How to build a perfect visit to Sandwich
First things first — a cup of Joe and a good book
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Are you
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to losing it after a long drive? Treat yourself to a stop at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters (
Please don't tell us you're bringing an e-reader or other device to the beach. Nooo! The beach is the place for real newspapers, magazines, and actual books, things that won't be destroyed by gritty sand and sunlight. Find a killer selection of new and used tomes at Titcomb's Book Shop (
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It's worth bringing your bike to take a ride along the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. There are benches along the way, people fishing, and views of boats plying the canal.
Diane Bair
Best reason to bring your bike: Cape Cod Canal Bikeway
You drove over this sparkling blueway as you crossed the Sagamore Bridge; now get to know it on two wheels. The bike path is actually a service road for the US Army Corps of Engineers, but locals know it as a recreation hot spot for cycling, walking, and fishing (stripers, bluefish, and sea bass.) Flat, wide, and paved, the bikeway runs on both sides of the canal, with seven miles on the north side and 6.5 miles on the south. The bikeway connects several recreation areas along the Cape Cod Canal, including
Most colorful place in town: Sandwich Glass Museum
Glass was manufactured in Sandwich two centuries ago by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company; Sandwich glass is now highly prized and collectible. The Sandwich Glass Museum pays homage with a gorgeous collection of blown and pressed glass pieces. Exhibit rooms take you through the history of glassmaking, with beautiful displays and some unique items like witch's balls, used to protect homes from evil spirits since the 1800s. It offers glassblowing demonstrations daily, on the hour, and sells art glass made by local and national artists in its gift shop. $14;
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Best place for garden inspo: Heritage Museums and Gardens
Hostas, heather, herbs, rhododendrons, and daylilies galore — those are just some of the reasons to wander through these landscaped garden paths overlooking Shawme Pond. The property also features a Shaker Round Barn filled with antique cars, an art museum showcasing New England folk art, and a classic, working carousel. It's a nostalgic vibe that will tune you into the slower side of the Cape. $25;
Charlotte Cucchiaro of Brooklyn, N.Y., explores the newly-reconstructed Sandwich Boardwalk.
Diane Bair
Best short-and-sweet walk: Sandwich Boardwalk
Newly reconstructed after a brutal winter storm in 2022, the ¼-mile-long Sandwich Boardwalk off Wood Avenue offers a scenic walk across marshland, over Mill Creek and on to Town Neck Beach. The new bridge, like the old one, is a favorite spot for fishing, kids clamming, and just hanging out. Now, it has pressurized wood, metal pilings, and sits four feet higher than the old version. It's wider, with accessible ramps (Town Neck Beach is not yet fully accessible). Free, but you'll pay for parking;
Tourists are welcome at Cafe Chew in Sandwich. If you love a hefty sandwich and some Cape Cod chips, this is your place.
Diane Bair
Best place for a sandwich in Sandwich: Café Chew
Looking for a quick, hearty bite to bring to the Cape Cod Bikeway, or just can't resist a chunky sandwich on good bread? This little place in Merchant's Square offers indoor and outdoor dining and a nice array of sandwiches, breakfast items, pastries, and salads. The owners are new-ish, (2023) but the menu is the same, so you can still order, say, The Pilgrim ($14.25), a delicious stack of roasted turkey, sage stuffing, cranberry mayo and lettuce on cranberry-pecan bread, served with Cape Cod Potato Chips (of course) and a pickle. The blackboard specials are worthy, too.
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Best place for seafood-with-view: Fishermen's View
For boat-to-table dining for lunch and dinner, this is a dandy choice. Owned by two commercial fishermen (who are also brothers), this upscale casual spot offers a sleek waterfront setting (with views from nearly every table) and an expansive menu of fresh oysters, crab baskets, sushi, steamed lobster, or whatever just came off the boat. Live music in season adds a festive touch. Entrees from $34;
Twin Acres ice cream.
Diane Bair
Best place for ice cream: Twin Acres
Ice cream shops on the Cape are like Dunks in the city; there's always one nearby. Our favorite in Sandwich is Twin Acres, serving 70-some flavors of hard ice cream, soft-serve, vegan ice cream, sundaes, and sausage rolls, in a pretty landscaped setting. How do you know this place is excellent? People line up for cold treats when it opens in mid-March, regardless of weather. Flavor to try: Campfire S'mores, a perfect blend of toasted marshmallow ice cream, sandy graham cracker swirls, and chocolate chunks.
