Plymouth, MA Road Trips

Plymouth is the largest town in the state of Massachusetts, by both area and population. It had a population of about 61,200 in 2020. Because of this, the town is often divided into neighborhoods, which all have different characteristics. The center of tourist activity is in Plymouth's historic downtown and waterfront neighborhoods, and other villages include Manomet, North Plymouth, and West Plymouth. Although somewhat homogeneous on the surface, each village has its own unique characteristics which makes it worth venturing outside the harbor-side to visit. North Plymouth was once home to the Cordage Company, the largest rope-maker in the world. Cordage employed many Italian and Portuguese immigrants who settled in company housing in this part of town, which many of their descendants still proudly call home. The Holy Ghost Festa, a major holiday for Portuguese of Azorean descent, is still widely celebrated in North Plymouth each summer. Manomet is home to White Horse Beach, and a small downtown area of its own, including its own post office, fire station and many businesses. West Plymouth is home to many strip malls and the larger Colony Place area, and is arguably the most commercialized section of town. Chiltonville is home to the Plimoth Patuxet Museum and is almost exclusively residential.

There are many historical sites in the downtown area within walking distance; the most popular are listed below. 1 Mayflower II and dockside exhibits, State Pier, Water St. 9AM-5PM. A historically accurate, full-scale replica of the 17th-century vessel the Pilgrims arrived aboard. The reproduction was made in England using traditional shipbuilding methods in conjunction with Plimoth Plantation. Upon its completion, it set sail on April 20, 1957 from Plymouth, England across the Atlantic to Plymouth, Massachusetts, recreating the original voyage. Tickets are sold packaged with Plimoth Plantation admission. Adults $28; Children $18; Senior Citizens $25. 2 Old County Courthouse & Museum, Town Square, ☏ +1 508 830-4075. Built in 1749, the two-story wood frame building is believed to be the oldest wooden courthouse in the United States; it stands on the site of the first (1620) courthouse built by Plimoth Colony settlers, and may incorporate elements of a 1670 building. Vintage firetruck inside. 3 Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St. (Rt. 3A) (at Chison St.), ☏ +1 508 746-1620, fax: +1 508-747-4228, [email protected]. A gallery museum displaying the actual possessions of the Pilgrims as well as temporary exhibits related to Plymouth history. 4 Plimoth Grist Mill Museum, 6 Spring Ln (off Summer St., a short walk away from the waterfront), ☏ +1 508 747-4544. Formerly known as the Jenny Grist Mill but now affiliated with Plimoth Plantation. An authentic working mill rebuilt on the site of the original 1636 mill. Tours and exhibits.

A calendar of events is maintained See Plymouth. 1 Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra, 16 Court St, ☏ +1 508 746-8008. Concert season runs from Sept-May with performances at Memorial Hall. The off season includes a July Fourth free concert on the waterfront, annual gala, and other events. 2 Priscilla Beach Theater, 800 Rocky Hill Road, ☏ +1 508 224-4888, [email protected]. The historic Priscilla Beach Theatre is the oldest barn theater still in operation in America. Founded by Dr. Franklin Trask in 1937, the theater quickly became one of the most respected schools of theater training in America. In its heyday, as many as 150 actors and actresses were in residence, including Paul Newman, Pat Carroll, Peter Gallagher, and Rob Reiner. Today the renovated theater performs professional summer stock plays and musicals and also offers classes and workshops for children and adults. Summer stock season runs from May-October. 3 Project Arts Free Concerts on the Waterfront. Performances by various bands are given Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights outdoors during the summer near Plymouth Rock. 4 Bonfire Night. Manomet village's annual July 3rd festival, celebrated by setting giant bonfires ablaze on Priscilla, White Horse, and Manomet beaches and amateur fireworks displays so numerous one might be convinced fireworks aren't illegal in Massachusetts (they are).

