15 Best Things to Do in Dennis (MA)
Made up of five villages, Dennis is a town located in the central Cape, and is considered by many to be the cultural center of Cape Cod.
You can see why the Cape Theater, Cape Cod Museum of Art, and Cape Cinema are all gathered here on one campus.
To go along with that, Dennis may have the best beaches of any Cape town. It helps that many of them are open to the public, ranging from protected shelters to dramatic open beaches with sunsets that have to be seen to be seen.
During your time in Dennis, you can ride for miles along the Cape Cod Rail Trail, paddle gentle rivers through the countryside, and dine alongside boats along the harbor.
1. Mayflower Beach
Competition is fierce, but Dennis's favorite beach is this pristine stretch of sandy beach facing Cape Cod Bay.
The sand is light, soft and powdery, and the water is crystal clear on calm days. Like other beaches along the Cape Cod Bay coast, there is a big difference between high and low tide, partly because Mayflower Beach is located on such a low slope.
When the tide goes out, the sand seems to stretch out forever, filled with tidal pools. The coastline faces northwest, and if sunset coincides with low tide, you will be rewarded with one of the most enchanting sights in the entire Cape.
2. The Cape Playhouse
One of the finest small theaters in the United States, The Cape Playhouse dates back to 1927, making it the oldest professional summer theater in the country.
The setting is also special in a converted 19th century meeting house. An astounding cast of esteemed actors have graced these boards, including Bette Davis, Ginger Rogers, Henry Fonda, and Julie Andrews.
Every summer is an exciting season of musicals, comedies, dramas and mysteries. The theater is part of the Cape Cod Center for the Arts, and the Cape Cod Museum of Art and Cape Cinema are just steps away.
3. Corporation Beach
This stunning public beach faces Cape Cod Bay, is located on the scallop-shaped Nobiscoset Harbor, and is protected by Nobiscoset Point to the west. If you're looking for a beach for the little ones, Corporation Beach has everything you need.
The shallow waters are heated by the sun, and the waves are usually gentle. Even when the tide is high, you have to go far before the waves reach higher than thigh height.
When the tide goes out, you can wade hundreds of feet into the harbor, and kids will enjoy playing in the many tide pools. In season there is a snack bar along the beach operated by Dennis Public Market.
4. West Dennis Beach
Another attractive place to live by the sea is West Dennis Beach, an endless strip of sand on Nantucket Sound next to the mouth of the Bass River.
One of the many good things about this beach is that it is about three miles long. This means you'll be able to claim your share of sand even in the hottest summer months. Parking is not a problem either with over 1000 spaces.
Lifeguards are on duty throughout the summer, and amenities include showers, restrooms and playground equipment for younger children.
5. Scargo Tower
This cobblestone tower is a monument to the Dennis and is located on Scargo Hill, on the edge of the south-eastern bank of Scargo Pond.
The current structure dates from 1901, and is actually Scargo's third tower, replacing two wooden towers destroyed by a hurricane and then a fire in 1874 and 1876.
The hill rises 160 feet above sea level, and is considered one of the Cape's most famous natural landmarks. The tower offers a stunning view of the pond, the dennis countryside, and Cape Cod Bay.
A plaque above the entrance explains that the tower was built as a memorial to Charles and Francis Toby, two brothers born in Dennis whose ancestors had been here since 1678.
6. Cape Cod Rail Trail
Dennis is one of six towns along the route of this important multi-use trail. The Cape Cod Rail Trail has been open to bicyclists and walkers since the 1970s, and is now more than 25 miles long, including many trail connections along the way.
From Yarmouth to Wellfleet, the route follows an old railway line, originally laid in the 1860s as the Cape Cod Central Railroad.
The road is wide and smooth, taking you through rural and residential landscapes, ponds, cranberry bogs, salt marshes, tidal creeks and forests.
Of note in Dennis is the bridge over the Bass River, which was built specifically for the trail in late 2010, as well as the rental shops along the trail, such as Barb’s Bike Shop and the Dennis Cycle Center.
7. Cape Cod Museum of Art
This art museum at the Cape Cod Arts Center underscores the center's status as the region's cultural hub.
The Cape Cod Museum of Art was founded in 1981, to protect the Cape's unique cultural landscape and celebrate its large community of artists.
There are seven galleries, with a lively exhibition schedule ensuring you'll always find something new to enjoy.
Outside you can wander around a beautiful sculpture garden on the centre's landscaped grounds, while the shop is the perfect place to pick up something unique made by a local artist.
More than just a fixed space for exhibitions, the museum hosts a series of lectures, classes and seasonal events.
8. Josiah Dennis Manse Museum
During the summer, you can visit the colonial salt house of the man for whom Dennis is named.
