South Shore Massachusetts Towns

Hingham is one of the most well rounded towns on the South Shore, and also one of the most affluent. It has one of the most recognized main streets in America, the dramatic and historic Main Street of downtown Hingham (aka Route 228). From the historic homes that line Main Street to Hingham harbor and Wompatuck, the scenery keeps getting better. If you're the kind of person that likes big backyards, your own quiet space, forests, and proximity to your own marina, then you'll love Hingham.

Right: People Walking by Water at Sunset, Scituate

Scituate is a town made up of several villages, a New England tradition for coastal towns. Minot, Humarock, Egypt (yes, you head right -- Egypt), North Scituate, The Glades, Rivermoor, and First Cliff are just a few of the individually named neighborhoods of town that make Scituate so unique. Scituate has its own lighthouse that guards the harbor, Scituate Light. On the northern part of town, you can see Minot's Ledge Light in Cohasset just offshore.

The definition of the South Shore sometimes includes towns further inland/west like Brockton, but most consider it the communities that are within 12 miles or so from the shore, south of Boston. That makes Quincy the largest city by population. It sits just south of Boston, neighboring Dorchester and Milton. Quincy's biggest attractions include Marina Bay, Wollaston Beach, and Quincy Center. Quincy was also home to the Fore River Shipyard, a now defunct shipyard that built some of WWII's most famous boats like the USS Massachusetts. This was where the famous "Kilroy was here" doodle originated and became popular during the war.

Hull is the most unique town on the South Shore, and is comprised of seven hills that make up the town, connected via sand bars. Hull's east facing beach, Nantasket Beach, is one of the busiest beaches in Massachusetts, and also one of the most interesting. Nantasket is the former location of Paragon Park, but today still remains a vibrant and vital part of the South Shore. Hull has also participated in wind energy programs to increase the number of clean energy producing wind turbines in town. A trip to Hull is certainly memorable, and a great drive. If you're visiting Hull, be sure to drive all the way to Pemberton Point to catch a glimpse of the Boston skyline.

When the Pilgrims first arrived in 1620, they settled in Plymouth, MA. Not only was the first ever Thanksgiving held in Plymouth, but the town is the biggest municipality in Massachusetts. Driving from one end of Plymouth to the other, north to south via backroads, will take you approximately 35 minutes (traffic pending). One of the best things to do in Plymouth if you have the chance is experience the 4th of July celebration. Plymouth has an impressive fireworks display on the harbor that can be seen perfectly from anywhere on the waterfront.

Cohasset is one of the South Shore's hardest to get to towns. There are no divided highways that enter through Cohasset, instead only backroads like Route 3A which lead to the town. For an unforgettable drive in this town, head to Jerusalem Road which hugs rocky cliffs overlooking Massachusetts Bay. This road is also known for some of the most expensive properties on the South Shore. From many parts of Cohasset's shore, you can spot Minot's Ledge Lighthouse offshore. Known as the "I Love You" light for its 1-4-3 flashing sequence, the 1860 lighthouse is as romantic as it is striking.

Pembroke may not be directly on the ocean, but has a direct relationship with the water. Five ship building yards were once located on the banks of the North River in Pembroke. Further inland in Pembroke, there are several large ponds like Great Sandy, Furnace Pond, Oldham Pond, Silver Lake, and Hobomock Pond. These ponds were once summer vacation destinations for Boston residents looking to escape the heat of the city. Those cottages has since been converted to full time residences. Pembroke also has an active Herring Run along Route 36, just before the center of town.

Hanover is a very residential town, known for its quiet back streets and historical homes. The North River forms the border between Pembroke and Hanover, which then in turn becomes the Indian Head River. On the other side of town near Route 3 you can find the busiest part of town near the Hanover Mall. Hanover is also home to South Shore Vocational Technical High School, serving much of the South Shore.

Weymouth sits between Quincy, Braintree, and Hingham, making it one of the busiest towns on the South Shore. You can also find South Shore Hospital, which is situated on Route 18, serving most of the South Shore communities. The coastline of Weymouth is small, but the town is close to both Wollaston Beach and Nantasket Beach. The Weymouth Back River separates Hingham and Weymouth. Along the banks of the river you can find Abigail Adams Park, Bare Cove Park, and Stodder's Neck.

Marshfield is a town of many names. Green Harbor, Fieldston, Brant Rock, Rexhame, Marshfield Hills, and Ocean Bluff are a few of the neighborhoods you can find in town. Marshfield has some of the best public and private beaches on the South Shore, most of which are very easily accessible. The most popular are Green Harbor and Brant Rock.

Duxbury has some dramatic scenery in several spots across town, which is evident as soon as you drive to Powder Point Bridge. The Bluefish River Reservoir, which empties into Plymouth Bay, winds next to picturesque homes along King Caesar Road, culminating at Powder Point Bridge. Over the bridge, you can find Duxbury Beach and Marshfield's Green Harbor nearby, or further out on Gurnet Road, the small private village of Saquish.

Kingston, like Weymouth, is located along the shore, but has little coastline. The main beach of Kingston is Gray's Beach, which offers views of Plymouth Harbor. The town has 3 exits off of Route 3, and a historic homes section along Route 27 (Main Street). Kingston also houses Silver Lake Regional High School, which serves the towns of Plympton, Halifax, and Kingston. The school is adjacent to Silver Lake, which feeds the Jones River.

Norwell is located along the North River, which serves as a boundary between Marshfield and Norwell. The North River runs parallel to much of Main Street, which has rows of historic Colonial homes. Sections of Wompatuck State Park can also be found in Norwell. The most notable crossing over the North River can be found at Bridge St., which turns into Union St. when you cross over the river and the town line into Marshfield.

Hanson is a rural town on the South Shore between Pembroke and Whitman. Much of the town is residential, but has some commercial buildings in the town center and at the intersection of Route 14 and Route 58 (at Shaw's Plaza). Hanson shares its high school with Whitman, which is known as Whitman Hanson Regional High School.

Carver is one of the South Shore's biggest towns in square miles, just behind Plymouth and Middleboro in size. This is where you'll find Edaville Railroad (now known as Edaville USA) and the New England Renaissance Fair, King Richard's Faire. You can get to Carver by taking Route 58 or Route 44. Route 58 will head directly into the town center, and eventually south towards Wareham.

Wareham is often considered part of Cape Cod, and has dubbed itself the "Gateway to Cape Cod." Whether the town is actually part of Cape Cod or not, you can find beautiful scenery in Onset and Wareham's many winding rivers, including the Weweantic River.

The beaches of the South Shore might not be as well known as some of the ones on Cape Cod, but they're actually just as impressive. The long peninsula of Gurnet in Duxbury provides beautiful sand dunes backdrops, Brant Rock has an active coastline and quaint New England style village, and Nantasket is the quintissential "close to the city" beach. Here are some of the best beaches on the South Shore, including the ones previously mentioned.