Smoking is not permitted in restaurants unless outdoors. 1 Blueberry Muffin, 2240 State Rd, ☏ +1 508 747-0462. Cederville village's staple bakery and breakfast meetup spot. Also serves lunch. 2 Gellar's, 506 State Road. The unofficial "town hall" of Manomet, operated by the Gellar family since the 1920s. Most famous for its ice cream, but also serves sandwiches, seafood, burgers, and other lunch staples. 3 Lobster Hut, 25 Town Wharf, ☏ +1 508 746-2270. Summer daily 11AM-9PM; winter daily 11AM-7PM. Fairgrounds type atmosphere, casual but decent seafood a stone's throw from the sea. Eat inside or out. If out, beware of hungry gulls. $5-15. 4 Rose and Vicki's, 747 State Road, ☏ +1 508-224-3502. Daily 9AM - 9PM. Manomet's staple sub shop. Sandwiches, wraps, salads, pizza, bakery items, apps, party platters. Dine-in and delivery. 5 Water Street Cafe, 25 Water St, ☏ +1 508-746-2050. Daily 5:30AM-3PM. Winner of several Best Breakfast and Lunch awards. Large variety; homestyle feel. 6 42 Degrees North Restaurant and Lounge, 690 State Road, ☏ +1 508 224-1500. Specializes in seafood with a separate "Fish Market Menu" that has a variety of fresh fish that can be prepared to your specifications. Also serves regular dinner fare such as beef, pasta, chicken, soups and salads. Outdoor deck open seasonally. Entree $15-30. 7 Blue-Eyed Crab Grille and Raw Bar, 170 Water St, ☏ +1 508 747-6776. Su-Th 11:30AM–9PM, F Sa 11:30AM–10PM. Fresh seafood specials changing daily with a choice of toppings.

Several of the more popular bars are already mentioned in the "eat" sections above as they are also quite excellent restaurants; Sam Diego's, Surfside Smokehouse's deck, Waterfront Bar and Grille, and several others have lively cocktail and beer crowds after dinner. Below are some additional options known more for their nightlife: 1 1620 Wine Bar, 170 Water Street. Patio wine bar on the waterfront. Fire pit, live entertainment. Special events such as Paint Nights. 2 Black Raspberry Pub, 36 Cordage Park Cir # 111. Pub food, great drinks, pool tables, live entertainment. 3 The Cabbyshack, 30 Town Wharf, ☏ +1 508 746-5354. Eat and or drink inside or out. Lively atmosphere on big outside decks. Popular with the motorcycle crowd. Entertainment most evenings. You would think this just couldn't be good as it appears as a tourist trap, but it is amazing. 4 The Pillory Pub, 72 Water St. Rocking chairs overlook the waterfront at this popular pub across from the Mayflower II. Great beer selection, pub food, friendly bartenders, chill atmosphere.

If you intend to visit during peak tourist season (Memorial Day-Labor Day) or over the Thanksgiving holiday, hotels can sell out far in advance. Be certain to plan ahead! 1 Blue Spruce Motel, 710 State Road (in the Manomet village area on Route 3A), ☏ +1 508 224-3990, toll-free: +1-800-370-7080. Motel rooms and townhouses. Outdoor pool, full kitchen and dining area in the townhouses. About a 15-minute drive into downtown Plymouth or 5 minute drive to White Horse Beach. 2 Ellis Haven Family Camping, 531 Federal Furnace Rd, ☏ +1 508 746-0803, [email protected]. Private beach on freshwater lake, paddleboats, recreation center, minigolf, ball fields. Hot showers, laundry, 24-hour security, grocery store, restaurant, snack bar, sports bar. Your choice of sunny or shady sites. Full hookups, including cable TV. Furnished cabin rentals. Safari fields for group camping. 3 Sandy Pond Campground, 834 Bourne Rd, ☏ +1 508 759-9336, [email protected]. From tent sites to full hookups to cabins. Nice sandy beach on freshwater pond. Store, RV service, sports areas. 4 Best Western Plus Cold Spring, 180 Court St. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. About a 5-minute drive or 15-minute walk to downtown. Motel with cottages, but nicely upkept. Heated outdoor pool, free WIFI, breakfast. 5 By the Sea Bed and Breakfast, 22 Winslow St, ☏ +1 508 830-9643, [email protected]. Great location overlooking the historic waterfront and Mayflower II. All suites have spectacular ocean views. The suites are air conditioned, have private entrances, private baths, TVs, and refrigerators.