Best place for that classic B&B experience: Isaiah Jones Homestead B&B
So, you're thinking you might want to stay awhile? Yay, you. Many Cape visitors are looking for an inn or B&B since it fits with the Olde Cape Cod motif. One that fits that description, located right in the village: A c.1848 Italianate Victorian, the Isaiah Jones Homestead. Originally built for a doctor and his family, the house offers six tastefully-appointed guest rooms. Three queen bed rooms and one king room are located in the main house, with two king-room suites in an adjacent carriage house. New owners Robert and AnaLisa Luippold live onsite, and have overseen major renovations to the property, so it's not just old, but old
and
comfortable. They offer a hot breakfast, including house-baked pastries (or purchased at Beth's Café nearby) and a daily port and sherry reception. Rates from $279; two-night minimum may apply;
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For more information:
Sandwich Antiques Center offers 5,000 square feet of browsing, with everything from Fiesta to old farm implements.
Diane Bair
Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
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Boston Globe
23-05-2025
- Boston Globe
How to build a perfect visit to Sandwich
First things first — a cup of Joe and a good book Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Are you thisclose to losing it after a long drive? Treat yourself to a stop at Snowy Owl Coffee Roasters ( Please don't tell us you're bringing an e-reader or other device to the beach. Nooo! The beach is the place for real newspapers, magazines, and actual books, things that won't be destroyed by gritty sand and sunlight. Find a killer selection of new and used tomes at Titcomb's Book Shop ( Advertisement It's worth bringing your bike to take a ride along the Cape Cod Canal Bikeway. There are benches along the way, people fishing, and views of boats plying the canal. Diane Bair Best reason to bring your bike: Cape Cod Canal Bikeway You drove over this sparkling blueway as you crossed the Sagamore Bridge; now get to know it on two wheels. The bike path is actually a service road for the US Army Corps of Engineers, but locals know it as a recreation hot spot for cycling, walking, and fishing (stripers, bluefish, and sea bass.) Flat, wide, and paved, the bikeway runs on both sides of the canal, with seven miles on the north side and 6.5 miles on the south. The bikeway connects several recreation areas along the Cape Cod Canal, including Most colorful place in town: Sandwich Glass Museum Glass was manufactured in Sandwich two centuries ago by the Boston & Sandwich Glass Company; Sandwich glass is now highly prized and collectible. The Sandwich Glass Museum pays homage with a gorgeous collection of blown and pressed glass pieces. Exhibit rooms take you through the history of glassmaking, with beautiful displays and some unique items like witch's balls, used to protect homes from evil spirits since the 1800s. It offers glassblowing demonstrations daily, on the hour, and sells art glass made by local and national artists in its gift shop. $14; Advertisement Best place for garden inspo: Heritage Museums and Gardens Hostas, heather, herbs, rhododendrons, and daylilies galore — those are just some of the reasons to wander through these landscaped garden paths overlooking Shawme Pond. The property also features a Shaker Round Barn filled with antique cars, an art museum showcasing New England folk art, and a classic, working carousel. It's a nostalgic vibe that will tune you into the slower side of the Cape. $25; Charlotte Cucchiaro of Brooklyn, N.Y., explores the newly-reconstructed Sandwich Boardwalk. Diane Bair Best short-and-sweet walk: Sandwich Boardwalk Newly reconstructed after a brutal winter storm in 2022, the ¼-mile-long Sandwich Boardwalk off Wood Avenue offers a scenic walk across marshland, over Mill Creek and on to Town Neck Beach. The new bridge, like the old one, is a favorite spot for fishing, kids clamming, and just hanging out. Now, it has pressurized wood, metal pilings, and sits four feet higher than the old version. It's wider, with accessible ramps (Town Neck Beach is not yet fully accessible). Free, but you'll pay for parking; Tourists are welcome at Cafe Chew in Sandwich. If you love a hefty sandwich and some Cape Cod chips, this is your place. Diane Bair Best place for a sandwich in Sandwich: Café Chew Looking for a quick, hearty bite to bring to the Cape Cod Bikeway, or just can't resist a chunky sandwich on good bread? This little place in Merchant's Square offers indoor and outdoor dining and a nice array of sandwiches, breakfast items, pastries, and salads. The owners are new-ish, (2023) but the menu is the same, so you can still order, say, The Pilgrim ($14.25), a delicious stack of roasted turkey, sage stuffing, cranberry mayo and lettuce on cranberry-pecan bread, served with Cape Cod Potato Chips (of course) and a pickle. The blackboard specials are worthy, too. Advertisement Best place for seafood-with-view: Fishermen's View For boat-to-table dining for lunch and dinner, this is a