The New Bedford Area has much to offer its visitors from its stunning coastline to its fascinating museums. Here you can spend a day in one of our beautiful parks or walking along the cobblestone streets admiring our historic architecture. The entire area offers a plethora of interesting and fulfilling activities for you and your family to take part in.
If you enjoy spending your days lounging at the beach under the sun, the New Bedford Area is just the place for you. The SouthCoast has an array of luxurious beaches perfect for swimmers and sunbathers. Horseneck Beach is known for its signature crashing waves while Demarest Lloyd State Park is a wonderful spot for the whole family to enjoy. Intriguing sand dunes, premier bird watching locations and scenic marshes make every beach from Westport to Marion a true destination location.
Another way to enjoy our beautiful coastlines is to venture offshore on one of the many harbor tours available. During your excursion, you will have the chance to see our world-renowned commercial fishing fleet, the largest hurricane barrier on the east coast and the amazing lighthouses guarding our waters.
As the official vessel of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Schooner Ernestina is a must see landmark. The Schooner was given to New Bedford as a gift from the Republic of Cape Verde after its amazing run as a Grand Banks fishing schooner.
If you prefer to stay on land, be sure to visit the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park which offers educational walking tours free of charge. Experienced National Park volunteers will guide you along 13 blocks of cobblestone streets that will take you back in time to the height of the booming whaling industry. This hour long tour includes insight into attractions such as the Seamen’s Bethel, which was featured in Herman Melville’s famous novel Moby Dick, and the New Bedford Whaling Museum.
The New Bedford Whaling Museum features the largest collection of whaling artifacts in the country. An afternoon in this museum will take you on an adventure through the history of the whaling industry and allow you to learn more about the interactions between man and whale. One popular exhibit is the 66-foot long skeleton of a baby blue whale, which is one of only six complete skeletons in the world on display.
With many other indoor museums to explore, even a rainy day can be a great time to visit New Bedford. The Rotch-Jones-Duff House is an immaculate Greek Revival Mansion originally built in 1834 for whaling merchant William Rotch, Jr. This 28 room mansion is currently open to tours, events and even the occasional concert series.
Just a few minutes away, The Buttonwood Park Zoo is an ideal spot to spend the day with your family. Recently named “One of the finest small zoos in the United States” by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, this zoo features nearly 200 species of animals. Other local parks include Fort Phoenix State Reservation, Hazelwood Park, Freetown State Forest, Prince Henry the Navigator Park and Fort Tabor.
The New Bedford Area always has something to suit your mood and will leave you with a lasting impression.
