Brewster Family Fun Guide Things to Do 2024
Brewster, Massachusetts, is a quaint coastal town in Barnstable County on Cape Cod with a rich history. Settled in 1656, it’s home to public beaches along Cape Cod Bay, parks, historic structures, unique shops, and a lot of culinary talent. Find out what to do on your Cape cod family vacation in Brewster MA
Despite the town being quiet and slow-paced, there are plenty of things to do in in the the town of Brewster MA. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite things to do, places to visit, and where to eat!
Favorite Brewster Beaches
Paine’s Creek Beach The beach at Paine’s Creek is ideal for building sandcastles and swimming. The sand feels wonderful as you run into the inviting and warm water. Skimboarding is a popular activity on this beach, as is relaxing in beach chairs. An amazing feature is the vast difference in landscape between high and low tide. The waves hit the jetties and sea wall during high tide, but low tide exposes colorful marsh grasses and sparkling sand. Also of note, Paine’s Creek Beach is beach wheelchair accessible and has portable toilets during summer.
Breakwater Beach with its soft sand and calm, mild water is a fantastic place to take the whole family for fun and relaxation. The sand is awesome at low tide, when you can see the tidal flats. The tidal pools that remain are filled with crabs, small fish, and shells. Whether it’s spring, summer, or fall, Breakwater Beach is a great place for a picnic. An ice cream truck passes by during the summer.
Point of Rocks Landing For one of the most uncrowded and quiet Brewster beaches on Cape Cod, head to Point of Rocks Landing. The beach is so quiet because it’s located at the end of a dead-end street with no parking lot — only a few marked spaces along the road. As the name suggests, the beach has many scattered rocks, and a variety of sea creatures live among them. Also, you can see the tidal flats at low tide. During the summer, portable toilets are available.
Crosby Landing The calm, warm water of Cape Cod Bay washes along the soft sand of Crosby Landing beach. The best times to visit are in the early morning and at sunset because the horizon is a marvelous sight. These times are great for doing yoga and meditation as well.
Mant’s Landing Also known as Robbins Hill Beach, Mant’s Landing is known for its array of sea creatures. The beach here has a countless amount of rock jetties and tidal pools. Because of that, it’s the perfect place for children to discover anemones, barnacles, hermit crabs, oysters, sea stars, small fish, and more. Aside from walking and exploring, the beach is a good place for swimming. It’s beach wheelchair and standard wheelchair accessible and has portable toilets during the summer.
Saint’s Landing One of the best Brewster beaches on Cape Cod to watch the sunset, Saint’s Landing is small but peaceful. Aside from watching the sunset and stargazing, you can go for a refreshing swim, cast a fishing line, or collect an assortment of shells — jingle shells, moon shells, and scallop shells. Another option at Saint’s Landing is a walk on the Brewster Flats.
Ellis Landing If walking on a beach is your favorite activity, Ellis Landing is where you want to go. The best time is during low tide when you can explore the tide pools. The beach is protected by sand dunes, which are ideal for having a picnic or relaxing in a beach chair. You can swim at this beach too, and portable toilets are available over the summer.
Linnell Landing Beach With access to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, Linnell Landing Beach offers a range of water activities. High tide is ideal for swimming, the casual waves are perfect for bodysurfing, and the calm water is great for kayaking. During your beach day, you could see dolphins and will definitely see coastal birds. There’s a boardwalk that makes the beach wheelchair accessible, and portable toilets are available throughout summer.
Where to go outdoors
Biking on the Cape Cod Rail Trail
Walk, run, bike or rollerblade along 25 miles of scenic paved paths where train tracks once carried passengers and supplies to local Cape Cod destinations. The trail stretches from Dennis to Wellfleet, winding past Brewster’s forests, cranberry bogs and ponds. In East Brewster, the trail intersects with an additional eight miles of bike trails in Nickerson State Park.
Walking and Hiking
Along Historic Old King’s Highway (Route 6A, Main Street) sidewalks line the street from Robin’s Wood in East Brewster to Stony Brook Road, gently winding along under the canopy of trees that line the roadway. During the summer this sidewalk is active all day long with people walking (with or without their leashed dog) or jogging.
Punkhorn Parklands in West Brewster is over 800 acres of conservation land owned by the Town of Brewster with wooded trails that pass by lakes, ponds and marshes. It begins at the end of paved Run Hill Road. There are miles of great trails, so wear your hiking boots.
Nickerson State Park has 1900 acres managed by the MA Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). There are eight miles of roads, hiking trails, and bike trails that connect to the Cape Cod Rail Trail, weaving through the woods past eight fresh-water kettle ponds in the Park.
The Town of Brewster and the Brewster Conservation Trust has established eight (8) Pathways within conservation lands (please note all distances are round trip):
Mother’s Bog (2.25 miles): Satucket Road to Slough Road heading south 0.8 miles to the BCT sign.
Quivet Marsh Vista (0.2 mile): 341 Main Street 0.9 miles from Drummer Boy Park.
John & Kristi Hay Trail (0.6 mile): across from Drummer Boy Park through the Stony Brook Valley.
Lee Baldwin Trail (South Trail) (1.0 mile): enter in the parking lot across Route 6A from the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History.
Eagle Point (0.5 – 1.0 mile): Stony Brook Road onto Run Hill Road for 1.2 miles.
Eddy Sisters Trail (0.5 mile): Route 6A to Lower Road 1.5 miles to the Community Garden.
Eddy Bay Trail (1.0 mile): Route 6A to Lower Road 150 yards past Community Garden.
