Sandwich (Massachusetts)

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

Looking west on Main Street

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, ☎ [phone]. 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

Dexter Grist Mill on Shawme Pond, Sandwich Center

Beaches

All require non-resident parking stickers $40/season, Sandwich Town Hall Annex, 145 Main St., [phone].

• 🌍 Sandy Neck Beach, Rt. 6A (East Sandwich). Lifeguards, food, restrooms. Six-mile barrier beach on Cape Cod Bay. Special off-road equipment is required to travel down the beach. Parking $10. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Scusset Beach State Reservation, 20 Scusset Beach Road, ☎ [phone]. 1.5 miles of beachfront, 98 RV sites and 5 tent-only sites. Parking $14/20 (MA resident/non). (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Town Neck Beach, Rte. 6A. No facilities. Rocky, narrow beach at the end of the boardwalk. (updated Jun 2018)

Museums

• 🌍 Dexter Grist Mill, 2 Water St, ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Hoxie House, 18 Water St, ☎ [phone]. Open daily 10AM-5PM, Jun to mid-Oct. This house was built in 1637, and is probably the oldest restored house on the Cape. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Nye Homestead and Museum, 85 Old County Rd, ☎ [phone]. Jun 15-Sep 15. Tu-Sa 10AM-4PM. This classic saltbox was built in 1685 by Benjamin Nye. $5. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Sandwich Glass Museum, 129 Main St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. Feb Mar 9:30AM–4PM; Apr 1–Dec 30 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Wing Fort House, 69 Spring Hill Rd, ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)

Parks

• 🌍 Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen, 6 Discovery Hill Rd (off Rt. 6A, East Sandwich), ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Heritage Museums & Gardens, 67 Grove St, ☎ [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. mid-Apr- 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• 🌍 Sandwich Hatchery, 164 Rte 6A, ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)

Do

Sandwich Boardwalk to Town Neck Beach

• 🌍 The Boardwalk, Boardwalk Road. 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. (updated Jun 2018)

Tours

• Ecotourz L.L.C., 20 Jarves Street (exit 2 off Rte 6 down Rte 130 towards the village of Sandwich), ☎ [phone]. 7AM-9PM daily. Ecotourz offers kayak and bike rentals. $10-75. (updated Jun 2018)
• LauraJay Sportfishing Charters, 28 Chapaquoit Way, East Sandwich, ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)

Buy

• Sandwich Farmers Market, Old Main St, ☎ [phone]. Jun 12-Oct 16 9AM-1PM Tuesdays. 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. (updated Jun 2018)

Eat

Dexter Rhododendron Garden

Budget

• Twin Acres Ice Cream Shoppe, 21 Route 6A, ☎ [phone]. Noon-10PM daily. Towards the canal. Popular, but good service. Not homemeade, but many flavors. Beautiful Grounds! (updated Jun 2018)
• Marshland Diner, 109 Route 6A, ☎ [phone]. 6AM-8PM daily. Great breakfasts, also lunch and dinner. Catch their bakery next door. (updated Jun 2018)
• Seafood Sam's on the Canal, 6 Coast Guard Rd, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-9PM daily. (updated Jun 2018)

Mid-range

• Dunbar's Tea Room, 1 Water Street, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-4:30PM, dinner F Sa nights. Much more than tea. If you appreciate refinements, don't miss this lunch. $8-$12. (updated Jun 2018)
• British Beer Company, 46 Route 6A (Old King's Highway), ☎ [phone]. (updated Jun 2018)

Splurge

• Tomatoes Italian Grille & Bar, 280C Route 130. 4:30-10PM daily. Traditional and creative Italian. $12-33. (updated Jun 2018)
• Amari Bar & Ristorante, 674 Route 6A, ☎ [phone]. M–F: open 4:30PM; Sa, Su also lunch at 12PM. Contemporary Italian. Brick oven pizza, on the pricey side. (updated Jun 2018)

Drink

• Bobby Byrne's Pub, 65 Route 6A, ☎ [phone]. 11AM-1 daily. (updated Jun 2018)

Sleep

Budget

• Shawme-Crowell State Forest, 42 Main St, ☎ [phone]. 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. (updated Jun 2018)
• Peter's Pond Campground & RV, 185 Cotuit Rd, ☎ [phone], fax: [phone], e-mail: [e-mail]. (updated Jun 2018)

Mid-range

• Sandwich Lodge & Resort,, 54 Route 6A, ☎ [phone], toll-free: [phone]. Indoor pool, restaurant, free continental breakfast, game room and pool table. Pets allowed. From $89. (updated Jun 2018)
• 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center, 118 Tupper Rd, ☎ [phone]. Bed and breakfast (updated Jun 2018)
• Isaiah Jones Homestead,, 165 Main St, ☎ [phone]. A step back in time to the romantic and elegant Victorian era in this Bed and breakfast. (updated Jun 2018)

Splurge

• Belfry Inne and Bistro,, 8 Jarves St, ☎ [phone]. Bed and breakfast with 7 Rooms. Fine dining in a unique old church. (updated Jun 2018)
• Dan'l Webster Inn,, 149 Main St, ☎ [phone]. Luxurious and historical. Used to be a stage stop in colonial times. 53 rooms. Also offering fine dining with an outstanding wine list. (updated Jun 2018)

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.

Routes through Sandwich

New Bedford ← Bourne ←

W  E

→ Barnstable → Provincetown