Fall River, MA Road Trips

Fall River's name comes from Quequechan (locally, QUICK-uh-shan), a Wampanoag word meaning "Falling Water". At one time, the Quequechan River meandered through the city, connecting South Watuppa Pond to the Taunton River via eight small waterfalls. Today, most of the river is routed underground, covered by I-195. A lone aboveground waterfall remains; it's manmade and hidden in the Metacomet Mills complex, near where Anawan St. intersects Davol St. Fall River was the USA's largest cotton textile manufacturer in the late 1800s, earning its enduring nickname of "Spindle City". While this industry has largely disappeared, the granite mill buildings it left behind define the appearance of the city's South End. The aristocratic owners of these mill complexes lived in the Victorian mansions lining the streets of The Highlands, a neighborhood of the suburban North End. Among the mills that have not burned down or been demolished, many now house restaurants and retailers. Yet, the city's textile heritage lives on through more than just its structures. In 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Fall River's Merrow Manufacturing Company was the largest producer of USA-sourced PPE, including face masks. Along the Taunton River, the city's western border, lies The Waterfront. In the 19th century, this was the port for The Fall River Line, a steamboat-rail connection from New York City to Boston. Travel on the line's ornate "floating palaces" was the most luxurious way to get between these Northeastern hubs- just ask any of the six U.S. presidents, including FDR, who took the journey.

1 Battleship Cove, 5 Water St, ☏ +1 508 678-1100. museum closes at 4:30PM. Battleship Cove lays claim to the largest collection of preserved U.S. Navy ships in the world, from World War II to the present, which are open as historic monuments. The most famous of these boats is the USS Massachusetts ("Big Mamie"), which is said to have fired the first and last shells of WWII. Other ships include the Destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr., Submarine USS Lionfish, and PT Boats 617 and 796. Visitors are welcome to board the vessels and tour their outside areas and interiors. Visitors can arrange to spend a night aboard the ships for additional charge. Ticket includes two days of access, and admission to the nearby Maritime Museum. $15-25, children under 3 free. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Children's Museum of Greater Fall River, 441 N Main St, ☏ +1 508 672-0033. This small interactive museum offers children a number of exhibits to explore. Exhibits include the Lego Room and the World of Water, and there are various events that change on a regular basis. Admission $8, children under 12 months free. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Fall River Historical Society, 451 Rock St, ☏ +1 508 679-1071. Set in an 1800s Highlands mansion, the Historical Society offers guided museum tours that glimpse into the lives of New England's 19th Century elite. Rotating exhibits display an extensive collection of Fall River heirlooms, including Lizzie Borden artifacts.

1 Great Feast of the Holy Ghost of New England. Mid-August. Often called "the biggest Azorean feast in the world," it draws busloads of Portuguese from all over the country and Canada. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Driscoll Skating Arena, 272 Elsbree Street, ☏ +1 508 324-1926. Ice rink where you can play and spectate ice hockey (youth and adult leagues). Public skating hours every afternoon and on Friday evenings (suspended due to COVID-19 as of January 2021). Public Skating $6, Skate Rental $6. (updated Jan 2020) 3 Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan Street #1, ☏ +1 508 324-1926. This center on the top floor of one of Fall River's iconic mill buildings plays host to live music, art galleries, and other social gatherings. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, drink, and alcohol to events. (updated Dec 2020) The Little Theatre of Fall River puts on six or more theatrical productions a year. Running continuously since 1935, the company's musical and straight play productions can be seen at one of two locations: 4 The Firebarn, 340 Prospect St, ☏ +1 508 675-1852. Owned by Little Theatre of Fall River. (updated Jan 2020) 5 Margaret L. Jackson Arts Center (BCC), 777 Elsbree St, Building H. (updated Jan 2020)

The hometown of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse, Fall River hosts multiple culinary hidden gems, and offerings that cannot be found even in nearby Boston. Fall River is home to some of the best Portuguese bakeries outside of Portugal. Highlights include massa (Portuguese sweet bread), pastéis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts, or natas), papo secos (crusty rolls with a fluffy interior) and malasadas (deep-fried festival donuts rolled in sugar). 1 Barcelos Bakery and Cafe, 695-699 Bedford St., ☏ +1 508 676-8661. Featuring a huge selection of fresh Portuguese pastries in a large, laid-back cafe, Barcelos is a fantastic one-stop bakery frequented by locals and visitors alike. If you want to avoid peak hours, don't go on Sunday mornings- the post-church crowd routinely pushes the line out the door. (updated Dec 2020) 2 Leddy's Bakery & Coffee Shop, 1481 S Main St, ☏ +1 508 672-0832. Leddy's offers baked goods in a family-oriented atmosphere. Menu items include homemade donuts, cakes, lemon squares, and cream puffs, among other pastries. Try the items from the refrigerated case to the left of the cash register — those items are made with fresh, local cream and are especially delicious. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Lou's Bakery, 379 E Main St, ☏ +1 508 672-5795. Selling from a small deli counter, this bakery is best known for its exceptional sweet bread. You won't find every pastry on your Portuguese baked goods wish list here, but if it's amazing sweet bread you're after, Lou's is well worth the detour.

