Good. Had a good time looking at the old buildings and seeing the tools that they used.read more

Ready for an adventure kiddies? Then come to Fall River and see the aging ruins of the Old Fall…read moreRiver Ice House. But please, be discreet. Signs around the entryway state that fishing, boating, swimming and camping are strictly prohibited. But ever since I was a child I always wondered what the old Medieval looking ruin had to offer the not so faint of heart. Now as an adult literalist, I interpret the absence of a no trespassing order as something akin to an invitation. One side of the structure can be seen on the right while driving north on Route 24 coming from 195. Take exit 5 and follow Eastern Avenue then take a left onto New Boston Road. At the end, turn left onto Willow Street which turns into Ruth Street (over the freeway) and then Meridian Street (in a very short distance). Park on Hannah Street or Bergeron Street and then walk back toward whence you drove and go around the left of the fence across the road. What awaits you on the other side is a lonesome path long neglected over time. Weeds and trees flourish between cracks in the crumbling asphalt. Once past the noise from the street, an eerie quiet sets in. A short walk will lead you to the northern shores of the pond. Continue along and watch for the ruins on the right. Inside you will find excellent photo opportunities and a remarkable example of structural decay and a forest gradually reclaiming lost ground. Vines ensnare the surrounding trees and creep alongside the walls of the massive building. The colossal inner chambers are full of trees and enormous stones that have given way to time. Interesting exterior brickwork nestled among stones can be seen as one moves along the southern edge of the building closer to the shore. One wall bears the scar of what may have been a large lightning strike. Most of the walls have soaring vacancies in the stonework that may have once held windows or doors. Sadly, there is some graffiti, but it's a minor distraction in such an exciting place. After you've had your fill of the ruins, continue along the path and feel the eyes of the forest upon you. Low walls of stone accompany you throughout most of your journey and it would be difficult to get lost. Bear left when the path splits about a half mile after you've gone over the causeway (it can be difficult to discern) and you will eventually return to Meridian Street. Do NOT forget your camera!

Very small landmark where the first Puritan settlers landed in Portsmouth, RI. There is parking at…read morethe entrance and a very short walk where you will find a shaded glade with a running brook and a small waterfall, memorial benches scattered throughout, and an herb garden in memory of the late Anne Hutchinson and Mary Dyer. Very peaceful little spot!!

This house is being beautifully and carefully restored. We attended their Colonial Life event and…read morehad a fabulous time! They had many reenactors on hand who were extremely knowledgeable and friendly. It was a great experience and we will definitely be back!

This spot is stunning. They hosted our book club here which is super adorable. The space was…read moregorgoues and j was so thankful to get to experience it in a unique way.

Definitely do not miss this if you are interested in old homes or the history of New Bedford…read more At $8 or less per person this also made for a very affordable afternoon activity. The docent that day, Louise gave us a lovely tour of the downstairs and we got to tour the upstairs by ourselves with some very thorough pamphlets. The mansion is very well preserved. It was a rich person's home and they valued it! There were rounded walls, insane built ins, an elevator, some wonderful art. The information presented by the museum is very thoughtful and informative. It is all done very well. My favorite thing though was the bathrooms. I loved them. I find myself daydreaming. About showering in the black and white bathroom. Which is not an experience that is available to anyone... But I wish it were There is also a gorgeous rose garden on the property. Very enjoyable. We were there for about two hours but I could have stayed a bit longer. You might have to park a short distance and walk to the house but it is all worth it

We got personal attention from three (!) different park rangers there, including starting the video…read more(informative) on demand and answering a few questions knowledgeably. (I also appreciated the answer to one my son had -- 'I don't know, but let's find out...' leading to some on the spot research.) The whaling exhibit isn't too big so you don't have to allot a lot of time, but do linger to look at the small exhibit on the history of the attempts to preserved New Bedford's historic district, which is fascinating all by itself. That was actually the highlight for me. The little gift shop was nice and varied from what was available at the Whaling Museum and the souvenir stores, and in particular has a nice selection of books. This is definitely the place you should start at if you're doing a tour of downtown, but if you're pressed for time, start with the Whaling museum (now really a general history center) and then come here if you have time left over.

Nice introduction to the history of the whaling industry in New Bedford, New Bedford's history, and…read moremore. Neat exhibits and they show a 20 minute video. Park ranger on duty was super friendly and even called neighborhood restaurants to see what was open on Easter Sunday! Located in a historic bank, next door to the whale museum.

I love my town hall. It's absolutely stunning inside and out. Who would have thought such a big…read morebeautiful building would be in a small seaside town?! The staff that I've dealt with there have always been friendly, helpful and an all around pleasure. Fairhaven is a magical spot!

Henry and Mark…read more The Fairhaven Town Hall is a stunning building that sits just across the street from the equally stunning town library. Both buildings were gifts from Henry Rogers, the very, very, very, very wealthy businessman who spent summers in Fairhaven. The building was opened in1894 and is constructed in the French Gothic Style. Huge, ornate, and resplendent, the building dominates the center of the small town. The inside is as wonderful as the outside with oak paneling, stain glass windows and lovely pictures everywhere. At one time the building also held the post office, police station and even a jail inside but now is mostly restricted to administrative offices and the usual town hall stuff. One the second floor is an amazing auditorium that held dances, plays, concerts and all kind of cool events. Mark Twain, who was a close buddy of Henry Rodgers, entertained here as well as other famous actors and musicians. The town hall has a lot of cool history and is an amazing building that continues to serve the community. Stunning inside and out, the building remains a very useful and beautiful gift from a very, very, very, very generous man.

