Affluent Harwich Port is no longer simply a celebrated location of residents and visitors, but is now getting top honors for its Main Street, nationwide. The village was just recognized for playing host to one of America’s best main streets.

According to Country Living magazine, the Harwich Port Main Street lands at number 21 on its list of the top 23 small town main streets in the entire nation. It’s the only Cape Cod town to make the list, and one of just a handful of locations in New England. The publication acknowledges it chose Harwich Port for everything from great food to vendors and live music.

The new ranking should come as no surprise, for the area was also declared the second ‘Happiest Seaside Town’ for 2016, as designated by Coastal

The popular Cape Cod Rail Trail is expanding, with the addition of new bridges linking Dennis to Yarmouth. Recently local leaders helped officially open one new trail extension in Dennis, the Cape Cod Rail Trail Bridge going over Route 134. It also gave officials the chance to celebrate new state funding that will help construct trails in dozens of towns.

The Route 134 bridge helps extend the rail trail by nearly another four-miles, the second such bridge to go in as part of the trail extension. Last fall another bridge went in over Station Avenue. The cost of the two totaled more than $7 million.

Yet another bridge, the George Allaire Bridge over the Bass River is set to open soon too, with many area cycling groups cheering the latest accomplishments.

Seemingly blending in with their stunning, natural surroundings, a number of restored, mid-century homes provide a unique option for those visiting the National Seashore. Open to tours, the historic homes stand today as examples of important modern architectural designs once constructed along the Outer Cape.

The modern homes sprang up as artists, writers and architects flocked to the region, creatively fusing the design of the homes with the appeal of nature. Blurring the lines of outdoor and indoor living space, the homes are unique and inviting. By the time the Cape Cod National Seashore was finally designated, more than 100 such homes had been constructed within park boundaries, and those homes faced demolition.

Luckily, the Cape Cod Modern House

Drawing in visitors with its sensational beaches, amazing views and quaint shops and museums, many visitors to Orleans find themselves coming for vacation and staying for a lifetime. This gem of a town on the upper arm of Cape Cod also boasts art galleries, a live theatre, freshwater lakes and historic cottages.

Stretching along more than 50 miles of coastline, Orleans benefits from the Atlantic Ocean and Cape Cod Bay. For a fantastic surf, visitors turned residents are lured to Nauset Beach, with ten-miles of Atlantic coastline perfect for building sandcastles, catching a sunset or casting a line.

Meanwhile, Outer Beach is superb for camping and off-road access and Skaket Beach is an ideal family beach, with calm, shallow water during low tide. For a

It’s been off limits for several years, but a popular boardwalk of the Red Maple Swamp Trail is now open once again, and locals are beginning to take notice. The opening means visitors can now travel across the entire swamp, with a few areas still set to receive some touch-ups later this fall.

Until recently, walkers were only able to go partially into the swamp from Fort Hill Road, with barriers blocking them from crossing to Hemenway Road. Crews closed off the boardwalk because it was badly in need of repairs and had become a safety issue, with some weak posts and boards along the way.

Seashore workers handed the repairs at a substantial savings. Some estimate it could have cost $1.6 million, while local crews were able to do it for around $571,000