Plymouth makes an excellent day trip (or several days' trip) when exploring the Boston, Providence, or Cape Cod areas. Plymouth covers four exits along Route 3, extending from Exit 12 (serving Manomet) to Exit 16 (serving the Route 44 expressway). Downtown Plymouth is accessed via Exit 15A, and the strip malls and hotels of West Plymouth are accessible via US-44 west. Metered parking is available downtown at both public lots and on street. The lots often have ticketing machines while street spots have individual meters. All parking fills up quickly during summer tourist season and during events such as festivals and parades. Get an early start or plan to do a lot of circling to find a spot. From Boston and points north: Plymouth is about an hour south of Boston, Massachusetts via Interstate 93 South to Route 3 South. Traffic is notorious during weekday rush hours, especially in the summer months where Route 3 is congested with vacationers heading south past Plymouth towards Cape Cod. Travel in off-peak hours is strongly advised for an enjoyable and timely trip. Route 3A, a two-lane back road which runs parallel to Route 3 from Boston down through the South Shore and directly through Plymouth, was the original road from Plymouth to Boston prior to the national highway system being built in the 1950s. Although quite scenic, it is a lengthy drive and not typically worth traveling the entire route. From Providence, Rhode Island and points west: Plymouth is connected to the west via Route 44, which runs into the western part of Plymouth through Carver.

The main tourism areas are all very walkable, especially if you are staying at one of the downtown or waterfront area hotels. The "Pilgrim Path" is similar in design to the Freedom Trail in Boston, taking you on a self-guided walking tour past most of the major historical sights downtown. The trail is designated by painted little Pilgrim hats along the sidewalk. You can pick up a pamphlet guide, Pilgrim Path, A Walk Through History at the Visitor Center on Water St. There you can also speak with helpful staff, pick up local maps, and purchase postcards, cameras, and tour tickets. The downtown area also has a few, but not extensive, public transit options: GATRA Buses. Best way to access different points in town, including the villages outside the downtown area via multiple routes. Wheelchair accessible. Runs daily; times vary based upon day of the week and the route. America's Hometown Trolley. Daily 10AM-5PM. Runs only during the summer tourist season. Offers an all-day hop on/hop off fare or one way trips. Route begins and ends at Plymouth Rock and loop includes Plimoth Plantation and Plymouth Beach, which are not easy to walk to. Loop also includes the John Carver Inn and the Best Western Cold Spring, which is convenient for visitors staying at those locations. Outside of downtown, a car remains the easiest way to travel between points of interest. Most visitors arrive in Plymouth via car, so this is not an issue, but if you are without a ride renting a car for the day is your best bet. Several car rental agencies are located in the downtown area.

In Plymouth dial 911 if there is an emergency. This free call will summon police, medical, and fire services to assist you. Crime is relatively low for a town of Plymouth's size, but take the normal precautions and don't leave your belongings unattended in public spaces, such as public beaches. Plymouth has been a part of the region's larger opiate epidemic, but you are unlikely to encounter many drug-related problems in any of the major tourist areas. However, keep an eye out for spent hypodermic needles which can be found alongside roads or on beaches. Most beaches in Plymouth do not have lifeguards and many experience drastic tidal differences as sandbars are numerous. Follow the advice of locals and check tidal calendars before venturing off too far onto mudflats or long walks around bluffs - you may find yourself having to swim back when the beach disappears without much warning! Also take care when boating in the area; unexpected mudflats or large glacial rocks can be closer to the surface at certain tidal points, causing unassuming craft to run aground. Plymouth has, along with Cape Cod, experienced a drastic rise in great white sharks as the harbor seal population, which is their main source of food, has exploded. Sharks can appear close to shore along Plymouth beaches and have made encounters with some kayakers, though despite knocking them into the water no injuries have been reported. The best defense is to stay alert and understand that the sharks are much more interested in finding seals than hurting you.