Cotuit, a name derived from a Native American word meaning "place of the council," has a rich history that predates Colonial times and includes continuous Native American habitation. Paired with Santuit on the south shore of Cape Cod and warmed by the Gulf Stream, Cotuit has long been a favorite summer resort and was home to Cape Cod's first hotel. Its greatest attraction has always been the sweet Cotuit oysters, which are shipped to the best shellfish bars in the country.

This quiet and unspoiled New England village, once a refuge for pirates, deepwater sailors, and coastal traders, hold...