This is a hidden gem. I loved the hydrangeas and the vintage cars! The staff was very friendly and we loved the Cranberry exhibit. read more

Beautiful gardens to explore, especially in late summer when the hydrangeas are in full boom. Stroll through peaceful paths, past flowing water features, check out the amazingly pristine rare vintage automobile collection, see a windmill, and take a ride on the merry-go-round. They have a good little cafe to grab a bite, but you can also bring your own picnic lunch and enjoy it at whatever favorite spot you find. read more

We met family for a visit to the Gardens and Museum on a beautiful Summer Friday. Our relatives had a membership so I didn't even notice the entrance fee but I would have paid whatever it was as this was a gorgeous place to walk around. We were a week after the Hydrangea Festival ended and while the flowers don't just disappear, they were not all as vibrant as I'm sure they had been two weeks prior. I love hydrangeas and have several types growing on my property so it was great to be able to see other varieties and colors. I had no idea this type of acreage existed on the cape- (you mean it's NOT all ice cream and traffic?!) The gardens were exquisite. I was told that they are all maintained by volunteers! We saw no maintenance or staff doing anything other than helping guests enjoy their visit. The new children's area was fun for 50-somethings and 70-somethings in our crew. There is a school on the property and I cannot imagine a more fun way to learn in nature! The carousel was a hit, as was the automobile museum in a gorgeous building. The exhibit about cranberry bogs and the wetu on site paid appropriate homage to the Indigenous People in this region. If you have the time, this is a must-see on the Cape. While there is a lot of walking involved, the property has electric golf cart vehicles that can transport visitors around the property. I would definitely return! read more

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Definitely go on a tour or the bus otherwise you're in for an adventure! The map is very hard to use, but the beauty of the garden is well worth the confusion. Felt like a wonderful maze of flowers where you found some nice gems like the museums, carousel, or hedge mazes along the way. I especially loved the windmill and hydrangea garden!! Also don't be scared that there won't be enough to see during off season, the fall display was just as beautiful as summer! read more

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My favorite time of year is visiting the Heritage Museum & Gardens for their Hydrangea Festival! The expansion and addition to the welcome center is lovely! Highly recommend adding this to your Cape Cod checklist! read more

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Absolutely gorgeous place to visit. There's car museum is really cool. There are so many wonderful outdoor exhibitions, trails, a beautiful flowers and plants to experience. This is well worth your time to explore. read more

Of course I had to visit the Heritage Museums & Gardens whilst out on the Cape! - - - - !!Emphasis on "Gardens"!! :) Start off in the beautifully curated antique automobile museum. HMG has quite an amazing and rather extensive collection of automobiles from the early days 1905, 1920s, 1930s, to 1940s. Great to see the various transitions the production and inventions the auto industry went through - various engines of electric, steam, or gasoline as fuel. All autos are perfectly restored and in working condition! Then meander through the magnifique Hydrangea gardens - eight varieties and 160 species...the full varied gardens cover 100 acres. (Lookout NYBG). You're welcome! Finish at the exquisitely restored carousel for a lovely ride! The carousel is beautifully restored. Built in 1908 in Providence, Rhode Island. Thank you for a wonderful time! read more

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We went here last weekend, primarily for the hydrangea festival. It's been years since I have been here, and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The walking paths are wide, and plentiful, and everything is well marked, with maps provided at the entrance after you check in. The hydrangeas this year were absolutely outstanding. The day lillys were also plentiful, and ranged in different colors and markings. The exhibit in the back hall/area toward the back of the property featured cranberries - all about bogs, how they started, how they were harvested, and even how they became part of the first thanksgiving dinner. Highly recommend a visit during the hydrangea festival, or really any time, as the grounds and gardens are beautiful. read more

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An incredible outing if you enjoy a lolly-gagging walk in other's gardens! As a child, in the mid-1970s in the South Shore of the Commonwealth, this was a Field Trip destination - say 3rd grade 1975. It was fun back in the day as they had not only the cars they do today, but they boasted an incredible collection of American firearms from the flintlocks of the American Revolution to the Six-Shooters of the Wild Wild West. No more. The cars alone are worth the trek. From those crazy platform things with an engine to Caddy's, a Doosy, and everything in between. Incredible vintage, originals and restored. There is also a building for rotating exhibits. A wonderful set of gardens of flowers, fauna, and herbs. A lovely walk. Also, they've a nice store with some local touristy kind of trinkets, Cape historical stuff, and books on subject at the museum. Several buildings. All walkable. Wear a hat on warm sunny days. Having a water would be a good idea too. A good walk for those in shape. Elderly or handi-able there might be some challenges. I love this place. Reminds me of my childhood and simpler times. A Cape Cod classic. read more