Such an amazing area to just take it all in. This was once the wealthiest town on earth and to see…read morethis area as it tries to keep it's place with all that has gone against it over time is quite an experience. There is much that is offered to people from guided tours to a masterful museum in an effort to take it all in. I think of myself as extremely lucky to be here and have a great deal to consider about the area and how gorgeous it truly is here. The museums and all the areas where people are there to instruct are just priceless.

We went here not really knowing what to expect. We like the NPS sites, and we were in the area, so…read morewe decided to check this one out. The man at the desk was very helpful. He directed us downstairs, where we watched a movie that informed us on the topic of whaling and how it was important to the town of New Bedford. I didnt know much about either before, so we found the film informative. It even kept our 7 year old occupied! They had a few exhibits to look at and an activity for kids to do. Overall, it was a good experience. I know there is more whaling-related stuff in town that we didnt get to, but Im not sure if its part of the NHP or not. If you're in the area and looking for something to do, I'd check it out.

DO NOT STAY HERE: I stayed at the lighthouse for one night. That amounted to $600, and that's with…read morehaving to wait two years for my stay. The lighthouse itself was fine. If you can get around the bugs and the dust and being stranded for 24 hours in the middle of the ocean, you may enjoy yourself. My primary concern is the lack of safety aboard the lighthouse and the lack of care for same. At 7:30 in the morning, a strange man rolled up next to the lighthouse so close as if he was going to tie. I informed the owner, Kevin, that this happened and his response was, " Oh, probably just a fisherman. I have no control over who comes up to the lighthouse because it's public waters." I am a young female, who was staying completely alone. No locks on the doors or windows, including the bathroom door, and this is in Fall River - one of the most dangerous cities in Massachusetts. Days after my stay, the owner decided to contact me and chew me out for not giving a $50 tip. I have no idea where $50 came into play. I would never tip anyone $50 even if they cleaned my entire bathroom with their tongue. But he kept insisting that I owed him $50 for a tip and also calling it a "fee". I have worked in hospitality and tourism for the last five years, and I have never expected, chased a guest for, or been angry about not receiving a tip. I've also never stipulated the amount I was to be tipped. I found the owner wildly unprofessional, rude, and money hungry. He was not at all concerned about the safety of me or other guests for that matter. I would consider myself to be a pretty good guest. I cleaned up after myself and I even did a little extra cleaning for them, since the lighthouse really needed it. But I was met with nasty text messages days after my departure about a $50 tip that they felt entitled to. I'd also like to mention that I'm a cancer patient in my 20's and this is a grown man who makes at least $600 a night per guest and he still had the nerve to try something like this.

What an awesome lighthouse to visit! We had a lot of fun here. Nick has done a phenomenal job…read morerestoring this lighthouse, he provided the ride out and he was a fantastic host! You can spend the night here giving you the ability to live and understand the life and role of a 19th century lighthouse keeper. The lighthouse is equipped with modern day conveniences such as a modernized kitchen with a sink, refrigerator, microwave, gas cook-top stove, dinnerware and fresh drinking water. It also has solar electricity and indoor heat. There is a bathroom with an eco-friendly vanity & toilet but there is no shower. There is one queen size mattress, a sofa & chairs with a flat screen TV & DVD. You will also find an outdoor propane BBQ that you can cook on as well. You are allowed to bring alcohol, there is NO swimming and no smoking. Check it out!

Went on a tour this morning and absolutely LOVED this place! One of my favorite tours since…read morearriving here. Farm is run by a woman & her husband and the wife is so knowledgeable (and funny). We learned the whole process of how cranberries are grown & harvested. Would absolutely recommend this place!

I dislike leaving less than stellar reviews, but I couldn't recommend doing a bog tour here. Your…read moreexperience in different weather may vary wildly. There's a lot of interesting and good information, and I liked the people. But.... The first half of the tour is in an old mini bus. The bus has tiny windows, like 4" square, and no air circulation. No fans. No air conditioning. Today was nearly 90 out by 10 am, when our tour started, and temperatures inside the bus got so hot that stepping out felt cool! You don't travel far, and then they stop for 10 minutes to talk about what's out the window. It's brutal. Ironically, the travel distances are so slim most people could walk it. But, just sitting on the bus in the heat? Yuck. The second half is in an old shed where you learn about harvesting. Again, it could be interesting, but it's a good 10° hotter, even with the fans going, and it makes it hard to focus. Or even listen. Better weather would have helped. But, we had an old lady in our tour group nearly pass out, and the guide indicated that that was not uncommon. Heck, complimentary water would be nice. Waters are a dollar. The tour is fifteen. It's all cash only.

Two caveats: I went in the winter, so the cold air definitely impacted my experience (and gave us…read morethe fort to ourselves) - and the fort wasn't open to look inside that day. So I can't speak to whether, when the fort is open, what you'd see inside is worth the price of admission. What I can speak to is the rest of the park. The various batteries, left for you to poke all around as you please. That one battery on the far west side of the park, where you barely even know it's there until you walk around it. An interesting experience for sure. The #1 thing about this place is that it's something to see in New Bedford. Really not much here besides some older downtown buildings and this park. My cousin and I agreed this was a good way to spend an afternoon, so if you're in the city and trying to pass the time during the day, come on out for a walk! Allow I'd say 90 minutes total without the fort being open, maybe another 60 if it is.

October drive to the fort is peaceful. Amazing the history behind this structure and the times when…read moreenemies were near. For more history, I recommend visiting the museum nearby. Great place to stretch your legs and walk around.