CapeFLYER www.capeflyer.com weekend passenger train service makes travel to Cape Cod and the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket from Boston's South Station to Hyannis stress- and car-free! 

All three destinations have launched their respective downloadable Arts Apps. Using these convenient apps, one can plan visits to studio and gallery of artists inspired by the region's natural beauty. In addition,  the apps highlight award-winning artists, museums and performing arts venues that reflect these communities' unique arts.

CAPE COD

Cape Cod is the majestic 75-mile long peninsula which lies just off the coast of southeastern Massachusetts, about 75 miles southeast of Boston. It was first landing place of the Mayflower Pilgrims in the New World and comprises 15 distinctively different and intriguing towns along its pristine 560-mile coast. There is always something new on Cape Cod. The dynamic relationship between ocean and sand create an ever-changing coastline. But beyond the shore, there are always new services, events, amenities, innkeepers and renovations afoot.

NEW  | Cape Air www.capeair.com, operates a fleet of more than 66 Cessna 402s with up to 850 flights daily during high season. In 2012, Cape Air carried 700,000 passengers, making it one of America's largest independent regional airlines. This year, Cape Air started flying between Hyannis and New York/Westchester County Airport in White Plains and, from there the carrier offers limo transport into Manhattan. This new route joins the New York to Provincetown, New York to Martha's Vineyard and New York to Nantucket routes, all of which are offered seasonally.

NEW  |For cyclers, the new Outer Cape Bike Shuttle www.capecodrta.org/bike-shuttle.html stops at 11 Outer Cape locations between Cape Cod Rail Trail at Marconi Beach in South Wellfleet and  MacMillan Pier in Provincetown . At the Provincetown end, cyclers can access other modes of transportation such as ferries to Plymouth or Boston, buses to Hyannis and Boston, with stops in between, and Cape Air planes to Boston Logan Airport.

NEW  |In 2014, Cape Cod celebrates the historic Cape Cod Canal Centennial 1914-2014 www.capecodcanalcentennial.com and preparations are underway. Cape Cod Canal , widest sea level canal in the world, is traversed by three magnificent bridges, the twin Sagamore and Bourne Bridges built in 1935 and the Cape Cod Railroad Bridge, an impressive vertical lift bridge. Visitors can learn all about the Cape Cod Canal at the Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center in Sandwich and at maritime-themed events for the entire family throughout the year.

NEW  | John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum www.jfkhyannismuseum.org on historic Main Street in downtown Hyannis launches its new exhibit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy in November 1963, The new exhibit, Days of Joy, Days of Sadness http://jfkhyannismuseum.org/jfk-museum-in-hyannis-announces-2013-anniversary-exhibit/ is a look back at the President's final months on his beloved Cape Cod, and was unveiled May 29th. Through photos, videos, wall displays, and news clips, museum visitors will have a chance to reflect on the final days of Camelot, through a Cape Cod lens.

NEW  | The inaugural Cape Cod Bird Festival www.capecodbirdclub.org is a new three-day event, September 13-15 , 2013, will offer field trips to Cape-wide birding hotspots, a pelagic trip, workshops led by bird specialists, informative lectures and bird-inspired family activities make this an wonderful event to learn about the indigenous and migratory birds of Cape Cod.

NEW  | Newly-renovated by its new owners Red Mill Motel  www.redmillmotel.com in South Yarmouth welcomes its first guests this season. All 18 rooms have been completely remodeled and provides affordable, family-friendly lodging in a strategic mid-Cape location.

NEW  | The family-friendly Penny House Inn & Day Spa www.pennyhouseinn.com in Eastham has both new owners and a host of getaway packages. The 12-room Inn features romantic winter getaways including four-course meals, a bottle of wine and movie; for fledgling artists four-night art workshops in oil painting offered by its artist-in-residence.

NEW  | Harbor-front  42-room Anchor In www.anchorin.com in Hyannis is sporting a new waterfront fire pit seating area, sure to please on those cooler evenings.

NEW  |Under new ownership, Provincetown's Salt House Inn www.salthouseinn.com (formerly Dexter's Inn) evokes breezy Cape cottage days and nights with its new decor in each of 15 individually designed guestrooms. Newly landscaped grounds include an al fresco dining area, outdoor lounge and sun terrace.

NEW  | Boasting a $40 million renovation over the past five years, 429-acre Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club www.oceanedge.com has refurbished primarily its Bay-side accommodations using a fresh approach to texture and detail which evoke a Cape holiday. Upgrades at the Resort also include a new Members Sport Club and renovations to the 4,500-foot wedding and meeting facility.