Heritage Museums & Gardens - Main building. - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sandwich, Massachusetts

Absolutely stunning. A must stop regardless of where you are in MA. Minutes away from our bnb and it was well worth the money. The grounds are kept beautifully, the flowers are vibrant, and the staff were knowledgeable/ friendly. read more

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We had a wonderful time on our visit here! Came with our two young kids and they loved the grounds and all of the exhibits. It was walkable for our 3 and 5 year olds, may want to bring a stroller just in case. There are plenty of bathrooms on the grounds and even some spots to grab snacks. There is plenty of shade cover as well. The staff is very friendly and they even offer a cart for transportation if you have a disability or just need a break. Highly recommend a visit here while on the Cape, great for all ages! read more

Heritage Museums & Gardens - Spider! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sandwich, Massachusetts

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Annual Christmas party. The lights are incredible, We had warm donuts and apple cider. While walking around. It is a good distance to walk the whole park The horse carousel is beautiful, built in the 1800's We stopped and sat at the fire pit and ate marshmallows. After we went to the car museum Plenty of parking, museum buildings have bathrooms and there is a food stand with alcohol They have shuttle golf carts for those who can't do the walk by themselves read more

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Lovely gardens and a very surprising and an amazing collection of American antique cars - surprising and interesting, we learned a ton. They were setting up for a wedding to begin after hours - great location for that, with a picturesque garden waterfall spot for the ceremony. read more

Loved the gardens filled with different flowers. We had fun riding the carousel, not just for kids. They have a maze, labyrinth, cafe and antique car museum. There is a tram if you're unable to walk throughout the gardens. Plenty of free parking. There is an admission fee, $22 / adult. read more

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Started as an Auto Museum, that is now known for their gardens as well. Seeing a segment on CBS Sunday Mornings about the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival held annually in the middle of July, we planned a trip out to Boston during that time in '23. From my research, the Heritage was one of the key places to go/start. They open around 10am, and we got there about 10:10, and the paved parking lot (no separate fee) was already getting pretty full. It's about a $20 adult admission price for non-members, and they accept credit cards. The whole scene is extremely well run, with plenty of staff and volunteers. It was a beautiful (sunny though muggy and hot). They did have a dedicated garden area for Hydrangea, with even a handout with 13 stops you can make as you walk around. Very unfortunately, there was a very harsh winter this year (especially in February) which caused the blooms to be either stunted or non-existent. That was very disappointing, especially since we saw the potential of what it would be like in any other summer. The Gardens do have a nice variety of different Hydrangeas, some of which we have not seen before because it doesn't grow in the climates that we had previously lived. We did drive to one of the private gardens afterwards, and it had the same issue: most Hydrangeas are not blooming....the ones that are stunted are the ones we are used to (able to grow in the harsher climates of the upper Midwest). Other things to check out on the grounds: -- Windmill -- Maze (yes, you can get a bit lost in there) -- Labyrinth -- Exhibitions Gallery (had displays showing the history of Cape Cod) -- Treehouse (not really in a tree, but you get the idea) -- Wetu (a reproduction of a Native American dwelling) -- Automobile Gallery (a large selection of antique automobiles...even got to see ones powered by steam from the early 1900's) If you check each of these out, you would have seen pretty much the entire complex, taking about 2 - 3 hours. Most of the roads are paved, though some have steep inclines. There is a courtesy cart (sitting 8 people) running around the complex, ferrying people about. There are tons of places to take pictures, with beautiful backgrounds of nature or natural structures. There is a nice, small gift shop (well air conditioned), selling various momentos at reasonable prices. They also have a walk-up snack shop (Lilly's Cafe), with outdoor seating. They also encourage a lot of pollinating plants, so we got to see a lot of bumblebees and even a couple of humming birds. And I swear I saw from a distance either pheasants or wild turkeys walking around. Even with all the water around, the mosquitos were not bad at all. There were a fair number of people about, and everyone was happy, enjoying the beautiful gardens, helpful staff, and the gorgeous weather. read more

