Plymouth, Massachusetts is a coastal town located just 40 miles south of Boston. It is one of the oldest towns in America and is home to the infamous, Plymouth Rock. It’s where the pilgrims settled after first landing in Provincetown, Massachusetts. Because of its deep roots in American history, and classic New England charm, it has become a tourist destination of its own. 

If you’re visiting New England, I urge you to add Plymouth to your summer itinerary. Here are 7 things to do to get you started: 

1. Visit the Plimoth Patuxet Museums 
2. Whale Watch with Captain John 
3. Eat Seafood at the Cabby Shack
4. Shop, Dine, and Wine on Court St./Main St.
5. See Plymouth Rock
6. Golf at Pinehills Golf Club
7. Take the fast ferry to Provincetown

Visit the Plimoth Patuxet Museums

Let’s start with something fun and educational. This way, as you explore the town you can appreciate its rich history. The Plimouth Patuxet Musuem is a great place to do just that. The different sites of the museum are fun for all ages and extremely educational. Bringing you all the way back to 1620’s.

In the Historic Patuxet Homesite, you’ll get to experience what life was like for the Native Americans who called the area home prior to the arrival of the pilgrims. The Patuxet were a band of the Wampanoag Tribe whose territory covered what is today, southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and the South Shore (Duxbury-ish south). The Wampanoags were the first Native American’s the Pilgrims encountered when they originally landed in Provincetown.  As you walk around, team members (in character) will interact with you, immersing you in the experience.

After experiencing what life was like prior to the arrival of the Pilgrims, you can head to the 17^th Century English Village to see what life was like for the Pilgrims who settled at Plymouth Harbor. You’ll get to see what their homes looked like, what daily life was like, and even how they enjoyed their downtime. Just like at the Patuxet Homesite, you’ll be able to interact with the costumed staff as you tour the village. 

Next, you can head to, what I believe to be the crown jewel, the Mayflower II at Plymouth Harbor. The Mayflower II is exactly what it sounds like, a reproduction or replica of the original tall ship that brought the Pilgrims from England to the “New World.” The Mayflower II arrived from England in 1957 and has been adored in Plymouth Harbor since.

The Plimoth Patuxet Museum is spread around 3 different locations. The Plimoth Patuxet Homesite, 17^thCentury English Village, and the Craft Center are all in one location. The Plimoth Grist Mill and Mayflower II are at their own separate locations.

The admission fees for the museum are tiered. You can choose the Heritage Pass which will give admission to every site of the Plimoth Patuxet Museum. The price is $46/ Adult, $29/ Child and $41.40/ Senior*.

The next tier is the Plimoth Patuxet only pass. This pass will give you admission to the Plimoth Patuxet Homesite, 17^th Century English Village, and the Craft Center. The price for this ticket is, $35/ Adult, $20/ Child, and $31.50/ Senior*.

Next is the combination pass which admits you to the Homesite, 17^th Century English Village, Craft Center and the Mayflower II. The prices are, $44/Adult, $27/ Child, $39.60/ Senior*.

You can also visit the Plimoth Grist Mill by itself for an admission fee of, $11/ Adult, $8/ Child and $9.90/ Senior*

Lastly, you can choose to visit just the Mayflower II for a price of $19/ Adult, $13/Child and $17.10/ Senior*.

If you’re visiting Plymouth Harbor, (which is where most of my “To Do’s” are located) you can easily visit just the Mayflower II while you’re there. However, if you’re staying in the area for multiple days, the Heritage Pass is a really good value. 

On a personal note, we really enjoy destinations like these as they are educational, fun, and hands on. As a traveling family who homeschools, we take advantage of opportunities like this.  

Whale Watch with Captain John Boats

A summer trip to the Massachusetts coast is not complete without going out on the water and seeing wildlife. Every spring, Humpback Whales migrate back to Cape Cod Bay where they’ll stay for the entire summer. A day out on the water with Captain John Boats is almost a guarantee to see the Humpbacks eating in the bay or Stellwagen Bank. 

Of course it’s not really guaranteed, but we’ve been out a few different times over the years and have never gotten snubbed. In fact, one year we saw Right Whales (endangered), Humpbacks, and Great Whites on the same trip.

The plus side of taking the tour from Plymouth Harbor, as opposed to Boston or the North Shore, is you’ll have less time traveling to the feeding grounds, and more time to spend in the presence of these majestic animals. The staff will narrate fun facts about the whales, or whatever marine life you’re witnessing, checking of the educational and fun boxes again. 

The prices for whale watching with Captain John Boats are $73/ Adult , $53/ Child, $63/ Senior and $3/ infant (0-3)*. The tours usually last around 3.5 to 4 hours. You can purchase food and beverage (including adult beverages) on board (cash only). 

