If not for one significant event in American history, Plymouth, Massachusetts would be just another seacoast town in New England. The day the Pilgrims stepped onto this New Country’s soil seeking religious freedom from England; that’s when Plymouth received a prominent place in America’s history, folklore and culture. These are some of the reasons visitors and tourists choose Plymouth as a vacation destination.
Often referred to as America’s Hometown, Plymouth is the site of a small colony founded in 1620 by passengers of the famous ship named the Mayflower. Plymouth is the birthplace of New England as well as the oldest municipality in New England and one of the oldest in the United States. According to legend, Plymouth Rock is the boulder upon which the Pilgrims landed when they arrived at the location of their permanent settlement in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Besides the brave voyagers aboard the Mayflower, Plymouth holds a special role in American history for another reason. Rather than being entrepreneurs and seekers of riches as many of the settlers in Jamestown, a significant proportion of the citizens of Plymouth were fleeing religious persecution and searching for a place to worship as they saw fit. Many of the people and events surrounding Plymouth Colony have become part of American folklore. For example, the town is considered to bethe birthplace of the First Thanksgiving feast.
Today tourism is the primary industry for the historic town. What's the most visited attraction in New England? According to many experts, that would be Plymouth Rock. It's housed within the smallest state park in Massachusetts, Pilgrim Memorial State Park and is visited by nearly one million people each year. Most of the vacationers are surprised at the smallness of such a monumental piece of history. However there is reason for the size of this small piece of rock. Once it was quite large but it’s been moved several times and has broken every time. In addition the bottom half was embedded in the muck of the water’s edge and was moved independently. Guess what? More pieces were removed.
When a town such as Plymouth caters to tourism it is inevitable that the business dynamics adjust to accommodate the vacationers who visit. The downtown area offers various retail establishments owned by local residents. You can find retail shops, art galleries, craft stores, and small eclectic cafes. If you want to experience the local fare, there are restaurants overlooking the harbor and the ambience is amazing.
So, to recap—Plymouth, Mass is a really neat place to vacation. The biggest draw is Plymouth Rock. The harbor, restaurants and retail outlets are outstanding, and the locals are really nice and appreciative of your company. So, put us on your bucket list of vacation destinations and come see us.