by Elizabeth Newcomer, Innkeeper
What is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Cape Cod? Is it the beaches, the food, the shopping or do you think of all the natural beauty of the landscape and environment? On a daily basis, I am reminded how lucky I am to be surrounded by all the wild natural habitat that the Cape has to offer. Donna, Byron and I want to share our favorite nature spots around Brewster by the Sea with you!
- Stony Brook Grist Mill, Brewster MA (5 minutes from Brewster by the Sea)
The Stony Brook Grist Mill is one of our favorite places to visit & send our guests, especially in the spring during the herring run. The herring travel from Cape Cod Bay up Paines Creek eventually ending up in the Stony Brook Mill Pond. The seagulls are fun to watch as they try to catch their lunch! There are paths that lead around the mill and by the pond which make for a lovely afternoon stroll.
2. Cape Cod Museum of Natural History/John Wing Trail/Paines Creek, Brewster, MA (1 minute from Brewster by the Sea)
The Cape Cod Museum of Natural History has several different trails but by far the most popular is the John Wing Trail which takes you across the marsh and out to the bay. We recommend that you enjoy this nature walk at low tide as the marsh and the board walk flood during high tide. The great thing about this trail is you get to experience three different landscapes: the marsh; walking through the woods and the sandy beach/bay. Definitely a must-do activity for our guests during their stay!
3. Nickerson State Park, Brewster, MA (10 minutes from Brewster by the Sea)
The park is 1900 acres and features many different hiking trails, an 8 mile bike path that connects into the Cape Cod Rail Trail, fishing and water activities like swimming/canoeing and of course birdwatching. The park has so much to offer and you can easily spend an entire afternoon or longer exploring the different areas within the park.
4. Eddy Bay Trail/ Eddy Sisters Trail, Brewster, MA (5 minutes from Brewster by the Sea)
Brewster Walking Trails: Eddy Bay Trail and Eddy Sisters Trail make for a quick afternoon outing and a great chance to get some fresh air and pretty scenic views. The Eddy Bay Trail has limited parking but you can always park at the Eddy Sisters Trail head (approx. 150 yards away). The path takes you through holly groves and an extensive wooded area and it ends overlooking Cape Cod Bay at the highest bluff in Brewster – overall the path is about 1.0 mile roundtrip. The Eddy Sisters Trail is located next to the community garden and backs up to the old cranberry bogs of an historic Cape Cod Farm. The trail is named for the three Eddy sisters: Mary-Louise, Ruth and Jean who founded the Brewster Conservation Trust in 1983 and whose grandfather owned the farm; the sisters donated the land for both the community garden and the majority of the trail.
5. Breakwater Beach, Brewster, MA (6 minutes from Brewster by the Sea)
Guests at our sister property Captain Freeman Inn are lucky to have just a 10 minute walk to Breakwater Beach and we encourage guests staying at Brewster by the Sea to drive over and park at Captain Freeman Inn and walk over as well! There is parking available at the beach, however you must have a beach parking permit from June 15th – September 4th. Breakwater Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Brewster and the flats are particularly amazing at low tide, when the beach stretches out into the bay for almost a mile. This creates many tidal pools to explore and search for fish, crabs and to collect shells. During the off-season dogs are permitted and Harrison just loves running around in the sand!
We hope you get to enjoy some of our favorite natural beauty escapes during your Cape Cod Getaway and stay at Brewster by the Sea!
Follow Up to Trivia from Brewster by the Sea’s Afternoon in Chatham, MA:
Question: Where did the pilgrims first land in 1620?
Answer: Provincetown. Did you guess Plymouth? The Pilgrims actually spend 5 weeks at the site of modern-day Provincetown before settling in Plymouth Colony.
