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Bourne is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Canal runs through it. Bourne includes seven villages: Bournedale, Buzzards Bay, Cataumet, Monument Beach, Pocasset, Sagamore and Sagamore Beach. Bourne, settled in 1637, was incorporated in 1884 (before that it was part of Sandwich). The Bourne village of Buzzards Bay is home to Massachusetts Maritime Academy.

Sagamore Bridge over Cape Cod Canal

Get in

Bourne is about 1 hour from Boston and 1.25 hours from Providence, RI by highway.

Get around

Bicycling is possible, a car is preferred.

  • Upper Cape Taxi, 508-540-1290. [1]
  • All American Taxi, 508-759-4281.

See

  • Aptucxet Trading Post Museum, 24 Aptucxet Rd, ☏ +1 508 759-9487. The trading post building dates back to at least 1621. A number of historical exhibits and herb and wildflower gardens. 
  • National Marine Life Center, 120 Main St, ☏ +1 508 759-8722. Displays and exhibits about marine life. Free. 
  • Jonathan Bourne Historical Center, 30 Keene St, ☏ +1 508 759-8167. M,Tu 9AM-2:30PM, W 6:30PM-8:30PM. 
  • Bourne Society Historic House, 22 Sandwich Rd, ☏ +1 508 759-6120. 
  • Pairpoint Glass Company, Rt. 6A (Just north of the Sagamore Bridge), Sagamore +1 508-888-2344. 8:30AM–4:30PM. Watch glass blowers at their trade. Gift Shop.

Do

  • Walk, bike or rollerblade along the Cape Cod Canal, [2].
  • Fish the canal or just watch the ships and boats pass through.
  • Watch the Bourne Braves play in Cape Cod Baseball League action. Upper Cape Regional Technical School—Over Bourne Bridge. At the rotary, go three-quarters of the way around and bear right onto Sandwich Road. The school is ahead atop a hill to the right.
  • 'Remember 'Chocolate House Fudge', copper-kettle fresh at Chocolatte',11 Cranberry Highway, Sagamore (next to the Christmas Tree Store), 508 888-7065, [3].

About The Cape Cod Canal

  • U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Visitor Center,Ed Moffitt Dr., Sandwich (Directions: Over Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod, Route 6, take Exit 1, RIGHT at light onto Rt. 6A, after entering Sandwich, LEFT onto Tupper Rd, LEFT onto Freezer Rd. at Aqua, RIGHT onto Moffitt Dr, follow signs) +1 508-833-9678. Free. All about the Canal, including how it is watched and run. Well worth the trip.
  • 2006 Hours: 10AM-5PM.
  • May 11-Jun. 24 Open Th-Su;
  • Jun. 25-Aug. 31 Open daily;
  • Sep. 1-Oct. 15 Open Wed-Su.

The Cape Cod Canal and its bridges are the most striking features of Bourne and hosts a variety of recreational activities. The primary purpose of the Canal is to provide a safe navigation channel for vessels. Because of the treacherous seas along the outer beaches of Cape Cod, the idea of the canal was considered as early as the 1620s. Finally it was constructed between 1909 and 1914. The Canal saves about 135 miles of open sea travel on average. Since 1928 the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers has operated the waterway toll free to adequately powered vessels. The Corps of engineers maintains the three bridges that span the canal and also manages the Canal for public recreational use.

  • Cape Cod Recreation Hotline: +1 508-759-5991.

Some of the recreational uses and facilities are:

  • Canal Access Points

Convenient Canal access points have been developed and equipped with parking lots, picnic areas and rest rooms.

  • Bicycling and walking

Two service roads which parallel both sides of the Canal are available for bicycling, rollerblading, jogging and walking. Each service Road is about 7 mi (11 km) long. Locals use these year round.

  • Ship Watching

The Canal provides a close-up view of ocean going ships and tugs underway as they go between Buzzards Bay and Cape Cod Bay. All manner of ships go through including cruise ships, cargo ships, tankers and jumbo car carriers. During the school year, locals and enthusiasts can get the treat of seeing the ship at the Mass Maratime Academy leaving dock and heading out to sea

  • Fishing

Salt water fishing is permitted from the Canal banks in all areas except the Canal Administration and Massachusetts Maritime Academy area. Fishing is also available from the Scusset Beach fishing pier. Fishing and lobstering is subject to state regulations and licensing. Taking of herring is subject to Town of Bourne regulations and quotas.

