Seniors Follow Their Noses To Duxbury

Why their noses? Well really their tastebuds. I came across an article in a Sunday paper on some of our nation’s finest ice cream shops. Duxbury has one called Farfar’s Danish Ice Cream Shop. The locals say that…“It’s a big day when Farfar’s opens, and a sad day on the last day of summer, when they close.”  With fame like that this senior just had to check out the rest of the town that is so loaded with early history. 

Duxbury is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts. It is called a  suburb of Boston, located on the South Shore, approximately 35 miles south of the city.  The population runs just over 14,000. If you take Hwy 3 south of Boston on your way to the Cape, turn off onto 3A and it will take you to Duxbury on the coast.

The town is located on Duxbury Bay. Snug Harbor, also on Duxbury Bay, just north of Plymouth Bay, is one of the most attractive recreational boat basins on the Massachusetts coast. I discovered 30 tours and fishing excursions for senior visitors to consider that depart from Duxbury.

 Senior Historians Stop In Duxbury

Duxbury was founded in 1637.  Do you remember the names John and Priscilla Alden?  The Alden Family Sites is a National Historic Landmark in Duxbury.

The town was founded by migrants from the nearby town of Plymouth. Duxbury’s importance in Mayflower genealogy is irrefutable, and it is underscored by the simple fact that the town was named for Duxbury Hall, the seat of Miles Standish’s ancestral home in England.

The Bradford House and Nathaniel Winsor, Jr. House are also high on the list for senior visitors. Duxbury Beach is well known as one of the most beautiful and accessible beaches in the state, so bring your swimsuits along and maybe a nice umbrella stand and blanket.

Myles Standish Monument State Reservation is a state park located on Captain’s Hill in Duxbury. The focus of the park is a 116-foot granite shaft topped by a 14-foot statue of Captain Myles Standish who was a military leader of Plymouth Colony. So how’s your history?  Remember him too?

 Duxbury’s Big Three

The Big Three in Duxbury consist of the Alden House Museum built in 1653, Duxbury Beach Park, a six-mile long barrier beach, and King Caesar House that was built in 1808. It is a Federal-style home that belonged to Ezra Weston II, aka King Caesar, a powerful shipping magnate.

Duxbury is the 6th largest cranberry producer in the state. The county has 123 National Register of Historic Places and 5 National Historic Landmarks. I know that these historic places and landmarks are where my wife and I would begin our visit.

So stop by Duxbury and Plymouth County on your next visit to the east coast and Boston. Enjoy great seafood, clean Atlantic Ocean air and the hospitable population. Duxbury is just a fun place for a visit.  jeb