Author by : Linda Behrle

Sandwich is the first town on the Cape when you enter by
the northernmost route over the Sagamore Bridge. It has an
area of 44.4 square miles and had a population of 20,136 in
2000. It is the home to many historical buildings, 3
bayside beaches, the beginning of the Cape Cod Canal Bike
Trail, 6 campgrounds, many motels and restaurants, and a
walking trail that includes a very unique boardwalk.
Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape, settled by
Plymouth pilgrims in 1637 and was incorporated in 1639.

Sandwich is one of the quieter towns on the Cape, yet it
still has plenty of things to do to provide a great vacation experience. The Cape Cod Canal runs along its northwestern border and has access to the Cape Cod Canal Bike Path. The
trail is a 7 mile long service road that runs along both
sides of the canal from near Cape Cod Bay down to the
southern end of the canal near Buzzards Bay. It is a haven
for walkers, bikers, rollerbladers and joggers. The paved
pathway is wide enough to accommodate two way traffic, and
you can go at your own pace. Since it is adjacent to the
canal, you can enjoy the ships and boats that pass by as
well. The pathway starts next to the Sandwich Marina and
ends near the railroad bridge. For maps and further
information, visit the Army Corps of Engineers website.

Sandwich also has 3 beaches on the bay side – East Sandwich
Beach, Sandy Neck Beach and Town Neck Beach. East Sandwich
and Town Neck beaches offer surf chairs for handicap use
and have restroom facilities, and parking. There is a unique boardwalk incorporated into a walking trail that can be accessed at the end of Jarves and Harbor Streets off of
Route 6A. The boardwalk leads to one of the town
beaches where you can relax and swim or walk on the beach.
The town “sold” 1,700 planks to replace the original walk destroyed in a hurricane in the early 1990s. Don’t forget to look down at the boards as you walk, as there are interesting messages carved into the 1,350 foot boardwalk.

There are two public golf courses in Sandwich – Holly
Ridge has a par 54 course, driving range and practice facility, and Sandwich Hollows Golf Club (once called Round Hill Golf Club) offers a par 71 course.

Sandwich reveals the very beginnings of our country
through old structures like the Dexter Grist Mill, the
Benjamin Nye Homestead, the Wing Fort House and the Hoxie
House. Museums such as the Sandwich Glass Museum, the
Thornton W. Burgess Museum and the Yesteryear Doll Museum
have preserved the creativity and craftsmanship of these
early pioneers.

The Thornton W. Burgess Museum and off-shoot Green Briar Nature Museum are great places for families. Together they offer a wide selection of programs on a year-round basis.

The Sandwich Glass Museum displays the history of glass
making and its contribution to Sandwich and the country as
well as a fine collection of historical glass pieces. The
museum also has glass-blowing demonstrations, a multi-media
theater, contemporary glass displays and a lighting
gallery.

The Heritage Museum & Gardens has many programs to
offer for all ages. In addition, the museum houses exhibits
featuring regional art, nature’s treasures, the
Cape Cod Baseball League of Fame, Marching Miniatures: Our
Nation’s Military traditions, Playthings of the Past, and
Automobilia. There is a labyrinth on the grounds, as well as
gardens to explore, too. The museum sponsors the summer
concerts on Thursdays at the Band Stand (weather
permitting), auto shows, children’s musicals, craft classes
and much more.

Be sure to visit the other historic houses and structures that show the way the
pioneer settlers lived and survived during the mid-1600s.

There is a State Fish Hatchery on Route 6A heading out towards
Barnstable that offers tours, as well as the Sandwich
Marina on the canal near the Cape Cod Canal Visitors’
Center. In the late afternoon you
can often see boats arriving at the marina with their catch
of the day. Along the canal there are many
places to fish or watch the boats, including the boardwalk that runs
right on the canal near the marina. There are rest rooms
and picnic tables here, and a small playground on the loop road near the marina.
For further tourist information about Sandwich you can stop
by the Information Booth on Route 130 near Beale Avenue, or
call 508-888-0378 or 508-888-9115.

Sandwich village center has some unique and interesting individual shops most
within a short walk of each other. Stores have intriguing
names such as Wicked Goods, Cotton Seeds Mercantile, The
Weather Store and The Brown Jug. You can buy gifts from home decor, lightning detectors,
gourmet artesian cheese and fine Beluga caviar, to onion
lamps, a cast iron teapot with infuser or a handmade tile.
And of course, there is always the original artwork by
local artists and paintings and photographs of Cape Cod
available.

Merchants Square shopping plaza is located between Route 6
and Tupper Road, and includes a modern-day
supermarket, post office, chocolatier, jewelers,
framing/gift/packing/shipping store, liquor store, wine
cellar and a collectibles store. It also includes
businesses such as an acupuncturist, music & arts store,
office systems store and clothing stores.

It’s easy to forget the little shops that dot Route 6A, but
be sure to stop in as they often have unique items you
won’t find in other shops. A very detailed map of
Sandwich is available in the resource area.

Sandwich offers a wide variety of lodging – from camping to
luxury – with something for every budget. There are 6
campgrounds, 8 hotels & motels, and 9 Bed & Breakfasts
within Sandwich. Handicap accessible lodging can be found
at Dan’l Webster Inn and the Shawme-Crowell State Forest
Campground. Pet-friendly accommodations are listed at
Peters Pond Park (camping), and Sandwich Lodge & Resort
(motel). For one of the more unusual lodging experiences on
the Cape, there is the Belfry Inne – an old church that has
been converted to a B&B.

From walk-up fast food to elegant settings, you can have
whatever experience you want in Sandwich for dining. From a
hot dog to a sumptuous 5-course meal, you can find it here.
We counted at least 27 restaurants in Sandwich. You can experience fine dining in the Belfry Inne – an old
church that is now a B&B. Or how about an elegant afternoon
tea at the Dunbar Tea Shop? Than there is always the
relaxed and intimate luxury of the Dan’l Webster Inn.
Or you might get takeout at one of the restaurants
near the marina and sit and eat while you watch the
activity along the canal. If you call ahead to some local seafood
markets, they’ll cook your lobster and have it waiting for you, too!
One tip if you want good lobster rolls but don’t want to
spend restaurant prices – try the local grocery store in
the deli or meat department.

As you can see, you don’t have to venture far out onto
Cape Cod to get a taste of all that it has to offer.
Between the museums, beaches, shopping, Cape Cod canal,
walking trails and other opportunities, you will have
plenty available to do in Sandwich. And with the variety of
lodging and dining establishments in town, you won’t have
to travel far to get “home” when you’re day in Sandwich is
done.

[tags]Cape Cod vacation,Cape Cod hotel,beach boardwalk,walking trail,Sandwich MA,things to do Cape Cod[/tags]

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