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If your wife likes flowers and you enjoy antique cars this place is for you! The collection of antique cars is very educational with plenty of writeups and technical stats. Do you know, that there were electric, steam and gasoline cars already at the beginning of the last century? Heritage Museums and Gardens will require at least half a day to enjoy all exhibits. Staff is knowledgeable and very friendly. read more

Awesome garden and museum in Sandwich. The grounds and flowers are amazing. The entire place is maintained exquisitely. Everything was in bloom. They have a nice cafe for snacks and a lite meal. The auto museum is the best around, not only the cars, but the building itself. The carousel is amazing. There are art exhibits and sculptures all over. There are golf cart trams to transport you if you need be. There are hiking trails and water features. Acres and acres of manicured grounds. Special exhibits are frequent. Great place to spend the day. read more

I really enjoyed my visit to the Heritage Museums & Gardens in October. I'm sure coming during full blooming season would be even more enjoyable; however, there was still plenty to see and do when I was there. The air was crisp and it was just a lovely day to be outside enjoying the Fall weather. There's ample outdoor space to walk around and enjoy the environment, foliage and plants. There's also some indoor spaces and exhibits. There is free parking, a small cafe and gift shop as well. We spent a couple of hours there exploring and I would certainly return if in the area again. It's a destination that's good for all ages - a really lovely kids' exploration area / tree house as well as an old school merry go round (indoors). read more

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I was pleasantly surprised with the museum. We live out of state and needed something to do and it was perfect. Everyone was friendly and knowledgeable and my young kids loved it. So much great history and beauty. read more

What a delightful place to visit! The antique car museum was so interesting. The number of different plants and flowers on the grounds are unbelievable. You can walk around for hours but if you can't there are carts to take you to different areas. They also have the most gorgeous hydrangeas and other plants to purchase at reasonable prices. If you need a break there is a small little area to get a drink and a snack. Bring a book or a journal and enjoy the wonderful surroundings. read more

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Great kids water-play and fun creative play stations. My three year old loves it. It's a ton of walking, and my older kids do get a bit bored here. Beautiful if you want to stroll around on a nice spring or summer day - the hydrangeas are incredible and Christmas lights and Santa event in December are awesome. read more

Beautiful gardens. Weather was rainy but we went anyway. Glad we did. The car museum is great and the walk through the gardens was beautiful. Don't miss the carousel! read more

This place is incredibly beautiful and we got to see loads of cicadas on our visit. The car museum is awesome and the cranberry museum is super interesting. You can spend a whole day here because there's so much to see. The staff and volunteers are incredibly helpful and friendly. Unless you want to spend a fortune, bring your own food - the cafe is ridiculously over-priced for a counter service place and the $10 paper bowl of chowder was mediocre at best. The sandwiches were mostly around $18 and they were just wraps, nothing special. read more

Inviting assortment of trails and gardens and little nooks at this unique museum and botanical garden. Excellent collection of antique cars, outstanding antique carousel, and plentiful blooms for your Insta. A really lovely gem on Cape Cod. read more

Beautiful property and we'll worth the $20 ticket price. A few times while waiting we heard people asking if they had senior and student discounts, and they do not. My recommendation is just pay it, and you will have a few hours of entertainment. We walked around the grounds which is so vast studying and admiring different species of plants. I can only imagine how much more beautiful it would be during hydrangea blooming season (in just a few weeks) or rhododendron blooming season. Even with these species not in bloom it's beautiful!! We were pleasantly surprised by the galleries and auto museum tucked away inside. Young and old can find something here to be entertained by! We'll be back again! read more

I've been going to Heritage for decades. For many years it was a quiet, unpretentious and peaceful place. Unfortunately there have been many "improvements" over the years which have involved ripping out gardens, fields and woods to make way for an adventure park, a larger parking lot, more formal paths, fountains and terraces. Recently another huge section has been destroyed so a large "welcome center" can be built. There have been some good changes/additions -- a replica of a traditional Wampanoag dwelling; the Hundred Acre School for kids; an interactive play area with a treehouse. The art exhibits are stellar. But I sincerely hope that there aren't more radical changes. It's always crowded now -- busloads of tourists are dropped off. It would be a shame if this lovely area was transformed into "Heritage Amusement Park." read more

