Things to do in Plymouth

Plymouth is where the Mayflower's passengers came ashore in 1620, and the town centers on that story: Plymouth Rock, a small commemorative boulder on the waterfront that surprises most visitors with how modest it is; Mayflower II, a full-scale replica ship docked nearby; and Plimoth Patuxet Museums, a living-history site reconstructing both the colonial village and a Wampanoag homesite.

It's about 40 miles (65 km) south of Boston, reachable by Commuter Rail on the Kingston/Plymouth line to Cordage Park with a local shuttle onward, or by bus, though a car is the more direct option since the sites are spread across town. Bookable tours here are limited, around a dozen listings, mostly harbor cruises and whale-watching runs.

Spring through autumn is the easier season; some sites cut back hours in winter.