Since 2018, Fall River has been home to two craft breweries. New England is famous for its beer, and the quality of these two locations exceeds their small size. 1 Canned Heat Craft Beer Co., 52 Ferry Street. Local brewery serving exceptional hazy IPAs in a spacious warehouse taproom. Recommendations: Suppah New England DIPA, Orbuculum series (rotating), International IPA series (Ibex using Slovenian hops, Koala using Australian hops, etc.) (updated Dec 2020) 2 Troy City Brewing, 16 Anawan St. Nanobrewery offering carefully-crafted ales from a multitude of styles, in a warm space featuring a cobblestone outdoor patio. Recommendations: Anawan Street APA, Maplecroft Maple Porter, Troy German Pilsner (flagship). (updated Dec 2020) 3 Dunny's Saloon, 13 N Main St. Old-school bar serving over 60 whisk(e)ys, numerous canned craft beers (IPAs, stouts, and sours), and cocktails alongside wings, Reubens, and burgers. 4 The Tipsy Seagull, 91 Purchase St. Open late spring to mid-fall. This one-of-a-kind tiki bar floats in the Taunton River for 6 months out of the year. Boaters can dock and get cocktails brought to their vessel, while landlubbers enjoy the rooftop bar. Live music every night. Their sister restaurant, The Tipsy Toboggan, is open year-round. 5 St. James Irish Pub, 91 Purchase St.

As of 2020, there are very few options for overnight accommodations in Fall River proper. Several hotels and motels in Westport or Somerset are less than a mile from Fall River's borders. 1 Holiday Inn Express, 360 Airport Rd, ☏ +1 508 672-0011. Check-in: 4PM, check-out: 11AM. Newly-renovated and opened in early 2021, it is the only hotel in Fall River city limits. 81 rooms featuring new furnishings, carpeting, bedding, and linens. $89-169 rooms per night. (updated Sep 2021) 2 Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, 230 Second St, ☏ +1 508 675-7333. Not content with simply visiting the scene of this historic axe murder? Sleep and eat breakfast in the house where it happened. Bedroom options include Lizzie's room and the space where Abby Borden was killed. $250-300 per 2 person room per night; $2125 for the whole house. (updated Dec 2020) 3 Taylor Pharmacy Guesthouse, 203 Linden St. This charming apartment is set inside of a vintage pharmacy, with nostalgic décor celebrating its history. Guests have lauded the cleanliness, personal touches, and free breakfast items stocked in the fridge. $99 per night. (updated Sep 2021)

Logan International Airport (BOS IATA) in Boston is the primary international airport serving the area. T.F. Green Airport (PVD IATA) in Warwick (Rhode Island) is the city's nearest major domestic airport. New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB IATA) offers flights from Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Taunton Municipal Airport (FAA: TAN) in East Taunton is a small regional airport. Most visitors arrive by car, due to Fall River's relative lack of intercity public transportation. Interstate 195 runs east-west between Providence and Cape Cod. Primary route from Providence and Cape Cod. Exits: 11, 12, 13, 14A, 14B. MA Route 24 runs south-north from Newport to Randolph. Primary route from points north, notably Boston (via Interstate 93), and from Southern Rhode Island. Exits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8A, 8B. U.S. Route 6 runs east-west through Fall River, from Provincetown in Cape Cod toward Providence, ultimately running another 3,000 mi (4,800 km) to California. MA Route 79 begins in Fall River and terminates in Middleborough to the north. Connects I-195 to Route 24. MA/RI Route 81 begins in Little Compton to the south and terminates in Fall River. MA/RI Route 138 from Newport to Milton enters Fall River from Tiverton, crosses the river via Routes 79/6 into Somerset, and runs north toward Taunton. MA/RI Route 177 passes through Fall River for a whopping 200 feet to connect Tiverton with Westport. The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) offers daily buses from nearby Swansea, Dartmouth, and New Bedford to Fall River.

Car access is recommended for travel in Fall River. Parking is free and plentiful throughout most of the city. Downtown, particularly in the areas immediately surrounding Government Center, metered parking may be required. Enterprise Rent-A-Car, 775 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 508 677-9000. (updated Jan 2021) Hertz, 1672 Pleasant St, ☏ +1 508 235-0472. (updated Jan 2021) The Southeastern Regional Transportation Authority (SRTA) offers 14 bus routes within the city. All routes start at the Louis D. Pettine Transportation Center (118 4th St). Visiting from Boston? Your MBTA CharlieCard works on the bus! Otherwise, you can buy tickets at the bus terminal, or pay in cash (not credit card) onboard. Fares: $1.50 per trip ($1.40 with CharlieCard). $0.75 Reduced Fare ($0.70 with CharlieCard). Children under 6 free. Uber operates in Fall River. Other rideshare services (including Lyft) do not as of Jan 2021. Traditional taxi services exist, including Town Taxi and Yellow Cab of Fall River. However, their online presence is limited, and as of Jan 2021 it is unclear how regularly they are operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fall River is a city built on hills, with some streets exceeding a 20% elevation grade. As a result, getting around solely by foot can be a challenge. Walking within neighborhoods is generally doable, but crossing from one to another can be problematic. Bicycles in Fall River are typically used for recreation, not transportation. Traffic bike lanes do exist, but are sparse and rarely used.

Fall River is a sizable city. The precautions one would take in any unfamiliar urban area should be observed, particularly after dark. Crime rates across the city steadily decreased throughout the 2010s. That said, Fall River has one of the highest rates of violent crime in Massachusetts. A high proportion of crime in the city is drug-related and/or domestic in nature, and does not occur in broad daylight. As a result, it is exceedingly unlikely to be targeted or involved as a random bystander. Crime is not uniform across the city. Very little occurs in Globe Village, Maplewood, and all neighborhoods north of Route 6. The city’s suburban North End (approximately Zip Code 02720) has significantly less reported crime than neighborhoods in the South End. Rates are highest in Corky Row, Flint Village, and City Center. At night, visitors are recommended to avoid residential streets in these areas, in addition to sections of Pleasant St., Slade St., and city parks.