The Reverend Josiah Dennis (died 1763) became the first minister of the Congregational Church of the East District of Yarmouth in 1727, and held that position for over 35 years.
He was so respected that when the town was incorporated in 1793, its name became Denis.
Many rooms here are devoted to specific aspects of life in the city, from maritime history to spinning and weaving, and Dennis's childhood.
The grounds feature a beautiful heritage garden as well as the one-room West Schoolhouse (c. 1770), the last of the 12 Dennis District schools still standing.
9. Paddle Adventures
Take a look at the dennis and you'll see the possibilities for canoe, kayak and paddleboard experiences in the summer.
The inner part of the city is full of water, and this is especially true of West Dennis and South Dennis, where the River Bass acts as a border with Yarmouth and provides world-class conditions for water activities.
The upper reaches are quiet ponds, while the lower reaches are bays and coves that require some exploration.
One company that will help is Bass River Kayaks & Paddleboards, which offers rentals from its store in West Dennis through mid-September through Memorial Day weekend.
You can rent a kayak or paddleboard here for anywhere from 90 minutes to seven days. Another local operator is Cape Cod Waterways, which offers canoe, kayak, paddleboard and paddleboard rentals, both on the Bass River and on the Swan River in Dennis.
10. The Ice Cream Smuggler
East Dennis has a popular seasonal ice cream stand on Old King's Highway that has been in business for over 40 years. Almost everything at Ice Cream Smuggler is made locally with top-notch ingredients.
They come in 27 flavors made daily in small batches, as well as cones, which come in sugar, cake and waffle varieties, plain or dipped in chocolate.
Along with scoops and sundaes, you can get shakes, malts, frappes, ice cream sodas, sorbets or frozen sorbets made with sorbet, and ice cream cakes and pies.
The Ice Cream Smuggler has been featured on Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate," and there is often a line out the door during peak hours.
11. Cape Cinema
Also on campus is the Cape Cod Center for the Arts, a unique movie theater that opened in 1930 and hosted the world premiere of The Wizard of Oz in 1939.
If the Cape Cinema looks like a local Greek Revival church, that's because the design was based on South Congregational in Centreville, Massachusetts.
The hall is famous for its large, almost psychedelic mural, designed by Rockwell Kent (1882-1971) and covering 6,400 square feet.
The theater shows independent and classic films with leather seating and beer and wine are available. There is also a live music series featuring the likes of St. Vincent, Bon Iver and The Dirty Projectors.
12. Sea Street Beach, Dennis Port
Like West Dennis Beach, this fine sand beach faces Nantucket Sound and is nestled beneath high cliffs. In the past, this was the town's landing site, and you can access the beach from the car park via a steep wooden staircase.
There are several benches at the top of the cliff, where you can gaze out at the sea and watch the sunrise or sunset.
Sea Street Beach has stronger surf than the beaches on the north side, and is protected by breakwaters at short intervals.
There are lifeguards throughout the season, and there are markets, restaurants and ice cream stands near downtown Dennis port.
13. Scargo Pottery
Dating back to 1952, Scargo Pottery was founded by Harry Howell (1922-2014) who quickly became Cape Cod's most famous potter, and later co-founded the Cape Cod Museum of Art.
The studio, located on the wooded edge of Scargo Pond, just off the Old Kings Highway, has become a popular stop where you can buy Hall's creations but also watch him at work, and share insights into his process.
Now, Scargo Pottery is run by his four daughters, who have honed their skills in the studio over the years. Today, like never before, you can visit to admire the amazing range of works on display, watch the talented potters drive by, and leave the shop with your own work of art.
14. Sesuit Harbor Cafe
Overlooking Sessot's picturesque harbor, the New England-style Clam Shack restaurant on Northside Marina serves a full range of seafood classics.
Front and center are the lobster rolls, said to be one of the Cape's best dishes, and come with French fries and homemade coleslaw.
Dishes include fish and chips, scallops, whole oysters, fish sandwiches, and fisherman's plate if you want a little of everything. The location is part of the experience, with picnic tables right along the trail as you watch the boats sail in and out of Cape Cod Bay.
15. Flax Pond Conservation Area
Inland, the city's countryside is dotted with ponds of various sizes, many of which can be discovered in protected areas owned by the Dennis and open to the public.
There are more than 80 different conservation sites, totaling approximately 900 acres. A favorite is Flax Pond, located on the Yarmouth Line near Settuck Road.
From the parking lot, a blazing trail system skirts the scenic south and east coasts, leading you east into mountainous stands of pine and oak, interspersed with wetlands.
In the warmer months, people visit Flax Pond for fishing and canoeing, and the protected area is one of the few public places in the dennis where dogs are allowed free.