This Old-School New England Town In Massachusetts Is Full Of History And Coastal Charm

It's not about the rock. In fact, go ahead and skip the rock. Despite its indelible, and likely inaccurate, association with the coastal town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, Plymouth Rock is widely known as one of the most disappointing tourist attractions in the US. To be clear, we said skip the rock, not the town. The historic community located about 40 miles southeast of Boston ranks among the best east coast cities for history buffs. But it's way more than that.

Encompassing an area of 134 square miles, Plymouth boasts 37 miles of coastline and 450 fresh water ponds. While parking at many of the oceanfront beaches is restricted to residents during summer, Plymouth Beach. a three-mile-long barrier beach that begins at Long Beach in the south and ends at a jetty where it merges with the mouth of the Eel River on the southern edge of Plymouth Harbor, offers pay-per-day public parking.

Beach lovers may want to consider making Pilgrim Sands Hotel their base of operations. Located on Long Beach, the modest hotel offers panoramic views of Cape Cod Bay. On a clear day, it's possible to spot Pilgrim Monument almost 30 miles across the bay in Provincetown, Massachusetts — one of the most picturesque towns to visit on the east coast. For an up-close-and-personal look at Provincetown, check out Captain John Boats. The local water excursion company offers fast-ferry service — about 90 minutes each way — across the bay, as well as scenic cruises and fishing trips. While we're on the subject of water-based fun, we'd be remiss if we didn't mention the ponds, many of which — including some located in Plymouth's Town Forest — offer recreational opportunities like hiking and kayaking.

Beyond the much-ballyhooed rock, the town of Plymouth is a treasure trove of bonafide historic sites. The Plymouth historical and cultural district is home to a number of significant sites, all within walking distance of one another. Highlights include Burial Hill Cemetery. The final resting place of William Bradford is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Plymouth Antiquarian Society and Pilgrim Hall Museum lead free one-hour tours of the cemetery on the first Saturday of every month, except January.

Other highlights include the William Bradford Statue and Pilgrim Mother Statue on Water Street. Located across from Plymouth Rock on Cole's Hill, the Massasoit Sachem Statue (aka Ousamequin) pays homage to the leader of the indigenous Wampanoag people who inhabited the area for 12,000 years before the Pilgrims arrived. Also across from Plymouth Rock, the Pilgrim Sarcophagus is dedicated to the memory of nameless first settlers who died within a year of their arrival.

In addition to leading tours of Burial Hill Cemetery, Pilgrim Hall Museum is a destination in its own right. Established by The Pilgrim Society, the museum opened in 1824, making it the oldest continuously operating public museum in the United States. Exhibits showcase 17th-century artifacts and tell the story of Pilgrim settlers. Located about 2.5 miles south of Plymouth town center, Plimoth Patuxet Museums (formerly Plimoth Plantation) is a living history museum where interpreters dressed in period clothing recreate daily living as it was in the early-17th-century Pilgrim village and local Wampanoag community, a story more complicated and controversial than widely believed. Also operated by Plimoth Patuxet Museums, the Mayflower II is a full-scale reproduction of the vessel that brought Pilgrim settlers to the shores of what is now Plymouth.

Another historic site that operates under the auspices of Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Plimoth Grist Mill is a working replica of a 1636 grain mill. While it's open most days, grinding takes place on Saturdays when 21st-century millers produce cornmeal and other grains using 17th-century technology. The products are available for purchase in the grist mill shop. Brewster Gardens, located on the banks of Town Brook, is a peaceful respite between the waterfront and downtown Plymouth. The circa 1920s park is also a point of interest along the Sea to Shining Sea Trail, a scenic 4.6-mile walking trail beginning in North Plymouth at Cordage Park, a multi-use residential-retail complex located in a former rope-making factory, and continuing along the waterfront before turning inland at Brewster Gardens and ending in Morton Park near Billington Sea, a 285-acre pond and popular fishing spot.

Plymouth also has an active arts community. The Spire Center for Performing Arts offers a full calendar of concerts and events and the Plymouth Philharmonic ranks among the top symphony orchestras in Massachusetts. Plymouth Center for the Arts showcases the work of local artists in addition to hosting a variety of exhibitions and hands-on classes.

Two major airports are convenient to Plymouth. Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) — one of the oldest, and busiest, airports in the US — is about 50 miles north of Plymouth and T.F. Green International Airport (PVD) is about 70 miles southeast in Warwick, Rhode Island. Accommodations in Plymouth range from inns and B&Bs to bare-bones motels and full-service hotels, many within walking distance of major sights and attractions. For an unexpected experience, check out Mirbeau Inn & Spa. Reminiscent of a French country house, the inn features a full-service spa perfect for full-day pampering.