First Encounter Beach
Eastham 

May 29, 2006

            First Encounter Beach, tucked away at the end of Samoset Road in Eastham, is a slice of Cape Cod’s unspoiled beauty. The calm, warm waves that lap the white-sanded shoreline attract a wide spectrum of visitors each summer. If you are planning to spend the day, make sure to check the tide charts. Although high tide is nice, low tide characterizes First Encounter as a beach beyond comparison. At low tide, beach-goers are treated to miles of sandbar, which open up every possibility from wading to kite-flying to watching the sunset. With paths through the dunes and tidal pools that house colonies of crabs and minnows, nature-lovers and beachcombers will feel right at home. First Encounter even has something to offer for the historian in the group: the beach parking lot features a commemorative statue of the Pilgrim’s “first encounter” with the American Indians.

            Facilities at First Encounter are minimal; but such is the nature of the beach’s simple charm. The grounds are always clean, and the fact that most tourists head straight to big-wave beaches will leave you plenty of towel room. It should be noted that First Encounter is the first beach on the Cape, driving toward Provincetown, which faces west; this makes it excellent for anyone looking for a quick drive from the Upper or Mid-Cape to see a spectacular Cape Cod sunset across Cape Cod Bay.

Contributed by:     Manchester, A.
                             weknowCapeCod.com contributing writer

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