Explore Historic Plymouth: A 1-Day Travel Itinerary

A little under an hour drive from Boston, MA is the quaint coastal town of Plymouth, Massachusetts.  Known famously as the final landing site of the first voyage of the Mayflower in 1620, it became the site of the first Pilgrim settlement and said to be where the first Thanksgiving was shared between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe.   Getting to and around Plymouth   Plymouth is an easy day trip from Boston.  Jump in your car and head south on Massachusetts Route 3 and it will take you right to the Rt 3A exit that gets you into downtown.  We have done Plymouth as a full day trip, and we have stopped there for a quick bite on our way to Cape Cod.    Once in Plymouth, there are multiple parking options for visitors depending on your needs.  If you are making a quick stop on your way to the Cape there are multiple short-term paid on-street parking spots that are close to the wharf and its dining options.  If you are looking to stay longer all-day free parking can be found at the Jenny Pond Lot which is a 20-minute walk to the wharf.  We found it was best to leave the car parked for the duration of our stay and simply walk around.  To see what parking options work best for you, check out Plymouth’s Public Parking Maps.    1-Day Plymouth Itinerary   Getting an early jump on the day will be key in seeing everything you want to see.  We opted for the all-day free parking at Jenny Pond Lot.  Anywhere that we can save some money and take a few extra steps we opt for it.    Plimoth Grist Mill   Located at the entrance of the Jenny Pond Lot is the Plimoth Grist Mill.  The mill is a reconstruction of the first mill built by the Pilgrims in the Plymouth Colony.  It is fully functioning and does produce fresh stone-ground grains that can be purchased.  Daily tours are available and can be combined with the other Plimoth Patuxet Museums.  We opted not to do the tour but enjoyed the views of the mill and the nearby pond.    Around the corner from the mill is the Richard Sparrow House which is the oldest surviving house in Plymouth.  The house is a small little museum as well as a small shop that sells jewelry, pottery and art.    Plymouth Harbor and Waterfront   A short walk from the museum down Leyden St is the Plymouth Harbor and waterfront.  A word of warning there is a slight decline to the walk as you make your way to the water but once you get to the bottom it boasts a picturesque view of the calm waters of Cape Cod Bay.  It is peppered with hundreds of boats ready to sail out into the bay.    First stop along the waterfront is a quick look at the William Bradford Statue.  Bradford was governor of the Plymouth colony for 30 years and recognized as the one who helped shape the colony.  Right down from him is the famous Plymouth Rock located in the Pilgrim Memorial State Park.  To say that it is anything more than a rock in a fancy pit with 1620 engraved on it would be a lie.  Any time that we stop through Plymouth with friends on our way to the Cape we like to bring them to this one site.  The response is always “this honestly can’t be a thing”.  A good friend of ours Nicole called it “the 8^th wonder of the world”. 😊It is still something fun to say you have seen.                  The Pilgrim Memorial State Park houses the rock, but it is also home to the Mayflower II.  Mayflower II is a full-scale replica of the original ship and is a floating museum.  A fun fact is the ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean in 1957 from Plymouth, England, to Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The ship is open daily for tours or you can just stop into the gift shop for your souvenir.   Along Water St. are fun little gift shops where you can stop in for the local finds and pick up a souvenir.  We love the clique tourist tradition of grabbing a fridge magnet as reminders of our travels.   Feeling the hunger starting to set in, we found our way to the wharf where you can find lots of options to eat.  We chose Tavern on the Wharf for their lunch specials and view of the harbor.  We went with the fish tacos (Sarah’s favorite when we are near fresh fish) and the lobster grilled cheese.  Both done very well and provided lots of flavor.             To walk off your lunch take a stroll on the Plymouth Jetty.  It’s a beautiful place to walk and has the best views of the harbor.  The jetty does go out for a way and the farther out you go the windier it gets so be sure to plan.  It is relatively easy walk with large sturdy rocks and a guide wire for safety.  You likely will see a fisherman casting a line.              On your way back through the wharf stop at Cupcake Charlie’s for a fun afternoon treat.  The cupcakes are fresh and delicious.  They are beautifully decorated with so many flavor options that it’s hard to pick just one.  We went with the classic flavors of Red Velvet and Oreo Delight, and both were amazing.  The cupcake was moist, and the frosting was delicious.    Pilgrim Hall MuseumMaking your way back to the historic downtown you will come across the Pilgrim Hall Museum.  The museum is the nation’s oldest continuously operating public museum.  It hosts a collection of both Pilgrim and Native American possessions and artifacts.  Admission fees are reasonably priced at $15/Adult and $9/Children.    If seafood is on your checklist, then a stop at Wood’s Seafood is where you need to stop.  Located on the wharf, the restaurant has a beautiful waterfront view.  It’s a no-frills type of place where you eat off paper plates and use plastic cutlery, but the food is fresh, which is all that matters.  We ordered the lobster dinner with fries and coleslaw and a crab cake appetizer.  It was simple and delicious.  Prices are very reasonable and won’t break the bank.             Plymouth Night Tour   Finishing out the evening we highly recommend the Plymouth Night Tour/Ghost Tour.  If you are looking to do something different from the norm, this is it.  We like to do the occasional “ghost tour” when we visit towns that have a historical past.  This one sparked our interest because of the spirit hunting with paranormal investigation equipment.  The tour is a walking tour that starts downtown, and you make your way to Burial Hill. If you are lucky your paranormal energy reader will go off when you get into the cemetery!  There are multiple stops along the way like the haunted Leyden Street and the Spooner house that still gives Amber the chills when thinking about it. Disclaimer that you don’t have to be a ghost tour junkie to enjoy this tour. Geoff the tour guide does an amazing job retelling the history and legends of Plymouth.                 Have More Time?   If you have more than a day to spend in Plymouth, one of the top things to do would be to visit the 17^th Century Plymouth Colony and the Historic Patuxet Homesite.  Both bring the past to life in their recreation of early Plymouth.    Visiting Plymouth is a highlight when traveling to the Boston/Cape Cod area. It has its own distinct charm, and it is an absolute joy to wander around and explore.   Are you planning to visit Plymouth? Have any questions? Let us know in the comments!