Lowell Holly Reservation
Cape Cod
It was an unseasonably warm January day and after running an errand in Mashpee MA, Scott and I decided to stay on Cape Cod for the afternoon. Since the typical Cape activities…beach, boating, biking…were not exactly winter-friendly options, we headed to the Lowell Holly Reservation Trail in Mashpee which had been on our list of “must try” hikes for years!
Lowell Holly Reservation is part of The Trustees network of properties. Scott and I love hiking Trustee trails…they tend to be well maintained and marked…and wanting to support their preservation efforts, we became Trustee members a few years ago. TIP: Along with helping to protect natural and historic places, there are many benefits to becoming a member including discounts on events and free admission/parking…it really is a win-win!
Lowell Holly Reservation Trail is a dog-friendly 2.4 mile double loop that leads to a peninsula. We added the blue and orange trails to make it 3.8 miles total.
The trail starts in the woods, but the majority of the hike follows along the shoreline of crystal-clear Wakeby Pond and in some areas you can see The Narrows and Mashpee Pond. I loved all the little nooks and side paths along the way where you can step out onto the sand and soak in the beautiful water views or even take a dip when the weather is warmer.
Maisy had a great time wading in the water…hard to believe it was January!
The trail is mostly flat but surprisingly has quite a few hilly spots to get your heart pumping…unusual for a lake hike. TIP: Be sure you wear hiking shoes since some sections have lots of roots.
In addition to beaches and scenic lake views, the landscape on this trail was so diverse…groves of Beech trees with some of their honey colored leaves still hanging on…
towering rhododendron bushes, evergreen holly trees and well-placed wooden bog boards.
I think we hit this trail at the perfect time of year…the weather was cool keeping the bugs away and most of the leaves were off the trees so we could see the lake without foliage blocking our view.
Wanting to relax after our hike and take advantage of the less-crowded off season, we made a reservation at Tree House Brewing Company in Sandwich, just 15 minutes from the trail. TIP: Be sure to check their website for the most up to date information on which days require reservations.
Hoping to find a place to pick up dinner to eat at the brewery, we walked around the quaint center of Sandwich and were so excited to stumble upon The Brown Jug!
I immediately fell in love with this charming shop/cafe when I stepped inside and spied huge croissants and cinnamon rolls to my left and shelves filled with unique provisions to my right!
We were greeted with a warm welcome by the shop’s outgoing and accommodating owner who explained that the food is prepared fresh daily. With so many great options, we finally decided on the homemade chicken salad with cranberries and walnuts on a French bun and the organic garden salad topped with an assortment of vegetables, feta, chickpea/edamame salad and balsamic/EVOO dressing…both were oustanding!
I had so much fun browsing through all the gourmet products…jams, marinades, salsas, cheese, candy and cookies…as the aroma of freshly baked pizza filled the shop. There is even a coffee bar and a well-stocked wine room…The Brown Jug is truly a hidden gem!
We will definitely be back this summer to try their pizza and enjoy a glass of wine al fresco at their cafe!
If you have been to the Tree House brewery in Charlton, you will be surprised at the completely different vibe of the Cape Cod location in Sandwich! With white shiplap walls, 2 gorgeous bars and white lights strung on the ceiling, this location is bright and airy with windows looking out onto Cape Cod Bay.
Unfortunately it was January and dark by the time we arrived, but we plan to come back in the summer to enjoy the ocean views from an adirondack chair on their deck.
It was so nice to relax with a Cranberry Tangerine seltzer for me and Very Hazy IPA for Scott before heading home for the day. With mild temperatures and less crowds, this winter afternoon on the Cape was a real treat!
