held in late September. Offering live music and seafood of all types, including their world famous oysters, this fun local event celebrates the return to quiet that takes place after the summer high season has ended. Our Pretty Picky Properties homes in Cotuit are family homes, providing beautiful places to retire to at the end of a long day of Cape Cod adventures and may include outdoor kitchens, swimming pools, game rooms, and so much more!
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Hyannis
Hyannis is the largest village of Barnstable and is also the most well-known, having been the playground for the Kennedys for many decades. It is home to the JFK Memorial and the JFK Museum, one paying homage to our late president and the other offering a peek into his life both in the Oval Office and out of it. The Kennedys are no stranger to Cape Cod, still flocking to our doorstep every July 4th for their traditional holiday celebration, and one of the more exciting parts of a vacation here may be catching sight of a Kennedy “in the wild.” If you want to eat like a Kennedy during your time in Hyannis, Baxter’s Wharf, located at 177 Pleasant Street, has long been a favorite of the Kennedys, inviting locals and visitors to enjoy a casual seafood dining experience since 1957. Offering indoor and outdoor seating, views of the water, and quite possibly a Kennedy sighting or two, their seafood menu is locally sourced and features a local favorite, stuffed quahog, a type of clam.
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Your Hyannis Sanctuary
Hyannis has always been about family, and our properties in this village reflect that family friendly vibe. You probably consider your fur baby a part of your family, and in some of our escapes, you will be invited to bring your sweet pooch along for the ride, as pets may be considered in the property you choose. Unlike many modern homes, our Hyannis properties offer a more traditional floor plan, with each room having its own separate space, adding to their charm and quite possibly, your delight in your choice. Bathtubs may be deep inspiring leisurely soaks, fireplaces may be woodburning, and the views may burrow their way into your heart, ensuring that you will never forget the special moments you enjoyed in our Hyannis retreats on Cape Cod!
Marstons Mills
Marstons Mills is a smaller village, and we wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it isn’t a town you were aware existed. Known for its lakes, cranberry bogs, and ponds, this village located further inland does not provide saltwater beaches, which may be why it is so quiet. Named after the founder of the village, William Marston, and the mills that he owned and operated. The house he once lived in was built in 1744 and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987. Golfers love Marstons Mills, however, as it is the site of the Olde Barnstable Fairgrounds Golf Course, a private course that also welcomes the public. The Tavern on the Green at Olde Barnstable is its 19th hole, offering stunning views of its two courses, as well as serving delicious food and beverages. At the time of this writing, it is under renovation, so you may want to check and see if it is open when your Barnstable journey begins.
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Pretty Picky Properties in Marstons Mills
It is one of the smaller villages, which will mean we may not offer a large selection of properties in Marstons Mills, but we assure you that the ones we do offer will be everything you dreamed they could be. Also family homes, the one you choose may provide wide front porches lined with chairs for optimal neighborhood viewing, swimming pools and firepits in the backyard, and the most nappable sofas on Cape Cod in the living rooms. A good night’s sleep is assured in bedrooms dominated by beds topped with premium mattresses, and multiple bathrooms will help ease morning traffic jams when your entire family is trying to get ready at the same time.
Osterville
The final village of Barnstable, Osterville, offers a long and rich history, having been settled all the way back in 1648. Often described as a seafaring village, its residents were sea captains, cranberry farmers, oyster workers, and shipbuilders and was known as Cotacheset until 1815. Its downtown area is a wonderful place to shop and dine, featuring a surprisingly large number of boutiques, galleries, and eateries, and if your journey brings you to the village in July, you will be able to experience Osterville Village Days, offering a parade, road race, sidewalk sales, and a long list of event activities, all designed to make visitors feel right at home.
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Five Bays Bistro, located at 825 Main Street is one of our favorite restaurants in town, offering a special occasion vibe and an elevated menu filled with surf, turf, and desserts! Our Osterville properties offer everything you have come to expect from Pretty Picky Properties and probably more than you ever dreamed a Cape Cod escape could provide, including swimming pools, modern kitchens equipped with high end appliances, and tranquil settings that will encourage you to relax and forget all about your real world troubles.
Choose our Cape Cod Travel Guide and our Properties for Your Barnstable Retreat
No matter where you are visiting in Barnstable, you will find we are there, offering spacious and inviting homes in all the villages, including Cape Cod visitors guide. Reserve your favorite escape today!
