While it may be thousands of miles from Cape Cod to France, Orleans celebrates a noted connection to the European country, from its name to its annual celebrations. While the town was named by area resident Isaac Snow he gained his inspiration from a French duke named Louis Philippe Joseph d’Orleans, respected for being a “friend of the common man”, breaking with tradition as the rest of the Cape used English locations when naming the remaining towns in the area.

It’s hardly the only connection between Orleans and France, though, as the town also gained acclaim for being the site of the end of the telegraph cable between France and the United Station, with the station on the American end later becoming known as the French Cable Museum. Originally

With postcard worthy appeal, Shore Road in Chatham provides a tempting way to gain a true appreciation of the cozy fishing village in just one short stretch of roadway. From the rolling hills and sweeping views of North Beach Island to exploring the elegant history of the region, Shore Road leads to an array of options in beautiful Chatham.

Chatham Bars Inn

One of those destinations is Chatham Bars Inn, located right along Shore Road. Once known as a hunting lodge for wealthy vacationers the inn still exudes period charm and modern elegance. While featuring luxurious accommodations, the site also includes a relaxing spa, ocean views, and remarkable choices in dining, including locally grown selections.

Chatham Fish Pier

To get a true taste of the old

 On display in Orleans, the lifeboat that spurred the real-life drama “The Finest Hours” offers up a true lesson in Cape Cod history. First constructed in the mid 1940s, the 36-foot CG36500 lifeboat earned its spot in history with a rescue off the coast of Chatham in the early 50s. Widely considered one of the U.S. Coast Guard’s most daring rescues, the boat was used to save the lives of 32 crewmen stranded during a storm on board what remained of the shipwrecked SS Pendleton.

Eventually taken out of service in the late 1960s, the lifeboat was then offered up to the National Park Service to be used as part of an exhibit housed at Cape Cod National Seashore. It was then deeded over to

A favorite destination for its impressive scenery, great fishing and amazing beaches, Chatham also holds the distinction of serving boaters with not one, but two harbors. The twin harbors consist of Chatham Harbor in the east and Stage Harbor in the south, both providing distinct services to boaters in the Cape Cod area.

Chatham Harbor is home to a majority of the region’s local fishing boats, plus offers up access to Pleasant Bay and the Atlantic. It’s not always a simple destination for small boats as numerous winter storms have changed the coastline here, sometimes making conditions a bit dangerous before entering. For this reason boaters are encouraged to really watch out for channel markers, especially around Chatham Harbor.

Still, though, Chatham