Parks and the outdoors in Fall River

Parks and the outdoors in Fall River

1. See

   Bicentennial Park

   This patriotic waterfront park houses a copy of Washington DC's Iwo Jima Memorial. In 2021, an 80% scale replica of DC's Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall will open- the only one of its kind in the world.

2. See

   Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption

   St. Mary's

   Oldest Catholic church in Fall River and Cathedral for the Fall River Diocese. One of four cathedrals in Massachusetts..

3. See

   Children's Museum of Greater Fall River

   This small interactive museum offers children a number of exhibits to explore. Exhibits include the Lego Room and the World of Water, and there are various events that change on a regular basis.

   Admission $8, children under 12 months free

4. See

   Copicut Woods

   Owned and managed by Massachusetts' Trustees of Reservations, this secluded forest is located entirely in Fall River city limits. A varied landscape featuring conifer forests, mossy rock walls, and freshwater swamps is contained within a compact wooded area. As of January 2021, some paths, including the Cedar Swamp trail, are closed for repair.

5. See

   Fall River Heritage State Park

   Fall River Heritage State Park hugs the Taunton River which provides a wonderful and relaxing views. This 8.5-acre park overlooks Battleship Cove, which houses the World War II battleship, USS Massachusetts. Heritage State Park also has a boardwalk that runs the length of the park, benches for lounging, trees, an antique carousel, sailing opportunities, tennis courts, historical statues, and a huge open area perfect for the recreational activity of your choice. This park is a great family spot for picnics, relaxing, or even just going for a leisurely walk.

6. See

   Fall River Historical Society

   Set in an 1800s Highlands mansion, the Historical Society offers guided museum tours that glimpse into the lives of New England's 19th century elite. Rotating exhibits display an extensive collection of Fall River heirlooms, including Lizzie Borden artifacts. The Victorian Christmas tour (Nov - Dec) is perhaps their most spectacular offering, with every room in the house decorated in a different traditional holiday style. A Christmas shop and a Victorian High Tea room are open year-round.

   Adults $12, children under 15 $8

7. See

   Fall River Maritime Museum

   formerly Marine Museum at Fall River

   Nautical museum whose collections include extensive ephemera of the Fall River Line's luxurious steamboats, called "floating palaces" by the aristocrats and presidents who stayed aboard them in the late 1800s. The museum also showcases one of the largest RMS Titanic exhibitions in the world, featuring a 28 ft model of the ill-fated vessel that was used in the Oscar-winning film Titanic. (No, not that Oscar-winning film Titanic- the 1953 version!).

8. Buy

   Fall River Shopping Center

   Burlington anchors this complex, with other retailers including GameStop, Rainbow, and Savers.

9. See

   Fall River-Freetown State Forest

   Freetown State Forest

   This state forest is one of Massachusetts' largest outside of the Berkshires. With land split between Fall River, Freetown, and Lakeville, the forest features over 25 mi of trails for hikers, equestrians, and dirt bikers, as well as an uninhabited Wampanoag reservation. Notable goings-on in the forest over the years have included satanic cult murders in the 1980s, escaped emus, and the collapse of its most prominent feature, Profile Rock.

10. See

    Kennedy Park

    in size, this park was designed by master landscaper Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed New York's Central Park and Boston's Emerald Necklace. Known as "South Park" prior to 1963. Macabre history buffs will be interested in the case of Sarah Maria Cornell, whose death at the park in 1832, and the acquittal of a Methodist minister for her murder, led to outrage and scandal across New England.

11. Eat

    Mee Sum

    Spot to try the chow mein sandwich- locally-made chow mein noodles in brown gravy between two hamburger buns. The "sandwich," if you can call it that (the bottom bun is soaked in sauce and excess chow mein pours onto the plate), is quintessentially Fall River; mere miles outside of the city, no one has heard of it, but if you've lived here, you've eaten one.

12. Eat

    Michael's Provisions

    Essential spot for house-made chouriço, a Portuguese pork sausage made with fat, spices, and beef casing. Chouriço, and its near-identical cousin linguiça, are as essential in Fall River as chicken or beef. Michael's offers both in a variety of forms, including links, pre-ground with peppers, and grill-ready patties.

13. Do

    Narrows Center for the Arts

    This center on the top floor of one of Fall River's iconic mill buildings plays host to live music, art galleries, and other social gatherings. Attendees are welcome to bring their own food, drink, and alcohol to events.

14. Eat

    Nick's Hot Dogs

    Nick's Hot Dogs offers affordable hot dogs ($1-2), French fries ($3-4), and stuffed quahogs ($3). Known for its Coney Island wieners, Nick's has been a staple in Fall River since 1920. It features a family-friendly atmosphere and original seats.

15. See

    Oak Grove Cemetery

    Really? Why visit a cemetery? Well, Oak Grove is the largest public urban greenspace in Fall River. It is the final resting place of Lizzie Borden and her family (just follow the painted arrows from the main entrance on Prospect Street). Its obelisks and monuments are some of the city's finest architecture. It is well-manicured and filled with tortuous paths, designed in the style of Cambridge's famous Mount Auburn. And, it is a surprisingly great place to go for a walk.

16. Eat

    Pink Bean Coffee

    Fall River's premier coffee shop. Pink Bean offers espresso, pour over, and cold brew coffee drinks alongside breakfast and lunch fare. In a city with sixteen Dunkin Donuts franchises, Pink Bean's coffee-focused philosophy is a breath of fresh air.

17. See

    Portas da Cidade

    A physical representation of Fall River's connection to Portugal, this is a scale replica of the Portas da Cidade (Gates of the City) in Ponta Delgada, the capital of São Miguel and the largest city in the Azores. The monument was built to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the relationship between Fall River and Ponta Delgada as sister cities. Portuguese President Aníbal Cavaco Silva and the mayor of Ponta Delgada have visited the site.

18. Eat

    Sam's Bakery

    The most beloved of Fall River's Lebanese bakeries, this small family-owned shop offers delicious triangular Lebanese pies (sfeehas), serving traditional meat and spinach pies alongside chourico-filled ones. $1.35 each, or $9 for a dozen.

19. Buy

    SouthCoast Marketplace

    formerly New Harbour Mall

    This open-air mall opened in 2017 with a movie theater and a supermarket (Market Basket). Retailers include Old Navy, T.J. Maxx, and Ulta Beauty. Dining options include 110 Grill, Five Guys, Chick-Fil-A and Fall River's only Starbucks.

20. Drink

    The Tipsy Seagull

    This one-of-a-kind tiki bar floats in the Taunton River for 6 months out of the year. Boaters can dock and get cocktails brought to their vessel, while landlubbers enjoy the rooftop bar. Live music every night. Their sister restaurant, The Tipsy Toboggan, is open year-round.

    Open late spring to mid-fall

21. See

    Watuppa Ponds

    Two bodies of water, separated by a small channel (The Narrows) make up this freshwater body. The North Watuppa Pond is the second largest natural body of water in Massachusetts; the South Watuppa Pond is #3. The North Watuppa is Fall River's primary drinking water reservoir, and as such cannot be used for fishing, swimming, or boating; all three of these activities are allowed in the South Watuppa. Trails exist around both ponds, including a bike path on the South Watuppa.

22. Do

    The Firebarn

    Owned by Little Theatre of Fall River.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Fall River (CC BY-SA 4.0).