15 Best Things to Do in Somerset (MA)
This south-coast city sits on a narrow strip of land along the Taunton River at the head of Mount Hope Bay. In 2022, Joe Biden traveled to Somerset to deliver a speech on climate change. The location is no coincidence, as the southern tip of Somerset was until recently home to a large coal-fired Brayton Point power station, which closed in 2017. The city of Somerset was incorporated in 1790 and you can get a sense of its early days by going north of the city. Lined with tall mature trees, the Somerset Village Historic District is home to many historic public and residential buildings, including the Somerset Historical Society Museum. Across the river is the town of Fall River, where a luxurious World War II fleet is anchored along the Braga Bridge at Battleship Cove. 1. Battleship Cove No mention of this section of the Taunton River is complete without mentioning the incredible concentration of World War II naval vessels moored across the river. Less than 10 minutes from Somerset, Battleship Cove is home to the world’s largest WWII museum collection of ships. Her eight ships await you here. The largest of these ships is the flagship USS Massachusetts. She was launched in 1941 and served very well throughout the war without any of her crew of US Marines dying. Also ready for boarding are the USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (1945), the submarine USS Lionfish (1943), and the German corvette Hiddensee, which she built in 1984 at the Petrovsky Shipyard in Leningrad (St. Petersburg). 2. Fall River Heritage State Park The city’s waterfront parks surrounding Battleship Cove are bustling with activity, and there are plenty of good reasons to cross in five minutes in the summer. Much of the program focuses on the Hudner Memorial and features everything from art and history rotations in community galleries to hands-on workshops and dance. There are benches along the promenade where you can admire the battleships surrounded by the Braga Bridge in awe. At the southern end is the Fall River Carousel, built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1920, with an ice cream stand nearby. 3. Auclair’s Market Across County Street in Somerset Creamery is a thriving independent grocery store since 1918. Eau Clairs His Market was founded by Canadian immigrants who worked as slaves in a Fall River factory to save money to open their own businesses. Originally located in Fall River, Eau Claire’s Market moved across the Taunton River in the second generation, and the current store was opened in 2000 by the founder’s grandson Dennis and his wife Dorothy Eau Claire. This store has been known for its butcher counter for over a century. Think tenderloin, ribeye, various boneless hams, chicken and the famous gray corned beef. The deli counter is also a big draw, with delicious hams and cheeses, as well as all kinds of prepared meals, from salads to cured dishes like roast chicken, dinner cakes, and pulled pork. 4. Simcock Farm Five minutes from Swansea, this fourth-generation farm has a popular ice cream stand serving award-winning Gifford ice cream. Choose from over 40 delicious hard ice cream flavors, plus frozen yogurt, sherbet, and sugar-free options. There are picnic tables in the back, and watching livestock such as donkeys, goats, sheep, miniature horses, and miniature cows is one of the pleasures of Simcok Farm. The farm also hosts seasonal events, attractions, and activities such as hay wagon rides, corn mazes, sunflower mazes, PYO pumpkins, and summer cruise nights. 5. Factory of Terror This haunted mansion, touted as the best in New England, is another excellent reason to cross the Taunton River during the spooky season. The Factory of Terror, which is appropriately housed in a dismal industrial structure, attracts a devoted following with each new season by adding fresh thrills to its maze-like trail. There were other cleverly crafted encounters the year we authored this piece, including a zombie that materializes from a portal to another dimension. The character performances, make-up, and props all contribute to the immersion, and there is a gift shop for a gloomy souvenir at the conclusion. 6. Taunton River Trail By the time you read this, you may be able to stroll or cycle north along the picturesque Taunton River from Somerset to Taunton on a 22-mile rail path. At the time of publication, a two-mile segment of the intended route was taking shape nearby along the abandoned railroad right-of-way through Sweets Knoll State Park. Until recently, this 56-acre property near Dighton had gotten little attention, but it has a lot to offer. The Taunton River has been designated a National Wild and Scenic River, and it is New England’s only major coastal river that flows freely and without dams. You can trek down to the river and onto the wooded knoll that rises from the banks. As evidenced by the kiosk, this was an important pre-contact Native American site, and the remnants of old stone walls serve as a relic of a bygone maritime business. 7. Swansea Town Beach This public sandy beach in Swansea is less than ten minute drive from the south end of Somerset. Swansea Town Beach faces south and offers a panoramic view of Mount Hope Bay. As with Somerset’s beach, lifeguards are on duty from mid-June to Labor Day, and there is a parking fee ($5 for residents and $8 for non-residents at the time of writing). The beach is a joy, with a large sandy bay accompanied by a grassy picnic area, restrooms, and a playground. Because the beach has a shallow gradient, the water is warm in the summer, and you may walk out for over a mile at low tide. 8. Braga Bridge The I-195 bridge that spans the Taunton River between Somerset and Fall River opened in 1966 and has since become a landmark, towering over the world’s largest naval museum. The massive steel structure is a stunning landmark for those driving to Cape Cod, and