A Tree House is the ultimate summer hideout that every kid dreams about! From your fortress in the sky, you can be a pirate, a superhero, or even a fairy-tale princess. The thrill of climbing up and peeking through the leaves makes everything feel like an adventure. The Hidden Hollow Tree House at the Heritage Museum and Gardens is set way up high in the middle of a 2 acre nature-inspired and sensory-friendly playground. It’s an ideal place to spend a few hours either before or after hitting the beach!
Sandwich is the first town after you cross the Sagamore Bridge onto Cape Cod. It’s a great day trip from the Boston area, and it’s on the way to any place else you’re heading to on the Cape.
A Busy Day in Sandwich
Explore the Heritage Museum and Gardens
Just five miles from the Sagamore Bridge, the Heritage Museum and Gardens has something for everyone in the family. You can ride an antique carousel, check out a windmill or visit a car museum on your way to the Hidden Hollow Tree House!
Did you know that hydrangeas change color based on the PH of the soil? Acidic soil gives the gorgeous blue blooms that are abundant on Cape Cod. Alkaline soil will turn them pink. Heritage Gardens grows eight different species of hydrangeas here in Sandwich!
Adventure Park Zip Line is also located here, perfect outdoor OT for kids who could use some extra vestibular stimulation or proprioceptive input!
Beer at the Beach: Tree House Brewing Company
Tree House Brewing Company is one of the most highly rated craft breweries in the US. The company is known for both outstanding beer and for its family-friendly venues.
Tree House Cape Cod is located right on Town Neck Beach in Sandwich. Sunset views here are spectacular! The regular menu includes soft drinks, pizza, lobster rolls, a full selection of beer, and is supplemented by local food trucks on busy summer days.
Public parking for Town Neck Beach is very limited. If you plan to use the beach on a weekend, try to arrive by 10 AM to make sure you get a spot. Once peak beach hours are over, parking opens back up.
Sensory: Town Neck Beach, like all bayside beaches, has a lot of shells and rocks left by tides in the shallow water. Bring water shoes for maximum comfort.
Calling All Ship Captains to the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center
The Visitor Center at the Cape Cod Canal is a great spot for kids who are interested in boats, machinery, gadgets and construction projects. It’s run by the Army Corps of Engineers who built and maintain the canal. There are interactive exhibits for visitors of all ages, and it’s free!
While you’re here, you can:
Board a retired 40-foot US Army Corps of Engineers patrol boat
Scan live radar and camera images to locate vessels in the waterway
Captain a virtual tugboat through the canal
Investigate what’s inside the ships transiting the canal
Discover wildlife that live in or around the canal
View a film about the history and operations of the canal
If you’re really lucky, watch some big tankers or cargo boats pass by in the canal!
While You’re in Town
Sandwich is the oldest town on Cape Cod, full of historic charm. If you’re staying on the Upper Cape, or you have a little more time in your day, you might want to:
Catch a glassblowing demonstration at The Sandwich Glass Museum.
Tour the Wing Fort House, built in 1641, the oldest house on Cape Cod
Buy some freshly ground Cape Cod cornmeal at the Dexter Grist Mill
Play a round or two at Sandwich Mini Golf
It’s a Wrap - Sandwich Jokes for the Ride Home
Bridge traffic can be tough getting off the Cape. If you’re stuck in a long line of cars somewhere in Sandwich, you may as well get some fun out of it!
Why doesn’t anyone starve in the desert? Because of all the Sandwich-is there!
Why didn’t the sandwich stay up late? It was past his Bread Time.
What did the sandwich say at the birthday party? Lettuce Celebrate!
Why didn’t the potato chips believe anything the sandwich said? Because the sandwich was full of baloney.
Where do astronauts keep their sandwiches? In their launch box.
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