dandy choice. Owned by two commercial fishermen (who are also brothers), this upscale casual spot offers a sleek waterfront setting (with views from nearly every table) and an expansive menu of fresh oysters, crab baskets, sushi, steamed lobster, or whatever just came off the boat. Live music in season adds a festive touch. Entrees from $34; Twin Acres ice cream. Diane Bair Best place for ice cream: Twin Acres Ice cream shops on the Cape are like Dunks in the city; there's always one nearby. Our favorite in Sandwich is Twin Acres, serving 70-some flavors of hard ice cream, soft-serve, vegan ice cream, sundaes, and sausage rolls, in a pretty landscaped setting. How do you know this place is excellent? People line up for cold treats when it opens in mid-March, regardless of weather. Flavor to try: Campfire S'mores, a perfect blend of toasted marshmallow ice cream, sandy graham cracker swirls, and chocolate chunks. Best place for that classic B&B experience: Isaiah Jones Homestead B&B So, you're thinking you might want to stay awhile? Yay, you. Many Cape visitors are looking for an inn or B&B since it fits with the Olde Cape Cod motif. One that fits that description, located right in the village: A c.1848 Italianate Victorian, the Isaiah Jones Homestead. Originally built for a doctor and his family, the house offers six tastefully-appointed guest rooms. Three queen bed rooms and one king room are located in the main house, with two king-room suites in an adjacent carriage house. New owners Robert and AnaLisa Luippold live onsite, and have overseen major renovations to the property, so it's not just old, but old and comfortable. They offer a hot breakfast, including house-baked pastries (or purchased at Beth's Café nearby) and a daily port and sherry reception. Rates from $279; two-night minimum may apply; Advertisement For more information: Sandwich Antiques Center offers 5,000 square feet of browsing, with everything from Fiesta to old farm implements. Diane Bair Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
25-04-2025
- Boston Globe
Fort Lauderdale is easygoing and easy to get to. Let's hear it for Miami's little sister.
On a recent visit, inspired by cheap airfare, we found that price tags were lower than those of Miami, from drinks to transportation. While you can find excellent restaurants (Fort Lauderdale was recently added to Michelin coverage), posh hotels, and lively nightlife, it's a more low-key feel. 'Even the luxury side feels more casual here,' says Ebony Tyre, PR manager for Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up With tips from Tyre and others, we set out to discover what makes Fort Lauderdale … Fort Lauderdale. Here are some highlights. Advertisement Greater Fort Lauderdale has 24 miles of golden sand along its shoreline. Diane Bair Where the action is, and isn't We visited at the end of spring break season, and by night, Las Olas Boulevard — the city's hot zone for dining and nightlife — was hopping. It wasn't the beer-pong-in-the-street scene you'll find at some breaker destinations, but the streets were full of college-age revelers, shades of 'Where the Boys Are,' the 1960 movie that put Fort Lauderdale on the map with this demographic. The city doesn't encourage this — 'We're more about families on school break,' says Tyre — but that's the reality. By day, while the students are sleeping, Las Olas is more sedate. We had a great lunch at Casa Sensei ( We boarded an elevator filled with young women in slip dresses, platform heels, and lots of competing perfume on a Wednesday night at the W Fort Lauderdale ( With its upscale, modern feel, the beachfront W resort offers luxurious digs and nice amenities, including Advertisement Need a cool respite from the beach? Rent a kayak at Birch State Park and enjoy a short but sweet paddle. Look for birds, turtles, and lizards as you go. Diane Bair A quick bike ride (the hotel has bikes) or 20-minute walk away along the beach reveals something entirely different: Hugh Taylor Birch State Park ( Costumed Polynesian dancers keep things lively at Mai-Kai, a classic Fort Lauderdale experience that goes way beyond the typical tiki bar. Diane Bair Quintessentially Fort Lauderdale Unabashedly touristy and fun, the Mai-Kai draws folks from far and wide, Tyre told us. Not your typical tiki bar, Mai-Kai Restaurant & Polynesian Show ( Fort Lauderdale is called 'the Venice of America' and the 'yachting capital of the world' for good reason: It boasts 300-plus miles of inland waterways, including the Intracoastal Waterway and the New River. Get a peek at mansions and mega-yachts on a narrated water taxi tour ( Advertisement By land, the city is served by Circuit, offering on-demand rides on all-electric vehicles for free (or cheaply) via the Circuit app. We didn't have great luck with this service, but maybe that was due to spring break. In any event, we didn't rent a car but had no trouble using rideshares to get around. A ride on the water taxi reveals why Fort Lauderdale is known as "the yachting capital of the world" — big, shiny boats that rival those in Nantucket Harbor. Diane Bair Ye Olde Florida lives here It's