Things to do nearElizabeth Islands

The Elizabeth Islands are a chain of sixteen islands and islets extending roughly sixteen miles southwest from the tip of Falmouth on Cape Cod. Naushon, the largest, along with Pasque, Nashawena, and Cuttyhunk, make up the bulk of the land. The archipelago has been in private ownership for centuries, with Naushon held by the Forbes family since the mid-nineteenth century, lending the chain an atmosphere of quiet preservation that keeps its landscapes largely unchanged from earlier eras.

Cuttyhunk is the only island with a small year-round community and limited visitor access. Its harbor is a favorite anchorage for sailors navigating Buzzards Bay, and the hilltop walk to the western end of the island rewards visitors with sweeping views across the sound toward Rhode Island. A small stone monument near the western shore marks the site where the English explorer Bartholomew Gosnold briefly settled in 1602, one of the earliest recorded European landings in New England.

The waters surrounding the Elizabeth Islands draw anglers, kayakers, and sailors who appreciate the relatively uncrowded passages and strong tidal currents. The Quicks Hole and Robinsons Hole channels between the islands are well known among boaters as navigable shortcuts between Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound. Birdwatchers find the scrubby coastal habitat productive during spring and fall migration seasons.

For travelers seeking a landscape that feels genuinely off the beaten path along the New England coast, the Elizabeth Islands offer a rare combination of natural beauty, layered history, and peaceful remoteness that is increasingly difficult to find so close to the mainland.