Smithsonian Magazine named Woods Hole “#5 on the List of the 20 Best Small Towns in America to Visit in 2014.” It’s been a favorite cruising destination of ours for years, but many of us cruise right past on our way to Buzzards Bay or the Islands.
All summer long, Woods Hole is a bustling small town set in the most beautiful of spots. Home to two internationally famous scientific institutions, it has the feel of a college town with a thriving arts community, an aquarium, a plethora of good restaurants, great shopping, provisions, fresh baked goods, ice, liquor and other supplies. All of this within a 5 minute walk of anywhere else in town.
Woods Hole offers one of the few dock and dine opportunities on Buzzards Bay. Small boats (under 16′) can tie up at the Landfall Restaurant, between the Eel Pond entrance and the Steamship Authority docks. Larger boats can grab a space-available spot along the bulkhead in the Eel Pond entrance itself, or contact Woods Hole Marine (508-540-2402, VHF channel 9). for a transient slip in the Pond right behind Shuckers and Captain Kidd’s restaurants.
You’ll have to pass under a drawbridge to enter Eel Pond to reach Woods Hole Marine’s dock. The schedule for the Eel Pond Bridge is:
May 15-June 14: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
June 15-Sept. 15: 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sept. 16-Oct. 15: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The bridge opens every half hour and you must signal the bridgetender with 4 short blasts, or you can hail him/her on VHF 13.
Moorings are available for transient rental in Great Harbor and Eel Pond through several vendors including Woods Hole Marine and the Woods Hole Yacht Club (508-548-9205).
Just 15 miles from the west end of the Cape Cod Canal, Woods Hole is a truly great day trip destination!