always fun to stumble upon something unexpected when you travel. In the Riverfront neighborhood, we discovered a pocket of Olde Florida, a complex of historic buildings operated by History Fort Lauderdale ( We returned to the historic neighborhood later that night, for dinner at the House on the River ( Advertisement Las Olas Boulevard is a lively zone for dining and entertainment. Award-winning Casa Sensei offers delicious food (like this Asian ginger salad with shrimp) and canal views. Diane Bair Within the stretch of sleek, modern hotels along Fort Lauderdale Beach, another 'olde' bit of the city exists. The Casablanca Café ( Confession: We never made it to Bonnet House. On our way, walking along the ocean, we succumbed to the allure of the beach and plopped down on a seawall to enjoy the sun-drenched scene. Because, no matter where you go, it's the beach that makes Florida … Florida. For information, visit Diane Bair and Pamela Wright can be reached at
Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Boston Globe
From bargain flights to hotel hacks, here's how to stretch your vacation dollar
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Credit Card Points: 'Earn 'Em and Burn 'Em'' Cristina SpanÒ For The Boston Globe If you're just starting to explore using points for travel, opt for a travel card with transferable rewards over single-airline frequent flier miles, says Henderson of The Points Guy. Unlike frequent flier miles, points will often transfer to dozens of different airlines, as well as to hotel and car rental brands. The best time to use points is when you aren't locked into a certain time frame, because you can search for dates when they will fetch the most, or when cash prices are highest, he says — that's when your points have their highest value. For the most desirable seats, such as business class international, your best bet is to book either a year in advance, when the seats first open, or last minute. 'Don't get too fixated on getting the max amount of your points to the point you are paralyzed from using them,' Henderson says. 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Advertisement Mexico The island of Cozumel is a nature-lover's alternative to the busier and pricier Playa del Carmen and Cancún, with abundant opportunities for scuba diving and snorkeling in the Mesoamerican Reef, as well as for viewing submerged sculptures at Chankanaab adventure park. Strategies for Getting the Most Out of Your Hotel 1. Book refundable hotel rooms This way, if prices do drop, you can rebook at the lower rate. 2. Book the night prior Securing early check-in can be extremely difficult, so if you're arriving at your destination early — say, on an overnight flight — it can be worth booking the previous night at your hotel. It'll cost you more, says AAA Northeast's Wendy Marley, but will pay off in how much better you'll feel having a shower and a nap before getting a fresh start on your day, instead of having to wait around to check in at 3. Or bide your time with 3. Look for last-minute deals For the spontaneous, 4. Upgrade to 'concierge-level' Many hotels and cruises offer rooms that include a higher level of customer service. You'll pay a little more, but the return can often be money-saving, Marley says. 'Generally, there's an included breakfast, cocktail hour, and evening hors d'oeuvres, which can be quite substantial,' she says. 'It's a value add that many travelers don't know to ask about.' 5. Use a travel agent An experienced travel agent can often negotiate better deals and score perks such as free breakfasts, late checkout, spa credits, and more. Advertisement 6. Ask for a later checkout Will it transform your vacation? No. Will an extra hour to linger over breakfast help you leave on a high note? Absolutely. Try asking (nicely!) at check in, or a day or two before you leave. The worst they can do is say no. 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Reverse-engineering your trip 'Backward planning' — booking based on the cheapest flights — can backfire. 'You should first have a very clear idea of what you want to do, and how much time you'll need to do it, before you spring for that 'budget' airfare,' Marley says. Otherwise, you could end up sacrificing fun for the sake of the air itinerary. 3. Not checking layover times Just because you can book flights with a fast connection between them doesn't mean it's a good idea. 'Check your transfer times,' says Gail Rosenberg, the travel consultant. 'For example,' she says, 'flying into Terminal 3 at Heathrow and out of Terminal 5 — I avoid that one at all costs.' 4. Forgetting about visa requirements Nonresident travelers need a special permit to enter some countries, even if they're just passing through the airport. 5. Skipping travel insurance Insurance protects against unexpected scenarios such as health emergencies. Marley says third-party agencies such as Allianz offer more comprehensive options than the insurance offered by airlines. And, some credit cards offer insurance as part of member perks, as well as coverage for lost baggage and car rental insurance. Send comments to magazine@
