Plymouth-Cape Cod Multisport: Whales, Kayak, Hike, and History, Massachusetts

The Trip

On this trip, we’ll explore the natural, maritime, and human history of the New England coastal town of Plymouth and its surrounding area on foot  and by kayaks/canoes, ferry, and whale-watching boat. We'll do easy to moderate walking, hiking, and paddling, all suitable for beginners. The trip also includes a narrated whale-watching cruise, naturalist presentations, and meals we prepare ourselves. Lodging is at a historic land trust estate, with beautifully landscaped grounds, comfortable shared bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, plus a common lounge area and kitchen. In addition to our programmed activities, opportunities abound for more excursions in the area, with Plymouth’s sandy beaches and its seaside historical downtown. During free time, you can take advantage of the local hiking trails, stroll, shop, sample tasty treats in town, or simply unwind and relax.

Plymouth is set among splendid land and water resources and is steeped in early American history and heritage, and is the homeland of the Wampanoag people for more than 12,000 years.  With the Mayflower landing there in 1620, “America’s Hometown” features ocean and lake waterfronts, kettle ponds, nature trails and preserves, historic landmarks, cultural institutions, fairs, concerts, museums and shops. Plymouth is also a short ferry ride from Provincetown and is close to historic and scenic Cape Cod*, Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Boston.

*Video linked: NPS/Northern Light Productions

This is a Wednesday-to-Tuesday, seven-day/six-night trip. Our itinerary below is tentative and subject to change depending on weather, pacing, the group, safety, and other conditions. The leaders reserve the right to make changes as necessary, both before and during the trip.

The trip leader will send more detailed directions, parking instructions, itinerary, packing suggestions, and other information to confirmed participants prior to the trip.

Approximate daily schedule:

Breakfast: 7:30 a.m.

Activities/excursions (half or full day)

Lunch at the lodging or packed to-go: ~12:30 p.m.

Afternoon activities

Free time before dinner

Dinner: 6:30 p.m.

After supper: evening programs or walk, stargaze, games

Day 1: Starting at 3:00 p.m., arrive for check-in and settle into your room. We'll have a welcome, introductions, and tour followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m and an orientation to the week, along with a film or speaker.

Day 2: We'll be treated to a morning presentation and guided hike with a naturalist from a local conservation organization. We’ll enjoy our self-packed picnic lunches before heading to an afternoon whale-watch by boat, departing from Town Wharf in Plymouth, offering some of the most scenic vantage points from the water.  There, the naturalist aboard the boat will narrate while we try to spot the rarest, most graceful mammals in the world….no guarantees, but sightings may include humpback, finback, minke, right, and pilot whales!

Day 3: Since our trip is during the bird migration, weather permitting, we’ll do an early morning visit to the Manomet Observatory in Plymouth for our group to watch a live bird-banding demo, learn why banding birds is important, the Observatory’s tagging and measuring of migratory birds, and tracking bird populations. We will also walk the Manomet Observatory nature trail winding through coastal meadows, forest, and former cranberry bogs, with panoramic views from the bluff overlooking Cape Cod Bay. Later in the day we’ll enjoy a sunset guided kayak paddle suitable for novices, where we’ll discuss nature, history, and local lore.

Day 4:  We'll enjoy a history/heritage tour and walk in Plymouth and surrounds. On the walk, we'll learn about Mayflower II, Plymouth Rock, the Indigenous first peoples, and English settlers who made their mark and changed history four centuries ago. Our tour includes the 17th-Century English Village, the Historic Patuxet Homesite, Brewster Gardens, Plymouth Rock, the historic waterfront area monuments, and more. We’ll pack lunches to enjoy during our outing and return in time for afternoon relaxation before supper. Later we'll enjoy an evening program.

Day 5: An all-day excursion, ferrying from Plymouth to Provincetown (P-town). We'll explore the Visitor Center and gorgeous Cape Cod National Seashore, including a ranger-guided walk out to the sand dunes and cranberry bogs. We'll have the option of renting a bicycle from a local shop (not included in trip price), walking the beach, strolling, shopping, or watching the world go by in P-town. We’ll take a fast ferry (1.5 hours each way) featuring a cabin with full galley service and great views of historic Plymouth Harbor and Cape Cod Bay. You can pack a lunch, or purchase aboard the ferry or in P-town.

Day 6: We'll visit the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in nearby Falmouth, the world’s largest independent ocean research, engineering and education organization, and view the Nobska Lighthouse.  Later we can enjoy the Cape Cod Canal in Sandwich, dating back to 1914, watch the parade of ocean-going ships and tugs, stop by the Visitor Center with a museum of fun exhibits, relax on the front deck rocking chairs, soaking in the waterfront views, or walk a short self-guided trail which interprets the Canal’s historic and natural features.

Day 7: Breakfast, pack, clean our rooms and common areas.

We'll depart by 10:00 a.m. and bid farewell to our new friends.

Participants will drive or ride in carpools in participants’ vehicles to our off-site excursions.

Included in the trip price are all activities and gratuities, except where noted. You’ll want to bring some extra money to sample ice cream, saltwater taffy, or other local treats and to support local businesses. We’ll have an opportunity to eat one dinner out (not included in trip price). 

