It's easy to understand why the Pilgrims came ashore at Plymouth, set in the calm waters of Cape Cod Bay. Plymouth Harbor is one of the most picturesque in New England, and on any summer afternoon you’ll see hundreds of boaters head out from the marinas. You can do the same, and spot some of the local wildlife, on a whale-watching cruise. Explore the walkable waterfront, taking in the towering masts of the beautifully restored Mayflower II before heading off to the Plimoth Patuxet Museums, wandering the streets of a 17th-century village and exploring the culture of the Wampanoag people.