Fairhaven, MA is a wonderful, quiet seaside town nestled on the coast of Southeastern Massachusetts, in between Cape Cod & Providence, RI. Incorporated in 1812, Fairhaven features beaches, the historic Fort Phoenix American revolution site and state park, and beautiful buildings thanks to the town’s benefactor, Henry Huttleston Rogers. Fairhaven’s Office of Tourism offers regular tours and lots of information on thus “small town with a big history.”
While some Fairhaven Seaside Retreat guests relax at the property and the local beach, many take day trips all over New England because of Fairhaven’s central location compared to these popular destinations.
- Boston, MA: about 90 minutes
- Mystic, CT, featuring its seaport and filming locations from Mystic Pizza: about 90 minutes
- Salem, MA, the setting of many spooking American stories: about 60 minutes
- Newport, RI and its luxurious seaside mansion tours: about 60 minutes
- Plymouth, MA, a fantastic seaside town with great shopping and rich history: about 45 minutes
- Falmouth, MA, where you can take the ferry to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket and generally explore Cape Cod and its tourist attractions: about 45 minutes
- Providence, RI: between 30- 45 minutes
- Fall River, MA, the home of the Lizzie Borden House & Museum: 20 minutes
Fairhaven is also nextdoor to New Bedford, MA, a city known as the setting for Moby Dick and and its past as the capital of the Whaling industry, but now known because of its growing art and food culture. Check out the tips from a New York Times travel writer who spent 48 hours enjoying the city!
We also recommend checking out the Southeastern Massachusetts Visitors Bureau and the South Coast Almanac for updates on events and local attractions for the region.
The “Eat Like a Local” Challenge
While most people think of seafood when they think of coastal Massachusetts cuisine, that is only part of our wonderful food culture, influenced by our large Portuguese-American and Cape Verdean communities, and other immigrant groups. Also don’t sleep on our Italian food! Immigration in the 1920s to Providence, RI and surrounding area from Italy resulted in some of the best family Italian restaurants in the country.
If you eat least 10 of these, you have mastered The Eat Like a Local Challenge!
- fried whole-belly clams (suggested restaurants: Kylers, Gene’s or Mac’s or The Kozy Nook in Westport)
- a lobster roll (Mac’s or Bayside Lounge… you can also pick up 2 finger lobster rolls at Market Basket for $10)
- a quahog (a stuffed clam) (Mac’s or Mike’s)
- clam chowder (the best is at Mike’s, but is great at any seafood restaurant)
- Portuguese kale soup (Mac’s)
- a pizza (Mike’s or Riccardi’s) or omelet with linguica (Portuguese sausage) (Mac’s or The Phoenix)
- Lasagna or any Italian entree (Riccardi’s)
- a malasada (Portuguese fried donut) (Mac’s or the Fairhaven Farmer’s Market during the summer)
- a chow mein or chop suey sandwich at Wah May’s in Fairhaven (we prefer the mixed version)
- coffee milk, the Official Drink of Rhode Island (any grocery store dairy section or restaurant in Rhode Island or Southeastern Massachusetts)
- a Fluffanutta (Fluff marshmallow fluff & peanut butter and good bread from any grocery store- we love Fluff so much, it has its own festival)
- a full Portuguese meal (The Roasted Pig or Antonio’s)
- a frozen Dell’s Lemonade (stand or grocery store)
- a craft beer from Moby Dick or Buzzards Bay Brewing (if you enjoy beer)
- some Madeira wine (New Bedford has the largest Portuguese feast in the country every August that celebrates Madeiran culture)