(Mostly) Free Family Fun in Plymouth

Backyard Road Trips often focuses on Plymouth, MA. Remember Clear Pond Conservation Area, Brewster Gardens or Mayflower Brewing Company’s beer gardens? (Maybe it’s because Plymouth is the home base of this website….) No matter how you slice it, Plymouth has tons of neat stuff to do, not even including the touristy spots of Plimoth Plantation and Plymouth Rock. Being a father, fun entertainment is really important for my kids. It’s even better when it’s free, hence the reason this post focuses on (mostly) free family fun in Plymouth.

Among my favorite free spots in Plymouth is Nelson Park and the Plymouth County Sheriff’s Farm. Even though these are hardly hidden gems for locals, string a few of these together (along with a stop on Plymouth’s Beverage Trail), and you’ve got yourself an afternoon for the local or the tourist! 

Nelson Memorial Park

I’ve mentioned before that the ability to find free waterside fun in New England is really difficult. It seems that the smallest pond even charges admission. Or more likely, it is not visitable by the public. Driving south from Boston, many folks spend big dollars on beaches such as Duxbury Beach or fight for a tiny piece of sand at Nantasket Beach in Hull. Many other towns such as Scituate, Cohasset, Kingston, and Marshfield keep their beaches to themselves. 

Plymouth’s town beach (Long Beach) is quite reasonable for day usage ($10 on weekdays, $15 on the weekends) compared to most. The lovely White Horse has a small parking lot and other parking restrictions. Many drivers head straight to the Cape though, bypassing Plymouth.  

One of my favorite beaches is at Nelson Park. Talk about free family fun in Plymouth, this place has it all! The calm bay waters are perfect for little ones. Even though the beach isn’t huge, it is of decent size. Most of the clientele come with small children in tow and stay closer to the parking lot. Wandering only a few feet away presents plenty of room for a beach blanket or chair. Also, Plymouth’s rail-trail begins here. 

Nelson Park has not only a beach, but also a phenomenal splash pad with rising geysers that run until 6 pm in season. Kids of all ages get a kick out of that. There is also a playground with bigger kid and younger kid play areas. The local restaurant Angelo’s also runs a snack bar on site. Many festivals take place here too such as Bark at the Park in the spring. Nelson Park is located on Nelson Street in Plymouth. 

Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department Farm

The next stop on our (mostly) free family fun in Plymouth tour is the Plymouth County Farm. Talk about a community place, it offers something for the family in all seasons. Animals are always there to visit and feed (50 cents per feedbag). Look for goats, sheep, mini horses, cows, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and koi (list of animals subject to change). 

During each season, the farm, which is operated by the Sheriff’s Department of Plymouth County and staffed by prisoners, offers something new. The town flocks here to purchase spring hanging plants, fall pumpkins, and Christmas Trees during the holiday season. There’s also an annual festival.

Recently, a dispute has arisen over the property, which is sad because the farm does so much for the community. The crops that they grow are part of a prisoner rehabilitation program and are used to supply local food pantries. Additionally, it’s a great place for kids (and adults). For more information about the dispute, click here. I hope to see it stay open for many years to come. The farm is located at 74 Obery Street. 

Mayflower Brewing Company

With all of the free family fun in Plymouth, I’m ready to stop off at one of the town’s great breweries, wineries, or distillery. Given that I’m not right downtown, I’ll choose to go back to Mayflower, even though the brewery has been featured before on Backyard Road Trips. 

Mayflower simply does beer well. If you like a certain style, you’ll like their take on it. The New World IPA is great New England style IPA, their porter is world-class, and I’ve really been liking the 399 (Double IPA) on draft this year. Their taproom is spacious and easy-going, welcoming to all. The Mayflower Brewery is located at 12 Resnik Road, #3. They also operate seasonal beer gardens at the PineHills and at the Mayflower Society House. 

Plymouth has so much to explore. With 450 ponds, an expansive seashore, topnotch restaurants, important historic sites, and town celebrations held often, there is always more to do. For free family fun in Plymouth, make sure to check out Nelson Park and the Plymouth County Farm, and then duck into Mayflower for a beer! Here’s a taste of what’s in my backyard, now what’s in your backyard?