Massachusetts Shark Update: Cape Cod Named a “Hotspot”

Sharks on the east coast seem to really be enjoying the summer thus far. Your current update for Massachusetts includes a shark sighting in Orleans, and Cape Cod being named a hotspot for great whites.

Last week, the Boston Herald reported that a great white shark was spotted "circling" within a 50-100 foot range from the shoreline in Orleans. Specifically, the sighting was reported by people at Nauset Beach, which is a very popular destination. The Boston Herald also stated that August is typically the busiest shark month in the area.

When we hear of sharks in Massachusetts (or all of New England), they are often spotted along Cape Cod shores. In fact, Life Science recently states that Cape Cod has officially become a shark hotspot in the country. This is largely due to the number of seals to feed on. "Over the course of the past 10 years, white sharks have come back to Cape Cod to feed on the recovering seal population," says marine researcher, Megan Winton.

Life Science also points out Marine Ecology Progress Series. Here, they detail, "between 2015 to 2018, an estimated 800 great white sharks visited the area."

Furthermore, the report details that researchers took 137 trips to Cape Cod. They saw 393 sharks by using spotter pilots and video technology." Cape Cod joins established hotspots in South Africa, central California, Mexico’s Guadalupe Island and Australia’s Neptune Islands. The sharks are most concentrated by Massachusetts during June through October—the same time of year when more than three million vacationers regularly flock to the cape," Scientific American explained.

You will see flags and shark warnings posted if activity is spotted. In addition, life guards will now close the waters if a shark has officially been spotted. With Cape Cod being named a hotspot for 2023, it's also important to look out for seals.

Now that it is officially summer, it's only natural to start daydreaming about your getaway plans. In the northeast, we are fortunate to have many waterside areas that are ideal for campsites. Here, we are featuring six of the best RV sites in New England to explore.

We will highlight one RV site per New England state. Each of them are unique in their own right. But they all contain the essentials that you look for in a site.

Recreational vehicles offer their own living quarters. So when going through the various location options, lodging accommodations were not of the utmost importance. What was, however, is ample space to comfortably park your RV. Ideally, these sites offer the ability to leverage your vehicle as simply a resting stop to call it a day in. In addition, it was imperative the sites also are flexible enough that you can pull start up the RV and pull out and drive around where need be.

Once you have your spot, the surrounding environment is equally as important. Being lakeside is always a plus. Furthermore, RV and campsites are synonymous with families. Having a playground or firepit to cook up some smores is also encouraged. This area of the methodology responds to a simple question - what is there to do when you are not inside the RV?

The assumption is that regardless of where you go, there are trails to navigate the many New England mountain ranges adjacent to the best RV sites. A nice hike up to earn the appetite to grill hot dogs is a major site seller. The same holds true for bike paths.

Lastly, when settling on these six best RV sites in New England, they have to be a picture of fun, and represent a place that you can't wait to return to.

These grounds were completely renovated and reopened in November 2020. It is located in Sturbridge, which is in the south-central region of the state. There is an eight-acre lake onsite, a large pool, and an indoor recreation center for movies and games. Pine Lake also has cottages that you can rent.

Labeled a "luxurious camping resort," Acres High is open year round. It is located in East Lyme, CT off Chesterfield Rd. There's a large fishing pond that has a beach area on the south side and a brook with paddle boats available. There are great hikes right at the base of the grounds. Moreover, if you'd like to explore attractions in close proximity to the park, Foxwoods Casino and the Children's Museum are a close drive.

Settled peacefully near Westerly, RI, Ashaway inspires relaxation. It's more of a flat ground, but does allow bikes to explore the all the sites. You can chill with your feet up at Ashaway or you can be very active. There are go-carts, basketball courts, pickleball, tennis, volleyball, and mini-golf.

There are 152 campsites with 65 full hookups for RV’s. Sea Coast is right off US Route 1 in North Hampton, NH. It is surrounded by green trees. The closest shoreline beach is just four miles from the grounds. Onsite they are pet friendly and offer a large playground. While there is not a ton of swimming options outside your door, this is a great location to hit multiple New Hampshire vacation favorites. In addition to the stretches of beach, Portsmouth is only eight miles up the road.

Sugar Ridge is settled on 68 acres of maple and pine trees. You can even rent 40-foot campers at this family-friendly village. It is located on Old Stagecoach Rd. in Danville, VT. There are two swimming pools, horse wagon rides, and dedicated hiking and bike trails. Sugar Ridge organizes daily activities you can partake in as well.

Spacious Skies has two locations in Maine, however, Balsam Woods is where RV's go to really feel the spacious sky overhead. This is in Abbot, Maine, and while you share the grounds with cabins, you have the choice to pull your RV up to a woods or non-woods site. Regardless, there are miles of hiking trails. As for unique amenities - gem mining or jumping on a giant pillow trampoline anyone?