For a detailed map, or for other information, ask for a map at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Information Office.

Museum
The Falmouth Historical Society has interesting displays pertaining to Falmouth's history in its lovely old mansion, the Julia Wood House, located just off the Village Green at 55-65 Palmer Avenue (tel 508-548-4857).

For the price of admission you also get to see the adjacent Hallett Barn, with displays of early tools and farm implements, and the Historical Society's shop, as well as Conant House, next door, with more historical collections.

The Katharine Lee Bates Room holds memorabilia of Falmouth's poet, who wrote the words to America the Beautiful.

The cordial staff at the Historical Society will be sure to point out that the white Congregational church on the green is equipped with a bell cast by Paul Revere.

Bicycling
A prime Falmouth activity is to rent bicycles and to follow the Shining Sea Bicycle Path down to Woods Hole.

The Bikeways Committee of the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce publishes a bicycling map that shows bike routes and beaches and gives the addresses of shops that rent bicycles. Ask at the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce Information Office. By biking to a beach, you may avoid paying the several dollars for parking, and you can put the money saved toward the bicycle rental fee.

Beaches
Besides bike trips down to Woods Hole, Falmouth's greatest outdoor attraction is its coastline. The Town Beach is down at the end of Shore Street (best to walk, as parking can be a problem). The water can be very chilly except in July and August, but otherwise the beach is fine, and it has a view of Martha's Vineyard in the distance.

The best swimming and sunning spot in the area is Old Silver Beach, several miles northwest of downtown Falmouth. If you have more energy than money, bicycling is the way to go, even though it's a distance. If you drive and pay the parking fee, just consider that the money goes toward keeping the beach clean and safe.

A headland and several jetties set the beach off into sections; the town runs a clam bar which sells sandwiches, fried clams, and soft drinks, and offers changing rooms. The crowd at Old Silver is spirited, young, and sun-hungry.

Band Concerts
The town of Falmouth sponsors free band concerts down at the Falmouth Marina on Thursday evenings during the months of July and August. Try to make it to at least one concert; it's a real old-time event.

Shopping
Falmouth has a boutique with women's exotic clothes from Bali, and it's really different. The apparel is lively and sophisticated, not expensive, and designed for real bodies.

Actually, that's the name of the shop: Real Bodies.(tel (888) 244-4188 or (508) 548-5260), Queen's Byway, 100 Palmer Ave, Falmouth, MA 02540-2858.

No Size 2 dresses here. Rather, more flowing garments that compliment...well, real bodies, the ones like most of us have. More...

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