Plymouth

With its shopping district, regular community events, and countless indoor and outdoor opportunities, The Pinehills in Plymouth gives residents little reason to leave. “There is a lot to do and see. We like to say The Pinehills is a new take on the classic New England village. It’s basically a little town,” says Debra Ehnstrom, marketing director for The Pinehills. Locals can play golf at Pinehills Golf Club or join an activity at the Stonebridge Club before grabbing dinner at the historic Rye Tavern. People can shop at the Village Green or attend the seasonal Mayflower Brewing Beer Garden. Students attend Plymouth Public Schools, which receive a B from Niche. Cape Cod is 7 miles to the south, and Boston is about a 45-mile drive north. The Pinehills offers many options for an active lifestyle. More than 10 miles of paved, lighted trails run through the community, and more challenging hikes on hilly terrain lead to views of Cape Cod Bay. Great Island Pond is a nice spot for kayaking, fishing and swimming, and all residents belong to the Stonebridge Club, which is The Pinehills’ social center. It offers outdoor pools and Har-Tru clay tennis courts, an exercise room and plenty of social spaces which host more than 80 clubs and activities. “Stonebridge Club hosts everything from a wine lovers club to the LGBTQ rainbow club, book clubs and discussion groups, music and theater groups, volunteer and vet groups, to a really thriving art society,” Ehnstrom says. “Just about anything you can think of that residents are interested in, they are supported by the Pinehills Landowners Association to start a group with their neighbors.” While not solely a golf community, golfers can schedule a tee time at one of the public championship courses at Pinehills Golf Club. Every weekend from May to October, The Pinehills Village Green hosts the Mayflower Beer Garden, which is open to the public. People from around the region enjoy craft beer from Mayflower Brewing while listening to live music, exploring food trucks and visiting with local artists. The holiday season sees the return of the beer garden, farmers market and a visit from Santa Claus with Jingle All the Way to The Pinehills Village Green. The event’s highlight is the Reindog Parade, where dogs dress up in their holiday finery and show off their best tricks. "The dogs rarely do what their owners want them to do in front of the judges. It makes for a lot of laughs!” Ehnstrom says. The Pinehills Village Green is more than a gathering place for residents; it is also a regional business hub. Daisies offers gifts and women's apparel; Book Love is an indie bookseller and STUZZi sells artisan chocolates and gelato. Groceries and freshly prepared foods are available at The Market. The award-winning Mirbeau Inn & Spa looks like a French manor house overlooking the Village Green and offers spa treatments such as deep tissue massages and manicures, and dining options including The Bistro Wine & Bar. Other eateries include The Blueberry Muffin, which is open for breakfast and lunch, and Mamma Mia’s, which Ehnstrom says “does incredible pizza and is a big take-out business.” East Bay Grille is at Pinehills Golf Club is a restaurant set along the golf course, a favorite 19th hole. It is open to the public and serves lunch and dinner 7 days a week in season. The farm-to-table Rye Tavern is situated along Old Sandwich Road. “The original goes back to Colonial times,” Ehnstrom says. Once called The Cornish’s Tavern, the current building opened in 1792. Today, the establishment prides itself on working with local farmers to create a menu that changes with the season. From spring to early fall, Rye Tavern hosts a Monday farmers market on its lawn. Target and Walmart are about 11 miles away, and Home Depot is within a 7-mile drive. The Pinehills is divided into more than 50 neighborhoods. Those in the Village Green district sit close together, while larger properties are nestled among clusters of pine trees. The Pinehills’ winding main roads give way to residential streets with driveways, and paved and lighted walking paths connect neighborhoods to the Village Green. Whether on the golf course, overlooking Great Island Pond or in a residential setting, "homes are all built with the best views in mind,” Ehnstrom says. The community features nearly 3,000 residences, including apartments, condominium townhouses, cottages, single-family and custom homes. “It’s a wide range of sizes and styles, so you can find what suits you,” Ehnstrom says. “We also find that people move around The Pinehills, some multiple times, as their life and circumstances change. They trade to a home that fits their lifestyle without having to give up their friends, neighbors and routines they love.” Current prices typically fall between $625,000 and $1.4 million, although townhouses can be found for as little as $560,000, and some of the larger custom builds are over $2 million. As part of Plymouth Public Schools, students can attend Nathaniel Morton Elementary School and Plymouth Community Intermediate School. Plymouth North High School offers several College, Career and Technical Education (CCTE) programs, including Marketing Education, which builds communication skills, and the Pre-Engineering Vocational Technical program. All three schools earn a B from Niche. While many people can walk between their homes and Village Green, The Pinehills is car dependent. State Route 3 runs along the western border of the neighborhood, which can take drivers 7 miles to Cape Cod and 45 miles into Boston. Old Sandwich Road is considered a major road for a different reason. “It is the oldest unpaved road in continuous use in the United States,” Ehnstrom says. “It was the original colonial route from Cape Cod to Plymouth, but the origin is centuries older as a Wampanoag trail. It’s so scenic. It still looks like an old carriage road.” Boston Logan International Airport is about 48 miles away. The Pinehills receives a crime score of one out of 10, compared to the national average of four out of 10.

