Dennis - town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States

Dennis is in Massachusetts on Cape Cod. It includes the villages of Dennis Port, East Dennis, South Dennis, and West Dennis. Dennis bills itself as the "Cultural Center of Cape Cod", and perhaps rightly so. It boasts the Cape Cod Museum of Art, the Cape Playhouse, and some really excellent art and craft galleries.

Get in

By car

• From Boston take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge (Becomes Rt. 6). Dennis is at Exit 9 off of Route 6, approximately 40 minutes from the Sagamore Bridge.
• From Providence or points south take I-95 north to I-195 to Route 25 south to the Bourne Bridge (I-495 also becomes Route 25). At the rotary (traffic circle) on the Cape side, go almost all the way around and travel along the Canal to Route 6 east. Dennis is at Exit 9 off of Route 6, approximately 40 minutes from the Sagamore Bridge.

By bus

• Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway, 17 Elm Av., Hyannis, +1 508-771-6191, .

Get around

Public transportation is non-existent in Dennis, so you will want a car to get around. While the shoulders are narrow on many of the roads, bicycles are also a great way to get around in Dennis.

See

• Windfest Cape Cod Freestyle Frenzy Wind Surfing Competition, West Dennis Beach, mid-June.
• Scargo Hill, Scargo Hill Rd., (Rte 6, Exit 9 to Route 143 north, left on Rte 6A, left on Scargo Hill Rd). Nice panoramic view of the Cape and across Cape Cod Bay from the top of the 28 ft (8.5 m) stone tower on the 160 ft (49 m) hill.
• Scargo Pottery, 30 Dr. Lord's Rd, +1 508-385-3894. 10AM-5PM. Fine, unusual pottery by various artists, including an outdoor display. Sometimes you can watch them work.
• Cape Cod Discovery Museum, 444 Route 28, Dennisport, +1 508-398-1600. Summer daily 9:30AM-7:30PM; off-season daily 9:30AM-5:30PM. Kids love it. Adults $2.50, children $4.50. Under age 1 free.
• Josiah Dennis Manse Museum and Schoolhouse, 61 Whig Street, 41.739499°, -70.198983°, +1 508 385-2232. June-mid Sept. Free 2020-10-29
• Mayflower Beach, Off of Route 6A, 41.741427°, -70.219315°. One of the most beautiful beaches in Dennis. Best at low tide, when vast sandbars stretch for miles and the ocean recedes several hundred yards. Can get very crowded during tourist season: neighboring Chapin Beach is usually less crowded, but slightly rockier. 2020-10-29

Do

• Cape Cod Museum of Art, 60 Hope Lane (on the grounds of Cape Playhouse), 41.740081°, -70.196302°, +1 508-385-4477. Th-Sa 10AM-4PM; Su noon-4PM. Preserves and displays the art of Cape Cod artists. $10, free under 12 2020-10-29
• Cape Playhouse Center for the Arts, 820 Main Street, 41.740685°, -70.191788°, +1 508-385-3838 (General Information), +1 508-385-3911 (Box Office), Info@CapePlayhouse.com. America's oldest professional summer theatre. 2020-10-29
• Eventide Arts Festival, Dennis Union Church, Route 6A, +1 508-255-9255 (General Information), +1 508-255-9255 (Box Office).
• Bike the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Route 134, South Dennis, 41.7753921°, -70.0344801°, +1 508 896-3491. Free parking. This 22-mile bike trail follows an old railroad bed through several towns. Check their website or call them to check for closures. (The map pointer is at the end of the trail with the parks service office.).
• Golf, +1 508 385-1554. Two public courses year round.

Dennis Pines Par 72, 7000 yards. Dennis Highlands Par 71, 6500 yards.

