Day 12 – Boston to Falmouth: Coastal Detours, Plymouth Rock and Proper Scones

Dave

East Coast Road Trip

1st December 2025

6 minutes

Our route took us through Quincy and North Weymouth before spotting a sign for Nantasket Beach. We stopped for a wander along the wide, sandy stretch before continuing further down the peninsula to Hull and Pemberton Point, where we paused to look out across Cape Cod Bay and watch the world go by. The drive down and back was scenic and peaceful — classic New England seaside views, shingled houses and wind-bent trees. The clapboard homes had that distinctive Cape Cod style, making us feel like we’d stumbled onto the set of Murder, She Wrote. America’s answer to the Cotswolds, perhaps.

Bird-spotting and Backroads

Back on the mainland we wound through quiet country roads, stopping at a deserted postcard-perfect beach for a quick walk across the sand. A huge bird of prey circled overhead — my phone’s AI insisted it was a turkey vulture. Whether that’s accurate or not, it was an impressive sight and another small reminder of just how wild and unspoiled parts of Massachusetts still are.

Plymouth – Rock, Mayflower and a Taste of Home

Our next stop was the historic town of Plymouth — birthplace of New England and home to the legendary Plymouth Rock, said to mark the landing site of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620. While the real story is a bit more complicated (the rock wasn’t officially recognised until more than a century later), it remains an enduring symbol of America’s colonial beginnings. Nearby sits the full-scale replica Mayflower II, painstakingly recreated in 1957 to celebrate the original voyage.

Shelly’s Tea Rooms – A Little Piece of England

After a chat with the friendly staff at the Plymouth tourist office, we learned about a nearby English tea room and set off in search of it. A glimpse of a bright red telephone box signalled success — we’d found Shelly’s Tea Rooms. Founded by Shelly and Paul Murphy from Nottinghamshire, the couple moved to Massachusetts in 2017 and recreated the authentic British tearoom experience for New Englanders who’d fallen in love with scones and loose-leaf tea.

Despite not being tea drinkers, we couldn’t resist ordering coffee and proper scones with jam and clotted cream — served, amusingly, with written instructions on how to eat them “the British way”. It was a lovely (and slightly surreal) taste of home on the other side of the Atlantic, and judging by the steady stream of customers, Shelly’s has definitely struck a chord.

Shopping and Souvenirs in Plymouth

On the walk back to the car we stumbled across Yankee Woodcarvers, a treasure-trove of hand-carved signs, statues and curiosities. In the corner stood a small totem pole — beautifully detailed and impossible to resist. After a brief debate about whether we could get it home intact, we decided to take the plunge and buy it. Deb was thrilled — it was unique, handmade and unlike anything we’d seen elsewhere.

A quick stop at a local guitar and record shop added a few bits of vinyl to my collection, and we rounded off our Plymouth visit at the National Monument to the Forefathers — a towering granite statue dedicated to the ideals of faith, morality, and freedom that inspired the Pilgrims. Then it was time to push on south towards the Cape.

Arrival in Falmouth

We arrived in Falmouth as dusk was falling. Our motel for the night was simple but comfortable, chosen for its proximity to the ferry terminal to Martha’s Vineyard. The room was spacious, clean and perfect for a short stay.

That evening we wandered into town and found Añejo Mexican Bistro, where we sat outside under roaring patio heaters, sipping margaritas and tucking into fantastic burritos, enchiladas and churros. The beer was cold, the food was spicy, and the atmosphere relaxed — a perfect end to a long, meandering coastal day.

Next Up

Tomorrow we catch the morning ferry across to Martha’s Vineyard — our first island stop of the trip and another new chapter in our East Coast adventure.