The town of Barnstable – the Cape’s largest – is 60 square miles in totality. Bordered by Cape Cod Bay on the north and Nantucket Sound on the south, Barnstable includes seven villages, all of which have their own distinct charm.
Villages of Barnstable
Hyannis is Barnstable's largest village and the commercial hub of Cape Cod – welcoming planes, trains, buses, and ferries to and from the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Hyannis Main Street is a unique downtown area lined with shops, galleries, restaurants, cafes, nightspots, ice cream parlors and entertainment venues. Downtown dining includes an array of culinary experiences, including Italian, Brazilian, Thai, French, etc. There’s plenty of fresh seafood too, taken from boats in the harbor right to your table. Learn more about Hyannis!
While Hyannis may be the most well-known of Barnstable’s seven villages, the other six define the essence of Cape Cod life. Along Barnstable’s southerly coast are the villages of Osterville and Cotuit, Centerville, while to the north sits West Barnstable, Marstons Mills, and Barnstable Village.
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Osterville’s charming Main Street houses upscale shops, boutiques, galleries, and eateries, and the surrounding area boasts lavish homes, gated communities, and two private country clubs.
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Cotuit is the smallest village and surrounded by water on three sides. Once considered the “Oyster Capital of the World,” the village comprises stately homes, historic architecture, and two of the region’s cultural attractions – the Cotuit Center for the Arts and Cahoon Museum.
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Centerville is a quiet residential community whose most popular attraction is Craigville Beach, a Nantucket Sound beach with warm waters and soft sands. Its quaint Main Street includes a general store, a museum, steepled churches, and an ice cream parlor dating back to 1934.
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West Barnstable is famous for one of Cape Cod’s most expansive barrier beaches – eight-mile long Sandy Neck Beach on Cape Cod Bay. The beach and its dunes protect the 8,000-acre Great Marsh, a great place to kayak at high tide and catch a glimpse of the beautiful Blue Heron which feed on the Marsh’s indigenous life. The old village store and the fully restored 1717 Meetinghouse, home of the one of the founding church congregations in the country – West Parish of Barnstable – remain central features of the quaint West Barnstable village, where you can also find Cape Cod Community College, a two-year community college that was established in 1961.
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Marstons Mills is another largely residential community whose scenic features include cranberry bogs, lakes, and kettle ponds. It has a charming village center and is home to Cape Cod’s only grass airport, the circa 1929 Cape Cod Airfield, where bi-plane rides are offered.
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Barnstable Village is filled with antique homes, bed & breakfasts, chic eateries, galleries, antique shops, beautiful bay beaches and whale watch boats.
History of Barnstable
Hyannisport is widely known as the summer home of former President John F. Kennedy and his family. The Kennedy family’s long-standing connection to Hyannisport can be explored at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum on Main Street and aboard sightseeing boat tours that cruise right by the compound. Also in Hyannisport is The Zion Union Heritage Museum, which celebrates the contributions that African Americans and Cape Verdeans have made to Cape Cod, including their role in the local whaling and cranberry industries, arts and sciences, and the civil rights movement.
Learn More About Barnstable with Demakis Family Real Estate!
If you’re looking to become one of the town’s newest homeowners, contact Demakis Family Real Estate’s nearby Mattapoisett office for more information. You can also create an account to save your searches and receive updates when homes you may be interested in hit the market!
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