Hyannis, sometimes called the "Capital of the Cape," is the biggest and most vibrant of the seven sprawling villages that comprise the town of Barnstable. Barnstable, and Hyannis within it, is located in the middle of Cape Cod, one of the most iconic summer destinations in New England.
Indeed, the harbor village of Hyannis is a presidential choice for a trip since it was one of John F. Kennedy's favorite vacation spots. Although the beachfront Kennedy Compound is private property, you can visit the JFK Hyannis Museum to learn all about the Kennedys' relationship with the area.
To develop your own relationship with Cape Cod, shop and eat along the vibrant Main Street or take boatbuilding classes at the waterfront Cape Cod Maritime Museum. Windsurfers will be happy to know they can sail the winds of Kalmus Park Beach. Outside of Hyannis, the rest of Barnstable is graced with expanses of white-sand beaches, golf clubs, beautiful marshes, and marinas where boats leave for whale-watching tours.
Cape Cod's closest major airport is Logan International Airport in Boston. Traveling from Boston to Cape Cod is easy on Peter Pan buses to Hyannis. Seasonal commuter rail trains also connect to Hyannis in the summer. Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, two islands off the Cape, are just a ferry ride away from the Hyannis waterfront.