Side note: if you’re not into Whale Watching, Captain John Boats offers several other boat tours throughout the day as well. One is a just a cruise around the harbor so you can take in the picturesque New England harbor town from the water. Plymouth Harbor is considered one of the most beautiful harbors in the country. 

Eat and Drink at the Cabby Shack

Now that you’re back from your Whale Watch, you can walk just a few steps to The Cabby Shack. The Cabby Shack is a bar and restaurant pretty much right on the water of Plymouth Harbor. The biggest draw is their two levels of outdoor seating looking into the harbor. Of course, sunset is their busiest time, but any time of day is a good time on the decks of The Cabby Shack. 

My personal favorite foods are the clam strips and the fish and chips. I’m probably one of the only New Englanders that doesn’t love lobster but, I’ve heard it’s really good here as well. Along with the New England Clam Chowder. I’m also not a fan of soup on a hot summer day, but if you do, go for it! It doesn’t get much more “New England” than eating lobstah or Clam Chowdah (as we say) while looking out into the Atlantic Ocean where your food came from.

Walk and Shop on Court St./ Main St.

Court street is lined with “mom and pop” shops for about half a mile between Park Ave and Water Street. If you’re hungry you can find many restaurants, pubs, and taverns. There are breweries to explore if you’re into craft beers as well delicious spots for deserts. The architecture on the street is quintessential coastal New England. 

Once you get to Water Street, make a left and head back towards Park Ave. On the way, take a stroll through Brewster Gardens. You’ll also enjoy water views and a chance to pass by Plymouth Rock. Court Street and Water Streets could fill a whole day’s itinerary.  

See Plymouth Rock

As I hinted at above, Plymouth Rock is located on Water Street. You can’t actually touch the rock as it’s protected, but you can grab a picture. I was going to post a picture (you can Google if you want) but I figured if you want to be surprised, I won’t spoil it for it. I will say, your mind is probably hyping it up more than you’d like. Either way, if you’re in Plymouth, you must see Plymouth Rock. 

If you’re looking for more than just seeing Plymouth Rock, there are several self-guided tours that you can find online. There’s also a guided “ghost tour” of Plymouth where they bring you to some of the oldest cemeteries in the country. 

Golf at Pine Hills Golf Club

This suggestion is obviously for a particular niche. I personally enjoy golfing, although I haven’t done much of it lately, and my son is really starting to get into it as well. If you’re visiting by car or RV and have your golf clubs with you, Plymouth is home to some impressive courses. At the top of the list (for public courses) is Pine Hills. It features two different 18-hole courses, and the grounds are meticulously maintained.

During the peak season (May- October) the prices are not for the faint of heart. A round of 18 will cost you about $130 including a cart and a bucket of range balls*. If you don’t have your clubs, you can rent them for an additional $60*. Once you’re on the course, you’ll understand why the course is priced the way it is. Especially if you’ve been to other, less than stellar, public courses. 

Take the ferry to Provincetown

This one is kind of counter intuitive, I guess. I’m giving you a list of things to do in Plymouth but I’m also telling you to leave Plymouth. There’s a reason though.

As I mentioned above, Provincetown is where the Pilgrims came ashore first. They met members of the Wampanoag tribe there and then relocated. I could tell you why, but I’d rather you visit the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum. You’ll get to go on top of the monument for a wonderful Birds Eye view.

The monument and the museum are a block away from Commercial Street where you’ll find lots of shops and restaurants. There are a few areas along the street that will provide beach access as well. The ferry will leave about 4:30pm and bring you back to Plymouth Harbor. 

Taking the fast ferry with Captain John Boats, the round trip journey will cost you $75/ Adult, $53/Child, $63/ Senior, and $3 / infant (0-3)*. The best part is, you won’t have to sit in traffic trying to cross the bridges into or out of Cape Cod. I think the price is worth it for that reason alone. Being at sea for 90 minutes is an added bonus.

Beaches (Bonus)

I’ve mentioned being on the water a few times, but I haven’t mentioned being in the water or at the beach. Plymouth has beautiful, picturesque and classic New England beaches. Sand Dunes in the background, sandy (yes rocky too) beaches, and beautiful, blue water. Be fair warned, ocean waters in Plymouth are on the chillier side, but after you get used to it, it’s like bath water. 

Plymouth Long Beach is a favorite. It sits out on a peninsula and is secluded from the rest of the town. There is only, one, two lane road for basically beach access only. There are no amenities here, so be prepared to take in what you need and take it back out. 

I hope you all enjoyed this. If you make your way to Plymouth or have been there, please feel free to share your experience in the comments below. 

Thanks for reading. Stay safe and God bless. 

*Prices are as of July 17^th, 2024. Subject to change, visit the museum website for up-to-date pricing.