15 Best Things to Do in Harwich (MA)

Facing Nantucket Sound on the Lower Cape, Harwich has all the makings of a great Cape Cod vacation.

The city has public beaches, railway tracks, rural countryside and Harwich Harbour, where much of the nightlife, culture and dining is centred.

Harwich Harbor is a pretty seaside village with three pretty harbors and many beautiful residences built by sea captains.

Cranberry bogs dot the interior of Harwich, and it was here that the first commercial cranberry farm was established in 1846.

The town celebrates its status as the birthplace of the cranberry industry with the Harwich Cranberry Arts and Music Festival during the September harvest.

1. Red River Beach

The medium-sized Red River Beach is open to the public with a day pass and has a neighborhood beach atmosphere.

Despite the expanses of soft white sand, maintenance levels and ample parking, the beach is never crowded, although it's a good idea to arrive early on hot summer weekends.

The view is stunning, with dunes and salt marshes beyond, and miles of Nantucket Sound ahead – keep an eye out to sea because you're likely to see seals playing in the waves.

Like other public beaches in Harwich, Red River Beach has gentle, warm waters that are safe for young children. There is a seasonal concession stand, as well as restrooms and a kayak/canoe launch.

2. Harwich Port

Just off Route 128, beautiful Harwich Harbor is the city's tourist attraction.

You have public beaches along the waterfront, and the main street is full of restaurants, bars, galleries, interesting shops and lots of old architecture.

Harwich Port was home to fishermen and sailors long before the American Revolution, and several luxury residences were built in the village for sea captains.

Views of Harwich Port linger on Nantucket Sound, and the local slogan is "Three harbours, one port", a reference to the quaint little harbors that line the sandy shore.

One is the Port of Saquatucket, where you can take the Freedom Cruise Line ferry to Nantucket. Every Wednesday night in July and August, Port Summer Nights features free live music and extended hours for shops and galleries.

3. Bank Street Beach

West of Red River Beach, there is a continuous two-mile stretch of sandy coastline bounded by Allen Harbor to the west and Witchmere Harbor to the east.

To the east, there's Public Bank Street Beach, a little smaller than its neighbor but still wide, with low sand dunes beyond and great views of the bay as it winds west.

The sand is soft, the waves are almost non-existent, and if you're a parent, it's a great place for kids to play in the shallow water.

Like Red River Beach, Bank Street Beach has all of Harwich Port's local businesses nearby, whether you want to grab lunch or grab a frozen meal.

4. Harwich Mariners

In the summer, you can catch future baseball stars at Whitehouse Field, home of the Harwich Mariners. It is a collegiate summer baseball team that plays in the Cape Cod Baseball League (CCBL).

The league dates back to 1885, and was one of the oldest organized baseball leagues in the United States before that.

More than 1,000 MLB stars have appeared for Cape Cod Baseball League teams, and Mariners alumni include Charles Nagy, Tim Lincecum, Trey Mancini and Ian Happ.

The White House Stadium has a capacity of 4,000 spectators, and the 40-game regular season begins in mid-June, and the playoffs end in mid-August.

5. Cape Cod Rail Trail

Harwich is one of seven towns along the route of the 25.5-mile rail trail, the right-of-way of the Old Colony Railroad, laid out in the 1860s as the Cape Cod Central Railroad.

It's a wonderful, car-free highway to the Cape, with gentle gradients, wide surface and an endless series of sights and pit stops along the way.

After heading east from Yarmouth, the route begins heading north at Harwich towards Brewster, passing through countryside filled with cranberry bogs and ponds.

In North Harwich, the Cape Cod Rail Trail meets the Old Colony Railroad Trail, on an unusual roller coaster. It is located in a small park with tall pine trees, benches and an information kiosk.

6. Cranberry Bog Tours

Certainly the best way to connect with and farm Harwich is to visit the Cranberry Bog. This can be done at Cape Cod's largest organic cranberry bog, inviting visitors in the spring, summer and fall.

During your visit, you'll learn about the year-round operation of a cranberry bog, the unique conditions that allow these plants to thrive, and all the information you need to learn how to produce the best berries.

Parents will gain fascinating insights into cranberry production, while children will have a great time meeting the many farm animals, from friendly dogs to goats, chickens, sheep and cows.

7. Cape Cod Lavender Farm

This beautiful farm is 11 acres in size and is a delight in the summer when thousands of lavender plants are in bloom.

Depending on conditions, Cape Cod lavender farms are at their most aromatic and colorful during harvest, which occurs between late June and mid-July.

The farm is free to visit during this time, but also from March to December, and is bordered by forest trails with a further 80 acres of protected land.

