15 Best Things to Do in Pembroke (MA)
The city of Pembroke is located on the South Coast, about 25 miles south of Boston, and is located on the boggy North River and a mixture of marshes, streams and large natural ponds.
Each spring, herring migrate into town, from Massachusetts Bay, along the North River, and through these smaller waterways to the spawning grounds of Oldham and Ferns ponds west of town.
It has always been an important event in Pembroke, dating back to pre-colonial times, when the Wampanoag and Massachusetts natives called the area “Matkisset,” meaning “Place of Plenty of Fish.”
You can see the migration in Pembroke around April, but at any time of the year, there is plenty of natural beauty surrounding the city, with towering pine forests, deep hemlock groves, and rare tidal marshes ebb from the sea.
1. Herring Run Historical Park
On the right side of Herring Brook, this historic park is a prime spot for viewing larval birds during their annual migration to the spawning grounds of Furnace and Oldham ponds.
This scenic spectacle usually takes place in April, and is supported by the Pembroke Herring Fisheries Committee, which works all year round to ensure the racing is snag-free.
At Herring Run Park, the creek can be as shallow as six inches, so once your eyes adjust, it's easy to see foot-long fish on their journeys.
To the south, at the end of Littles Avenue, you can access the Bicentennial Nature Trail, which runs about a half-mile through pine forests and freshwater marshes, past historic stone walls.
2. Wildlands Trust – Willow Brook Farm Preserve
Located upstream from Herring Brook Park, the Wildlands Trust Preserve contains one of the most diverse and interesting inland natural areas in southeastern Massachusetts.
Here at the confluence of the Herring and Pudding Brooks Rivers, you can observe a rare type of freshwater marsh, which is affected by the tides despite being 11 miles from the sea.
Along the three-mile trail system, you'll come to an observation tower with a panoramic view of the Herring Brook Valley.
What will catch your attention in these scenarios is the complete absence of growth in sight. This lack of human encroachment improves water quality in the North River, which supports the annual herring run.
3. Wildlands Trust – Tucker Preserve
Sitting west of Luddam’s Ford Park, you can visit a stunning stretch of the Indian Head River, which we'll talk about in a moment.
As you travel west through the Tucker Reservation, the character of the Indian Head River changes from a quiet reservoir near the dam to a deep gorge.
This wild landscape can be defined by a series of high hills covered in hemlock forest, in the type of landscape most associated with western Massachusetts or New Hampshire.
Across the river are the remains of the 19th-century Waterman Tack Factory, while the lichen-covered stone walls are a reminder of a more distant agricultural history.
4. Pembroke Town Green
The heart of Pembroke For more than 300 years, the green city and surrounding center of Pembroke are set in a large open natural area with mature trees and urban buildings over wide spaces.
The sense of openness comes from a large, central cemetery tumbling to the west. On or near the green you will find City Hall, the Pembroke Public Library, the city recreation department, and a playground for younger children.
There is a bandstand on the green for outdoor events, including concerts in the summer. To the north is the Pembroke Historical Society Museum, which consists of two adjacent one-room schoolhouses, dating from the mid-19th century and moved to the site in 1952 and 1968.
5. Oldham Pond (Pembroke Town Landing)
One destination for the annual herring migration is this 235-acre natural pond that straddles the Pembroke-Hanson line.
At the turn of the 20th century, Oldham Pond became a desirable location for summer homes, and loose rows of lakefront homes line its shores.
Over the past few years, Pembroke has done a lot to revitalize its public beach at Pembroke Town Landing on the East Coast.
New ADA-compliant amenities include restrooms with snack bars, a large expanse of sand to go along with a swimming area with lifeguards on duty until Labor Day in late June.
One reason to swing by Town Landing any time of year is the dreamy sunsets that can be enjoyed along this coast.
6. Luddam’s Ford Park
With a combination of natural splendor and fascinating human history, the park includes two parcels, one on the Pembroke side of the Indian Head River, and the other on the Hanover side to the north.
Pembroke has the larger of the two, consisting of open fields and woodland with a dam that supplied power to the Clapp Rubber Company in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
It was the largest facility of its kind in the United States, and the remains are not difficult to find in the woods from the road.
The fish ladder in the spring is another great place to watch fry heading upriver. If you are patient, you can also see animals such as osprey, mink and fox hunting for fish.
7. Dairy Twist
Originally opened in 1994, this popular ice cream parlor is located at 580 Washington Street (Route 53), and has been run by the same family for over 20 years.
Two things that set Dairy Twist apart are the generous portions and the amazing variety of flavours. At the time of writing, there are more than 60 flavors of hard ice cream alone.