Getting There

The estate home in Plymouth, MA is approximately a 1½-hour drive from Boston’s Logan Airport or from the Providence, Rhode Island airport. Buses and trains are available from Boston to Plymouth (Peter Pan: https://peterpanbus.com/locations/massachusetts/plymouth/ and Plymouth & Brockton:  https://www.p-b.com/schedules/ and MBTA Commuter Rail: https://www.mbta.com/destinations/logan-airport.  We encourage carpooling to and from the estate.

The leader will help facilitate travel logistics and will share contact information with confirmed participants so you can coordinate carpooling if you wish.  

Please avoid making non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the trip leader. Sierra Club strongly recommends purchasing travel insurance.

Accommodations and Food

We will stay in a historic home belonging to a conservation organization, one of the largest and oldest regional land trusts in Massachusetts, which protects native habitats, farmland, and lands of high ecological and scenic value.  The home has beautifully landscaped grounds, comfortable shared bedrooms, ensuite bathrooms, plus a common lounge area and kitchen. We’ll prepare and cook our own healthy meals together, sharing cooking and clean-up duties on a rotating basis. Wifi and cell service is available. We provide linens for the twin-size beds (sheets, pillowcase, and a top blanket), towels and washcloths, soap, shampoo / conditioner / body wash.  We’ll have access to the basement laundry room.

On days we have excursions off site, we’ll pack our own lunches from an array of sandwich fixings, including both meat and plant-based options. To minimize waste, we ask you to provide your own refillable beverage and non-leak lunch containers.  Please discuss with the trip leader any questions or concerns about food requirements. 

Trip Difficulty

This trip is easy to moderate. You should be able to stand and walk comfortably during all the listed activities (3 to 5 miles at a leisurely pace), and be able to get in and out of a kayak and boat. There will be free time to enjoy on your own. Please discuss with the leader any questions or concerns about the trip and your ability to participate and enjoy it fully.

Equipment and Clothing

You’ll need to be prepared for variable New England weather. Average daily temperatures in Plymouth in May range from the low 60s, and nighttime temperatures in the low 50s. We recommend an umbrella and a full rain suit (top and bottom), especially for the whale-watch excursion.

Pack clothing adequate for all weather conditions.  Bring casual and comfortable clothing with at least one outer layer for cool or windy conditions. Include sturdy, closed-toed broken-in walking or trail shoes.

For hikes or activities in natural areas, we advise wearing long-sleeved tops and pants for protection from sun, insects, ticks, and possible exposure to poison ivy or other plants.

You’ll need a daypack, headlamp or flashlight, and watertight bags or containers for some activities.

The trip leader will send information to confirmed participants about how to prepare as well as a suggested packing list and further details.

References

Books:

• Cronon, W., Changes in the Land: Indians, Colonists, and the Ecology of New England.
• Gelbert, Doug, A Walking Tour of Plymouth, Massachusetts. (Look Up, America! series)
• Gragg, Rod, The Pilgrim chronicles: An Eyewitness History of the Pilgrims and the Founding of Plymouth Colony.
• Proctor, Noble, A Field Guide to North Atlantic Wildlife: Marine Mammals, Seabirds, Fish, and Other Sea Life.
• Shumay, Scott, Naturalist's Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: Beach Ecology From The Gulf Of Maine To Cape Hatteras. (Naturalist's Guide series)
• Werny, Frank, Hike Plymouth!: Over 70 Great Walks among the Pines and Ponds of Plymouth, MA, and Surrounding Areas.

Websites:

• History: http://www.ushistory.org
• Conservation: The Nature Conservancy: http://www.nature.org/
• Tourism: http://www.seeplymouth.com/
• Ferries: http://www.visit-massachusetts.com/state/ferries/

Other:

• The Six Ponds Improvement Association is the most active local group advocating for environmental issues related to Long Pond, Makepeace, etc. Their site has many links to other good sites.
• The Wildlands Trust manages many acres of conservation land. They are active in negotiations related to the future of the 10,000-acre Makepeace property.
• The Nature Conservancy holds and protects a number of properties in the greater Plymouth region, including Halfway Pond Island.
• The Coalition for Buzzards Bay has good information about education programs and links to area land trusts and similar organizations.
• Myles Standish State Park is nearby and has several hiking trails. Their website has a useful trail map.
• From the History Channel, “Engineering the Cape Cod Canal: Modern Marvels" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqbSZoO-dm0
• “Standing Bold” shown at both the National Park Service Salt Pond and Province Lands visitor centers: https://www.nps.gov/caco/learn/photosmultimedia/videos.htm
• From the Provincetown MA Chamber of Commerce: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFGhH-grCt4
   

Conservation

We will learn about the cultural and natural history of the region, including about indigenous peoples, first European arrivals, resource extraction, and impacts of human development. We'll also learn about ecology, local habitats and biodiversity, current conservation concerns and issues in the region, and the efforts to restore, protect, and preserve its ecological richness. We encourage participants to share information about environmental issues in their localities and strive to follow Leave No Trace principles.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.