NEW  | Truro Vineyards www.trurovineyardsofcapecod.com, which pioneered the art of maritime grape growing on the Cape, is building a new two-story distillery which will debut its new line of rum in August 2013. An ideal mixing rum yet smooth enough to drink straight up, its aged rum will be about 80 proof and will eventually include several specialty flavors.   

NEW  | Rendez Vous Café www.rendezvoushyannis.com on historic Main Street Hyannis is a homey spot for a coffee or light meal. Overlooking Main Street and featuring WiFi, a crepe bar, hot Panini sandwiches, fresh free-trade coffee and more, this new café is ideal for a cool drink, cremosas and Italian sodas.

NEW  | Pizza Barbone www.pizzabarbone.com Offering scrumptious pizza from its own brick oven, this pizzeria extraordinaire uses only fresh quality ingredients and, starting mid-summer, herbs and greens grown on its own roof-top garden. The wood-fired oven is one of only 30 of its kind in the United States and heats to a blistering 1,000° F to churn out blissfully charred Neapolitan pizza.

NEW  | HyARTS Cultural District www.massculturalcouncil.org/services/cultural_districts_designated.asp#hyarts Located in the thriving seaside village of Hyannis, the HyArts Cultural District provides a wide array of arts and cultural experiences, outdoor activities, shopping, and dining. Visitors can explore President John F. Kennedy's Cape Cod roots at the JFK Hyannis Museum and the new Kennedy Legacy Trail (see next below). Learn about the Cape's rich maritime traditions at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum and set sail on the catboat Sarah. See exhibitions of talented local artists at the Hyannis Harbor Arts Center at the Guyer Barn. Attend free concerts right on the harbor through the Citizens Bank Tuesday Night Concert series and Sunset Celebrations. Visit the Harbor Shanties to buy work from local artisans or check out any of the dozens of unique shops within the District.

NEW  | Kennedy Legacy Trail www.kennedylegacytrail.com  Located throughout downtown Hyannis, the Trail comprises ten sites significant to the Kennedy legacy. The self-guided walking tour begins optimally at the JFK Hyannis Museum at 397 Main Street in Hyannis and stretches 1.6 miles in one direction, taking approximately 1½ hours to experience. In summer, a free trolley returns Trail walkers to the starting point.

NEW  | The Lanes Bowl & Bistro www.lanesbowlandbistro.com Mashpee Commons' shopping village in Mashpee is home to this exciting new boutique dining and entertainment venue. This casual bistro, 10-oin style bowling alley and stage for scheduled performances are housed together with an al fresco seasonal bar and bocce court.

MARTHA'S VINEYARD

Known lovingly as "the Vineyard," this enchanting island so close to the mainland, transports all who wander its byways, winding roads, misty harbors and crystalline beaches heavenward. Playground of presidents, celebrities, artists and beachcombers, the Vineyard is as charmed as it is a real place to live, work and play. Historic Martha's Vineyard is one of America's most iconic islands. Six distinctive sibling towns, each filled with a treasure trove of delights and discoveries, enchant in every season. From venerable, urbane down-island towns( Vineyard Haven, Oak Bluffs and Edgartown) to pristine, pastoral up-island( West Tisbury, Chilmark—including the enchanting fishing village at Menemsha—and Aquinnah), visitors will be enthralled. Its visitors run the gamut, drawn from every social and economic stratum. The draw, however, is unmistakable. Six towns big, each presents a completely different face. From stately down-island  Edgartown to mysterious up-island Aquinnah—home of the intoxicating 100 million year old Clay Cliffs which soar 125 feet above the blue—Martha's Vineyard welcomes ... and then will not let you go.

NEW  | Fall for the Arts on Martha's Vineyard www.artsmarthasvineyard.com  Enjoy the harvest bounty and fall colors of October during this month-long celebration of arts and culture!  Every weekend is filled with a fabulous activities and festivals, including Food & Wine, Art Island, Wild Local Food Challenge, the  Art of Chocolate, Vineyard Artisans handcrafts, gallery strolls and so much more!

NEW  | Express Boston to Martha's Vineyard Connection  www.seastreak.com  SEASTREAK ferry service has developed a new, daily motor coach connection service from Boston's South Station to the SEASTREAK terminal in New Bedford.

NEW  | Copper Wok  The Island's newest restaurant, offering Pan-Asian cuisine is located in Vineyard Haven at the Mansion House Inn Offerings include a full Sushi bar, Thai, Vietnamese and a Chinese cuisine by Chef Alex Nagi.  

