Things to do South of Boston

Boston and Cape Cod have a little bit better reputation on fun things to do, but don't despair. There are plenty of things to do south of Boston, many of which you may not have known existed. For instance, did you know about World's End in Hingham? This little spot has great views of Hingham Harbor and the coastline of Hull. It's a secluded piece of land that's far from most of the rest of town. If you're looking for something fun to do in a busier atmosphere, Plymouth Center and the waterfront have plenty to enjoy. Plymouth Center has hundreds of small shops, restaurants, cafes, and historical buildings to browse and shop. The waterfront area of Plymouth has Plymouth Rock, the Mayflower II, and beautiful views of Plymouth Harbor.

To the north, you can find Wompatuck State Park, with miles of bike trails and jogging paths. The towns of Hingham, Norwell, and Cohasset share this park. On the southern side of the South Shore, Carver and Plymouth share Myles Standish State Forest. This has hundreds of acres of ponds, paths, and woods to camp, hike, or bike. It's also a great scenic drive. Visit this page for the complete list of things to do south of Boston to get more ideas.

Is Plymouth Rock Real?

Plymouth Rock is where America was first permanently settled... but is Plymouth Rock real? Since there is no account by the Pilgrims that they landed on any sort of rock, how do we know that Plymouth Rock is actually what is claimed? What is claimed is that the Mayflower Pilgrims first stepped foot upon a rock in Plymouth Harbor. So who claimed the Pilgrims stepped foot onto a rock? The exact location of the rock was passed down from generation to generation, with 94 year old Thomas Faunce pointing out what is today "Plymouth Rock." It's the first piece of solid rock that the Pilgrims stepped foot on... in Plymouth, Massachusetts, that is.

Let's first examine the facts:

* The Pilgrims landed in Provincetown, MA first. That means Cape Cod is truly the birthplace of America in a way, not Plymouth. Plymouth just got more hype because that's where they settled.

* There are no written records by the Pilgrims of stepping foot on a rock in Plymouth.

* The rock was not identified by an actual Pilgrim, but by a descendant named Thomas Faunce. Faunce claimed that many respected Pilgrims showed him the location of the rock. It is upon his story that Plymouth Rock became the landmark that it is today.

* The rock has been split, chipped, and moved. Before the rock was enclosed, tourists would carve pieces of the rock off. Some have even appeared on Ebay (though who knows if they're real or not).

* The rock's location today is not where it was originally. It has been moved several times since, until its present location along the waterfront in the enclosure, right on Plymouth Bay.

* Plymouth Rock is a massive tourist attraction for the town of Plymouth. Whether or not it is the real deal, it remains a national symbol from which the United States was derived.

What do you think about Plymouth Rock? Do you think it's the actual rock the Pilgrims landed upon, or was it a legend that was made reality? I'd like to hear your comments below.

The Best Beaches on the South Shore of Massachusetts

Massachusetts is renowned for its great beaches, and some of the best in the state can be found on the South Shore. While thee beaches of the South Shore may not be as well as known as the beaches from Cape Cod, they might be just as impressive and beautiful (and without the Sagamore Bridge traffic).

Read more about the beautiful South Shore beaches on this page, which features coastal favorites like Wollaston, Nantasket, Duxbury Beach and Whitehorse Beach.