Swansea (Massachusetts)
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Swansea is a town near the mouth of the Taunton River in Massachusetts. Swansea is a local retail hub, with businesses lining its central artery, Grand Army of the Republic Highway (GAR Hwy, Route 6). Traveling off the main drag offers opportunities for hiking, boating, and swimming.
Understand
[edit]
Swansea is a quiet suburb of Providence, Rhode Island and Fall River, Massachusetts. At the turn of the 20th century, trolleys connected Swansea with Providence, Fall River, and Taunton. The town is an ocean front town that has a town beach. The town also has many streams and reservoirs that are good for fishing.
Get in
[edit]By plane
[edit]By car
[edit]Both I-195 and Rt. 6 run east-west, and are major routes into Swansea from Providence and Fall River. Travelers from other areas, including Boston, must travel to one of these highways to enter Swansea.
- Interstate 195 runs east-west between Providence and Cape Cod. (Exits: 5, 8)
- U.S. Route 6, 3,000 mi (4,800 km) in length, connects Swansea with bordering Somerset and Seekonk. Most Swansea businesses are on or just off of Route 6.
- MA Route 118 starts in Attleboro to the north and terminates in Swansea.
- MA Route 103 connects Swansea with Warren (Rhode Island) and Somerset's southern shore. Primary route serving south Swansea.
- MA Route 136 runs north to Rehoboth.
By train
[edit]The nearest MBTA commuter rail stops from Boston are in Providence and Attleboro.
By bus
[edit]- The Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) offers daily buses from Fall River.
Get around
[edit]
Swansea is most easily traveled by car. There is a SRTA bus route that provides limited stops along Route 6 and Swansea Mall Drive.
Swansea is full of bike riders, joggers, and dog walkers. The town has many bike routes on its roads. Some roads include Old Warren Rd., and Route 118. There is a major bike path in the area. The East Bay Bike Path is a 14 mile bike path that stretches from Providence to Bristol along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. It passes through the city of East Providence as well as the nearby townships of Barrington and Warren.
See and do
[edit]Museums
[edit]
- 1 Martin House Farm, 22 Stoney Hill Rd. This home, built in 1728, has been preserved with its original furnishings dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. Tours are offered, many by local high school students dressed in period attire. Tours include the farm, which features a restored barn. Adults: $5, Children under 12: Free.
- 2 Swansea Historical Society (J.G. Luther Store), 160 Old Warren Rd, ☏ +1 508 496-9564. Local nonprofit based out of a general store built in 1810. Tours of the house can be scheduled by appointment.
Outdoors
[edit]- 3 Swansea Dam, 195 Main St. Small dam on the Cole River provides a serene spot to sit. Located right next to the public library and Joseph Case High School.
- 4 Simcock Farm, 293 Marvel St, ☏ +1 508 673-5721. This working farm offers seasonal activities including hayrides, pumpkin picking, sunflower mazes, corn mazes, and Gifford's Ice Cream.
- 5 Village Park, 24 Main St. Nice spot for hiking. Features Abram's Rock.
Boating and Beaches
[edit]- 1 Swansea Boat Ramp, 698 Ocean Grove Ave. Good boat launch into Mount Hope Bay for smaller craft. $5 parking.
- 2 Swansea Marina, 161 Calef Ave, ☏ +1 508 672-8633. This facility in Swansea's Ocean Grove neighborhood connects local boaters with Mount Hope Bay.
- 3 Swansea Town Beach, 560 Ocean Grove Ave (Parking by permit, available at the Beach Shack.). Open until the 7PM or dusk (whichever is earlier). Small public beach offering swimming and boating. Prohibited: dogs, fires, overnight camping, alcohol.
Buy
[edit]While the Swansea Mall closed its doors in 2019, Swansea's shopping centers continue to attract traffic from the surrounding area.
- 1 The Bloomin Barn, 279 Gardners Neck Dr, ☏ +1 508-678-4448. Country Primitive Gift Shop, Greenhouse, Pond Supplies, Koi, etc.
- 2 RK Swansea Place, 579 GAR Highway (Route 6). Retailers include Target, Marshalls, and PetSmart. Food options: Starbucks, Five Guys, and McDonald's.
- 3 Swansea Crossings, 207 Swansea Mall Dr. Regal Cinemas, Big Lots, and Yankee Spirits, among others.
Eat
[edit]Ice cream
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- 1 Eskimo King, 29 Market St. Open seasonally. Over 350 flavors of soft serve ice cream make this roadside gem stand out. Also serving hard ice cream, frozen yogurt, and sundaes.
- 2 Ice Cream Barn (at Baker Farm), 289 Locust St. Farm-fresh dairy, local ingredients, and homemade waffle cones make this some of the region's best ice cream. The dairy cows at Baker Farm across the street peer over the fence at you while you eat the ice cream- it doesn't get much fresher than that.
Asian
[edit]- 3 Hoy Tin, 630 GAR Hwy, ☏ +1 508 675-2200. Staple for local Chinese food favorites, including Chow Mein sandwiches.
- 4 Thai Taste, 544 Milford Rd #1. The region's only Thai restaurant, offering delicious Pad Thai and Southeast Asian coconut curries.
- 5 Umi Japanese Steakhouse, 579 GAR Hwy (RK Swansea Place), ☏ +1 508 672-1490.
Lunch
[edit]- 6 Cornerstone Restaurant & Bakery, 1713 GAR Hwy.
- 7 Plaza Pizza II, 544 Milford Rd #16.
- 8 Simply Simons, 481 Wilbur Ave.
Dinner
[edit]- 9 Venus de Milo, 75 GAR Hwy. This local landmark is the venue for almost every wedding, banquet, and benefit dinner held in a 10-mile radius of Swansea. Locally famous for its Minestrone wedding soup, along with Portuguese, Italian, and Spanish banquet meals.
Sleep
[edit]- 1 Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 1400 GAR Hwy, ☏ +1 508 672-6857.
- 2 Rodeway Inn, 999 GAR Hwy, ☏ +1 508 675-7700.
Go next
[edit]Popular New England tourist areas around town:
- Cape Cod is located about 44 miles east of the town.
- Newport, RI is located only 23 miles south of the town. It's about a half hour drive. Ocean Drive in Newport is the home of the Newport Mansions.
- Boston is located 54 miles northeast from Swansea. It's about a 1 hour drive.
- Providence, RI is only 13 miles to the west. The ride should only take 15 minutes.
- Battleship Cove, home of the USS Massachusetts battleship, is located in Fall River, MA which is only 5 miles. The ride will only be 5 minutes.
| Routes through Swansea |
| Providence ← Seekonk ← | W  E |
→ Somerset → New Bedford |
| Providence ← Seekonk ← | W  E |
→ Somerset → New Bedford |