NEW  | Martha's Vineyard Chowder Company  www.mvchowder.com in Oak Bluffs was awarded Best Clam Chowder by Yankee magazine.  This fish house and raw bar is named for its most famous product: a clam filled version of gluten-free chowder made without flour or butter.  Slurp it with Katama Bay oysters or grilled scallops with corn-and-herb risotto   

NEW  | Mansion House Inn www.mvmansionhouse.com   The Inn was awarded tripadvisor's prestigious Certificate of Excellence Award. Guests can enjoy free use of the Inn's health club and can relax on the roof-top cupola watching sailboats and ferries.  With all 21st century amenities, range from  deluxe rooms and suites offer soaking tubs, flat-screen TVs, fireplaces and balconies with views of Vineyard Sound to Queen Bed rooms with Juliet balconies and village views.

NEW  | Winnetu Oceanside Resort  www.winnetu.com  This quintessential Martha's Vineyard Resort at spectacular South Beach, Edgartown, was awarded tripadvisor's prestigious Certificate of Excellence Award. The property offers both hotel accommodation and vacation rentals. As one of the Island's leading resorts, range of resort activities is extensive.

NEW  | Dockside Inn  www.vineyardinns.com  in Oak Bluffs was named Best Harbor-front Hotel by Yankee magazine. With its bright and airy Vineyard style, the Dockside's 21 rooms are steps from the harbor and close to the gingerbread cottages, water sports, dining, fishing and all that Oak Bluffs has to offer.  

NANTUCKET

Nantucket is a bastion of elegance, culture and history. Its ambiance hearkens a gentler bygone era, with none of the overt commercial trappings of today's resort destinations. Nantucket island, off the coast of Massachusetts, harbor to generations of 19th-century whaling captains and haven to 20th-century summer residents, is rich with stretches of unspoiled beach, wooden sailboats and shingled cottages weathered the gray of a widow's hair. With an eye-popping inventory of magnificent architecture that evokes its fabled and historic past, Nantucket is a repository of four centuries of arts, culture, architecture and lore.

NEW  | The Chapman House www.theverandahouse.com/chapman-house   A stylish accommodation where high design meets historic structure of 1830. This new boutique hotel recently underwent renovations and the facelift is amazing. The owners have taken popular retro-chic decor and turned it up.

NEW  | The Regatta Inn www.theregattainn.com Working with the island craftsmen the owners have taken the bones of a Federal-style building and reconstructed the interior; giving each of the guest rooms an enlarged, en-suite bath with fresh subway tiled showers with glass doors, rainfall showerheads and custom cabinetry and fixtures. Each bedroom features sumptuous new pillow top mattress covered with fluffy duvets and fine linens (including plush bathrobes) from Frette and Matouk; hand-selected furnishings and fixtures, in-room refrigerators and soundproofing between guestroom walls assure privacy.

NEW  |Linden House www.robertshouseinn.com/cottages/index.html

The newest luxury accommodation on Nantucket features premier guest rooms and one and two bedroom hotel residences. These accommodations will provide the privacy and comfort of one's  own home with the services and amenities of a fine inn.

NEW  |The Nantucket Hotel & Resort www.thenantuckethotel.com Recently completed construction of Phase II comprising The Nantucket Club and some additional new accommodations, all of which are now open. Specifically, these new program spaces consist of the following:

• The Nantucket Club, complimentary for Hotel guests, offers yoga and fitness classes, cardio and weight machines, free weights, saunas, locker rooms, two swimming pools, outdoor hot tub, and a Children's Day;
• A new, additional 3-Bedroom/3-Bathroom Premium Suite (sleeps up to 9 people;(6 adults and 3 children) and features a private Master Bedroom in the second-level loft area with a King bed and full bathroom.
• The Point: upscale specialty 550-square foot accommodation which sleeps up to four. From its enviable perch on the top floor of the Hotel, it commands an inspiring view of Jetties Beach, the Brant Point Lighthouse, and scenic ocean beyond.
• Two Brand-New “East Cottages” East Cottage 1 includes 2-Bedrooms/2-Bathrooms and can sleep up to 6 people (2-4 adults and 2 children). It sits adjacent to The Nantucket Hotel and features 2 private bedrooms, each with a Queen bed and private bath (one bathroom has a spectacular vintage bathtub with a hand-held shower and the 2nd bathroom has a tub and shower). This Cottage also has a living room with a Queen sleep sofa and kitchenette, a washer and dryer, and a private deck. East Cottage 2 includes 2-Bedrooms/2-Bathrooms and can sleep up to 7 people (2-4 adults and 2-3 children). It also sits adjacent to The Nantucket Hotel and features 2 private bedrooms (one with a King bed and the other with a Queen bed). In addition, there are 2 private bathrooms (one has a spectacular vintage bathtub).

NEW  | Maria Mitchell Association Aquarium & Science Center  www.mmo.org Will include a domed theatre and exhibits featuring the natural world of Nantucket. Will be an accessible destination point for visitors and residents.; opening in 2015.