Considered America’s hometown, Downtown Plymouth is home to the landing site of the pilgrims, with a documented history seen in statues and artifacts of early settlers. Alongside its well-known past, residents here appreciate locally focused restaurants and shops along Court Street and quick access to nearby parks that provide sweeping views of Plymouth Harbor. The area’s history is felt at Plymouth’s several nearby parks, including Pilgrim Memorial State Park. The waterfront park is where residents and tourists go to visit the home of Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II replica, built in the 1950s. A short walk away sits the Pilgrim Hall Museum for those looking to delve deeper into the settlement's past. “It’s the oldest continuously operational museum in the country with artifacts going back to the pilgrims,” explains Lopes. A more serene setting is appreciated at Brewster Gardens, for a walk along its paved path or a few moments of relaxation on a park bench. A weekend morning stroll down Court Street can begin with a stop at Water Street Café, known for its French toast and all-day breakfast. Once ready to shop, residents can explore local shops like Main Street Marketplace for antiques and clothing at Style Unlimited, Sprezzatura Boutique and several others. In the summer months, residents pick up produce and artisanal goods from the Plymouth Farmers Market, while everyday groceries are picked up from Market Basket nearby. After a full day, those looking to enjoy the flavors of the area head to Wood’s Seafood, a family-owned business. “It’s all caught by local fisherman,” says Lopes. Downtown Plymouth’s centuries-old homes can be appreciated on foot, thanks to pedestrian sidewalks and streetlights spread throughout. It’s not an uncommon occurrence to see neighbors out and about walking their dogs or making their way downtown. Leon Lopes, a Realtor with Compass Real Estate Plymouth, who has 30 years of experience in the area, notes that many homes in the downtown area date back to the 1700s and a few from as early as the 1600s. These houses present a range of architectural influences, including Cape Cop, ranch, garrison and farmhouse styles, typically ranging in price from $450,000 to $700,000 depending on size and condition, while recently built and waterfront properties can reach just over $1 million. Despite earlier build dates, “You’ll see some newly constructed condominium buildings here too,” explains Lopez. These offer a more affordable option for homebuyers, ranging in price from $240,000 to $650,000. A staple of the community is the Plymouth Waterfront Festival, which takes place in August and welcomes crowds from all over. Those joining in on the festivities enjoy food trucks and the sounds of live entertainment while rooting on their favorite at the duck race or perusing vintage vehicles at the Cruise-In Car Show. July 4th in America’s Hometown is another annual tradition, where locals participate in the morning 5k before enjoying a free concert on the waterfront and a fireworks show to close out the day of celebration. When it’s time for class, young students head to Nathaniel Morton Elementary School and Plymouth Community Intermediate, both of which maintain a B rating on Niche. Older students will head to Plymouth North High School, which has also received a B from Niche. Schools in the county keep families and students updated with moments captured in and out of school on the EDTV channel, which plays on a local station. Downtown Plymouth is easily accessible to Route 3, which carries commuters into Boston along a 40.5-mile trip. The same route carries travelers to the Boston Logan International Airport, a 40.5-mile drive, and the South Shore Hospital, which sits a shorter 26-mile trip. Meanwhile, those taking classes at Quincy College at Plymouth don’t have to go far, as the campus is located in the neighborhood off Court Street.

North Plymouth is located 39 miles south of Boston on Plymouth Bay. Though the area may be situated on the shoreline, its residential areas have more of a suburban vibe than a beachy one. This thriving community offers single-family homes, townhomes and condo complexes overlooking the water. “The market is slowing down a bit, giving buyers a chance to decide on a home; however, come the warmer months, it will definitely pick up,” says Realtor Xavier Vargas with Vincente Realty who’s represented the area for six years. Tree-lined streets that need some updating meander throughout the neighborhood, showcasing a variety of architectural styles, including bungalows, Cape Cods, Colonial revivals and shingled executive homes. Many of the homes date back to the early 1920s (or earlier); however, condos and townhomes are newer builds. Most homes have either attached or detached garages; some older homes do not. Lots can range from 1/8 to 1/3 acre, suitable for gathering spaces and gardens. Overall, prices range from $367,000 to $1.7 million. Nelson Memorial Park is a beachside play area with picnic tables, benches and a spacious grassy area. It also has a small sandy beach, a launch ramp for canoes and kayaks and a paved walking trail that directly connects to the Holmes Reservation and North Plymouth Rail Trail. The North Plymouth Rail Trail is a self-guided walking trail. Nestled in 64 acres of forest, the Russell & Sawmill Ponds Conservation Area has two ponds with 2.8 miles of trails. Each year, the ponds are stocked with trout, making this a popular fishing spot. Vargas recommends a trip to Plimoth Patuxet, a complex of living history museums that replicates the original settlement of the Pilgrims. "One of the most popular stores for grocery shopping is Market Basket,” Vargas says. “They have everything, and your bill will be much lower than other grocers.” The Plymouth Cordage Company, now known as Cordage Commerce Center, was an old rope factory converted into a center with businesses, restaurants and offices. The building also houses a museum that illustrates the factory's history. Among the building's restaurants is Black Raspberry Pub, which grows its own produce. Here, locals can order bao buns, fajitas, parmesan truffle fries and cocktail while listening to live music. The complex also has a fitness center, a yoga studio and a hair salon. For a meal with a view, residents can go to Tavern on the Wharf, which has become a community staple with weekly specials, live entertainment and outdoor dining. “One of my favorite local restaurants is Rio Brazilian Steakhouse,” Vargas says. “They have an all-you-can-eat menu, and their food is incredible.” Students can start their education and walk to Cold Spring Elementary, "A Leader in Me" School, that has a B-plus from Niche. Plymouth Community Intermediate School received a B grade. Plymouth North High School, which has a B from Niche, offers Advanced Placement and Honors courses as well as state-of-the-art vocational-technical programs in Marketing, Allied Health, Engineering, and Facilities Management. U.S. Route 44 skirts the area's western border, eventually turning into U.S. Route 3. Vargas advises that getting to and from Route 3 can cause traffic backup, especially during rush hour. There are a few Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) rail and bus stops. Boston Logan International Airport is a 42-mile drive via Massachusetts Route 3.