Kingston, MA Road Trips

Kingston was founded as part of Plymouth, Duxbury, and Pembroke, but was carved out and incorporated as a distinct town in 1726. Kingston is also to the longest continuously run boat yard in North America, now named the Jones River Landing. The USS Independence, a ship used during the Revolutionary War, was built by Kingston shipbuilders on the Jones River and appears on the town's seal. The town was also famous for ice harvesting. Silver Lake, a large freshwater pond and the namesake of the region's school district, was so named as a marketing ploy for the ice harvesting industry. Today, Kingston is quite homogeneous and mainly home to families with adults commuting into Boston for work.

1 Jones River Trading Post, 42 Elm Street (on the Jones River waterfall). Used mostly for private functions, but the grounds surrounding the building are a pretty spot to check out nonetheless. 2 Jones River Village Historical Society, 50 Landing Road. View collections and exhibits relating to Kingston's history in the 16th-century Bradford Homestead and gardens, which have been restored. Weekly breakfasts held during the summer season.

1 Alley Kat Lane, 7 Tarklin Rd. New England-style candlepin bowling. Great for kids. 2 Bog Hollow Farm, 80 Wapping Road. Blueberry and pumpkin picking available seasonally. 3 Bog Ice Arena, 188 Summer Street. Ice rink offering public skating, hockey, figure skating, and learn-to-skate programs, and hockey league play. 4 Gray's Beach Park. The only public beach in Kingston, Gray's Beach park is located in the picturesque Rocky Nook area. In addition to the beach, facilities include a playground, tennis courts, and a snack shack. Parking is by beach sticker; full passes are sold annually for residents and nonresidents, but you can buy a day pass at the concession stand for $8. 5 K1 Speed, 101 Kingston Collection Way. Indoor Go-Kart racing. Sign up for individual races, or take classes. Leagues available to join. 6 Sampson Forest and Memorial Park. Hiking trails along the Jones River and great for dog walking.

1 Cancun Family Mexican Restaurant, 145 Main St. High-quality, authentic Mexican food and margarita bar. Family-friendly. 2 Charlie Horse Restaurant, 99 Main St, ☏ +1 781 585-5550. Great family restaurant with comfort food staples. Pool tables and video games in game area in the back, great for entertaining kids while waiting for the food to arrive. Also has a sports bar. 3 Percy's Place, 117 Main St. Great for breakfast and for families. Also serves lunch. 4 Carmela's Italian Restaurant and Lounge, 138 Main St, ☏ +1 508 582-1022. Authentic Italian food; great atmosphere. 5 Bar Rustic, 101 Kingston Collection Way. New American-style/urban cuisine. Also contains The Studio Kitchen, which offers chef-hosted dinner shows and classes. 6 Port Bistro, 114 Main Street. American bistro-style meals; specialties include clams, crabcakes, and roasted duck. Excellent wine menu. 7 Solstice, 63 Summer St, ☏ +1 781 585-2221. Nice atmosphere and great cooking in this reclaimed train station. Expensive, but worth the splurge.

1 Pinz, 101 Kingston Collection Way. Bowling, arcade, laser tag, pool, cocktails, and pub food.

1 Ahh...Qua Bed and Breakfast, 164 Wapping Road. Cozy rooms, wrap around porch, fire pit, full breakfast and afternoon treats. 2 Baymont Inn & Suites, 149 Main St. Located right off of Route 3 in Kingston. Free breakfast and Wi-Fi access, indoor pool and fitness center. 3 1760 Peabody Bradford Homestead, 6 River Street. 1760 Cape House fully renovated and expanded on the Jones River. Continental breakfast.

Kingston is mainly accessed by car from Route 3 via exits 8, 9, and 10. Other state routes are Routes 3A, 27, 80, and 106. Travelers arriving by plane usually land at Boston's Logan International Airport (BOS IATA). Coach bus and MBTA rail connections can be made from Boston Logan to the Kingston area. Other travelers may elect to arrive at Rhode Island's T.F. Green Airport (PVD IATA) but there are no direct public transit options to Kingston from Warwick. The Plymouth Municipal Airport (PYM IATA), located in nearby Plymouth is a small, regional airport for four to ten seat aircraft. Commuter Rail service from Boston to Kingston is available every day from South Station terminal via the MBTA's Plymouth/Kingston Line. This train line diverges at its final stop, with some runs ending at the Plymouth terminal, while others end at the Kingston terminal near the Kingston Collection. The Kingston Collection is about a mile away from the commuter rail station, so it is advisable to plan for additional transit such as a taxi prior to departing. Motor coach service from Boston's South Station and Logan Airport to the Big Y Grocery parking lot off of exit 10 on Route 3 is available via the Plymouth and Brockton Street Railway Co. The bus service continues south after the Kingston stop to Plymouth, and is used often by residents commuting into the city. Parking for the bus at Big Y plaza is free, with bus riders normally parking close to the Rockland Trust part of the lot.

Traveling by car is relatively easy here, though be prepared for a bumpy ride on some older back roads. Easy highway access makes trips across town even faster, and most roads aren't overly crowded or backed up with traffic. Some exceptions are: Main Street near Exit 9 at the beginning and end of the elementary school day, the Independence Mall Way/Exit 8 area, Pembroke Street/Route 27 between Lake Street and Wapping Road at the beginning and end of the high school day, and Summer Street/Route 3A between exits 8 and 9. Parking is convenient to most commercial and residential districts at most times, and is nearly always free. The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority (GATRA) provides public transportation in town via the Plymouth Area Link bus routes. Regular fare is $1 and buses run every day.