Cape Cod Book Reviews

Tour the Cape with an Eleventh Generation Cape Codder

Tour the Cape with an Eleventh Generation Cape Codder

Are you looking for a clear, concise (almost complete) tour of Cape Cod? Something  without neon signs to tourist traps and clam shacks?  This might just be the tour  book for you.

Andy Buckley's new "Tours of Cape Cod" is as refreshingly laid back as the peninsula  he writes about.

Buckley, a self-labeled Renaissance Man (his resume must be at least eight pages  long) and lifetime Cape resident, has compiled six must-see tours of the Cape. Some  by bike, some by car, some on foot--something to please and/or accommodate everyone. 

In Buckley's opening he admits these Tours of Cape Cod are not complete because he  has left out entire towns.  His omission was strategic--if he added a town, the tour  would graduate from walking to driving and so forth.  No worries, the true explorer  will surely discover these ignored towns on his/her own.

The author's style is straightforward, even New England Yankee in tone.  It's a no  nonsense guide to historic places.  Each tour starts with very important information:  whether you will need your car, bike or comfy shoes and the locations of public  bathrooms. 

Each location includes a web address (if applicable) and contact information, because  as Buckley points out, and we Cape Codders know all to well, hours aren't exactly  regular around here.  Heck, I've seen signs on stores that say, "We are open Tuesday  and Wednesday around 11ish."  So be warned travelers!  Although the majority of you  will be here in the summer when thing are about as regular as they are going to get.

"You've driven by many sea captains' homes, now it's time to actually go in  one."

Buckley's objective is clear, he wants you to see the important stuff--the historic  stuff and truthfully, a beautiful hike or a gorgeous sunset isn't going to hurt you  either.  And let's face it, it all kind of started here (Anglo-wise) with those pesky  Pilgrims. 

He'll guide you to the good stuff with plenty of interesting facts peppered with  humor and personal anecdotes.  As he guides you to the Captain Bangs Hallet House he  quips, "you've driven by many sea captains' homes, now it's time to actually go in  one."

This is a good solid guide, with detailed tours of Chatham, the Upper Cape, Route 6A,  Provincetown and more.  Great for new visitors and a good refresher for those of us  who have been here for years.

Tours of Cape Cod is available at local bookstores and through Schiffer Publishing.  ISBN: 978-0-7643-3023-0, $19.99.

Andy Buckley is a novelist, politican, op-ed columnist, photographer, game designer,  clamdigger and investigator, not to mention an eleventh generation Cape Codder.   Check out his blog here on CapeCodToday.com and visit his site for maps and video of areas featured in the book.