What to expect: Perched on a bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay, this sprawling 429-acre resort dates back to 1890. Its Mansion wing, an English country manor with Renaissance Revival and Gothic elements, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered one of the Cape's grandest attractions. The resort is in picturesque Brewster, a typical New England town of quaint homes and tree-lined streets.

Amenity highlights: An on-site Jack Nicklaus-designed 18-hole golf course (partly closed for renovation until May 2008) runs along the bay. The resort's private beach is part of the pristine Cape Cod National Seashore. The resort also offers a kid's club, six swimming pools, nature trails, and a USPTA-certified tennis complex with six hard courts and five Har-Tru clay courts.

Insider tip: Located in nearby Truro, the Highland Light is the oldest lighthouse on Cape Cod and the first in the nation to have a flashing light. The lighthouse's observation deck is one of the highest points on the Cape and a good spot for a sunset view. The adjacent Highland House museum offers a fine collection of items relating to Truro's history, including 17th-century artifacts and wreckage from numerous shipwrecks.

What to expect: Couples and families enjoy the Riviera Beach Resort's beachside accommodations and proximity to area attractions, such as Hyannisport and the ferry to Nantucket. Two sister properties, the Blue Water Resort and Red Jacket Beach Resort, extend the menu of amenities available to Riviera guests.

Amenity highlights: The resort’s heated outdoor pool offers a number of fun water features, and an indoor pool includes a spa tub. Breakfast and lunch are available poolside or on the resort’s 500 feet of private, white-sand beach. A seasonal kids club offers a range of supervised activities for ages 5-12.