Clearly, this is one of Sandwich, MA's gems. First off, a lovely walk through a collection of flora native to New England. Then a bonus, a museum that features select automobiles that figure in American history. It's a "twofer", as Californians would say, i.e., "two for one". As someone here said, a nice picnic spot is also available. I could imagine myself hanging out here, surrounded by the natural beauty of all the flowers and greenery, reading a book and getting lost until it's time to go. If you live nearby, a visit to this spot should be done at least 1x a month! I had out-of-towners who love gardening, with me when I visited, and they were very pleased. read more

Beautiful place to visit any time of the year. The gardens are gorgeous and well maintained. At Christmas time they do a stunning light display. We take the kids every year to see the old cars and different displays of lights. The gift shop has some great gifts to purchase as well. One of my favorite places for unique items. read more

A beautiful spot to peruse shrubbery and stellar landscaping, with a few caveats to keep in mind: - Admission is pricey, but not outrageous for the attractions attractive to a first time visitor. Get with a member for discounted (or free) entry. - Said attractions beyond lawn sculptures and green clearings include a collection of antique and classic cars, as well as an incredible carousel. - Said attractions do not include: the Adventure Land. A fun day trip, but unless you're returning for a the Holiday Lights Festival, it's a one and done type spot. read more

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Twas a gorgeous sunny warm day Sunday. Left Boston for the Cape Cod and our 1st stop was Heritage Gardens in Sandwich with local friends who are members of the gardens and museum. 100 acres (or 40 hectares if your brain is metric) approx. of clean green and wondrous things to behold. Superlatives abound. Like HYDRANGEAS ? A very special selection. Horticultural heaven. We SOOO enjoyed the vintage merry go round, a 1908 model LOOF, one of 5 surviving in the country. Loved it ! Ride the merry go round: Choose your horse or other creature, and climb aboard. Take a trip ROUND memory lane, or back to your childhood. F U N music too. Beautifully crafted and painted....... Restored to pristine condition. The car museum...... In a purpose built building resembling a 200 year old Shaker milking barn...is an architechtural TREAT. Unique structure pieced together with precision CRAFTSMANSHIP: An ALL AMERICAN collection: Steam, electric, gas powered. 1899 Winton to the modern era. Presidential car of W H TAFT, complete with a video we've not seen before with footage over 100 years old. AMAZING exhibits from the E I Lilly family collection, big supporters of Heritage museum and gardens. Something here for the whole family. Priced fairly relative to the C L A S S of the place. Easy free parking. Highest recommendations. 5 stars. pics to follow read more

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What happened to this place ??Came here with my wife and 2 "youths" as they call them. Spent almost $70 to get in here. We spent more time dogging golf carts then we did anything else. My wife is 6 months pregnant and had one get within inches of her butt. We use to come here all the time but will not be coming back here. Save your money and go some where else this has become yet another tourist trap. read more

This is a great place. The cars are amazing and the staff is fantastic. The only thing that drew me to give the place a 3 star instead of a 5 is the Magnolia Cafe. This place is a small cafe a bit inside of the property. Appears to be designed to give visitors a pick me up to continue visiting the grounds. Be careful though, their sandwiches are not warm and they don't tell you. The sliced bread used to make your sandwiches is not toasted. When questioned they said they didn't have a toaster or a way to toast the bread. How could you run a cafe that serves sandwiches without a toaster? In a place with options they could have informed me they didn't warm or toast the sandwich and I would have picked something else. Not wait until I pay, sit, and open my surprise. I feel deceived. Not a good feeling. read more

Beautiful property located off a narrow town road. There is a small art museum, Wampanoag dwelling, and a working carousel. Paths are available for different abilities and interests and a shuttle will take one around the property. Friendly, knowledgeable drivers will drop one off at well designated spots and advise about the trails. read more

The gardens and museums are five acres with the one of the museums including the largest collection of antique cars, Tafts presidential vehicle is one site. The year, make and models of all vehicles included with the price and yearly income of the city it where it manufactured. Income disparity has long lived us all. Many were double the yearly income of the medium income. The grounds have pathways, wooded areas and grass lawn areas to sit. The price tag of $18 for a tourists day of leisure on the Cape a little stiff but they got you at boredom! There is a windmill, labyrinth, a tree house with a play ground below for the kiddos and two other museums plus a beautiful view of water with a nice park bench. The picture of the view and that bench now sits on my Facebook page as my background. It's a gorgeous park and I enjoyed the time here having said that it's a once and done type of visit for me. I have the Arboretum here in Boston and on a nice day if back at the Cape there are more sites to see. If you have time, the means and the inkling to check it out I would suggest you go. It was time well spent. read more