  • Interpretive Services

Exhibits and information about the Canal are available at the Herring Run Visitor Center in Bournedale on Scenic Highway and also at the Administration Building. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Park Rangers offer a variety of guided walks, bike hikes and other educational programs along the Cape Cod Canal throughout the Summer and Fall.

  • Boating

If adequately powered, recreational vehicles are permitted to use the canal. Sailing is prohibited; sailboats must use auxiliary power. Vessels must stay to the right and give way to larger vessels. There is a 10 MPH speed limit and a no wake policy enforced by the Corps of Engineers, located in Buzzards Bay.

  • Swimming and scuba diving are prohibited in the canal due to the often swift current.
  • Beaches While swimming directly in the canal is strictly prohibited due to the swift current, Bourne does offer a select few beach coves safe from the current.
  • Gray Gables Beach is a small beach nestled in the Gray Gables Village that has a roped in swimming area for kids, space for buoyed boats, a raft to swim to, and life guard services until six o'clock p.m. This local secret has limited parking and is just a couple miles away from the local market.
  • The Dike is a local favorite that extends on both sides of the Mashnee Island Causeway in Gray Gables Village. This long stretch of flat sandy beach offers swimming, space for boating, tubing, knee boarding and jet-skiing, however, there are no available lifeguard services. It is only a quick walk away from a beach side lunch at the Mashnee Island Bar and Grill.
  • Monument Beach, located in Monument Beach Village near the post office and Cumberland Farms, and directly across the bay from 'The Dike' this smaller beach has swimming areas and a small dock for boaters. There is also a playground and tennis courts available adjacent to the beach. Take a walk across the street to grab some ice cream at the Whistle Stop or go to Cumberland farms.
  • Hiking trails
  • The Bournedale Hills Trail extends 1.4 mi (2.25 km) along the north side of the Canal from Bourne Scenic park to the Herring Run. The trail includes a .8 mi (1.25 km) self guided loop which interprets the Canal's historic and natural features.
  • In Scusset Beach State Reservation the .7 mi (1.1 km) trail to Sagamore Hill provides access to an area that was once a Native American Indian meeting ground and later the site of a World War II coastal fortification with an excellent view of Cape Cod Bay.
  • Marina Services

The East Boat Basin on the south side of the Canal in Sandwich has slips for recreational and commercial vessels. On a fee basis, boaters may use the marina's slips or boat ramp. On the west end of the Canal the Buttermilk Bay channel provides boaters access to the Taylor point Marina operated by the Town of Bourne.

  • Kingman Yacht Center, 1 Shipyard Lane, +1 508-563-7136. Perfect if you own a yacht and are looking to register for a slip, or if you want to just float on up for a lunch at the Chartroom. If you don't have a boat and are just looking for somewhere to walk around, enjoy the water, have a bite to eat, look at the boats, or buy a gift, Kingman has all the perfect accommodations.
  • Camping

The Corps of Engineers leases land to the Bourne Recreation Authority for Bourne Scenic Park campground and to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for Scusset Beach State Reservation where recreational vehicles may use camp sites.

  • About the Bridges

The traffic bridges that span the canal were built simultaneously in the early 1930s to replace the cantilevered spans before them. The Sagamore Bridge and Bourne Bridge are four lanes wide, have a span of 616 ft (187.75 m) and leave a vertical clearance of 135 ft (41 m) above high water. Over 35,000,000 car trips cross the bridges each year.

The unusual "vertical lift" railroad bridge, also built in the early 1930s, has a 544 ft (166 m) horizontal span with 271 ft (83 m) high towers. The bridge is normally kept in the raised position 135 ft (41 m) above mean high water. Train trips used to be very important, but now the railroad bridge is used mainly for trash removal trains.

