This enormous state park, which reaches across the southern sections of Plymouth and Carver, is the largest publicly owned recreation area in southeastern Massachusetts. It is popular with campers, who have a choice of five camping areas in the forest or next to four of the park’s sixteen ponds.

Overall, 15 miles of bicycle trails, 35 miles of equestrian trails, and 13 miles of hiking trails go deep into the forest, which is one of the largest pitch pine– scrub oak forests in New England. This is a great place to teach kids to ride a bike and for families to enjoy a safe ride together. Throughout the forest are several coastal-plain kettle ponds. In summer, rangers lead interpretive programs, pond shore walks, and cranberry bog explorations. In winter, the trails are perfect for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

At the main park office, pick up a nature trail guide, then take a 3-mile hike around the East Head Reservoir, which is behind the interpretive center. The reservoir was made in 1868 and is still used to irrigate nearby cranberry bogs in fall.

Remember: A day-use area at College Pond offers picnicking, swimming, fishing, and canoeing. The fee is $5.

Plimoth Plantation, a wonderful seventeenth-century living history museum, is about 10 miles northeast of the park.

Along Plymouth’s main drag on Water Street, you’ll find numerous restaurants.