Photographed and Written By Carrie Hanrahan

Plymouth, Massachusetts is a beautiful small New England town with a huge amount of history and is a must stop for any history buff or those who want to step back in time to experience the triumphs and tragedies of the Pilgrims. A walking tour of Plymouth is an easy way to learn about the Pilgrims’ voyage to the new world, view landmarks of history and eat incredibly fresh seafood. A quick car ride outside of town will take you to a museum where you can experience life in the 1600s.  To experience all Plymouth has, include these Top 10 in your trip.

Be sure to get your FREE copy of the Top 10 Things to do in Plymouth, MA by clicking here. Join in on the fun as Randy, Caly and Carrie talk about Plymouth on the RVD Podcast by clicking here!

10.  Leyden Street – This historic street in Plymouth was the very first street in America. Today it is lined with beautiful 18th and 19th century homes that are meticulously maintained.  Though not original homes, each one has a plaque that says who once owned the land and what was significant to that property.  Take a few moments to realize that you are walking where the first Pilgrims did.

9.  Plymouth Center for the Arts – A great find in downtown Plymouth, the center for the arts exhibits works by local artists, offers classes, and hosts many exhibitions throughout the year.  I enjoyed the display of photography entries and winners from the recent Fine Art of Photography competition.  Finding a free museum in a tourist town was a pleasant surprise and was a great break from my walking tour.

8.  National Monument to the Forefathers – You won’t need a lot of time here, but a visit to see the largest solid-granite, freestanding monument in the United States is worth the visit.  The beautifully carved statue is on a hilltop looking toward Plymouth Harbor.  The monument describes the Pilgrims’ morals and beliefs with the main figure Faith being flanked by statues representing Morality, Law, Education and Liberty.

7.  Woods Seafood – What is better than having a fresh seafood lunch caught by the local fishermen and lobstermen?  Woods Seafood is a simple harbourfront restaurant with an amazing array of seafood to choose from and a number of accolades to their name.  Be sure to try one of their scrumptious lobster rolls or a delicious bowl of clam chowder. After eating, stop by the commercial fishing pier next door to see what was caught that day and might be on the menu for dinner.

6.  Brewster Gardens to Plimoth Gristmill – A stroll through beautiful Brewster Gardens will take you to the Plimoth Gristmill, one of three Plimoth Patuxet Museum location.  You will walk along the crystal clear Town Brook, which was the source of the clean drinking water that the Pilgrims needed to survive in their new world.  Watch for river herring that have begun to return to the creek after many decades and view a number of important statues that line the Town Brook trail while continuing to the Gristmill. The Plimoth Gristmill is a reproduction 1636 mill and a stunning example of a working mill that shows how water is used as power to grind corn into meal.  If a session is going on, be sure to watch the grinding of the corn, ask any questions of the knowledgeable staff and then pick up a bag of corn meal to take home.

5.  Plimoth Patuxet Living History Museum – A short drive from downtown will take you to another Plimoth Patuxet Museum.  This museum includes a visitor center, the Historic Patuxet Homesite, a craft center and a 17th Century English Village.  Here you will learn about the Indigenous people that inhabited the land before the pilgrims arrived and how they lived.  Have fun interacting with Pilgrims living their daily lives in the village, ask questions and possibly join in on helping them with their chores.  Talk to and watch an artisan at the craft center, then view their pottery pieces. Give yourself a few hours to explore this outdoor museum.

4.  Plymouth Rock – Make a stop at the waterfront Pilgrim Memorial State Park and view the historic Plymouth Rock. In a Greek style pavilion, you will find a piece of the rock that may have been the landing place of the Pilgrims. The original rock has been broken and split numerous times by being moved and by those who wanted a souvenir of American history.  Somewhat underwhelming due to its size, it is still historically significant and is viewed by thousands each year.

3.  Cole’s Hill – This National Historic Landmark offers a stunning view of Plymouth Harbor, including the Plymouth Rock pavilion and the Mayflower II.  Climb the stairs behind the waterfront park and enjoy the scenic harbor views through some coin operated binoculars, then explore the monuments.  First, you will find the Pilgrim Sarcophagus, where the remains of original Pilgrims that died during the first year are encased and their burial explained.  Then overlooking the bay, a friend of the Pilgrims and a Wampanoag Sachem (chief) is represented in The Massasoit Statue.

2.  Pilgrim Hall Museum – Located in downtown Plymouth is the amazing Pilgrim Hall Museum.  Here you will find all kinds of exhibits that explain Pilgrim history through collections and authentic possessions.  Time period clothing examples and viewing furniture, bibles and artworks help explain this historical time period.  Start with their video orientation and be sure to see their piece of the Plymouth Rock.

1.  Mayflower II – To experience the most authentic part of the Pilgrim story, you must visit the ship that brought the Pilgrims to Plymouth.  Mayflower II is a reproduction of the original ship, and was built in England and gifted to the United States in 1957.  This stunning vessel has daily tours as a Plimouth Patuxet Museum.  You will be awed by the beautiful construction and horrified by the small area that 102 Pilgrims endured 66 days in before reaching their destination. Since it was a ship not designed for passengers, it made the journey a difficult one. A guide gives a detailed explanation of the ‘tween decks where the travelers lived during the voyage on this merchant ship and what occurred when they arrived in Plymouth.

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