William Bradford Statue

Plymouth Rock is located in Pilgrim Memorial State Park on the shore of Plymouth Harbor. The rock itself, a symbol of where the pilgrims first landed in the U.S., is actually quite small and surrounded by walls and railings. The rock is worth seeing for its historical significance alone, but once in Plymouth, you can visit the Mayflower II, explore the historic district, and enjoy shopping, dining, or all that the waterfront has to offer. Plymouth is great for families and has much to offer from informative museums to exciting whale watches.Parking and public transportation at Plymouth RockThere are plenty of parking options including free and metered lots. Most lots have a ten hour maximum and charge by the hour. Meters on streets near the waterfront generally have two to four hour maximums. Parking on Main Street is typically free, but be sure to read signs about time limits. There are some free lots on Water Street and on South Russell Street. Your best bet is the Jenney Lot on Summer Street, which offers free all-day parking. For a map and more details, check out seeplymouth.com and also parkplymouth.com. For public transportation, you can use one of many Park and Ride services; overnight parking in these lots is allowed but at your own risk. You can also take the CapeFLYER weekend train on weekends or the MBTA's commuter rail.Best and worst time to go to Plymouth RockVisit Plymouth in the warmer months when shops and restaurants are all open, and you can tour the Mayflower II in July and August. Keep in mind that Plymouth and nearby Plimouth Plantation are popular for school field trips during school months, and so afternoons will be less crowded with kids during these times.Admission to Plymouth RockAdmission to the park itself and to see Plymouth Rock is free. Admission to various museums and sites may cost extra.Must see/do at Plymouth RockYou absolutely must take a tour of the Mayflower II. It is only available for tours in July and August. In addition to knowledgable guides, you'll meet actors in period costume, telling stories of their accounts as pilgrims on the Mayflower.The Jenney Museum is a popular museum in the heart of the historic district, run by a very knowledgable couple who offer a well-loved informational walking tour. You can also see the oldest working water wheel that turns the grinding stones and learn how fundamental the mill was to the colony's survival.The Pilgrim Hall Museum is another popular museum which tells the story of the pilgrims. Here you can touch an actual piece of Plymouth Rock, see Myles Standish's sword, watch a short film about the pilgrims, and even enjoy a treasure hunt (if you're a younger visitor).Other places to visit at Plymouth RockNot far away is Plimouth Plantation, a living museum that takes you back to the time of the pilgrims and native Wampanoag people with actors, costumes, sets, and demonstrations. You can also visit Burial Hill along the historic Plymouth Path; this is where many first settlers are buried and is the site of one of the pilgrims' first forts. Or have fun on a whale watch from the harbor or go on a ghost tour.Insider tip for visitors to Plymouth RockStart your day with a trip to the Plymouth Visitor Information Center. You'll find maps and very friendly, helpful people to guide you to historic sites, restaurants, shopping, and more. You absolutely must have a meal at Wood's Seafood; locals know it's the best seafood in town, so even if there's a line, stick it out because it's worth the wait.Author's bio: Deborah Jarvis is a freelance writer who grew up and currently lives in the Greater Boston Area. She never pahks her cah in Hahvahd Yahd and tries not to drive like she's from Boston if she can help it.