Best Things To Do In Charming Sandwich, Massachusetts

Sandwich, Massachusetts, is situated on the northwestern side of Cape Cod and is easily accessed from the Bourne Bridge. This quaint town on Cape Cod offers visitors beautiful bayside beaches, wonderful museums, and sumptuous dining — making it a fabulous getaway destination.

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The oldest town on Cape Cod, Sandwich was established in 1637. It has historic homes and quaint neighborhoods that are meticulously landscaped and perfect to explore on a Sunday drive. If you are looking for a peaceful and relaxing Cape getaway, yet accessible to all the necessary vacation adventures, Sandwich is the perfect spot.

Some information in this piece was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.

The Beaches

Sandwich beaches offer bayside swimming that is traditionally warmer than the oceanside beaches. Daily, weekly, and seasonal parking passes are available for many of the Sandwich Beaches on the ocean.

Town Neck Beach

Town Neck Beach is fun at low tide, with tidal pools and plenty of room to spread out it is great for young children. It can be a little rocky, so good beach shoes are a must.

The Sandwich Boardwalk traverses over the marsh towards Town Neck Beach. The walkway is frequented by youthful locals and adventurous visitors who love jumping off it into the water at high tide.

Scusset Beach

Scusset Beach is a wonderful spot for families. The gentle surf is great for swimming and the wide sandy beach offers views of the Cape Cod Canal. You will often see ships passing through the water on their ocean journey. Scusset Beach has bathrooms, showers, and a snack shack making it perfect for an extended beach day. Pack up a picnic, towels, sunscreen, and beach toys for a beautiful toes-in-the-sand day at the beach.

East Sandwich Beach

East Sandwich Beach is a beautiful, long sandy beach offering sweeping views of Cape Cod Bay. Perfect for swimming and catching some glorious rays, East Sandwich Beach offers calm, bayside waters seemingly custom-made for swimming. If you love walking on the beach, then East Sandwich Beach is the one for your morning stroll.

Heritage Museums And Gardens

The Heritage Museums and Gardens offers visitors luxurious garden explorations and fascinating exhibits focused around the history of Cape Cod and the Islands.

Indoor and outdoor exhibits capture youthful imaginations while exploring the history of each subject. The Bugs, Birds, and Bricks exhibit, for example, brings creatures to life through the use of LEGOS. Larger than life critters are crafted with meticulous attention to detail. They will enchant you as you stroll through the gardens. Imagine turning the corner to find a giant dragonfly hidden among the flowers or a surprise gathering of birds along the trail.

Ten different garden areas display native plants, water features, and quaint bee hotels. The Hydrangea Garden, Rhododendron Garden, and the Daylily Garden are seasonal showstoppers that mandate your undivided attention.

The Heritage museums and gardens is a must-stop for the horticultural enthusiast and kids of all ages.

Sandwich Glass Museum

The Sandwich Glass Museum is a treasure trove of historic glassware, including many pieces from the early 19th century. Glass has been an important part of the town’s history and the Sandwich Glass factory was a leader in the industry. Its collection of antique glass is a timeline of glassware through the ages.

During your visit to the museum, take time to sit and watch the glassblowing demonstration. Visitors are close enough to feel the heat of the glory hole and hear the hiss of steam from the cooling process as expert glassblowers demonstrate their craft. You will be impressed by the talent of these glass artists as they create a beautiful piece while you watch.

Purchase your own special piece of Sandwich Glass at the museum shop. They offer spectacular glassware that will look amazing in your home and make a wonderful gift or memento of your trip.

McDermott Glass Studio

Mastercraftsman David McDermott and his glassblowing team of artisans create breathtakingly beautiful pieces. The McDermott Glass Studio showcases its gorgeous glassware in their Sandwich studio and you can also shop online to see the complete collection.

Its stunningly colorful glass creations with graceful lines will bring an ethereal feeling to your home décor.

Glass Studio On Cape Cod

The Glass Studio on Cape Cod is a Michael Magyar family run, artisanal glassblowing business that offers visitors a peek into the world of glassblowing. Their gallery and custom pieces are available to view at their Sandwich gallery location and through their online store. Visitors will be in awe of the gentle gracefulness of the various collections.

