An old town for all ages

A Tank Away: Sandwich

Camp, walk, see its history, ride a carousel

July 13, 2011|By Ellen Albanese, Globe Correspondent

At the Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center, there also is a US Army Corps of Engineers… (ELLEN ALBANESE FOR THE BOSTON…)

This seaside town, the oldest on Cape Cod, has something for everyone: beaches for swimmers, marshes for kayakers, gardens for walkers, museums and galleries for browsers, and restaurants for every type of diner. It’s a great family destination, with activities for children from tots to teens, including rainy-day escapes.

STAY

Sandwich is known for its upscale inns and bed-and-breakfasts; two of the most luxurious are Dan’l Webster Inn & Spa (149 Main St., 508-888-3622, www.danlwebsterinn.com, $139-$379) and Belfry Inne & Bistro (8 Jarves St., 508-888-8550, www.belfryinn.com, $145-$295). But there are plenty of family accommodations. Rooms at the Earl of Sandwich Motel (378 Route 6A, 508-888-1415, www.earlofsandwich.com, $95-$139) have either one queen or two double beds, air conditioning, and refrigerators. There’s a pool and a duck pond, and resident chickens thoughtfully provide eggs for breakfast. Set in a shady woods, Pine Grove Cottages (358 Route 6A, 508-888-8179, www.pinegrovecottages.com, daily $50-$135, weekly $310-$775) are fully equipped for housekeeping and sleep up to four. Shawme-Crowell State Forest (42 Main St., 508-888-0351, reservations: 877-422-6762, www.reserveamerica.com, $12-$40) offers tent sites, RV sites, and yurts (soft-sided round structures somewhere between a tent and a cabin). All 285 sites have picnic tables and fire pits.

DINE

You expect great seafood, but you can also find gourmet sandwiches and salads, killer baked goods, and even afternoon tea here. Local favorite Marshland Restaurant (100 Route 6A, 508-888-9824, and 315 Cotuit Road, 508-888-9747, www.marshlandrestaurant.com, breakfast $4.29-$10, lunch $4-$12, dinner $9-$18) is known as much for its bakery as its budget-priced meals. Creative sandwiches and salads are the hallmark of Cafe Chew (4 Merchants Road, 508-888-7717, www.cafechew.com, breakfast $4-$8, lunch $7-$10). We enjoyed a huge salad of spring greens, strawberries, candied walnuts, and goat cheese at a pleasant outdoor seating area surrounded by gardens. Have a “yeoman’s lunch’’ or afternoon tea at the Dunbar Tea Room (1 Water St., 508-833-2485, www.dunbartea.com, $8-$13). The display of homemade cakes and pastries is positively seductive. For a taste of the sea, check out Captain Scott’s Seafood Restaurant (71 Tupper Road, 508-888-1675, www.captainscotts.com, $5-$22, children’s menu $4-$9.45), which covers the basics, then surprises with creative entrees such as salmon over sautéed spinach and eggplant. When we visited, several families were dining outdoors on the flower-filled patio.

DURING THE DAY

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