Guidebook for Dennis, MA
Dennis, MA Beach Information
There are a total of 20 Dennis beaches, most of which are open to non-residents. Saltwater beaches are located on the Cape Cod Bay, facing north, and the Nantucket Sound, facing south. There are also 2 freshwater beaches on Scargo Lake, if you need a break from the salt of the ocean.
We are located 1 mile from West Dennis beach, located on the Nantucket sound. There is a link to the Dennis beach map on the Dennis MA website.
Beach stickers and parking. Each town on Cape Cod charges a fee for parking at their beaches. As of May 2023, the town of Dennis charges $30 per vehicle to park per day, and $90 per week. If purchased at the beach for the day, it is cash only, but you can then visit any Dennis beaches open to non-residents (most). Week-long passes are available for purchase in person at the Dennis town hall during business hours (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat & Sun 10am-2pm), or in advance from the town on-line at this link dennisstickers dot townhall247 dot com. You will need to provide your vehicle registration and driver’s license in order to do so. There is no beach entrance fee per person.
There are beach chairs, toys, umbrellas, blankets, coolers, boogie boards, etc. at the house. You are welcome to them, of course!
Regarding sand in the house, although we don’t yet have a working outdoor shower, we do have a working water hose in the back courtyard as well as a masonry brush for those who prefer to keep their feet dry.
Mayflower Beach
Horsefoot PathWest Dennis Beach
Princess Beach
194 Scargo Hill RdFood Scene
The best place for real bread (in Hyannis near the airport). They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. https://www.paindavignon.com/
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Pain D'Avignon Restaurant Boulangerie
15 Hinckley RdThe best place for real bread (in Hyannis near the airport). They also serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. https://www.paindavignon.com/
Breakfast place within walking distance from us http://www.goodfriendscafe.com/
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Good Friends Cafe
83 School StBreakfast place within walking distance from us http://www.goodfriendscafe.com/
Casual quality lunch with enormous portions. http://www.redcottagerestaurant.com/
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Red Cottage Restaurant
36 Old Bass River RdCasual quality lunch with enormous portions. http://www.redcottagerestaurant.com/
This is the quintessential Cape Cod outdoor picnic table lobster shack experience with extremely high quality food. A great, but quite windy on some days, seafood place only open during the season: https://sesuit-harbor-cafe.com.
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Sesuit Harbor Cafe
357 Sesuit Neck RdThis is the quintessential Cape Cod outdoor picnic table lobster shack experience with extremely high quality food. A great, but quite windy on some days, seafood place only open during the season: https://sesuit-harbor-cafe.com.
If you want fried clams and other fried seafood near Mayflower Beach, go here.
http://www.captainfrosty.com/
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Captain Frosty's
219 Main StIf you want fried clams and other fried seafood near Mayflower Beach, go here.
http://www.captainfrosty.com/
Upscale seafood restaurant worth leaving the kids at home with a movie for. https://fincapecod.com
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FIN Cape Cod
800 Main StUpscale seafood restaurant worth leaving the kids at home with a movie for. https://fincapecod.com
Superb micro-brewery. You should absolutely visit if you like craft beers. Be advised that this is not a bar, but during the season there is outdoor seating with food trucks, it closes pretty early, and children are NOT allowed in. https://www.devilspurse.com/home
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Devil's Purse Brewing Company
120 Great Western RdSuperb micro-brewery. You should absolutely visit if you like craft beers. Be advised that this is not a bar, but during the season there is outdoor seating with food trucks, it closes pretty early, and children are NOT allowed in. https://www.devilspurse.com/home
Absolutely delicious Brazilian rodizio in Hyannis with an extensive salad bar that includes sushi and hot food as well. Something for everybody. Go hungry. http://braziliangrill-capecod.com/
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Brazilian Grill
680 Main StAbsolutely delicious Brazilian rodizio in Hyannis with an extensive salad bar that includes sushi and hot food as well. Something for everybody. Go hungry. http://braziliangrill-capecod.com/
Coffee shop within walking distance of the house. Great atmosphere with reliable WiFi.
