I suppose it depends on why you go. I went to work, and there are a lot of students who come from eastern Europe (Russia, Bulgaria, etc) to work there.

The standard of living is very high, and rent can be outrageous, though there are hostels for short-term stays.

I grew up in Cape Cod. Rents are crazy high and its very difficult (nearly impossible) to get around without a car. Your best bet is Hyannis if you have no car. Mashpee is slightly less expensive but diffcult to without a car. START LOOKING FOR RENTALS EARLY. I cannot stress that enough. The housing is very tight. I’d start looking for rentals around mid to late February if I were you. Early April at the latest but that is really pushing it. Check out the Cape Cod Times newspaper too. That’s will give you an idea of what the rents are like, if you planning on renting a house for the summer.

I’ve worked in Woods Hole for the past 6 years and the Woods Hole area is great for young people year-round because of the science community here (notably the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (which has a joint oceanography PhD program with MIT) and the Marine Biological Laboratory). Summer rentals are very expensive and places like Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard can be astronomical. Camping could be an affordable option, although I have never camped here so I couldn’t tell you much about it.

You will definitely need a car to get around; the public transportation system here is lousy. Be aware, though, that traffic can be awful in the summer and you will need a lot of patience.

There are a lot of young people here in the summer, and a few who come from out your way too. Many young people come here in the summer to work, though, rather than to have fun.

As for sightseeing, I would recommend visiting the national seashore and Provincetown as well. Personally, I prefer the seashore and quiet activities like painting or taking a bike ride (there are lots of places where you can rent a bike). Provincetown is a kind of zany and outlandish place in the summer (and unfortunately very touristy) but it’s a very fun experience with a kind of carnival atmosphere.

If you will be coming from the Boston airport, it’s well worth making a side-trip to Plimouth Plantation (in Plymouth) where you can experience colonial life. I would skip Plymouth Rock, which is just a boring rock with a plaque in front of it. If you like learning about history, I found the Minute Man National Historical Park and Thoreau’s cabin on Walden Pond (both in Concord) to be much more interesting than a lot of stuff on the Cape.

The Cape Cod Times published a pretty good section (online and in print) on stuff to do each week as well.