Cape Cod may draw in big crowds over the summer months, but the destination’s not just for those in search of a summer vacation. The Cape also draws in thousands of professionals hoping to gain new skills to take back home when they leave.

In fact, it’s relatively well known that Wellfleet and nearby Truro commonly drawing in a large number of psychiatrists and others in the mental health profession each year, some who come for seminars and some who come on their own accord. The latter is a tradition that’s been in the making for decades.

Years ago, psychoanalysts first began gathering in the Wellfleet area, although at the time it was mostly an informal affair. Flash forward to more modern times and the location now hosts week-long seminars,

Offering up a more peaceful and remote escape than many other areas in the region, the Outer Cape is a place for relaxation, far away from the large crowds and the vibrancy of many other waterfront destinations. Basking in the beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore, tens of thousands of acres in the region sit undisturbed, offering an alluring location for visitors and locals alike.

The attraction of the Outer Cape is evident, from the miles upon miles of hiking and biking trails to the historic sites and stretches of long sandy beachfront that often draw people to the area. Much more removed than other locations on the Cape, this is the place to find inspirational unspoiled beaches. It’s also, though, a place of contrast, from more lively

Long considered some of the best in the world, Wellfleet oysters have been a true favorite for generations. While actually transplanted to the area in the 1800s, the world-renowned oysters have long since made a place for themselves up and down the Cape.

The Wellfleet oyster actually translates to millions of dollars for the local economy. Shellfishing is no doubt big business on Cape Cod, with a longstanding tradition of harvesting fresh oysters. In fact, it’s said the surrounding area is truly engrained in the oysters, and not just in the name.  

The tasty Cape delicacy no doubt gains some of its flavor due to the cold waters of the region. The combination of lower water temperatures and 12-foot tides are said to make the oysters sweeter and plumper

Much more than just unearthed treasures on display in a Cape Cod museum, the old Whydah pirate ship continues to attract interest, hundreds of years after it first disappeared. The galley ship came under control of pirates in the early 1700s, only to wreck during a powerful storm near Wellfleet, taking most of its crew down with it, and possibly its many treasures.

It’s said that up to five tons of pirated gold, silver and jewelry may have been onboard when the ship went down. Published reports suggest the ship’s wreckage scattered across four miles of coastline.

It’s suspected that locals likely quickly scoured the beach looking for some of that treasure, possibly even burying it in what’s now part of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Much of that’s

With plenty to see and experience, the summer season is the ideal time of year to enjoy the Cape Cod National Seashore. It’s the place of beaches, woods and ponds, with all of it stretching along Cape Cod’s eastern shore.

In fact, the Cape Cod National Seashore exists within the towns of Chatham, Orleans, Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro and Provincetown. With that in mind, it’s no surprise then that the Cape Cod National Seashore includes around a half-dozen beaches.

This includes Herring Cove Beach and Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Head of the Meadow in Truro, Marconi Beach in Wellfleet, plus both Nauset Light Beach and Coast Guard Beach in Eastham. Despite some current limitations due to nesting piper plovers and some limited off-roading options,

A favorite spot for surfers on Cape Cod, White Crest Beach is Wellfleet could soon offer up more parking to locals and visitors. Plans call for expanding the parking lot at the beach by hundreds of spaces, but it may not be as many as previously thought.

Right now the lot has room for around 200 vehicle spaces, but future plans could make additional room for a total of 460 cars to park in the area. Originally, planners set out to make a lot for up to 600 parking spaces, but its been reported that engineers weren’t able to add that many spaces to their plan.

Some had also previously suggested making space for 1,000 vehicles, initiating concerns about how that could lead to increased traffic in the area, and mean a drain on the efforts of local police

Rich in history and tradition, Cape Cod also allows for plenty of room for natural exploration, with Wellfleet’s conservation trails being some of the best options for enjoying the beauty of the area. There are several ways to experience Wellfleet Bay, from a nature center to numerous conservation trails.

The Bay View Trail, in particular, leads visitors along a windy trail through woodlands. Noted as the longest trail within the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, the trail also takes visitors right along the edge of a salt marsh. It’s a fantastic way to see, hear and appreciate wildlife, with a variety of birds coming to the area throughout the year. It’s also a great location to see the unusual sandplain grasslands, filled with rare animals and

The award-winning Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater offers an intimate and adventurous outlet for the arts on Cape Cod, with a long-standing tradition of entertaining the crowds. Known more simply as WHAT, the non-profit theater operates year-round, with a 200-seat stage right off Old Route 6 in Wellfleet.

First founded in the mid-1980s, the theater is currently celebrating more than 30 years of history on Cape Cod. The intimate stage is named after the late five-time Tony Award winner Julie Harris, a former Chatham resident. Harris additionally once served as an honorary board chairwoman of the theater.

To the theater’s credit, and to its namesake, it’s said there’s not a bad seat in the house, where patrons have the choice of orchestra or balcony

Widely regarded for its historic attributes and seaside location, Wellfleet is also well known as an artsy kind of place. This charming town is tucked away between the ocean and the bay, with a longstanding heritage tied to fishing and aquaculture.

As the natural setting includes everything from protected freshwater ponds and dunes to marshes and moors, outdoor recreation is key in this community, from accessing the Cape Cod Rail Trail to simply taking in the natural beauty of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Promoters of Wellfleet arts and culture also hope to further recognize the importance of the area’s cultural and artistic attributes, however, by helping to celebrate the arts often gained from the area’s unique environment.

The seaside town

The Beachcomber is now closed for the season and  Wellfleet town leaders are still working on a solution to a recent dune collapse at Cahoon Hollow Beach. A large dune in the front of the popular beach bar & restaurant collapsed in August following heavy rain.

The car ended up about 20 feet down in the sand and had to be pulled out the next morning. While luckily no one was injured in the collapse, local officials did put up barricades across the rest of the parking lot and out on the beach to keep people away from the immediate site.

The closure now prevents people from parking in what remains of the town-owned parking lot and from using the primary beach entrance. Not long after the collapse happened Wellfleet selectmen met in a special meeting to