These products range from simple ones like vanilla and chocolate to cotton candy, health bars, cake batter, and sea salt caramel truffles.
There are also a range of limited-time flavours, including a selection of spiced pumpkin flavours. Plus you have a huge list of toppings, sundaes, soft serve flavors, sorbets, frappes, floats, and ice cream pies.
8. Soundcheck Studios
An industrial park in Pembroke is an unlikely site for a world-class training facility and live music venue.
Once you arrive, everything suddenly makes sense, and this intimate and well-appointed venue shines as one of the best places to see a live show on the south coast.
The schedule is packed, with shows at least several nights a week. For a chance to catch touring acts or regional artists, come to open mics on Mondays. There's a well-stocked bar, and all shows are catered by local food trucks.
9. Pembroke Arts Festival
The Pembroke Arts Festival, a fixture of the local cultural calendar since 1968, celebrates many artists and craftspeople from Pembroke and the South Coast.
This three-day event is held in mid-August, and its location is usually the Town Green, but recent editions have also been held at Hobomick Elementary School.
The centerpiece of the festival is the Artists' Competition, with prizes in a long list of categories including oils, pastels/drawing, color photography and more.
There is a Young Artists Show for emerging artists, and you can also shop for something unique at the festival's craft fair.
10. Hidden Hollow Farm
Perhaps the best way to experience the wild Pembroke countryside is by horseback. This can be done through Hidden Hollow Farm, a small private farm with ten horses that maintains about 20 acres of outdoor space and two miles of trails for horseback riding.
There are lessons for all levels, from beginners' learn-to-ride programs to jumping and dressage in specific arenas.
The farm also offers summer camps and birthday parties, but if you want to spend an hour riding a gentle horse through the woods, you can arrange a road trip.
The experience begins with grooming and caring for your horse to get to know it, and then you will be taught the basics before setting out on the trails in the field.
11. Pembroke Friends Meeting House
Something to note at the intersection of Washington Street and Chosette Street is a Quaker church that is over 300 years old.
Now in the care of the Pembroke Historical Society, the oldest elements of the Pembroke Friends Meeting House date from 1706, with extensions in the 19th century.
The church was in use until 1876, when its members started for New Bedford or Sandwich. In the 18th and 19th centuries, many of Pembroke's prominent citizens were Quakers.
The building is rarely open to the public, but you can peek through a window to observe the divided layout, with women sitting in one half and men in the other.
12. Adah F. Hall House
Located at 52 Parker Street near Herring Run Park is a historic First Period home owned by the Pembroke Historical Society.
Set back from the road a long drive away, the Adah F. Hall House, believed to date from the 1680s, has a pleasant setting, with grassy fields interspersed with mature woodland.
The history of the property can be traced back to an early land grant by Miles Standish in the 17th century, the first owner of which was a Quaker who owned a sawmill in Heringbrook.
You can see the interior during the association's open house days, or arrange a guided tour at other times by appointment.
13. Grand Old Fish Fry
As with the herring run, every spring a small festival is held to celebrate the event. The Grand Old Fish Fry Festival is over 40 years old and is traditionally held on the first Sunday in May.
It's a major fundraiser for the Pembroke Historical Society, which helps preserve historic sites like the Pembroke Friends Meeting House and the Ada F. Hall House.
Herring Run Park has a schedule of activities, including duck races, live music, children's activities such as face painting and balloon modeling, and an annual brunch.
Herring was on the menu in the early days, replaced by fish cakes, burgers and hot dogs.
14. Pembroke Country Club
Nestled among towering pine groves, this golf course was first opened in 1973 and has undergone major works in recent years to open up the layout to improve playability.
Pembroke Country Club is known for its four long fairways, five of which are over 420 yards, providing a unique challenge for players of all standards.
In addition to the stadium itself, the adjacent facilities have been renovated, including the pro shop, event rooms and grill, which has some of the best views of the stadium from its courtyard.
If you want to get going before your round, or just want to improve your swing, there is a fully grassed driving range.
15. Bay Circuit Trail
Pembroke is on the southern third of the 230-mile trail that runs through Boston's outer suburbs north from Plum Island in Newburyport to Kingston Bay, just minutes away in Duxbury.
A path that winds along quiet roads and links conservation land and public parks is another way to appreciate Pembroke's rural character.
If you're up for the hike, you can reach the southern end of Bay Farm Conservation Area in just a few hours.
In Pembroke, the trail passes through the Pembroke City Forest, Camp Wembeck, and Tubbs Meadows, crossing two trails through Duxbury that finally meet at the trailhead.
Detailed static and interactive trail maps can be downloaded from the Bay Circuit Trail website and the Town of Pembroke website.