Heritage Museums & Gardens - A park bench with a view! - Botanical Gardens Near Me - Sandwich, Massachusetts

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The Heritage Museums&Gardens have retained their charm in this challenging time. It's worth it to have a membership. The hydrangeas are dazzling, plus there's a new exhibit of LEGO figures. The LEGO displays of birds&insects are stunning in their complexity (and the amount of effort involved) One can see works of art among the many gardens. Though the carousel is closed until Phase 4, there is a 400th anniversary mini-exhibit on the Pilgrims&the Wampanoag. There's a delightful maze, a historic windmill, a treehouse tucked away in "Hidden Hollow." THere's ample room for picnicking. The exhibit on New England toys is fascinating, with 19th century games like "Corner Grocery" and "Household Authors." There are more modern games like the original Candyland and "The Patty Duke game." The commentary with the exhibits is more postmodern, such as condemning a Cowboys&Indians game as "demonizing and vilifying indigenous peoples", the Mystery Date game of the 60s is deemed heteronormative, and the Massachusetts State Seal is un-PC. One learns about nuclear energy toys for the kids, how a My Little Pony is designed, and a cooperative game called Spirit Island that combats "settler colonialism." While the gift shop&cafe are limited, the gardens are open for business. A delightful place to go on a sunny day. read more

Beautiful grounds with so much to do could easily spend the day here. Prefect spot for families or an afternoon date. Next visit will come picnic ready. Everywhere we went there was something to do for our three year old. A treehouse, water discovery area, race car to try out in the museum - I think she had more fun than us. There was staff everywhere who was pleasant and busy doing their thing. The facility is in excellent condition. This is a gem on the cape and will certainly return. Adults $18, under three is free. read more

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Beautiful gardens and interesting museums make this place very special. There is something for everyone, all ages and interests. There is an amazing fun filled place for children in 'kids hollow.' Everyone loves the free merry-go-round. For car lovers, the antique cars collection is second to none. They even have an adventure park for teens. A must see of you come to Cape Cod. read more

Stopping here was absolutely worth the time and money. In fact, I recommend setting aside the day and take your time. I didn't and should have. I started with the car portion of the attraction. Wow! A beautiful collection! I will state that I am not a car enthusiast, but appreciate history and the craft that it took to build there fine machines. This definitely didn't disappoint. If you are into cars you will appreciate this exhibit all the more. The gardens were absolutely stunning. The variety of species I would speculate could be 100K, I never thought to ask or look this up at time of this review. I don't know the rules regarding to following, so please review them, but I would say this grounds would make an excellent location for a wedding or afternoon picnic. For me, if I could have a redo, I would have brought a book at sat down by the lake with a some snacks. The carousel really a work of art. The attendant asked if I wanted to ride. This is not my kind of thrill, but I gave it a whirl and I'm glad I did. If I was an emotional person, I may have cried, as the simple unadulterated act of riding this machine brought a huge smile to my face. On top of the detail and age (111 yrs old) left me a bit awestruck. After exploring the Cape for 5 weeks I would put this on the "Must Do" list. I had lunch before arriving, however, they have an outdoor cafe onsite with reasonable prices that would have you going for broke. Left not forget to thank the staff! Everyone was wonderful and knowledgeable to make this a most complete experience. read more

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A very pretty gardens and antique cars and a Carolsele to ride lot of walk but very nice place to visit

It's alot of fun here. Have been here several times and the experience never gets old. I love the old antique cars. Oh man if you are a car buff this is your place. Actually you do not have to be a car buff to enjoy yourself here. I'm really not and yet I loved it. They seem to have every type of antique car in the world. You can get your picture taken in some of the cars. I've been here 4 times now and it never loses its fun quality. They also now have this thing where you can get your picture taken wearing racing Gear that they provide. It's such fun. And they do have other things. Some of the other things involve walking but you also have the option of getting a ride there which they provide. They will pick you up too. Heritage is a great place to bring the kiddies too. And lastly, do not forget the carousel. It's for kids AND adults. It is absolutely beautiful and a fun ride so make sure to check it out. Heritage is one of the most interesting and fun places to go on The Cape. read more

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