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South Shore

Massachusetts

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The enclosure around Plymouth Rock - Plymouth, Massachusetts

The enclosure around Plymouth Rock - Plymouth, Massachusetts

Overview

As with much of the Massachusetts coast, the South Shore is blessed with historic sites and natural beauty. Seeing firsthand the challenges faced by the Pilgrims who first settled in Plymouth is a vivid reminder of the value of religious tolerance and stubborn endurance – both at the core of the nation's foundation. Generations later, these values were lived out by founding father John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams, who lived in nearby Quincy.

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Maine's Marvelous Coastline: 10 Days in Acadia, Bath, Bethel, and Camden

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  1. 1Unwinding Scandinavian-style with saunas and cold plunges at a beloved Nordic spa
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