CHATHAM: A postcard-perfect village

At a glance

Tucked in Cape Cod’s elbow is the quintessential fishing village of Chatham where, early morning, boats head out to deep waters for the day’s catch.

This perfectly picturesque town, situated at the southern most tip of Cape Cod’s National Seashore, is known for its many beautiful beaches and historic lighthouses, such as the 19th-century Chatham Lighthouse, which now serves as an active U.S. Coast Guard station.  Abutting the station is the untarnished, 40-acre Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge – part of the 7,500 acres comprising the Monomoy Islands – where one can stroll along the shoreline, spy migratory birds and watch seals at play.

Out and about

Boaters will find several yacht and boat clubs throughout town, such as Chatham Yacht Club and the Monomoy Yacht Club. Chatham also has a municipal airport for small aircraft.

Chatham is endowed with some of the best golf courses in Massachusetts, and Eastward Ho Country Club, with its stunning, multidirectional water views, has been ranked the best in the state.  The plush Wequassett Resort and Golf Club has, among other amenities, pools and four Har-Tru tennis courts. The exquisitely appointed Chatham Bars Inn, an oceanfront resort with sweeping views of the Atlantic, is nearby the 9-hole golf course at Chatham Seaside Links.

The lively and walkable town center is dotted with eclectic shops, galleries, restaurants and inns. Historic Chatham Orpheum Theater has a café, and movie-goers can bring their vittles into the theater. Recreational and cultural enrichment programs abound at the stately Eldredge Public Library, replete with nooks and crannies in which to hide away with a book. At Chatham’s Creative Arts Center, budding (and established) artists will find year-round classes and workshops by nationally recognized artists.

You don’t need to look any further than Chatham’s Veterans Field for America’ s favorite pastime. The Chatham Anglers, a collegiate summer baseball team, plays in the Cape Cod Baseball League’s East Division. The Anglers, together with other teams in the Cape league, has sent dozens of college athletes to the pros. The games run from mid-June though mid-August.

Chatham’s year-round population is roughly 6,500. Its Monomoy Regional School District participates in school choice across all grades, which permits students to attend charter or technical schools in nearby Harwich. Given Chatham’s many amenities, it seems tailor-made for families.

FUN FACT:

Squanto, the Native American known for being a guide and interpreter for the Pilgrims, died and was buried in Chatham, although his precise resting place in the village continues to be a matter of debate.