Crosby Landing (1.0 mile): Route 6A to Crosby Lane ¼ mile to the West entrance to Nickerson State Park; park at the Crosby Mansion.
Huckleberry Hill (2.5 miles): Route 6A entrance to Nickerson State Park, take the first left onto Flax Pond Road; park just before the end of the road on the shoulder.
Where to eat & drink in Brewster for your Family Cape Cod Vacation
Snowy Owl Coffee Snowy Owl offers high-grade, freshly roasted, and meticulously prepared coffees. Stop by to get delicious coffee expertly prepared by awesome servers.
Eat Cake 4 Breakfast Bakery food should be fun and delicious. Come in to celebrate with pastries baked with the highest quality ingredients. Don’t forget to grab one of their famous “Brewster Buns!”
Stone L’oven Pizza – hand-tossed, all-natural, artisan crafted pizza cooked at 500 degrees. Enjoy natural ingredients including dough made from premium spring wheat flour, naturally aged whole milk mozzarella from Wisconsin, sauce made from freshly packaged Stanislaus tomatoes, all cooked until it has a crisp and tender crust.
JT’s Seafood Restaurant – family-owned and operated since 1998, a modern version of the quintessential clam shacks. JT’s has won many gold and silver awards from Cape Cod Life for their clam chowder, fried clams, lobster rolls, onion rings, and ice cream.
Cobies – , the local landmark serves fried clams and seafood, burgers, footlong hot dogs, french fries, ice cream, and beer and wine. Cobies is located right off 6A
Brewster Inn & Chowder House is located in a former retirement home that was built around 1870. The kitchen makes homestyle seafood and other delicious dishes for lunch and dinner — including fish sandwiches and platters. The dining room is casual and ideal for couples or families. The fried scallop and oyster rolls are unique items on the menu that you won’t find at any other restaurant in town.
Spinnaker has a romantic atmosphere that’s perfect for couples and small groups. It has only been open since 2017 but has become popular among locals and visitors. The Mediterranean-inspired menu changes depending on the available fresh ingredients
Where to visit in Brewster for your Family Cape Cod Vacation
The community hosts several events throughout the year. However, the two biggest are spring festival Brewster in Bloom and Christmas Brewster for the Holidays.
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History With just 17,000 square feet, the Cape Cod Museum of Natural History preserves and displays natural artifacts. It features archaeology exhibits, wildlife exhibits — including a collection of birds — an aquarium, and interactive exhibits. Additionally, a screened house is the setting for a butterfly life-cycle exhibit, which is popular with locals and visitors every year. The museum even has 400-plus acres of natural habitat with wildflower gardens and nature trails.
Cobb House Museum & Windmill Village Safeguarding Brewster-related history and artifacts, The Brewster Historical Society maintains several historical sites. The Cobb House Museum is a restored house from the late 1700s and features five permanent galleries. Windmill Village consists of a restored windmill and an 18th-century house.
Stony Brook Grist Mill & Museum Among the historical Brewster MA things to do, visiting the Stony Brook Grist Mill & Museum is one of the most picturesque. The historic mill is the only structure from Factory Village that still stands. During the summer season, the upstairs museum is open for viewing 19th-century artifacts. “right of spring” that attracts thousands to witness the migration of the alewife (herring) in their quest to return to their spawning grounds. This takes place when the air temperature reaches the low 50’s sometime in late March or early April.
Different Drummer Craft Fairs! There will be 4 big craft fairs for summer 2024 Remember to shop local
Crosby Mansion is on Crosby Lane. The mansion features fanciful architecture and was built in 1887 by entrepreneur Albert Crosby. Today it is owned by the state and preserved by the Friends of Crosby Mansion. It is open for tours in the summer and available for special events. Tours available Sundays & Wednesday during the summer
The Brewster General Store situated at the Heart of Brewster since 1866, the store provides a place to meet on their benches out front. Visit in the morning for fresh coffee, donuts, or pastries, and at night for an ice cream cone from The Brewster Scoop next door. Inside browse a unique assortment of merchandise including penny candy, design your own t-shirts and sweatshirts, jams and jellies, and many more fun gadgets!
The Brewster Bookstore open year-round, the Brewster Bookstore is filled to the brim with books, toys, games, greeting cards, unique gifts, and much more. Stop in to read from their large collection of Cape Cod books and extensive children’s section
Sydenstricker Glass Using the hand-carved stencil technique of artist Bill Sydenstricker, the Sydenstricker Glass studio creates unique glass art designs. Some of the pieces are on display in major museums and galleries — Tiffany Museum in Winter Park, Florida; Museum of Modern Art in New York; and the Toronto Museum of Art. In the main gallery, you can view and purchase the handcrafted masterpieces. Downstairs, you can watch the artisans make glassware designs.
HandCraft House you’ll find an extraordinary collection of functional and decorative crafts — artisan candles, garden art, wall sculptures, oil paintings, jewelry, clocks, and more. Everything in the store is handmade in North America, and many of the artists are Cape Cod residents.
Where to Stay in Brewster for your Family Cape Cod Vacation
Our favorites
Candleberry Inn on Cape Cod Awarded Best of the Best in the United States by TripAdvisor. Located on Main Street in Brewster, the bed and breakfast is in the center of the peninsula so you’ll be close to every activity or festival you’d like to attend. Perfect for a romantic giveaway.
Ocean’s Edge Enjoy a family-friendly Cape Cod vacation at Ocean Edge Resort and Golf Club featuring private villas, restaurants, spa, beaches, and variety of activities.
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