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Surprising Things About Cape Cod

Cape Cod has a few little quirks that surprise some first-time visitors.

Funny, fascinating, or just plain weird ... they're part of what makes the Cape the Cape.

Pea Soup Fog

Fog happens. And we're not talking about the light, misty stuff here. Cape Cod fog is on a whole different level than what you might be used to at home.

Sometimes it rolls in gradually. Other times it seems to drop down and swallow the shoreline in no time flat. 

Three minutes later I couldn't even see the boats.

The unexpected thing is how localized the fog can be. One part of town (usually near the water) might be completely socked in, while just a mile or two away there's blue sky and sunshine.

Typical Mother Nature ... she always keeps us guessing!

"Dead" Horseshoe Crabs

Walking the beach and see what looks like a mass extinction of pre-historic sea critters? No need to freak out and call the local animal rescue!

This happens every summer during horseshoe crab molting season. It's completely natural.

If you happen to spot a horseshoe crab with a small tag attached to its shell, you’ve stumbled onto something very cool! 

Horseshoe crabs have been part of a tagging and tracking program for decades. Report the tag number, and you'll get info back hat tells you where and when that crab was originally tagged.

Kind of like finding a message in a bottle ...

Rotaries

If you're not familiar with driving in New England, your first time facing a Cape Cod-style rotary (a/k/a traffic circle) can be one of the most mind-boggling experiences of your travels around the Cape.

The key to successfully navigating a rotary is patience — which can seem like it's in short supply during the summer months at the notoriously busy traffic rotaries in Bourne, Hyannis, Mashpee and Orleans.

What to do if you miss your exit off the rotary? Go around again.

And whatever you do, once you're in the rotary, don't stop ... and definitely don't be tempted to back up. (Yes, I've actually seen drivers try that. Not good!)

Wild Turkeys

For many first-time visitors to the Cape, coming upon a flock of wild turkeys crossing a neighborhood street is definitely a "Wait ... what???" moment.

The strangest part is how completely unbothered they are by people, cars, or basic expectations about where giant birds are supposed to be.

What if they're blocking your way? Give the birds a break. And ignore the driver behind you who's laying on their horn. The turkeys will move along if you give them a chance. Trust me, they will!

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