Sandwich (Massachusetts) - town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States of America

Sandwich is on Cape Cod in Massachusetts at the east end of the Cape Cod Canal, and includes the villages of East Sandwich and Forestdale. It is the oldest town on the Cape, settled in 1637. Sandwich is famous for the glassware produced here in the 1800s. It is also home to numerous gift and antique stores, art galleries, and rare book stores.

Get in

By car

Sandwich, is a little more than an hour and a quarter from both Boston and Providence.

• From Boston take I-93 south to Route 3 south to the Sagamore Bridge. (Becomes Rt. 6). After the crossing Sagamore Bridge any of the first 3 exits off Route 6 leads into Sandwich.
• 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 of the bridge go almost all the way around and travel along the Canal to Route 6. Any of the first 3 exits off Route 6 leads into Sandwich. Rather than taking Route 6, you can continue straight under the Sagamore bridge on Route 6A into town.

By bus

• Plymouth & Brockton Street Railway, 17 Elm Av., Hyannis, +1 508 771-6191. Service to most Cape towns.

Get around

The center of Sandwich is very walkable, but generally a car is the best way to get around.

See

Beaches

All require non-resident parking stickers $40/season, Sandwich Town Hall Annex, 145 Main St., +1 508 833-8012.

• Sandy Neck Beach, Rt. 6A (East Sandwich), 41.739444°, -70.378611°. Lifeguards, food, restrooms. Six-mile barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay. Special off-road equipment is required to travel down the beach. Parking $10 2018-06-04
• Scusset Beach State Reservation, 20 Scusset Beach Road, 41.7794°, -70.501°, +1 508 888-0859. 1.5 miles of beachfront, 98 RV sites and 5 tent-only sites. Parking $14/20 (MA resident/non) 2018-06-04
• Town Neck Beach, Rte. 6A, 41.7659°, -70.4801°. No facilities. Rocky, narrow beach at the end of the boardwalk. 2018-06-04

Museums

• Dexter Grist Mill, 2 Water St, 41.7578°, -70.5006°, +1 508 888-4910. Open daily 10AM-4PM in summer, limited hours Sep-Oct. A working 17th-century grist mill on Shawme Pond, which offers tours (with very knowledgable guides) and fresh corn meal. Be sure to fill up your water bottles at the fresh water fountain nearby and feed the ducks on the pond. Watch for the huge turtle. 2018-06-03
• Hoxie House, 18 Water St, 41.7553°, -70.4982°, +1 508 888-1173. Jun to mid-Oct: daily 10AM-5PM. This house was built in 1637, and is probably the oldest restored house on the Cape. 2018-06-03
• Nye Homestead and Museum, 85 Old County Rd, 41.728611°, -70.431944°, +1 508 888-4213. Jun 15-Sep 15: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. This classic saltbox was built in 1685 by Benjamin Nye. $5 2018-06-03
• Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main St, 41.7586°, -70.5005°, +1 508 888-0251, sarah.lee@sandwichglassmuseum.org. Feb Mar: 9:30AM–4PM; Apr–Dec: 9:30AM–5:00PM. Glass blowing demonstrations here and in many other glass artists around town. Sandwich boasts several other fine glass artists such as David McDermott and Michael Magyar. Michael Magyar is also known around town for his "Giants", large illuminated sculptures seen lining Route 6A during the Christmas season. Adults $10, kids 6-14 $2, 6 & under free 2018-06-03
• Wing Fort House, 69 Spring Hill Rd, 41.750833°, -70.465556°, +1 508 888-1540. Jun 15-Sep 15: Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. Built in 1641, it's the oldest house in New England continuously lived in by a single family. 2018-06-03

Parks

• Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Rd (off Rt. 6A, East Sandwich), 41.7457°, -70.4687°, +1 508 888-6870. This non-profit educational is not just for the kids. Some fantastic jams, jellies, relishes and pickles are made and sold here. Preserves are slow-cooked in oldest commercial solar-cooking operation in the country. Try the peaches in brandy. 2018-06-03
• Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove St, 41.7491°, -70.5084°, +1 508 888-3300, info@heritagemuseums.org. mid-Apr to mid-Oct: 9AM-5PM. The gardens on the 100-acre grounds are always beautiful, with over 1,000 varieties of plants, featuring extensive collections of rhododendrons, hydrangeas and day lilies. Museums have exhibits of antique cars, American history, Native history, folk art (including basket making and scrimshaw), and a 1908 Charles Looff carousel. A windmill built in 1800 is also on the grounds. Various special exhibits, events, programs, performances and reenactments are also scheduled. Gardens Aglow - Thanksgiving to Christmas, 4:30PM-8:30PM. "Hidden Hollow" is the children's interactive outdoor area. New in 2015, an outdoor adventure featuring zip lines through the trees called The Adventure Park at Heritage. This is the only extra charge part of Heritage; all other areas, museums and carousel included. Reservations recommended for the Adventure Park, where fees run from $33 to $43. [ Combo tickets available] which include the other areas. Free handicapped accessible trams with wheelchair lifts can take you between museums on the wooded grounds. Best time to see thousands of rhododendrons in bloom is late May through early June. Summer time features many hydrangeas and day lilies. Adults $18, age 3-11 $7. Under 2, free. Active duty military get in free with up to 5 family members from Memorial Day through Labor Day as part of Blue Star Museum program. MTA teachers are admitted free from mid-April to mid-October. AAA discounts available from mid-April to mid-October 2018-06-03
• Sandwich Hatchery, 164 Rte 6A, 41.7542°, -70.4884°, +1 508 888-0008. Daily 9AM-3PM. See the stages of fish and feed them. Run by the State Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, they don't have enough staff to offer tours, so your visit will be self-guided. Free 2018-06-03

