Scenic view of historic Sandwich, Mass. Photo by Flickr member "smkybear".

This week, we’d like to highlight another distinctive Cape Cod destination for a quick (or extended) getaway – Sandwich. Similar to Chatham, the bayside town of Sandwich retains a quintessentially old-world Cape charm. It may have something to do with the fact that Sandwich is the oldest town on Cape Cod, and one of the oldest towns in the United States, settled by European immigrants nearly 150 years prior to the American Revolution.

Aside from sunny beaches overlooking the Massachusetts Bay, there are many historical attractions that are worth checking out. The Sandwich Glass Museum, which is particularly beautiful on a sunny day when the glass really shines through the windows, features a glass blower who lets you watch this fascinating process.
Stop by the Heritage Museums & Gardens and you can enjoy more than 70 acres of gardens after visiting the art and history museums. For lodging, look into a weekend stay at one of Sandwich’s several charming, historic bed and breakfasts, including Annabelle Bed & Breakfast, Isaiah Jones Homestead Bed & Breakfast, and The 1750 Inn at Sandwich Center.

Glass blower at work at the Sandwich Glass Museum. Photo by Flickr member "sneakerdog".

If you’re from the Boston area and need to fill-up before heading out, be sure to take advantage of Plymouth Rock’s Gas Price Finder to find the least expensive gas available near you. One suggestion is to stop off at the Shell Station at 1154 William T. Morrissey Blvd, just off I-93 at exit 11.You can fill up your car there today for just $2.81 a gallon. Once on the road, here are some directions to help you get to your destination:

1. Take I-93 S toward Quincy (8.9 miles)
2. Take exit 7 on the left toward Cape Cod (0.8 mile)
3. Merge onto MA-3 S (26.7 miles)
4. Continue onto US-44 E (0.9 mile)
5. Continue onto MA-3 S (14.6 mile)
6. Continue onto US-6 E (0.8 mile)
7. Take exit 1C toward Massachusetts 6A/Sagamore (0.2 mile)
8. Slight right at Mid-Cape Connector (0.3 mile)
9. Turn right at Massachusetts 6A E/Sandwich Rd – Continue to follow Massachusetts 6A E (3.1 miles)
10. Turn right at Jarves St (79 feet)

If you’re coming from somewhere other than the Boston area, click here to get custom directions – just enter your starting point!

Enjoy your stay in Sandwich! Once you’ve had your fill, you can fill-up your tank before returning home at the Hess Station at 336 Route 130, Sandwich, MA 02563. It has the lowest gas price in Sandwich (as of today June 18, 2010) for $2.82 a gallon.