• Albatross Deep Sea Fishing, Sesuit Harbor, +1 508-385-3244.
• Lad-Nav Sportfishing, Sesuit Harbor, +1 508 385-8150. Reservations 7PM-9PM.
• Prime Rate Sport Fishing, Sesuit Harbor, +1 508 385-4626.
• Tigger Too Sport Fishing, Sesuit Harbor, +1 508 888-8372.
• Cape Cod Scenic Tours, South Dennis, +1 508 394-2221. Seasonal 8AM-9PM. Sightseeing Day Tours of Cape Cod, visiting historical areas, windmills, lighthouses, Cape Cod Bay, harbors, Cape Cod National Seashore, Provincetown, Chatham, Hyannis and JFK Memorial. Provides a nice picnic lunch and complimentary hotel pick up.
• Cartwheels, 11 South Gages Way, +1-508 394-6755. Go karts, basketball, speed pitch, batting cages, and an arcade. 2018-06-03

Buy

Eat

• Ocean House, Depot St., Dennisport (at the Three Seasons Resort), +1 508 394-0700. Top notch dining overlooking Nantucket Sound. Rated excellent by Zagat. $20-35
• Scargo Cafe, 799 Main St (Rt. 6A), 41.738786°, -70.190939°, +1 508 385-8200. Nice casual place right across from the theatre. 2020-10-29
• Chapin's Restaurant, 85 Taunton Av, 41.7381402°, -70.2222218°, +1 508 385-7000. "Beach casual" featuring outdoor raw bar. 2020-10-29
• The Red Pheasant Inn, 905 Main St, +1 508 385-2133. Apr-Dec daily 5PM-9:30PM; Jan-Mar W-Su 5PM-9:30PM. $20-30
• Gina's by the Sea, 134 Taunton Av, +1 508 385-3213. May through Thanksgiving.
• The Lighthouse Inn, 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis, +1 508 398-2244. Great oceanside location, some imaginative dinners. Lousy, small wine glasses. $19-28.
• Sundae School Ice Cream, 381 Lower County Road, Dennisport, 41.659833°, -70.127996°, +1 508 394-9122, sundae@sundaeschool.com. One of the most popular ice cream shops in Dennis. A favorite of locals and tourists alike. Has a player piano and a neighboring candy shop. 2020-10-29
• Kream N' Kone, Route 28, West Dennis. Very affordable local seafood restaurant, known for its excellent fried seafood. Regularly recognized by Cape Cod Life magazine and various surveys.
• LaScala Cape Cod, 106 Depot St, Dennisport, 41.6609728°, -70.1957383°, +1 774 352-1966. W-Su 4:30PM-9PM. A family-friendly Italian restaurant focused on serving fresh, simple, delicious Italian food in a comfortable, home-like setting where everyone is welcomed as family and friends. 2020-10-29

Drink

• Improper Bostonian, Route 28, +1 508-394-7416. Seasonal W-Sa. Live bands weekends. Sa 3PM-7PM DJ. 20s-30s crowd.
• Michael Patrick's Publick House, 435 Route 28, Dennisport, +1 508-398-1620. Irish music nightly in summer. In fall dancing on Friday and Saturday nights only. All ages.
• Rum Runners Cafe, 243 Lower County Rd, Dennisport, +1 508 398-5673. Nightly June-August. For the young and restless. Local blues and classic rock bands.
• Sand Bar (at the Lighthouse Inn), 4 Lighthouse Rd, West Dennis, +1 508 398-2244. W-Sa features Rock King, who has been a 38-year fixture here.
• Sundancer's, 116 Main Street Route 28, West Dennis, 41.664955°, -70.177093°, +1 508 394-1600. On Bass River. Young crowd. Rock music in summer. Reggae on summer Sundays.
• Lost Dog Pub, 1374 Route 134, East Dennis, +1 508-385-6177. Where the locals hang out.
• Devil's Purse Brewing Co., 120 Great Western Rd, 41.6885823°, -70.1438156°, +1 508 694-7171. W-Su noon-6PM. Small micro-brewery offering tastings, growler fills, and crowlers. This is a brewery, opened in 2015, is a barebones warehouse tasting room in an industrial area. There are quite a range of styles, from ESB to double IPA. 2020-10-29

