12 Best Things to Do in Dennis, Massachusetts

By VacationIdea Staff on August 29, 2022 - Updated

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Dennis is a collection of five small villages in Massachusetts located on the lower arm of Cape Cod. The historical villages offer world class beaches, museums and theaters, miles of hiking and biking trails, and access to both the Bay of Cape Cod and Nantucket Sound. While Dennis Village is the historic center, East Dennis, South Dennis, West Dennis and Dennis Port are all equally full of Cape Cod charm.

We recommend that you call the attractions and restaurants ahead of your visit to confirm current opening times.

1.Cape Cod Museum of Art

The Cape Cod Museum of Art was founded in 1981 with the intent to preserve the artwork related to Cape Cod, either by subject matter or the artist. Today, the Museum of Art is a year-round facility with several climate controlled galleries, a museum shop, storage for the permanent collection, and an adjacent education center that offers workshops and classes. Works from the permanent collection are displayed year round on a rotating basis, and often complement the temporary exhibits. Influential Cape Cod artists and teachers featured in the collection include Henry Hensche, Hans Hofmann and Charles Hawthorne. The latter founded the Cape School of Art in 1899.

60 Hope Lane, Dennis, MA 02638, Phone: 508-385-4477

2.West Dennis Free Public Library

The West Dennis library has been serving the community since 1920. While it has grown considerably since its beginnings in a private home, it still occupies the same building it’s been in since 1924. The privately funded library relies on membership and donations from residents to maintain its collection and facility. The library hosts the collection of the Dennis Historical Society, and has worked to upload much of this collection to an online database. Programs and events run year-round, including art exhibits, book talks by local authors, lectures by local academics, and children’s reading programs.

260 Main St. (Rt. 28), Dennis, MA 02638, Phone: 508-398-2050

3.Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm

Each July and August you can pick your own blueberries at the Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm. Containers and trays are provided with a small flat fee. The family owned farm was founded in 1973 by the current proprietor, Stephen Spear, and his parents who purchased the property in the 1940’s. In the 1980’s the farm narrowed its focus to blueberries, which remains the core crop today. In 2018, Spear and his wife Janice Riley published a book titled “Out in Blue Fields: A Year at Hokum Rock Blueberry Farm.” The book has received numerous accolades including the Northeast Region’s Best Nonfiction Book award, and the Graphic Design USA best book design award.

1215 MA-134, East Dennis, MA 02641, Phone: 508-385-2768

4.Mashantum Tennis Club, Dennis, Massachusetts

The small, family-friendly Mashantum Tennis Club offers four red clay tennis courts and one hard court nestled in the woods in Dennis, Massachusetts. The club offers members of all ages both competitive and recreational play, and provides lessons for both kids and adults. The tennis club was founded in 1946 by local resident Tom Dingman whose vision included providing tennis lessons for the children of Dennis. Dingman built the original courts himself, and the club’s headquarters still reside in the small shack built in 1955. A pro-shop on site provides new Wilson demo raquets for use, stringing services and tennis balls. Non-members may pay a walk-on fee to use the tennis courts, provided space is available.

11 Forehand Dr, Dennis, MA 02638, Phone: 508-385-7043

5.Eventide Theater Company, Dennis, MA

Cape Cod’s Eventide Theater Company is located in Dennis. The company produces three of their own main stage shows each year, and hosts annual playwriting and songwriting competitions. The Eventide mission is to support area actors, playwrights and songwriters through exciting and thought-provoking performances for all ages. The 2018-2019 season included three shows performed off-site at various locations throughout Cape Cod. Past performances by the non-profit theater company have included Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore and the 1930’s comedy She Loves Me. To Kill A Mockingbird will take the main stage in November 2019.

713 Main ST., Route 6A, Dennis, MA 02638, Phone: 508-398-8588

6.Wee Packet, Dennis, Massachusetts

The Wee Packet has been serving New England breakfasts, lunches and dinners to Cape Cod visitors since 1949. Begin the day with a traditional Irish Breakfast, enjoy a famous lobster roll with homemade cole slaw, try a New England clambake, or enjoy fresh local seafood for dinner. An updated bar makes cocktails and includes a list of fine wines and robust beers. Wee Packet offers both indoor and outdoor patio dining, and an adjacent gift shop in a refurbished 200-year old barn. The name refers to a small version of the “packet” ships, which were used in the 19th century to import and export goods between Boston, Cape Cod and the nearby islands.

