Race Point Beach is a three-mile stretch at the very outer tip of Cape Cod. Following our hike and screening of the shark safety film at Cape Cod National Sea Shore and time spent eating and shopping in Provincetown, we arrived just as the sun was beginning to set, at around 6:00. The lifeguard was just lowering the shark warning flag and closing the guard station for the day. Swimmers were frolicking in the surf in beautiful silhouette. The golden sun kissed everything as it danced across the undulating waves.
Having just seen the shark safety movie three hours earlier, I noted the flag color that day. There are multiple colored flags with different meanings : green signifies good spotting conditions and no shark seen. Black means poor spotting conditions but no sharks seen. Red means a shark has been sighted but bathers are not at immediate risk. When you see the black and white flag, cue the Jaws music and run for the hills. A shark has been sighted close by and bathers should run for the hills. Today’s flag was purple, which means harmful marine life such as jellyfish, stingray, and sharks are present and bathers should exercise caution.
What better way to spend your time on Cape Cod than relaxing on these soft, sandy shores, spot seals sunbathing on the sandbars, and watching the golden sun set behind the 200-year-old Race Point Lighthouse? You’ll need to hike through beach grass and dunes to make the nearly two-mile trek from the beach to the historic lighthouse, built in 1816. If you’re lucky you can stay overnight from May to November. The lighthouse tower is open for tours during the season.
Don’t forget your binoculars. You have a good chance of catching whales breaching in the distance as they make their spring migration to colder north Atlantic waters. When we arrived, late in the day, there was plenty of space to spread out on the sand. There’s ample parking nearby (though a bit pricey at $25) and also restaurants and cafes in the area.
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