Plymouth, Massachusetts
Time Needed: full-day
Experience Type: cultural heritage, historic landmark
Known as “America’s Hometown,” Plymouth is where the Pilgrims landed in 1620 and established one of the first English settlements. Today, living history, museums, and scenic coastal charm offer a look at the origins of colonial America and Wampanoag heritage.
MUST-DO CHECKLIST
- See Plymouth Rock and Mayflower II – Visit Pilgrim Memorial State Park to view the iconic rock and board the full-scale Mayflower replica staffed by costumed interpreters.
- Tour Plimoth Patuxet Museums – Step into a 17th-century English village and Wampanoag homesite to experience daily life through interactive living history exhibits and re-creations.
- Explore the Plimoth Grist Mill – Watch corn ground using traditional methods at this working reconstruction of the Pilgrims’ original 1636 water-powered grist mill.
- Visit Pilgrim Hall Museum – See authentic Mayflower artifacts and early colonial items, including possessions of the Pilgrims and a fragment of the original Plymouth Rock.
- View the National Monument to the Forefathers – Admire this 81-foot-tall granite memorial honoring the Mayflower passengers and their enduring ideals of faith and freedom.
Plan Ahead: Get your Plimouth Patuxet Museums tickets ahead of time, but keep in mind that the museums close each winter. The Plimoth Plantation, Mayflower II, and Plimoth Grist Mill—located close together—offer an immersive look at daily life in 1600s New England.
Photo Credit: Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism/Flickr