NEW  | Nantucket Historical Association www.nha.org  ALL-ACCESS PASS The new NHA All-Access Pass, a more streamlined, convenient way for visitors to enjoy their entire historic Nantucket experience. This brand-new pass makes visiting the Whaling Museum and historic sites easier than ever. Your NHA All-Access Pass is good for one visit to each NHA site in 2013, including: the Whaling Museum, Old Mill, Oldest House, Old Gaol, Greater Light, Fire Hose Cart House, and Quaker Meeting House. The NHA All-Access Pass allows for multiple re-entries to the Whaling Museum during the course of one day. For example, visitors can start with a morning viewing of the Nantucket film at the Whaling Museum, followed by a bite to eat at a favorite downtown restaurant, and then return in the afternoon for a gallery tour or a trip to the rooftop deck— all conveniently on the same ticket. Prices for the NHA All-Access pass are $20 for adults, $18 for seniors 65+, $18 for students, and $5 for youth, ages 6-17.

NEW  | Proprietors (restaurant) www.proprietorsnantucket.com  Cuisine will feature flavors utilizing island ingredients, but with a Basque flavor. Now open (dinner only).

NEW  |Nantucket Book Festival www.nantucketbookfestival.org  June 20-23, 2013

Nantucket has a storied literary culture indeed. The time  has come to celebrate it. The Nantucket Book Festival creates a multi day cultural event celebrating the rich literary resources of Nantucket's past, present and future. The Nantucket Book Festival instills a renewed enthusiasm for books in our culture, connects authors and readers, encourages a love of reading and writing among young people and celebrates Nantucket Island as an oasis and haven for the literary arts.

NEW  |Nantucket Yoga Festival www.nantucketyogafestival.com July 12-14, 2013

Nantucket has a unique vibration that has consistently inspired conscious living, independent spirit and creative collaboration. The Nantucket Yoga Festival is a community orientated celebration that brings  together the very best world class yoga instructors, wellness experts and health living in a celebration of the spirit of the island. By coming together to explore ways to find a happier, healthier, more peaceful way of living we can begin to affect positive change in our community and ultimately in the world around us.

NEW  | Nantucket Iron Teams Relay www.mentoringyouthnantucket.org/?page_id=21 Sunday, June 23, 2013. Six-Legs: Run, Paddle, Swim, Beach/All terrain run, Bike, Road Run. This unique six-leg race consists of a sprint, then a paddle in Nantucket Sound, a swim in the same waters, transitioning to a beach/all-terrain run, a cross-island bike leg and culminates with a six-mile run to the finish.

                NEW  | Nantucket Hero Triathlon www.herotri.com/nantucket.php Sunday, July 21, 2013. This 5th running of this triathlon will include a .9-mile swim, 28-mile bike, 6.8-mile run. The Triathlon brings in 1,000 athletes from around the country to enjoy the island's long history as the whaling capital of the world combined with historic architecture, cobblestone streets, vibrant waterfront, pristine beaches, clean waters and beautiful moorlands all of which provide a perfect backdrop to the race.

NEW  | Nantucket Bike Tours www.nantucketbybike.comTried and true, the team at Nantucket Bike Tours designed each adventure based on our favorite sport. Hop on comfy bikes and be guided around the island. Tours: Family Adventure, Town View, To The Brewery!,  Sunset Tour, Spin To 'Sconset, The History Buff's Tour and Culinary Bike Tour

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Media contact:

Bill DeSousa-Mauk |  DeMa Public Relations

396 Main Street, Suite 3

Hyannis, MA 02601-3900

bill@demapr.com

508-790-0566

Services Offered

• Press familiarization visits for SATW members, published travel writers, freelance writers, editors and researchers on assignment to accredited and legitimate outlets including print and electronic outlets, and accredited travel websites are offered subject to qualification and vetting.
• Photojournalists with assignments will also be provided assistance. Assistance can, but will not necessarily, include transportation to Cape Cod and the islands from within greater Boston and, seasonally, other locations servicing Cape Cod by air (subject to the specific carrier's approval). Lodging, island tours, admissions to sights, attractions and museums, hospitality for some meals might be offered subject to the discretion of Chamber restaurant members.
• Each Chamber reserves the right to limit familiarization and press visits to shoulder and winter seasons as lodging availability in season, for special events and from June to October is severely limited. In all cases, commitments to provide clips, tear sheets of resulting stories, including contact references to each Chamber of Commerce and sponsoring entities are required as a pre-condition to approving travel.
• Royalty-free photography from the Chambers' image libraries will be made available but writers are encouraged to arrange to take supporting imagery during their visits.