5 Ways to Spend Your Time at Barnstable Inner Harbor

Within the Town of Barnstable sit seven villages, including the Village of Barnstable, on its north side. The Village of Barnstable is home to Barnstable Inner Harbor, a location that you'll surely want to check out once you buy a home here.

The harbor isn't necessarily large, nor is it lined with bars and restaurants like the harbors in Provincetown and Hyannis. What Barnstable Harbor does provide, however, is a convenient place to store a boat and access to Cape Cod Bay in a matter of minutes.

Here are five ways to spend your time at Barnstable Inner Harbor and its surrounding area.

1) Visit the Marinas

Barnstable Harbor has a few different marinas, with each providing varying levels of service.

The Town of Barnstable operates the Barnstable Harbor Marina, which is a basic facility with dock space and a public parking lot.

There's also Millway Marina, a private facility providing boat service and repairs, moorings, slips, winterization, hauling, and fuel, and Barnstable Marine Services, which offers slips, maintenance, water hookups, fuel, and showers. Lou Lou's Leasing operates out of the same building as Millway Marina and provides boat rentals, as well.

None of the marinas are what you'd consider full-service, as they don't have restaurants or decks where you can hang out after a day on the water, but they provide you with an easy way to store your boat close to Cape Cod Bay.

2) Stop For a Bite

Although the marinas don't have restaurants, you're never far from one at the Inner Harbor. In fact, two of Barnstable Village's most popular eateries are in this area.

Mattakeese Wharf Restaurant attracts locals and visitors alike throughout the summer because of its casual setting and seafood delicacies. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and has a kids' menu and a bar, as well. Mattakeese Wharf has been a local institution since 1968 and is famous for its clam chowder and fried seafood.

The other restaurant on the harbor is Osterville Fish, Too, another seafood restaurant that also features a fresh market. The patio dining option at this venue is particularly enticing, and if you want to get home as quickly as possible, they do take-out.

You can't go wrong with either of these options if you find yourself hungry while exploring the Barnstable Inner Harbor.

3) Head to the Beach

You don't normally expect to find a beach near a marina, but Millway Beach is seconds from the boating areas and overlooks the rest of Barnstable Harbor. The beach is relatively small, especially at high tide, and can get crowded on a hot day. There is a small on-site parking lot, and the beach has amenities like lifeguards, washrooms, and showers, as well.

As a bonus, you can only park at the beach with a resident sticker, so you won't have to worry about visitors taking over in July and August.

Adjacent to the beach is the Blish Point Boat Ramp. The ramp is a little hidden and doesn't have much trailer parking, so you'll want to get there early if you plan to unload a boat for the day.

4) Go on a Tour

Just because you don't have a boat of your own doesn't mean you can't get out into Barnstable Harbor and Cape Cod Bay.

That's because numerous tour agencies operate from this location, with each giving you a different experience.

For starters, you can take a fishing excursion with Cape Cod Bay Charters, Coastal Excursions, Salty Fly Cape Cod Fishing Charters, Cape Cod Family Fishing Charters, or Aquarius Cape Cod Sportfishing Charters. The captains will also take you on a cruise of the harbor if you just want to do some sightseeing.

Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises and Barnstable Harbor Ecotours also operate from the harbor. The whale watching tour, as you might expect, takes you into Cape Cod Bay in search of whales, while the ecotour heads to Sandy Neck and The Great Marsh examining the local ecosystem.

5) Take a Hike

While the other venues are in the middle or on the eastern side of the Inner Harbor, there's an area on the western banks that provides hiking opportunities, as well.

This area, which is called Town Way to Water, provides access to a salt marsh where you can walk your dog or simply go for a hike and enjoy the scenery.

There's a small parking lot at the park, and once you get onto the trail, you'll encounter some stunning views out to Sandy Neck. The homes near the path are a sight to behold, as well.

A Day on the Harbor

Whether you have a boat that you want to put in the water or you are looking for a day at the beach, Barnstable Inner Harbor has something for you. The harbor also has two excellent seafood restaurants, a hiking area, and some tour providers, giving you more than enough reason to check it out.

Barnstable Village is known for its history, but once you buy a home in the area, you'll quickly see that it's so much more than that.