Summer activities in Plymouth, MA

Plymouth has a great location on Cape Cod Bay and has plenty of beach area along with great historical things to visit. Plymouth is a very family friendly destination and in the summer, the long days allow for even more time to do all the things that are available. Summer activities in Plymouth, Mass. offer excitement for every member of the family.

Plimoth Plantation

Plimoth Plantation is a reconstructed village that is a living history museum. In the village, the year is 1627 and you get a chance to see how the colonists survived. The houses can be visited and there are costumed role players who have taken on the identity of the colonists who populated the village. You will learn about their thoughts, opinions, and life. There are gardens for vegetables but also for flowers. They go about their lives and you basically walk into their lives. They stay in character and especially encourage children to learn and interact with them.

Also at Plimoth Plantation, is an Indian homesite. The Wampanoag were the original residents of this area and in the early days, were very helpful to the Pilgrims. While the home site is traditional, the people who are on this site are real Native Americans and are not in character, they will discuss the Native American experience from a modern day perspective.

There is a lot more to do at Plimoth Plantation, you can spend the whole day here.

 Mayflower II

Berthed in Plymouth Harbor is the Mayflower II. Walking onboard and seeing the conditions and the small space where the Pilgrims spent their days on the journey to America is an eye opener for children and adults alike. Crew members onboard are happy to answer questions and as a matter of fact, really appreciate the interaction. This is enjoyable for the entire family.

White Horse Beach

With its great location on Cape Cod Bay, you would expect Plymouth to have great beaches, and they do. White Horse Beach is a public beach. There are some cons of this beach, it is far from the parking lot and there are no bathrooms, but on the upside, on a hot day, if you are not staying at a beachfront hotel, this is a great way to cool off and also to enjoy a picnic lunch. 

Plymouth Harbor Cruise

Summer is the perfect time to take a cruise of Plymouth Harbor. The Pilgrim Belle is a paddle wheeler which offers daily cruises in the summer months. You can also choose to take a brunch or dinner cruise.

Harbor Activities

The end of August is the time for the Waterfront Festival. It offers a craft fair, car show, food trucks and vendors and a whole lot more. Check out their website for a full list of events and activities.

With this many things to do, you will probably want to stay overnight in town. The Pilgrim Sands Motel is a resort located right on the beach and The John Carver Inn has a convenient downtown location and a pool that children will really enjoy, it is a big attraction.

Plymouth offers visitors a wide variety of summer activities, these are just a few of them. Of course, it goes without saying, you will also want to take a look at Plymouth Rock.