Orleans is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, which is co-extensive with Cape Cod. Orleans is a beautiful town–the perfect mix of history, convenience and culture. It’s the starting point of world-famous Nauset Beach–known for its unique topography and dramatic weather events. It is also home to Rock Harbor on the bay side, the ideal spot for watching fishing boats by day and breathtaking sunsets in the evening.
Nauset Beach: at the end of Main Street in East Orleans; On the ocean side; big waves good for body surfing. Nauset is nearly perfect. It looks like a football field of sand, and then another, off into the distance. The sand itself is grainy, with enough heft for a preteen to produce world-class seashore architecture to last for generations, or at least until the waves roll in. Nauset gets crowded, but it’s a Saturday-afternoon-at-the-park kind of crowded, not Coney Island on Independence Day. There’s always room for touch football. Weekdays are better than weekends, late August or June better than July. This very popular public beach, with miles of white sand, is located on the Atlantic Ocean. During the summer season the beach offers lifeguards, restrooms, outdoor showers, changing rooms, bike racks, benches, picnic tables, and beach equipment rentals. On Monday and Thursday nights, during July and Monday nights in August enjoy a free outdoor concert in the Gazebo at Nauset Beach.
Skaket Beach: West Road off Route 6A, on Cape Cod Bay. At low tide you can walk out a mile.
Pilgrim Lake: Monument Road off Main Street in East Orleans. Plus many ponds around town.
The French Cable Museum houses an impressive collection of original artifacts from the days of undersea telegraphic communication.
Orleans folks love to have fun and host several events throughout the year, including a festive holiday celebration in December, the annual Pops in the Park concert in August and an amazing 4th of July parade and fireworks combo. Folks in Orleans are also big baseball fans and show their pride in supporting their home team, the Orleans Firebirds of the Cape Cod Baseball League.
Source:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orleans,_Massachusetts
http://www.capecodtravel.com/towns/orleans
http://orleanscapecod.org/explore/beaches/