From Cranberries to Wild Flowers: The Allure of Cape Cod

According to the National Park Service, the Cape Cod National Seashore has over 43,000 acres of shoreline that include habitats such as salt marshes, uplands, and freshwater kettle ponds. With everything from cranberry bogs to public beaches and nature trails - not to mention 15 towns and dozens of historical sites and landmarks - it's no wonder that Cape Cod attracts tens of thousands of visitors each year. Cape Cod is well known for its distinctive lighthouses, such as Race Point, Three Sisters, West Dennis, Hyannis Harbor, and Sandy Neck. Some are official coast guard lighthouses that continue to provide guidance to those navigating the seas, while others are privately owned. Over 60 species of butterfly visit Cape Cod each year, despite its windy seashore, off of which fishing boats and sailboats are frequently seen. Perhaps they're attracted by the variety of wild flowers that are native to Cape Cod, including the lady slipper, mayflower, cardinal flower, jack-in-the-pulpit, water willow, and wild iris. The gorgeous changing colors of the fall foliage attract many visitors, as does the annual cranberry harvest celebration, held in early October and sponsored by the Cape Cod Cranberry Growers Association. During the celebration, festival goers can tour cranberry bogs and enjoy live music and cranberry-related cooking demonstrations. With all that Cape Cod has to offer, it's understandable that visitors want to bring home memories of their trip. And, it's not surprising that many people across the U.S. choose Cape Cod-themed d