Location: Sandwich
Top Things to do in Sandwich
10 Things to Do in Sandwich That You Shouldn't Miss
Sandwich /ˈsændwɪtʃ/ is a town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 20,675 at the 2010 census. The Town Hall is located next to the Dexter Grist Mill in the historic district of town.
Restaurants in Sandwich
1. Heritage Museums & Gardens
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 776 reviews
You can enjoy more than 70 acres of gardens after visiting the art and history museums at the Heritage.
Reviewed By MEC15_12 - Sandwich, Massachusetts
Purchased 6 VIP tickets for Gardens Aglow and glad we did. The The tickets allowed us to get VIP parking and early entry into the gardens 1 1/2 before it was open to the public. We were able to walk the beautiful grounds, have our grandchildren meet with Santa and Mrs. Claus and ride the Merry -go -round without any waiting lines or crowds. It was a wonderful night of fun for both the children and the adults in our group. We will definitely go again and especially purchase the VIP tickets. The line of cars and those being dropped off by busses were incredibly long as we were leaving so we were very grateful that we had the time without the crowds.
2. Route 6A (The Old King's Highway)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 265 reviews
Route 6A, which is on the northern, or bay side, of Cape Cod, winds its way through some of the oldest villages in America, including Bourne, Sandwich, Barnstable, Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster and Orleans. Many of the homes and churches along this tree-shaded road are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.If you are interested in seeing what Cape Cod looked like before tourists discovered it, and want to visit some of the best quaint, little shops in New England, Route 6A is the place to be.
Reviewed By Ellie V - East Hartford, Connecticut
Since we were staying on 6A, we did a lot of traveling up and down this road, through several lovely towns along the way. This is more for a scenic, less-rushed sort of driving around. Of course this is the end of the season, so I'm sure there were a lot less cars now during the summer months.
3. Boardwalk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 428 reviews
Reviewed By Tatumb - London, United Kingdom
I visited late afternoon and got some lovely photos of the sunset. Boardwalk goes across the marsh to a beach. Worth a walk along. I saw seals from the beach as well as lots of birds.
4. Sandwich Glass Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 618 reviews
The museum details the history of the Boston and Sandwich Glass Company.
Reviewed By Deborah C
We visit this fascinating spot especially during the holidays. The exhibit is A Glassblower's Christmas and the ornaments are beautiful. Many local and national glassblowers are featured. Even one from my home state of WV. Over the years we've collected enough for a dedicated exhibit in our own home. History, education, local charm and art are all good reasons not to miss Sandwich Glass Museum.
5. Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
Corps of Engineers operated visitor center with educational material about the Cape Cod Canal.
Reviewed By Debbie L
All ages will find something interesting. Children activities as well as engineering and nautical information for adults! Watch how they track boats in the canal, an informative woman, with an amazing amount of detail answered every question.
6. Hoxie House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 151 reviews
Built in 1637, this is believed to be the oldest house on Cape Cod.
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
The Hoxie House is the oldest house on Cape Cod and one of the oldest surviving houses in Massachusetts. Located at 18 Water Street on Shawme Pond, about a quarter-mile from the center of Sandwich, the saltbox house was built in the mid-17th century and occupied around 1675 by the Rev. John Smith, his wife and 13 children. Smith served as pastor of the Separatist First Church of Sandwich from 1673 to 1689, also served as a representative to the state legislature and recommended tolerance of the Quakers, a religious minority in the area. In the mid-19th century, Abraham Hoxie, a whaling captain, purchased the property. The town of Sandwich acquired the house in the 1950s and restored the building. Interestingly, the house was lived in by families up until the 1950s but they retained the authenticity of the historic structure by never introducing any modern conveniences such as electricity, central heating or plumbing. Today, the house is decorated with a few choice pieces of furniture appropriate to the period of the late 1600s so visitors can see more precisely how its early occupants lived. The Hoxie House was constructed in a saltbox-style with two stories and includes many interesting features such as gun stock posts, pumpkin-pine Maine beams and wide floorboards. Nearby is the Dexter Grist Mill, one of the earliest water mill sites in the United States.
7. Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 97 reviews
This unique spot boasts beautiful gardens and nature trails, as well as a jam-making kitchen.
Reviewed By Mame90 - Dennis, Massachusetts
We just stumbled upon this while exploring in and around Sandwich. I had never heard of this place before but saw something written about it just the day before and, while in the neighborhood, decided to pop in.
I honestly did not know what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the beauty of the spot and the history of the place. There was a very chatty docent/ticket seller who obviously loved her job and loved talking about this place and its history.
And, while it was interesting reading about the owner and his writings, I found the jam kitchen to be particularly fascinating. I'll have to go back sometime when they're actually making the preserves because it looks like quite an operation.
One of the most fascinating parts, however, is the history of the jam making part of the business. If you go, be sure to read the placards up along the wall, both to the left and the right of the entrance into the kitchen. It's a fascinating story and helps to put the rest of what you see there in context.
Unfortunately, we did not have the time this trip to explore some of the walking trails/paths but doing so provides a great excuse to return.
8. Dexter’s Grist Mill
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 105 reviews
Welcome to the Thomas Dexter Grist Mill! We offer tours of our mid-17th century grist mill nestled in the heart of Sandwich all 7 days of the week. As a fully operating site, we also sell fresh bags of our famous corn meal. Our mill is the perfect spot for anyone looking for a gorgeous view, an educational adventure, and a slice of local history!
Reviewed By Taylor B - Chicago, Illinois
This is history. At Dexter's Grist Mill in Sandwich, Massachusetts, the oldest town on Cape Cod, you can watch millers grind corn on a wooden mill mechanism, then purchase bags of fresh cornmeal that served as the staple food for townspeople in the 1600s. Located at 2 Water Street, at the intersection of Main and Water Streets, the mill was built in 1654, fully restored in 1961 after discovering the original 1637 blueprints in the town archives and added a new, larger waterwheel in 2015. It's still a working mill, set on a picturesque landscape and pond. Thomas Dexter built the first grist mill on this site in 1654 so that the inhabitants of Sandwich would not have to grind their own corn for cornmeal, their staple food. Today, along with fresh cornmeal, visitors can purchase recipes for dishes eaten by townspeople in the 1600s. The mill is one of several historic sites in Sandwich, including the Sandwich Glass Museum directly across the street, the Thornton W. Burgess Museum and the Hoxie House, another landmark that dates to the 1600s.
9. Sandwich Fish Hatchery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 44 reviews
Reviewed By TTTravelers1 - New Jersey
Didn't know what to expect but it was a nice little walk around the inground pools of all types of trout.
Fun to feed and read about. Free and quick.
Kids loved getting the fish food out of the machine, bring quarters and understand no potty!
10. Crow Farm
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 24 reviews
Reviewed By jbunnyBoston - Barnstable, Massachusetts
We have been buying produce, plants, pumpkins and Christmas wreaths from Crow Farm for over 20 years. All have been outstanding and the service is superb. The one thing that has not been good recently is the pies. The past two that we bought were simply bad so I would stay away from the pies but buy everything else!
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