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Three Fins Coffee Roasters
581 Main StCoffee shop within walking distance of the house. Great atmosphere with reliable WiFi.
In Harwichport on route 28. Hopping scene, nice views, outdoor seating , and a reliably excellent lobster roll.
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Brax Landing Restaurant
705 MA-28In Harwichport on route 28. Hopping scene, nice views, outdoor seating , and a reliably excellent lobster roll.
Live music every night year round, and a 5-minute walk from the house.
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O'Shea's Olde Inne
348 Main StLive music every night year round, and a 5-minute walk from the house.
Grumpy's
1408 Main StReliably good food, portions huge.
A nice dose of sophistication when you need a little something more than fried clams and a beer. https://www.harvestgallerywinebar.com
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Harvest Gallery Wine Bar
776 Main StreetA nice dose of sophistication when you need a little something more than fried clams and a beer. https://www.harvestgallerywinebar.com
Excellent authentic classic Irish breakfast year round, great service, and the wait just keeps getting longer...
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Keltic Kitchen
415 MA-28Excellent authentic classic Irish breakfast year round, great service, and the wait just keeps getting longer...
Farm to fork, specializing in local oysters. Pricy, but special. They also have oyster and wine tastings, oyster shucking classes, and more
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The Pheasant
905 Main StFarm to fork, specializing in local oysters. Pricy, but special. They also have oyster and wine tastings, oyster shucking classes, and more
A cut above the rest of the area’s Italian. Doesn’t look like much from the outside - looks like a shack on rte 28 next to Skull Island - but worth the trip!!
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Gerardi's Cafe
902 MA-28A cut above the rest of the area’s Italian. Doesn’t look like much from the outside - looks like a shack on rte 28 next to Skull Island - but worth the trip!!
Ice Cream Smuggler
1555 MA-6APricey but delicious ice cream.
Parks & Nature
The best sand dunes and surfing on the Cape (about a 45-minute drive from us during the high season): Cape Cod National Seashore’s Marconi Beach in Wellfleet. A little ways from the beach there is also a nature center. There’s also a visitor’s center with an excellent 2-room free museum.
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Cape Cod National Seashore
The best sand dunes and surfing on the Cape (about a 45-minute drive from us during the high season): Cape Cod National Seashore’s Marconi Beach in Wellfleet. A little ways from the beach there is also a nature center. There’s also a visitor’s center with an excellent 2-room free museum.
Massachusetts Audubon wildlife sanctuary that features a nature center, lots of trails, family programming, children's programming, and camps. https://massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/wellfleet-bay
Mass Audubon's Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary
500 Walk Hill StMassachusetts Audubon wildlife sanctuary that features a nature center, lots of trails, family programming, children's programming, and camps. https://massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/wildlife-sanctuaries/wellfleet-bay
About a 20-30 minute drive from the house towards the outer cape. during the season. Nice woodsy trails, freshwater swimming hole, and rentable canoes and kayaks.
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Nickerson State Park
3488 Main StreetAbout a 20-30 minute drive from the house towards the outer cape. during the season. Nice woodsy trails, freshwater swimming hole, and rentable canoes and kayaks.
Nearby Barnstable has over 40 miles of hiking and walking trails, and their website has downloadable trail maps: blt dot org
Barnstable Land Trust
Nearby Barnstable has over 40 miles of hiking and walking trails, and their website has downloadable trail maps: blt dot org
Our favorite playground within a 15-min drive. Tennis courts, basketball courts, shaded kids’ playground with swings, baseball diamond, fitness course for adults, public bathrooms and even a covered picnic area. Something for every member of the family no matter how old.
Johnny A. Kelley Recreation Area
180 Old Bass River RdOur favorite playground within a 15-min drive. Tennis courts, basketball courts, shaded kids’ playground with swings, baseball diamond, fitness course for adults, public bathrooms and even a covered picnic area. Something for every member of the family no matter how old.
