The South of Boston / Plymouth region has many attractions of its own, along with the advantage of being just a step away from the very different delights of Boston, Cape Cod, and Providence, Rhode Island. Within the region itself, the story has to begin at Plymouth and Plymouth Rock (yes, it’s an actual rock at the town’s harbor), where the Mayflower landed in 1620. Plymouth is a delightful New England seaside town with an intimate harbor and good souvenir shopping; the Pilgrim Hall Museum is recommended for people interested in the arrival of Williams Bradford and his shipmates. Also, don’t miss a trip to Plimoth Plantation. Its major attractions are the 1627 Pilgrim Village, a re-creation of the small farming town built by English colonists in the midst of the Wampanoag homeland, and the Mayflower II, a careful recreation of the original Mayflower.
Another major city South of Boston is New Bedford, an old whaling capital, where children, families, and history buffs can learn about the tough, life-threatening whaling industry of the early 19th century at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. The city of Fall River is the place to visit Battleship Cove, where visitors can experience what it was like to serve on board a Navy warship in World War II. Fall River also has achieved some notoriety as the home of Lizzie Borden, who is said to have killed her parents in a sensational crime in 1892, and, in a more cheerful vein, the home of celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.
Other entertainment venues include Tweeter Center for the Performing Arts in Mansfield, which hosts world-class performances year-round. At Christmastime, people who love the lights and sparkle of the season should not miss a visit to the National Shrine to Our Lady of LaSallette in Attleboro, a drive-through display of more than 225,000 Christmas lights. We conclude with a mention of Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, home of the beloved New England Patriots professional football team and site on many open-air concerts.
