The Town of Bourne is a medium-sized rural community at the gateway to Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Canal bisects the community, with both the Bourne and the Sagamore bridges, and the lift railroad bridge all located in Bourne. The canal is well known for its superb sport fishing, and for carrying ships flying the flags of all nations. The Bourne Scenic Park campground is located beneath the Bourne Bridge and is a perfect vacation location for those seeking to enjoy the canal.
Bourne has numerous quiet harbors and inlets for boating and bathing, and the shellfishing in the area is particularly enticing. Bourne is a quiet community without the summer tourist crush experienced by some of the other Cape communities. The annual Bourne Scallop Festival, which is held in early September each year, brings visitors from across the nation.