Plymouth, MA – Site of the first pilgrims where they settled in 1620! This town has tons to see and do and is well worth at least a visit and maybe a few visits! Plymouth rock and the Mayflower II are just a few of the main attractions but there is much more to see and do!
Plymouth, MA is a perfect town for spending a day and exploring! I love the fact that it’s easily walkable and you can just park and enjoy the day by foot! Make sure you check out the visitor’s center where they will give you map and tons of helpful tips! The Plymouth website is a great wealth of info as well!
Many people venture to Plymouth to see Plymouth rock, which marks the spot where the the Mayflower landed and Willam Bradford disembarked in 1620. Note the stone itself is a bit underwhelming in size but it makes up for it in historical importance. And the views from the store to the harbor are nice as well.
The Mayflower II has just been returned to the harbor earlier this year after being away for 3 years and undergoing $11.2 million dollars worth of renovations. Its open to the public for visiting and tickets do need to be purchased. It was built in Devon, England in 1955-1956 as a replica to the Mayflower and gifted to the US.
There is also the burial hill cemetery which is also the location of the first fort in the area as well. Its neat to walk through and see some of the dates and names on the tombstones.
There are many more historical sites to explore, tours you can take, and statues to see! You’d be hard pressed to see it all in a day! There are also tons of fun shops and restaurants to eat at. Some offering great views while you eat. We ate at Mamma Mia’s and sat on the outdoor balcony overlooking the harbor. The food was delicious and the view fantastic. Made for great entertainment watching all the fun cars driving up and down the street as well.
There are quite a few parking options available. The paid parking season is from Apr 1st to Nov 30th and is $2/hour. There are some free lots that are a bit further out as well. You can find all the parking locations here on this map. We parked in Water lot 2 and it was a great location for walking the main street and easy access to the information center. I’d recommend using at least a 4 hour parking lot, we only paid for 3 hours and got back just in the knick of time! The meter lady was walking around writing tickets as we walked up and it was just expiring.
Make sure you add Plymouth, MA to your bucket list and go planning to spend at least a few hours! If you have a favorite site or restaurant in Plymouth I’d love to hear about it!
Know Before You Go
What: Plymouth, MA – Where the Pilgrims first Settled
How To Get There: It’s located approx. 1 hour from Hanscom AFB.
Parking: There is lots of parking available in the town. The paid parking seasons is from April 1st to Nov 30th, which is a $2/hour rate. There are some free parking lots a bit further out as well during the season.
Cost: Fees for parking, the machines take credit cards. Free to walk around. You can see the Plymouth rock and Mayflower II for free. You can pay a fee to go about the Mayflower II. There are also some paid attractions you can consider. And lots of yummy restaurants and fun shops. So costs will vary per family.
Extra info: You can bring a soft sided cooler with snacks and drinks. No glass bottles or alcohol. Also bring warm layers as it can get a bit windy and chilly when the boat is heading out and back in. Snacks, drinks, and alcohol are also sold at the snack bar on the boat.