My mom wants to rent a cottage in Sandwich for a few weeks this summer and asked if I could find out what it's really like - not just what the town's website says about it!

Has anyone rented a cottage instead of going for hotels and B+Bs? Would you recommend it? How are the restaurants? What is there to do? Is it over-commercialized, or does it still have charm? If you didn't like Sandwich, what town on the Cape would be better?

Okay, that was a lot of questions - any help would be much appreciated!
Thanks,
-Sarah

I am not sure why you want to rent in Sandwich .. ? I think it is okay .. not where I would rent .. I think Dennis is much better .. first of all the beaches are wonderful ... and are on both sides of the Cape .. there are two golf courses .. shopping on Rt 6A is delightful .. from antiques to lots of lovely little shops ... restaurants are wonderful from coffee and warm scones at Buckies Biscotti .. to wonderful fried foods at Captain Frosty to the upscale Red Pheasant ... there is also the Dennis Playhouse with lovely summer theatre .. to the village green .. and several wonderful little libraries ... there is Scargo Lake and the Bass River ... passes available at the town hall ... and if you are interested you can call any real estate agent in the area .. the one that comes to mind and I know they are very good to deal with is Steele Realty Associates on Route 134 in East Dennis ... the closer you are to a beach .. the more you will have to pay .. but they can advise .. but I will be honest and say I probably would not rent in Sandwich ..

Sandwich is one of fifteen towns on Cape Cod, each of which offers unique options of beaches, attractions, dining, recreation and accomodations.

Sandwich has many museums, historical sites and old churches and buildings than most other towns but a lot less attractions for kids and young adults.

It has two beaches both on Cape Cod Bay, with Sandy Neck being the more popular.

Some popular Sandwich restaurants are: Tavern at Dan'l Webster Inn, Aqua Grille, Amaris, Horizons and British Beer Compasny.

Summary for Sandwich:
Beaches: Limited, Average
Restaurants: Limited, Average
To Do: Museums & Historic sites
Nightlife: Very little
kids attractions: Very Little

Sandwich is very quiet - which can be a good thing in summer - but would not be my first choice. Personally I would avoid the area of Dennis and Dennisport unless I had very small kids who had to be entertained. It is very congested with traffic and people in the summer - but yes the beaches there are nice and lots of things to do. My personal favorite area of the Cape is either Wellfleet or Eastham. Wellfleet has several lakes and ponds plus bay side beaches and seashore side beaches. Beautiful! This area is a longer drive initially but it is far less crowded. It all depends on what you want to do. If you love shopping, hustle and bustle - stay near Hyannis or in Dennis. If you like a less quiet atmosphere try Wellfleet. The Cape Cod National seashore in that area also has many many choices of nature oriented things to do. Sandwich is very small and you will probably get bored there quickly.

I happen to like Sandwich a lot. And I disagree with Gene - I think there are lots of things to do there with kids. Heritage Plantation, the beach, the bike trail along the canal. Seems like we were always driving from Cummaquid to Sandwich to entertain the kids when my parents lived on the Cape. Seafood Sams, convenient grocery shopping.

The 6A side of Dennis .. and East Dennis .. is not .. at all .. congested .. it is charming and quaint ... and not at all like Dennisport or Route 28 .. but in general .. I would say you can have it all in Dennis .. whichever you prefer .. but please know East Dennis along 6A is anything but congested .. ! !

To Bennie: Well, I only meant that Sandwich did not have a lot of children's activities compared to some of the towns along route 28 in the Mid-Cape area.

But I was wrong to mention this anyway because SarahNM, is not interested in kid activities but what Sandwich had to offer for her and her mother.

I have visited Sandwich three times in the last several years and I've loved it each time. I love the glass museum and the nearby tearoom. I also like walking down the bike path next to the canal. I think it is a lovely area and not overcommercialized. But I've not stayed there.

The only downside of it, in my view, is that it is on the far end of the Cape right after you get off the bridge. So if you're hoping to go on trips to other places, you're going from one end of "the foot" to the other. Choosing a more central location might be wise if you're hoping to see more of the Cape itself.

Okay, here goes...

I grew up in Sandwich and most of my family still lives there. It is a lovely town, especially if you stay in the village area. Whether it's the best choice for you compared to other towns on the Cape depends upon what you're looking for.

Sandwich is definitely more on the quiet side. I spend a few weeks in Dennis (along 6A) each summer, and although not as bad as Rt. 28, it's still more congested than Sandwich.

Sandwich is one of the least commercialized towns on the Cape. Heck, we just got our first movie theater a few years back. And there still isn't a fast food restaurant in sight. It has a lot of charm. The Village holds many attractions. The Sandwich Glass Museum, the duck pond and Griss Mill, Heritage Plantation (beautiful grounds, famous for their rhododendrums, antique cars, old-fashioned carousel), several antique and gift shops, the historic Daniel Webster Inn (nice place for breakfast), and some very picturesque churches and settings are all within blocks of each other. The Tea Room, across from the Shawmee Pond (the duck pond) is a favorite spot with both locals and tourists for lunch. The Belfry Inn on Jarves Street is a beautiful Inn and Restaurant. The owner converted an old Catholic Church and rectory. The restaurant is in the former church building and the guest rooms are split between the two buildings. The restaurant is quite good.

