The calendar page has turned to June and you know what that means, Summer is officially here! The Plymouth area of Massachusetts has plenty of summertime fun to keep you busy all season long. Make sure to add all of these to your Plymouth summertime bucket list!
Fireworks
Along with Thanksgiving, the biggest celebration in Plymouth has to be the Fourth of July. With a parade in the morning, a Pops concert in the evening, and of course, a spectacular fireworks display lighting up the night sky, it’s an all-day and night event. Sure, you’ll see spectators lined up for hours in chairs waiting for the show, but even if you arrive right before the fireworks, there are plenty of places to view them, from the Plymouth waterfront to a neighborhood park. The Plymouth fireworks are always right on the 4th, with the Manomet beach bonfire set for the night before on the 3rd.
Cape Cod Baseball League
Sadly, Plymouth’s own collegiate baseball team, the Pilgrims, ceased operations six years ago. Never fear, the country’s premier college ball league is a short drive from town. The two closest Cape Cod Baseball League teams to Plymouth are the Bourne Braves and the Wareham Gatemen. Personally, I’d choose based on traffic. Getting to Bourne on a weekend (since it’s over the bridge) may be a bit of a task, so I’d opt for Wareham on the weekend and Bourne on a weekday. Or if you want to venture farther on the Cape, please do. No matter where you go, you’ll see top-notch ball and you can’t beat the price, free!
Beer Gardens
On your Plymouth summertime bucket list has to be the ability to drink great craft beer outside. Never fear, Plymouth has excellent beer gardens and breweries, with patio space for sipping all summer long. Check out the Mayflower Brewing beer garden in the Pinehills or Second Wind’s beer garden in Red Brook. Both of these have a communal feel and a summertime vibe that can’t be beaten. Wanna stay downtown? Second Wind’s brewery offers plenty of outdoor imbibing, and Vitamin Sea’s new Plymouth brewery has ample patio space that just screams summer. Cheers!
Lobster Rolls
What’s summer without lobster? In Plymouth, there are plenty of eateries to grab an excellent lobster roll. Try Wood’s Seafood on the Plymouth waterfront. Bramhall’s General Store serves an excellent one in the Chiltonville neighborhood or look for the Plymouth-based food truck, Lobsta Love for a unique take on the summertime favorite. For a seasonal favorite, travel 15 minutes north to Marshfield and enjoy the Green Harbor Lobster Pound. Lobster is on almost every menu in some capacity, so wherever you dine, it’s easy to find!
Outdoor Concerts
Weekly concerts are held on Wednesday evenings at the bandshell on the Plymouth waterfront in the summer. These range from cover bands to local favorites to national acts. In recent years names have included the South Shore’s own The Elovaters, John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band, and a Plymouth mainstay, Third Left. On Thursday nights, the same stage hosts the Legion Bud Band, playing more traditional music. In Marshfield, the Levitate Festival is located only a few minutes north. This three-day festival features well-known national acts with this year’s headliner being Sublime. For an excellent free one day festival, pack your bags for the Rose Arts Festival in Norwich, Connecticut. Featuring many local acts and artisans, the headliner last year was the band Ripe.
Nature Walks
Plymouth has plenty of areas to hike. The immense Myles Standish State Forest is full of trails of all kinds. The seaside rail trail links North Plymouth to downtown and is a popular place to walk, jog, or bike. Other preserves such as the Clear Pond Conservation Area, Tidmarsh Wildlife Sanctuary, and Center Hill Preserve are all worthwhile rambles. A refreshing walk in the woods is a must for this Plymouth summertime bucket list.
To the Beach
Next on your Plymouth summertime bucket list is the beach. With miles of coastline, the beach is where it’s at in the summertime. There are plenty of options including Long Beach. Park in the first lot or with the residential 4×4 sticker, drive out to the end of this three-mile peninsula for fine crystal sand and stunning blue-green water. White Horse Beach is another popular beach retreat in Manomet. Free options include Nelson Park, Holmes Reservation, Ellisville State Park, and Center Hill Preserve. Not an ocean fan? Don’t worry–there are plenty of ponds to choose from, 450 in all! Some of the accessible ones include Lower College Pond in Myles Standish, Morton Park, and Clear Pond.
Farmer’s Markets
The Plymouth Farmer’s Market takes place every Thursday afternoon in West Plymouth Square. Come here for a selection of the area’s freshest veggies and produce, meats, and artisanal goods. Look for other farmer’s markets in South Shore towns, including Hingham and Marshfield. Grab the fixings for a picnic and bring it to one of the parks or beaches mentioned here for a two-for-one cross-off on your Plymouth summertime bucket list.
Ice Cream
Given Plymouth’s touristy tradition, along with seafood, ice cream is a must! Check out this waterfront ice cream tour for the full route. Among the recommendations are Fedele’s Chocolates, which features soft serve ice cream with homemade chocolate sprinkles; Ziggy’s, a summertime tradition dating back decades; and Yogie’s, featuring tons of soft serve flavors.
Ghost Tours
For a combination of history and haunts, check out one of Plymouth’s ghost tours. My personal favorite is the Dead of Night Ghost Tour. It combines historical tales with spine-chilling stories! The tour travels in the heart of the historic downtown and culminates in Burial Hill, the cemetery that overlooks the town. It’s a little spooky, so it will appeal to older kids, but I’d leave my very young ones at home.
I hope you’ve packed your bags because there is much to accomplish on your Plymouth summertime bucket list! And these haven’t even touched on Plymouth’s historical sites; check out See Plymouth for that! From ice cream to beer gardens, baseball to ghost tours, there’s plenty to add to your Plymouth summertime bucket list.