Don't forget to stop by the gift shop, which sells a variety of lavender-infused items, including essential oils, candles, soap, insect repellent, and shampoo.

8. Old Colony Rail Trail

The western route of this 7.5 mile trail is located at Harwich Bicycle Rotary. The Old Colony Rail Trail is located on the abandoned right-of-way of the Chatham Branch of the Old Colony Railroad, as well as skirting the Chatham Municipal Airport.

From the roundabout, the trail parallels Main Street for a short distance, passing landmarks such as the Cape Cod Lavender Farm and the Brooks Academy Museum.

Also on the way here is Brooks Park, which has a lovely little orchard for a picnic along the way, and hosts summer events like the Arts and Crafts Festival in July.

9. Brooks Academy Museum

A notable landmark in Harwich's historic district is the Greek Revival School Building, which is home to the Harwich Historical Society and serves as the city's museum.

Brooks Academy was named after its founder, Sidney Brooks (1813-1887), and when it opened in 1844, it became the city's first post-primary institution of higher learning.

The school was open to men and women, and its most popular and expensive course was higher mathematics, which included navigation and surveying.

The museum's temporary exhibitions are renewed with every new year, and address all aspects of the city's past, from education to art.

The permanent exhibition is Cranberry Culture, a tribute to cranberry production in Harwich with historical photographs, artefacts, a diorama of a commercial bog and hands-on exhibits.

10. Bell’s Neck Conservation Lands

The colonial history of this 260-acre property dates back to its purchase in 1668 by settler John Bell.

After changing hands several times over the years, the city acquired Bull Neck in the 1960s to protect a portion of the Herring River, as well as the western reservoir and adjacent forests.

The trails give you beautiful views of the salt marshes and open water, and black-crowned night herons and osprey are rarely seen in the spring and summer.

For wildlife, perhaps the best time to visit is April when thousands of herring make their way to the upper and western reservoirs along the herring ladder.

11. Pleasant Road Beach

Another public beach to put on your radar in Harwich, Pleasant Road Beach is located to the west near the mouth of the River Herring.

Although it is open to non-residents and offers good facilities, it remains unusually quiet even at the height of the beach.

There is a wide expanse of soft white sand and warm water with knee-high waves. A lifeguard works throughout the summer, and you'll find benches and restrooms along the sand.

Other times it's also a beautiful place for a picnic or to gaze at Nantucket Sound at sunset.

12. Harwich Cranberry Arts & Music Festival

Harwich has a busy social calendar, but if there's one free event you can't miss, it's a two-day event in mid-September at the start of the cranberry harvest.

It leads to the fields at Harwich Community Centre, where more than 150 vendors sell crafts.

Part of the fun is CranJam, with hours of great live music on Saturday and Sunday, with a fireworks display on the first night.

There are ten different food trucks to choose from each year, as well as a selection of craft wines and beers, supplied by Devil's Purse Brewing Company in Dennis.

The Harwich Community Center is located just a few hundred yards from the Old Colony Rail Trail, and visitors are encouraged to bike to the exhibit.

13. Bud’s Go-Karts and Bud’s Mini Golf

The family karting attraction in Harwich Harbor has been on the scene since the 1960s.

Parents can rest assured that the strollers on this track respond without requiring a lot of power for the minimum age, which is eight (or 54 inches). Bud's Go Karts also has double karts, suitable for ages 16 and up. It is available to drivers 16 years and older. .

Nearby is the recently opened Bud's Mini Golf Course, which has a Cape Cod theme, with miniature salt houses, a lighthouse, a water-powered mill, a fishing boat and water features. The holes themselves are fun without being too crazy, so correct placement will be rewarded.

14. First Crush Winery

Harwich has a winery run by a retired local with over three decades of experience in amateur winemaking.

If you're wondering how a Cape Cod winery sources its grapes, First Crush Winery partners with growers in California's Suisun Valley AVA, and sources its Malbec, Merlot, Sangiovese, Riesling, Chardonnay, Petite Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, and Caberonnet into Sauvignon. . Four days of harvest.

The First Crush range includes a variety of carefully crafted wines and blends, which have won numerous awards over the past few years.

There is indoor and outdoor seating, and you can go for sales, tastings, wine by the glass, cheese platters, and wine slush.

15. Harwich Farmers’ Market

From mid-June to early October, Harwich has a beautifully located farmers market at Brooks Academy.

It takes place on a Thursday afternoon, rain or shine, and is sponsored by the Harwich Historical Society.

As the season progresses, there is an ever-changing array of fruits and vegetables such as berries, tomatoes, peppers, green beans, radishes and squash, straight from local farms.

There are many other vendors selling fresh bread, cakes, honey, fresh seafood, olives, olive oil, preserves, and eggs.