Getting out of the city for a Cape Cod beach weekend is the hallmark of a Boston summer, and we're spoiled by having several great beaches just a short drive away. There's just one major deterrent, in my opinion: Those short drives often go long—very long—because of the region's notorious traffic.

That's why I'm really excited about the CapeFLYER train, back for summer 2015 after its very successful debut two years ago.

The train offers service from Boston to select points along Cape Cod -- which means we have the benefit of getting to the beach without being stuck in the car. And depending on your make/model of car and number of travelers, the train fares often work out to be equal or less than the price of filling up your tank.

The CapeFLYER is a partnership service between the Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, the MBTA, and MassDOT, and has been designed with a modern traveler in mind. No 30-year-old amenities here: Each train is equipped with Wi-Fi (great for getting work done en route, or just relaxing with a movie or tv show during your trip), local snacks, and bike storage (first-come, first-served). Additionally, you may be able to bring your pet: At the conductor's discretion (and only during non-peak travel hours), non-service dogs are permitted to accompany their owners, provided they are leashed and do not take up a seat.

Getting There

CapeFLYER service runs double-decker commuter rail train cars on weekends through September 7.

(Depending on demand, service may be extended – check the CapeFLYER website for updates.) Trains pick up at Boston's South Station, with stops in Braintree, Brockton, Middleborough, Wareham Village, Buzzards Bay, and Hyannis on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Fares and Reservations

Boston to Buzzards Bay costs $20 round-trip or $35 round-trip; Boston to Hyannis fares are $22 one-way or $40 round-trip. Find local departure and arrival times on the CapeFLYER schedules website. They also feature listings for local access to various points across the Cape, including local buses, taxis, car rentals, and ferry connections to help you get to your final destination. Options are broken out by Lower Cape, Mid-Cape, and Outer Cape, so simply select the region you want to visit for connection details. You can purchase tickets at South Station's ticket windows, on-board from your conductor, or via the MBTA mTicket mobile app.

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