Entertainment & Activities
Bring your bikes or rent them along the trail! The entrance to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a no-car zone, is just a couple of miles from our house and extends from Dennis to Provincetown or Chatham, depending on the route you choose to take. Being added to all the time! https://www.mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail
There are swimming holes, ice cream shops, and bike rental places, right off the trail.
CCRT Bass River Bridge
Cape Cod Rail TrailBring your bikes or rent them along the trail! The entrance to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, a no-car zone, is just a couple of miles from our house and extends from Dennis to Provincetown or Chatham, depending on the route you choose to take. Being added to all the time! https://www.mass.gov/locations/cape-cod-rail-trail
There are swimming holes, ice cream shops, and bike rental places, right off the trail.
Closest cinema for a rainy day. Jumbo popcorn gets free refills. Matinees are $8.75 per ticket.
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Entertainment Cinemas
2-6 Enterprise RdClosest cinema for a rainy day. Jumbo popcorn gets free refills. Matinees are $8.75 per ticket.
Bowling, arcade, axe throwing, pizza and bar. Great for a rainy day. Check Groupon for discounts.
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Ryan Family Amusements
200 Main StreetBowling, arcade, axe throwing, pizza and bar. Great for a rainy day. Check Groupon for discounts.
The name says it all, and keeps getting bigger and bigger each year. https://capecodinflatablepark.com/
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Cape Cod Inflatable Park
518 Main StThe name says it all, and keeps getting bigger and bigger each year. https://capecodinflatablepark.com/
Beautiful examples of glass with live demonstrations and a chance to make some glass creations yourself.
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Sandwich Glass Museum
129 Main StBeautiful examples of glass with live demonstrations and a chance to make some glass creations yourself.
In Sandwich. With gorgeous grounds to walk on with a hedge maze, outdoor music exhibit, treehouse to climb, an antique car museum, and a rotating museum exhibit, this place has something for everyone, no matter age and stage. There's also a zip line and ropes course there, but book in advance because it has a tendency to sell out in the summer
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Heritage Safn og Garðar
67 Grove StIn Sandwich. With gorgeous grounds to walk on with a hedge maze, outdoor music exhibit, treehouse to climb, an antique car museum, and a rotating museum exhibit, this place has something for everyone, no matter age and stage. There's also a zip line and ropes course there, but book in advance because it has a tendency to sell out in the summer
Cape Cinema
35 Hope Ln Local art house cinema with really good popcorn.
Small art museum right next to the cinema. Children’s and adult’s art classes and lectures offered.
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Cape Cod Museum of Art
60 Hope LnSmall art museum right next to the cinema. Children’s and adult’s art classes and lectures offered.
Great theater for the littles with indoor and outdoor offerings.
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Cape Cod Theatre Company / Harwich Junior Theatre
105 Division StGreat theater for the littles with indoor and outdoor offerings.
Theater for adults with great stuff for the kids in summer. Indoor and outdoor venues.
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Cape Rep Theatre
3299 Main StTheater for adults with great stuff for the kids in summer. Indoor and outdoor venues.
About 10 min drive from the house with mini golf, go-karts, arcade, and ice cream.
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Skull Island Miniature Golf
934 MA-28About 10 min drive from the house with mini golf, go-karts, arcade, and ice cream.
Supermarkets
There are many supermarkets nearby. The closest is Shaw’s, about 2 miles from us, located in South Yarmouth on route 28 (1108 State Road). A little further away in South Dennis are the places listed below.
Large supermarket in Patriot's Square. Will steam lobsters for you to pick up if you call ahead. https://stores.stopandshop.com/ma/south-dennis/500-route-134
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Stop & Shop
474 Station AveLarge supermarket in Patriot's Square. Will steam lobsters for you to pick up if you call ahead. https://stores.stopandshop.com/ma/south-dennis/500-route-134
Ring Bros. Marketplace
485 MA-134Seasonal farmer’s market about a mile from the house. Every Thursday and Saturday 9am - 1pm. Across from the South Yarmouth library at 311 Old Main St.
Bass River Farmers Market
Seasonal farmer’s market about a mile from the house. Every Thursday and Saturday 9am - 1pm. Across from the South Yarmouth library at 311 Old Main St.