Sleep

• The Breakers (Bluegreen Vacations The Breakers Resort, an Ascend Resort), 61 Chase Ave, Dennisport, +1 508 258-3139. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 10AM. Oceanfront. No smoking, no pets. 2020-10-30
• Briarcliffe Motel, 203 Route 6A, +1 508-385-3464. Set back on a hill along historic Route 6A, 2&3 room suites and outdoor pool. Refrigerators, phone, cable, and A/C. $90-155 in season
• Colonial Village Motel and Cottages, 426 Lower County Rd, Dennisport, 41.6608166°, -70.1264192°, +1 508 398-2071. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Glass-enclosed pool, outdoor pool, sauna & jacuzzi. Motel rooms, kitchenettes, & cottages. Five minute walk to beach. No pets. $105-170 in season 2020-10-30
• The Corsair & Cross Rip Oceanfront Motels, 41 Chase Ave, Dennisport, +1 508-398-6600, info@corsaircrossrip.com. Open seasonally, mid-April to mid-October. Private beach, indoor heated pool with game rooms, 2 outdoor pools, 2 outdoor whirlpools. Most units have 2 queen beds with kitchenettes. $195-345 in season
• Dennisport Ocean View Beach Houses, Dennisport, +1 508-398-3615. Sea Captain's Homes on Cape Cod's Nantucket Sound.
• Holiday Hill Motor Inn, 352 Main St, Dennisport, 41.7314°, -70.0763°, +1 508 394-5577. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. No pets. Smoking outside only. $80-125 in season
• Inn at Swan River, 829 Main St, West Dennis, 41.667748°, -70.152116°, +1 508 394-5415, InnCapeCod@gmail.com. Year round. Family owned and operated. Rooms, some efficiencies. Pool. Pet policy: up to two dogs, no cats. $89-115 in season
• Lighthouse Inn, 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis, +1 508 398-2244. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Open mid-May to mid-October. Accommodations include cottages, carriage house, and a lodge. Amenities include pool, private bath, air conditioning, refrigerators, in-room safe, television, data-port, and hairdryers. Located near beaches, golf courses, hiking/biking trails, and shopping. No pets. 2020-10-30
• Kingfisher Oceanside Hotel (The Old Landing Motel), 15 Sea Street, Dennisport, 41.6533561°, -70.1357219°, +1 508 398-5921. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Lifeguarded beach behind the motel. $90-160 in season 2020-10-30
• Sesuit Harbor Motel, 1421 Main St, East Dennis, +1 508 385-3326. $80-130 in season. $80-130 in season
• {{sleep | name=Shifting Sands Motel | alt= | url=http://www.shiftingsandsmotel.com/ (dead link: December 2020) | email= | address=9 Chase Ave, Dennisport | lat= | long= | directions= | phone =+1 508 398-9145 | tollfree= | fax= | price=$130-170 in season | checkin= | checkout= | content=Beachfront with balconies. }}
• The Garlands, 117 Old Wharf Road, Dennisport, +1 508 398-6987, thegarlandsmotel@gmail.com. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 10AM. Beachfront. $125-155 in season
• Three Seasons Resort, 421 Old Wharf Rd, Dennisport, 41.655103°, -70.125614°, +1 508 398-6091, reservations@threeseasonsresort.com. $185-230 in season

Campgrounds

• Campers Haven, 184 Old Wharf Road, Dennisport, +1 508 398-2811, camphavn@capecod.net. 248 sites.
• Old Chatham Road RV Resort, 310 Old Chatham Road, South Dennis, 41.709994°, -70.143837°, +1 508 385-3616. Check-in: noon, check-out: 10AM. 310 sites. Open mid-May to end of October. "Friendly pets are allowed. Rabies documentation must be provided.". 2020-10-30

Go next

Nearby Hyannis, one of the villages of Barnstable, boasts the largest downtown area in the mid-Cape, as well as the Cape Cod Mall, the largest mall on the Cape. Main Street is lined with ice cream parlors, restaurants, salt water taffy shops, bars, art galleries, and lots of souvenir shops. Although some say it has become tacky, it is still worth a visit.

A bit farther out from Dennis is Provincetown, at the tip of the Cape. Provincetown is home to a vibrant LGBT community as well as a wide array of shops, art galleries, bars, bed & breakfasts, and particularly good restaurants. While the cobblestone streets can get a bit raucous at night, it is far and away the most vibrant town in the area and still retains the antique charm of Cape Cod. Definitely worth a visit.