79 Depot St., Dennis Port, MA 02639, Phone: 508-394-6595

7.The Ebb Tide Restaurant, Dennis, MA

The Ebb Tide Restaurant offers fine dining and traditional Cape Cod dishes in an old sea captain’s home across from the beach in Dennis Port. The family-owned restaurant has been open since 1960, while the lounge was added in 1975, and the Garden Room in 1984. The restaurant offers classic dinners such as filet mignon, seafood fettuccine, and prime rib alongside fresh caught local fish such as broiled schrod, Atlantic salmon and lobster dishes. Three course dinners are available nightly and include either clam chowder or lobster bisque followed by your choice of entre and homemade dessert.

94 Chase Ave, Dennis Port, MA 02639, Phone: 508-398-8733

8.Joey’s Pizzeria, Dennis, Massachusetts

Joey’s Pizzeria is located in what was originally a gingerbread house in the 1950’s. In the year’s before it became a pizza shop, it has sold candy, ice cream, baked goods, and once operated as a bicycle rental shop. Today, the shop is home to Joey’s Pizza and is styled to reflect the décor of a classic 1950’s diner. The Italian thin-crust pizza is hand-tossed and made to order. In addition to pizza, Joey’s offers salads, subs, wings, smoothies, fried dough and beer, wine and cocktails. Paines Creek Oysters are brought in daily from Brewster, a Cape Cod tradition, served fresh or steamed.

197 Lower County Rd, Dennis Port, MA 02639, Phone: 508-398-7437

9.Harvest Gallery Wine Bar, Dennis, Massachusetts

The Harvest Gallery Wine Bar is a unique establishment combining owner Michael Pearson,s love of wine and art. Located next door to the Cape Cod Contemporary Art Museum in Dennis Village, the intimate gallery in a small blue house features the work of over 30 local sculptors, painters and photographers. Art is shown on a rotating basis. The wine bar includes wines from around the world among craft cocktails, beers, and a full food menu. Menu items range from local seafood, to pizzas, items to share, salads and homemade desserts. Live entertainment takes place Wednesday through Sunday during the summer season.

776 Main Street, Route 6A, Dennis, MA 02638, Phone: 508-385-2444

10.Mayflower Beach

Situated along Dennis’ Dunes Road is Mayflower Beach, a treasured and popular summer destination of the mid-Cape. It is well known for being one of Cape Cod’s most unique shorelines, and as such sees thousands of eager travelers come by for a visit every year. Take a long and leisurely stroll along the tidal flats during low tide, or wait to snap a perfect photo of the sunset or sunrise alongside other eager photographers. The beach is also wide, making it beach-sport-friendly and picnic-friendly. Visitors who want to make a trip out of their visit to Mayflower Beach can rent one of many beach homes and apartments available nearby.

11.Cape Playhouse

Visit one of the country’s 50 Best Small Stage Theatres at the Cope Playhouse. Of the many accolades that the playhouse has received, perhaps the best would be the New York Times calling it the “place where Broadway goes to Summer”. After all, Cape Playhouse is the longest-running professional summer theater in the nation having attracted and welcomed some of theatre’s greatest names to its stage since 1927. Of the many renowned actors and actresses to grace Cape Playhouse’s humble stage, some of the most famous include Julie Andrews, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, and Betty White.

820 Main Street, Dennis, Massachusetts, Phone: 508-385-3911

12.Jericho House and Barn Museum

Originally built in 1801, the Jericho House was built by Captain Theophilus Baker. It was later purchased and renamed in 1955 by Elizabeth Reynard who poured love and care into restoring the dilapidated home with her cousin, Virginia Gildersleeve. Later in 1962, the home was deeded to the town and converted into the historical center and museum that it is today. Guests can explore this impressive and historic home to get a taste of what life was like for its previous residents through preserved rooms and a number of artifacts being exhibited throughout this home-turned-museum. Just across the street, the Barn Museum also welcomes guests with the summer being its busiest season.

90 Old Main Street, West Dennis, Massachusetts 02670, Phone: 508-398-6736

13.Scargo Tower

When visiting the Town of Dennis, one must-visit attraction is the Scargo Tower. This tourist observatory, which was first built in 1874, was originally made out of wood but has a long history of destruction and rebuilding. After falling first in 1976 and again in 1900, the tower was rebuilt in 1901 out of the cobblestone façade that visitors can see today. Standing at 30 feet tall, the tower sits serenely on top of mid-Cape’s highest hill and offers its visitors fantastic views of the lower cape area from the locale of Provincetown and all the way up to the western town of Plymouth.

Scargo Hill Road, South Dennis, Massachusetts 02660