So what's the difference between walking and hiking? For our purposes, any trail that demands some physical conditioning and extends over an hour is considered a hike. We also recommend that on a hike you remember to wear a hat and bring a backpack containing sunscreen, drinking water, snacks, binoculars--and don't forget the camera. Now we are ready--let's go hiking!

The Great Island Trek, about a 6-mile hike, on the bay-side is perhaps our favorite because it gives the greatest feeling of remoteness within the Cape Cod National Seashore. Kayaking is the ideal way to get to Great Island, but since it's not really an island anymore, you can access the trailhead easily by car off Chequesset Neck Road in Wellfleet. The trail begins just after the Herring River Dike and the Sunset Hill Lookout. It winds through the middle of the island with beautiful views of Wellfleet Harbor on one side and Cape Cod Bay on the other. The island is a mix of shaded pitch-pine forests, marshes, and sandy stretches along deserted beach. It is home to fiddler crabs and blue herons, beach plum, and bayberry. It is also an island steeped in history and mystery--whalers often retreated to the island to a tavern on the secluded bluffs. There's nothing remaining today but the sign to mark the tavern site and a clearing that overlooks Wellfleet Harbor and the lower half of the island. Allow three to five hours to explore Great Island. It's well worth it!

On the ocean side, the Truro Hills Trail winds through wooded hollows, down dirt paths, through open fields, and along dune trails. This is an all-day hike and requires planning. You should obtain a map from the Seashore before setting out. This trail takes you from Ballstons Beach to Highland Light (approximately 10 miles), through bearberry coverings, across a cranberry bog on a boardwalk, through overgrown woods, across hillsides and dunes, and gives you sweeping views of the Seashore's finest beaches along the way. To enjoy this day thoroughly, you might consider forming a shuttle between the two trailheads. Also, when you pass the entrance to Longnook Beach along the way, walk down the high dune path to the beach below--it's a beautiful stretch of sand.

During your visit to Cape Cod National Seashore, a trip to the beach is a must. The CCNS boasts six protected beaches, comprising nearly 40 miles of the finest seashore on the Atlantic coast. Spend time at any one of the beaches, tanning, swimming, and walking. For us, an early morning walk in the solitude of a deserted beach is a perfect way to enjoy the beach, but if you prefer to visit later in the day, be prepared for company, especially in summer months.

Coast Guard Beach and the adjacent Nauset Light Beach in Eastham, Marconi Beach in South Wellfleet, Head of the Meadow in North Truro, and Herring Cove and Race Point Beaches in Provincetown are all operated by the Seashore. All beaches have lifeguards, restrooms, and showers except Head of the Meadow. A food stand is available only at Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown. A daily pass for CCNS beaches costs around $7 per day, and a season pass costs $25. It's a good idea to get one if you are planning on spending lots of time at various Seashore beaches during your stay. (Check our Beaches chapter for more details.)

The National Seashore offers visitors three trails. The Nauset Trail, 1.6 miles long, starts at the Salt Pond Visitor Center and winds along the upland woodlands above Nauset Marsh to a boardwalk that traverses the marsh and connects the trail to Coast Guard Beach overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It is an idyllic trail and perfect for families, with no steep hills or dangerous curves. If you don't have bikes with you, you can rent them at the Little Capistrano Bike Shop across U.S. Rt. 6 opposite the entrance to the Salt Pond Visitor Center.

The Head of the Meadow Trail runs for 2 miles between High Head Road and Head of the Meadow Beach parking lot in Truro. Flat and curvy, the trail takes you through a dune area past low-lying vegetation.

Looking to experience more excitement on a bike trail? Then the Province Lands Bicycle Trail is for you! The trail is very hilly and features hairpin curves and few straight stretches. The 5-mile loop traverses several formidable dune ridges and takes riders around cranberry bogs, lily ponds, and scenic wetlands. The variety of topography is truly breathtaking. For us, it's exhilarating to bike through the dunes in brilliant sunshine on a clear summer's day and then race through a cool, scented pine wood. Along the way you can leave the main loop and access Race Point and Herring Cove Beaches for a dip in the ocean. A word of caution: Be on the lookout for loose sand on the trail, especially at corners, and stay to the right. Slow down on curves and going downhill, and please wear a helmet.

Saltwater fishing is one of the most popular recreational activities on the Cape and certainly at the Seashore. Surf fisherman line up on the more accessible beaches to cast their lines into the Atlantic hoping for a bite from striped bass, bluefish, and flounder.