Hotel at a Glance: Inn at Swan River

With its red siding, black shutters, and white banisters, the Inn at Swan River has the charm of a country house. Guest suites here continue the red-and-white motif. This Cape Cod inn is set in the middle of the historical village of West Dennis, close to several beaches, shopping, and restaurants.

• Walk to the water: The Inn at Swan River is a quarter mile from its namesake river, where canoeing, biking, and kayaking are popular.
• Take a day trip to the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard—the ferry port is 8 miles away—or drive an hour north to eclectic Provincetown.
• Hop on your bike at the Cape Cod Rail Trail, which is less than a mile from the inn; the paved trail stretches for 22 miles along a former railroad right-of-way.
• Cape Cod’s beaches are anywhere from 1.5 to 3 miles away; in cooler months, you can take a quiet stroll on the white sand of Nantucket Sound.
• A big backyard behind the inn features a patio with a fire pit and ample seating, along with wooded grounds you can walk through.
• Family friendly: There’s a playground across the street, as well as two barbecue grills in the backyard if you want to cook a big family feast.

West Dennis, Massachusetts: Quaint Cape Cod Village amid White-Sand Beaches

West Dennis is set on Cape Cod, the peninsula of Massachusetts that curls out into the Atlantic Ocean. This quaint little village is home to just 2,500 people year-round but, like all Cape Cod towns, it has a boom in the summertime. Visitors come to splash at the 60 public Cape Cod beaches, known for their white sand.

There’s more to do on the Cape than play in sand and surf, and if you come to town a little after the summer season you can enjoy the area without the crowds. West Dennis is a 15-minute drive from Hyannis, where you can hop on the Cape Cod Central Railroad for a narrated scenic train ride or a suppertime murder-mystery train outing. The Duckmobiles—amphibious buses that travel both by land and sea—take people on tours around downtown Hyannis, past a lighthouse, and to the site where John F. Kennedy gave his acceptance speech for the presidency. Afterward, stop by the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum to see rare personal artifacts and photos of JFK’s life.

From West Dennis, you’re only an hour from famous Provincetown, an eclectic arts community at the very tip of Cape Cod. Stroll the pedestrian-friendly streets and pop into galleries, handicraft stores, and colorful cafés on a day trip to this ocean outpost. Provincetown has long attracted writers and artists; Tennessee Williams and Eugene O’Neill are former residents.

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