Also in the village area is the Marina. You can sit at picnic tables and watch the boats pass through the canal or you can walk for miles down the Service Road along the canal, only pedestrians and bicycles allowed. Many people love Seafood Sams, where you can sit on the deck, eating fried seafood and watching the boats. It's not my personal favorite, but it is a reasonably priced counter service spot. Better yet, visit Joe's Fish Market next door, buy a lobster and have them cook it for you for $1 extra. Then enjoy it sitting at one of the picnic tables. The Aqua Grille is also in the Marina, more upscale but still casual. The food has gotten quite good.

Other good spots to eat: Marshland for breakfast. Expect to wait on the weekends, or stop in at the attached bakery for yummy muffins or egg sandwiches to go. Bayberry's in South Sandwich is also good for breakfast. Or drive back over the bridge to Sagamore Beach, where the Blueberry Muffins restaurant serves the best blueberry pancakes, muffins, even blueberry donuts. Yum! Amari's is a popular dinner spot in East Sandwich, across from the road to Sandy Neck Beach. Good Italian. The Bee Hive Tavern on 6A is ok, British Beer Company on 6A is a good spot for a burger or fish and chips, as is Bobby Byrnes Pub in the Merchant Square Plaza.

If you like to shop, you could easily spend some of your days driving along 6A from Sandwich down into Barnstable and even Yarmouth, stopping along the way at dozens upon dozens of antique stores and unique shops. There are also many nice restaurants along the way. One of my favorite Cape restaurants is Abbicci's in Yarmouth, just across the line from Barstable. Upscale Mediterranean, very good.

Beach wise, Sandwich cannot claim any top prizes. Although, again it depends on what you're looking for. The water is colder than many other towns because the beaches are on the North side of the Cape and they're near the Canal entrance. The canal also makes the beaches rockier. But they can be much less crowded than the Cape's warmer water beaches. And they are pretty. If you stay in a cottage along a private beach, they can feel downright deserted compared to other spots. If you're looking for a beach where you can sit in the sand, go in the water to cool off, and do some walking, they're just fine. You're just not going to get one of those beaches where the sandbars go for miles at low tide (which is why I spend two weeks in Dennis at a place right on the water each summer, because that is the ideal kind of beach for my small children!).

Town Neck Beach (near the Marina) is pretty rocky, but make sure to visit and see the Boardwalk, often pictured in Sandwich postcards and artwork. The Boardwalk crosses from one side of the marsh (which is down the street from where I grew up!) over to the the beach side of the marsh. Several years ago, a storm tore down the boardwalk, which has been around since before my grandparents time, and the town paid to replace it by 'selling' boards. As you walk along the boardwalk, each board has a name or message on it, and it can be fun to read. There's also a restaurant at Town Beach, Horizons, which is only average, but is a great spot for sitting on the upstairs deck having a frozen drink!

Sandy Neck beach is better. As long as the Plovers (small, endangered birds) aren't hatching, 4wheelers can drive along the beach. Across the Sagarmore Bridge, Scusset Beach is actually the nicest of the three. Many people are unaware that there is a road along the beach on the off-Cape side of the canal that is actually part of Sandwich. This is part of the private part of Scusset. My best friends partents own a cottage on the road. It's quite a nice, peaceful spot.

Basically, Sandwich is a quaint, pretty town that is much less busy than many of the traffic-jammed, over commercialized towns of the Mid-Cape. Other towns that are nice include Chatham and Welfleet. But they're a lot farther down the Cape (40 minutes without crazy summer traffic, ), so it depends on where you want to be. One plus to Sandwich is that you can get there from Boston in an hour on a weekday. Friday nights and Saturdays are a different story (unless you know the back roads to avoid the backup at the Bridge!)

So if she wants some measure of peace and quiet, a quaint village area, a little historic charm, Sandwich could be perfect for her. Check any local realtor for cottages. It's the way to go if she'll be there for a few weeks, and I believe they're a little less expensive in Sandwich than they are on other parts of the Cape. But if she's looking for a little more excitement and activity she may be better off farther down the Cape.

Personally, I spend the majority of my summers there (my kids love it and both sets of grandparents are there). We find plenty to do in the summer, but the winters can get pretty dull. One of the reasons we now live 45 minutes off-Cape! Close enough to visit whenever we want!

I spend lots of time on the Cape .. My adivce remains the same ... East Dennis ... beaches .. restaurants ... golf .. shops .. scenery ... centrally located to explore all parts of the Cape .. My vote continues .. East Dennis .. 6A ... has it all .. ! !

I agree totally with ELW25. I, too grew up in Sandwich and that is perfect explanation of it! Hey, where is the movie theater? I was visiting recently and didn't see it! I can't even believe it was allowed to go through! I love Sandwich now, but it was a very boring place to be a teenager!

I've never eaten there.

Hi peteandjenn! The movie theater is out on Rt. 130, just past Canterbury Plaza. Heritage Theaters. I think it's like 5 screens. It kills me that they couldn't have put it in when I was a teenager! Having to drive to Hyannis to go to the movies, or to McDonalds!

I also hated how boring Sandwich was growing up there. The older I got, the more I appreciated it. I still couldn't live there year round though. Visiting, which we do frequently, is perfect!

So, tell me, did you graduate from Sandwich HS? What year?