Do

• The Boardwalk, Boardwalk Road, 41.7647°, -70.4854°. A cool raised boardwalk across Mill Creek to the dunes at Town Neck Beach. Boards are purchased by folks who specify the lettering on them. Parking available. 2018-06-04

Tours

• Ecotourz L.L.C., 20 Jarves Street (exit 2 off Rte 6 down Rte 130 towards the village of Sandwich), +1 774 888-1627. 7AM-9PM daily. Ecotourz offers kayak and bike rentals. $10-75 2018-06-04
• LauraJay Sportfishing Charters, 28 Chapaquoit Way, East Sandwich, +1 508 888-4033. 31' Custom Duffy Sportfisherman leaving from Sandwich Harbor on the Cape Cod Canal. 1-6 person trips, 1/2 or full day. Experienced crew targeting Striped Bass, Blues, Cod, and Giant Bluefin Tuna. 2018-06-03

Buy

• Sandwich Farmers Market, Old Main St, +1 508 420-5475. Jun 12-Oct 16: Tu 9AM-1PM. Browse and buy locally grown and/or produced goods such as: produce, organic vegetables, fruits, honey, eggs, breads, cheeses, oils, vinegar, pastries, live lobsters, potted plants, cut flowers, herbs, soaps/lotions, canned goods, crafts, art, gifts and souvenirs. Free 2018-06-04

Eat

Budget

• Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, 21 Route 6A, +1 508 888-0566. noon-10PM daily. Towards the canal. Popular, but good service. Not homemeade, but many flavors. Beautiful Grounds! 2018-06-04
• Marshland Diner, 109 Route 6A, +1 508 888-9824. 6AM-8PM daily. Great breakfasts, also lunch and dinner. Catch their bakery next door. 2018-06-04
• Seafood Sam's on the Canal, 6 Coast Guard Rd, +1 508 888-4629. 11AM-9PM daily. 2018-06-04

Mid-range

• Dunbar's Tea Room, 1 Water Street, +1 508 833-2485. 11AM-4:30PM, dinner F Sa nights. Much more than tea. If you appreciate refinements, don't miss this lunch. $8-12 2018-06-04
• British Beer Company, 46 Route 6A (Old King's Highway), +1 508 833-9590. 2018-06-04

Splurge

• Tomatoes Italian Grille & Bar, 280C Route 130. 4:30-10PM daily. Traditional and creative Italian. $12-33 2018-06-04
• Amari Bar & Ristorante, 674 Route 6A, +1 508 375-0011. M–F open 4:30PM, Sa Su also lunch at noon. Contemporary Italian. Brick oven pizza, on the pricey side. 2018-06-04

Drink

• Bobby Byrne's Pub, 65 Route 6A, +1 508 888-6088. 11AM-1AM daily. 2018-06-04

Sleep

Budget

• Shawme-Crowell State Forest, 42 Main St, 41.75983°, -70.52558°, +1 508 888-0351, shawme.crowell@state.ma.us. Year round, but from mid October to mid April, camping only on Th F Sa nights. Office hours 8AM-10PM daily. Over 285 campsites on 700 acres. Winterized yurts are also available year-round. Hiking, swimming, trails, cross country skiing in winter. 2018-06-04
• Peter's Pond Campground & RV, 185 Cotuit Rd, +1 508 477-1775, info@peterspond.com. 2018-06-04

Mid-range

• Sandwich Lodge & Resort,, 54 Route 6A, +1 508-888-2275. Indoor pool, restaurant, free continental breakfast, game room and pool table. Pets allowed. From $89 2018-06-04
• 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center, 118 Tupper Rd, +1 508 888-6958. Bed and breakfast. 2018-06-04
• Isaiah Jones Homestead,, 165 Main St, +1 508 888-9115. A step back in time to the romantic and elegant Victorian era in this Bed and breakfast. 2018-06-04
• Sandwich Inn and Suites, 14 Route 6A, 41.765687°, -70.521923°, +1 508 888-0409, frontdesk@sandwichinnandsuites.com. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: 11AM. Set in 7 buildings on 4 forested acres of property, this serene Cape Cod-style hotel is within 2 miles of State Highway 6, Town Neck Beach and the Heritage Museums & Gardens. Free parking, breakfast, rooms, location and service. $124 2021-09-28

Splurge

• Belfry Inne and Bistro,, 8 Jarves St, +1 508 888-8550. Bed and breakfast with 7 rooms. Fine dining in a unique old church. 2018-06-04
• Dan'l Webster Inn,, 149 Main St, +1 508 888-3622. Luxurious and historical. Used to be a stage stop in colonial times. 53 rooms. Also offering fine dining with an outstanding wine list. 2018-06-04

Go next

• Day trips to Plymouth and other areas of the Cape are quite worthwhile.
• The Cape Cod National Seashore on the Outer Cape is very beautiful.
• A trip eastward on Route 6A winds through a number of interesting villages and past numerous galleries and interesting shops.
• The bridges get very busy on summer Sundays. If leaving the Cape, try to leave before noon or after 8PM.