The granddaddy of all Cape Cod boulders – Doane Rock in Eastham.
At 18 feet tall, and 12 feet wide it is the largest exposed boulder on Cape Cod.
The boulder is named after Deacon John Doane, one of Eastham’s original settlers. It has also been called Enochs or Enos rock for the deacon’s son, as well as Great Rock. The rock was left by the glaciers (Laurentide Ice Sheet; 18,000–12,000 years ago) between what is now the Salt Pond Visitors Center and Coast Guard Beach.
The Rock is easy to access, as a dedicated (2-hour limit) parking lot is mere steps from its location. The beach is walking distance, as is the surrounding hiking trails that pass points of interest, such as the Doane Homestead.
Unlike the 1996 movie that shares its name, enjoy your time on The Rock!
There are no shortages of sweet treats on Cape Cod. In fact, there is arguably TOO much temptation in the sugary delight space on Cape. But if that’s your jam — too much temptation and dessert choice — look no further than the Ice Cream Cafe in Orleans.
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The Ice Cream Cafe sits just outside the bustling downtown Center, sandwiched between the Orleans/Eastham rotary – the gateway to the Outer Cape – and the Orleans/Town Cove. The Ice Cream Cafe also happens to be next door neighbors to both the Cottage Street Bakery and Cooke’s Seafood Restaurant, and just across the street from the Lost Dog Pub. Point being, you don’t have to go far to eat all three square meals – and have a drink. This is one of those fun cases where it is faster to walk than to drive to nearby locations [though, pre meals, maybe].
The temptation and choice boils down to the menu. It is extensive, expansive, and incredibly edible [incredible edible egg word play here and in title]. Case in point, how many ice cream parlors offers blizzards, and smoothies, and soda fountains, and frozen drinks, and summer coolers, and sundaes, and soft serve, and non-dairy treats? They even collaborate with a next door neighbor (Cottage Street Bakery) to make a homemade chocolate cookie ice cream sandwich. [I’m not sure I’d be interested in any dessert collaboration with fellow next door neighbor Cooke’s Seafood.]
The vibe is also pretty great. Collaboration with nearby businesses is obvious; less pronounced is some of the humor [Good Humor pun not intended] found on interior signage. Of course, the exterior artwork hanging about is kind of irresistible.
Even Dean’s Beans (source of coffee) rhymes! Just little delights at every turn. The umbrellas and most chairs on the patio happen to be colors of the rainbow, too.
Staples Rock is hard to miss at Orleans Marketplace. Folks at the nearby Orleans Farmers’ Market were walking back and forth to take photos. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
by Jeff Shaw
A large boulder was discovered in Spring 2025 during sewer work in Orleans Marketplace on Route 6A. The discovery was so exciting that the boulder was not only kept, not only named, but is proudly [fenced off and] on display!
The word “popular” or “viral” doesn’t do the Rock’s following justice. Below are some fun quotes from the feature story on page 5 (into page 23!) in the June 19, 2025 edition of the Cape Cod Chronicle weekly newspaper.
The boulder is affectionately known as “Staples Rock,” is having a moment online. “It’s become a story,” and “social media has turned a slab into a summertime sensation,” and “what they did is create the best marketing no one can pay for [drawing people to the shops without spending a dime].”
A portion of the drink menu at the Yardarm Restaurant in Orleans. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
Further, the Yardarm Restaurant has named a drink after it – The Orleans Rock. Combination of cranberry Deep Eddy vodka, ginger beer and lime. Apparently, “the rock has its own designation on Google Maps search of the property,” though I didn’t find it after a quick search. And just recently, Staples began selling t-shirts and other merchandise to capitalize on this phenomena.
Now you may be wondering what the future has in store for the Staples Rock. Word is if interest in the rock continues into the summer, there could be a proper naming and ribbon cutting event. There is even talk of a “rock” concert on the property.
Chatham has risen up the leaderboard of the number of Level 3 (fast) chargers on Cape Cod (6).
Two (2) can be found at Cape Associates, located at 782 Main Street, and four (4) can be found at the Eldredge Garage, located at 365 Main Street. With the charging stations at the Eldredge Garage, Chatham now has the most Level 3 electric vehicle chargers east of Hyannis. Unlike some public Level 2 chargers, none are free.
Don’t let the historic garage (recently restored) fool you; it’s home to EV chargers! Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
Whether intentional or a coincidence, both sets of chargers are located on the exact opposite ends of Downtown Chatham. Meaning, you don’t have to walk far to find food, retail, or entertainment to pass the 20-30 minutes while your vehicle (quickly) charges.
The Eldredge charging stations, which are manufactured and operated by FLO, charge 52 cents per kilowatt hour for Level 2 and 62 cents per kilowatt hour for Level 3 charging. The charging stations at Cape Associates, operated by ChargePoint, charge 50 cents per kilowatt hour.
The Level 3 chargers will get your vehicle back to 80% battery life quickly. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw
Level 2 chargers are located at Chatham Bars Inn but are for inn guests only. Other nearby Level 2 chargers, open to the public, can be found at Stop and Shop in Harwich.
According to ChargeHub, the Town of the Barnstable is the leader of EV charging stations on Cape Cod, with 35 total Level 2 stations and 6 total Level 3 stations. There are 25 free stations (likely only Level 2) in Barnstable.
Level 3 chargers at Cape Associates. Photo credit: Jeff Shaw.
So, no need to worry about where to charge on your way to the Outer Cape. Just make sure you have enjoy juice to get back to Chatham!
Rocks don’t get a lot of love. Well, unless it’s Bob Seger performing; or how alive one feels after catching his now iconic Ford commercial [Ohhhh, like a rock!] Even playing rocks, paper, scissors; more often rock seems to get covered by paper even though rock should crush paper or scissors in a face-to-face battle. And Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson; he seems to be doing way too much to maintain his Rock-like image. How about Rocky Balboa? I mean…
…okay, okay, I could go on, and on, but I’ll pause here and pivot to rocks of the geological kind. Because Cape Cod is home to some really big – and really old rocks.
Let’s start with the oldest, Hokum Rock, located off Hokum Rock Road in Dennis. It is estimated to be 300 million years old! It was moved by glacial activity from north of Boston about 50,000 years ago.
Measuring 14.5 feet high and 98 feet in circumference, Hokum Rock is also the second largest erratic boulder on Cape Cod. (The largest erratic boulder on Cape can be found on the Outer Cape and will be covered another time.)
Wondering about the name? Well, legend has it that an aged Nobscusset Indian descendant once lived there and would ask “Who Come?” when someone was near. Another legend is that an Indian named Hokum lived nearby.
