2. Plymouth: Historic Self-Guided Walking Tour
Start by downloading the Action Tour Guide app, which will function as your personal tour guide, audio tour, and map. Note: This 1 mile-long tour covers the essentials of Plymouth in 1 hour. With an app that functions as your guide, audio tour, and map all in one, this self-guided walking tour of Plymouth is flexible and customizable. Discover this quaint yet historical town at your own pace. Your journey back in time begins at the Plymouth Visitor Center, where you can get acquainted with the town you’re about to explore. From there, stroll along the waterfront and get a crash course in who the Pilgrims really were and how they built a society. The first major stop is a real treat: a replica of the Mayflower, on which the Pilgrims sailed from England to Massachusetts. Here, you’ll also get the scoop on the Mayflower passengers who weren’t Pilgrims ─ people who were called The Strangers. Afterward, come to Plymouth’s most famous attraction: Plymouth Rock. According to legend, this is the spot where the Pilgrims disembarked to establish the colony of Plymouth. Learn the interesting history behind this timeless historical artifact. Then, continue on to the statue of Chief Massasoit and learn the true story of the alliance between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag tribe, as well the dramatic events which prompted the unusual friendship. Next, pass through the beautiful Brewster Gardens and see the Pilgrim Maiden statue, one of the few surviving sculptures depicting women from this era. As you make your way inland, learn the truth about the first Thanksgiving and what most people get wrong about it today. Later, pass the Burial Hill Cemetery, where many of the town’s earliest settlers have been laid to rest. Finally, you’ll arrive at the Plymouth Grist Mill, which is open to visitors and offers a glimpse back at how the Pilgrims went about their day-to-day lives. As an added perk throughout your tour, enjoy animated videos of most stops, allowing you to visualize what you cannot see, such as snapshots of different centuries or interior rooms.