Holly Ridge Golf Course

When you have a non-beach day or just want to get out on the links, Holly Ridge Golf Club is fun and family-friendly. The 18-hole, par-3 course offers an accessible round for beginners and a quick 18 for the more experienced golfer. You can enjoy a quiet morning and play while soaking up the beautiful scenery.

When you have a family gathering and need to occupy a gang of kids, heading over to the practice range and hitting a bucket or two of balls will help everyone expend a little energy and work on their swing.  For some on-course family fun, organize a foursome and enjoy a little friendly competition. 

If you are looking for more golf while on your Cape getaway, visit our piece on the 9 Best Golf Courses On Cape Cod And The Islands.

Historic Sandwich

History buffs will love visiting all the historic landmarks located around Sandwich. The Sandwich Historical Commission has compiled a comprehensive listing of the town’s historic buildings and prominent landmarks. The list includes individual websites where you can explore each venue in depth. Explore sites like The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Monument, the Benjamin Nye Homestead Museum, Wing Fort House Museum, the Sandwich Glass Museum, the Hoxie House Museum, and others.

This is a must-see for the avid history buff, even if it is just a drive-by viewing.

Mashpee Commons

Shopping has never looked so good as when you are walking down the “main street” at Mashpee Commons. This town-like shopping district features well known shops, small boutiques, and great restaurants.

High-end shops like Nic & Zoe and White House-Black Market sit alongside beachy digs like Soft As A Grape and The Black Dog General Store. Galleries featuring local artisan pieces like The Art Coddage and the Wampanoag Trading Post & Gallery are a wonderful spot to shop for that special memento.

Dining In Sandwich

You will have ample choices when it comes to dining in Sandwich and the surrounding Cape towns. From delicious seafood to creamy ice cream, you certainly won’t go hungry.

Beth’s Bakery

When you are visiting a quaint little town like Sandwich, you expect to enjoy breakfast at a charming bakery where the food is crafted onsite and delicious. Beth’s Bakery and Cafe is just that type of establishment. The pastry case is packed full of tasty sweet treats to enjoy with your morning cup of freshly-brewed coffee. A perfect panini is the way to go for lunchtime, make sure to have your fresh, filled-to-order cannoli for dessert. Sublime!

Siena

Enjoy lunch or dinner on the patio at Siena in the Mashpee Commons. You can sit back and soak up the relaxed, casual atmosphere as you enjoy a taste tour through Italy. Begin with a classic — meatballs in marinara, to get your taste buds rolling. Finish off with one of their perfectly crafted, crispy pizzas or a spicy seafood cioppino. Don’t forget to save room for some tiramisu for dessert.

Polar Cave

Nothing says Cape Cod getaway like a hand-scooped, premium ice cream cone. The Polar Cave in Mashpee offers mouthwatering, sweet-tooth satisfying, I’m-on-vacation-from-my-diet ice cream treats. Choose from flavors like Arctic Landslide, a chocolate ice cream with marshmallow swirls, dark chocolate chips, and almonds, or Black Raspberry/Chip/Oreo with dark chocolate chips or crushed Oreos. Of course, they offer classic, silky smooth ice cream flavors too.

Tree House Brewing Company

Craft beer aficionados will appreciate the Tree House Brewing Company’s Sandwich venue. Shop online to sample its fabulous collection of craft brews. Add a touch of local flavor to your getaway with a six-pack of Hello Cape Cod, an American single IPA brewed beer to celebrate your Cape trip. Looking to try all the Tree House brews, select the Gimme All Your Cans option. It is a fun and entertaining compilation of their canned beers, perfect for your own private taste testing.

If you love great craft brews and are in the Boston area, check out 5 Fantastic Breweries To Visit In Boston.

Pro Tip: There are so many things to do in charming Sandwich, Massachusetts. It is a wonderful spot to spend a quiet, romantic weekend or a fun getaway for your extended family. As you explore this quaint and historic town remember to relax and soak up the chill Cape Cod vibe; after all, you are on vacation. Beach hopping is a fun way to explore the variety of Cape beaches, a great starting point is our piece on The 11 Best Beaches On Cape Cod.