Buy

  • Periwinkles Gifts, "+1"508-563-3077. Nestled inside Kingman Marina in the village of Cataumet, Periwinkles offers some Cape Cod themed gifts, along with a selection of novelty jewelry, accessories, signs, and household items perfect to top off any Cape Cod visit. Look for this shop immediately to the left of the main parking lot when you enter the yacht center.
  • The Factory Outlet Mall, One Factory Outlet Mall Road, "+1"508-888-8417. With 22 stores, one restaurant, and a nail salon, this indoor outlet mall has a wide variety of outlet shopping including the Dress Barn, Bass, and Nine West. In the fall, be sure to check out the large Halloween store close to the food court for a wide variety of costumes and novelty items. During May 2 - December 24, the mall is open from 9:30 to 9:00 Monday through Saturday, and from December 26 to May 1, the hours change to 9:30 to 6:00 Monday through Saturday and 11:00 to 6:00 on Sunday.
  • The Clothes Den, 41 Meetinghouse Ln. This shop is located in a small strip mall in Sagamore Beach. It sells a variety of discounted clothes from brands such as American Eagle, mainly for teenage girls and boys. 

Eat

  • Beachmoor Inn & Restaurant, 11 Buttermilk Way, ☏ +1 508 759-7522. Buzzards Bay. Fine dining. Great bay views with sunsets. Tucked down near Mass. Maritime Academy. 
  • Sunset Grille at Brookside Club, 1 Brigadoon Rd, ☏ +1 508 743-0705. Lunch, dinner with outdoor seating available overlooking the golf course with bay views and sunsets. 
  • The Chart Room, 1 Shipyard Lane, ☏ +1 508 563-5350. Cataumet. Seasonal mid May-mid Oct. Hours: Mid June-early Sept daily 11:30AM-10PM; Shoulder season Su changes to 11:30AM-3PM only. One of Bourne's better places. Great harbor sunsets. Piano bar. Reserve. $12-25. 
  • Krua Thai, 100 Main St, ☏ +1 508 759-9662. Buzzards Bay. Take out. 
  • Leo's Seafood Restaurant, 249 Main St, ☏ +1 508 759-7557. Buzzards Bay. 
  • Lobster Pot, 3155 Cranberry Hwy, ☏ +1 508 759-3876. Buzzards Bay. 
  • The Lobster Trap, 290 Shore Road, ☏ +1 508 759-7600. In the summer, try this for a truly authentic experience. 
  • Stir Crazy, 626 Route 28, Pocasset, +1 508-564-6464. Dinner Tu-Su, Lunch F only. Popular Oriental cooking, fresh from scratch. Inexpensive.
  • International House of Pancakes, 2 Bourne Rotary, (508) 759-1161.
  • Whistle Stop Ice Cream Shop, 435 Shore Road. Owned and operated by a local family, this train-themed summer shop offers traditional handmade ice cream and waffle cones while offering a local neighborhood feel. Look for it directly attached to the Cumberland Farms convinient store and gas station. 
  • Mashnee Island Grill, 161 Leeward Road, ☏ +1 508 759-9390. A seasonal restaurant and bar with a great view of and access to the beach. With outdoor and indoor accommodations as well as availability to host a party, the Beach Club is great for a summer meal. Also look for the Quahog Republic downstairs for some tee-shirts, key chains, or other gifts. 
  • Friendly's Ice Cream, 10 Canal Rd, ☏ +1 508-888-6866. This Friendly's can be a little tricky to get to because of renovations on the Sagamore Roatary, but taking the first exit off the Sagamore Bridge and taking a right at the lights will get you on the road toward the restaurant. 

Drink

Sleep

Hotels and motels

Campgrounds

Go next

Day trips to other areas of Cape Cod or to Plymouth or Boston are good choices.

Routes through Bourne
Taunton ← Wareham ←  N  S  → END
New Bedford ← Wareham ←  W  E  → Sandwich → Provincetown
Boston ← Plymouth ←  N  S  → END
Boston ← Wareham ←  W  E  → Falmouth → Eastham
Boston ← Wareham ←  N  S  → Hyannis → END



This city travel guide to Bourne is a usable article. It has information on how to get there and on restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.
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