Make a day of it in downtown New Bedford. Here are activities for you and your family before and after services at First Unitarian.
1) Enjoy breakfast out.

New Bedford has several breakfast restaurants and a few coffee shops, all within walking distance of our church building.  Relax and read the Sunday paper.

2) Explore whales and whaling.

New Bedford’s famous Whaling Museum is well worth a trip after our service. The foyer is free, if you want to see whale skeletons and look at special exhibits. Or, pay the $10/adult, $6/child admission fee and have access to extensive exhibits, a half-size whaling ship on which you can walk, art works about whaling, scavenger hunts for children, periodic sea chantey performances, and revolving special exhibits that change over time.

How to get there: From First Unitarian, drive east down Union Street five blocks. Turn left onto N. Second St. Take the first right onto William St., and go one block. On Sundays, you can almost always find free parking on the street.
Nearby: The Seamen’s Bethel across the street (donation) was immortalized as the “Whalemen’s Chapel” in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick.
When to go: Open Sundays 9-5.

3) Visit the working waterfront.

New Bedford is the number one fishing port in the United States. Its scallops are famous worldwide, and the fleet also brings in lobsters and fish of all types. From the waterfront, ferries come and go to Martha’s Vineyard and Cuttyhunk Island. Fishing boats of all sizes line the wharves. There is a National Park Visitor’s Center with exhibits (and bathrooms) on Fisherman’s Wharf. Nearby, the city maintains an observation tower from which you can see the whole harbor. Seals swim by in the winter, and in summer, there are tall ships, cruise ships and huge freighters docked at the State Pier. The historic schooner “Ernestina” resides along one of the docks.
How to get there: Starting at First Unitarian, head down Union St., and cross Route 18 at the traffic lights. (Do not turn onto Rt. 18.) Immediately turn left and park on Fishermen’s Wharf near the National Park Visitor’s Center.
Admission: free

4) Visit the main National Park Visitor’s Center.

The New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park has a small exhibit area that includes a couple of neat model ships. Ask a park ranger for children’s activities (sometimes they have good scavenger hunts) or ask about taking a walking tour of New Bedford. There are bathrooms.

How to get there: Starting at First Unitarian, drive east down Union St. five blocks, turn left onto N. Second St. Go one block and you’ll see the Visitor’s Center at the intersection of William St. and N. Second St. Open 9-5 seven days a week year-round. Parking at the city’s public garage (one block past the Visitor’s Center) is free on Sunday.

5) Feast on New Bedford scallops.

Our town proudly claims the best scallops in the world. Many local restaurants serve excellent scallops and seafood.

How expensive?  The price of scallops varies. Most downtown restaurants are open Sundays for lunch and dinner.

6) Visit a historic house and gardens.

The Rotch-Jones-Duff House is a museum just four blocks from the church, on County St. It is a 28-room Greek Revival mansion with gardens, built in 1834 (just four years prior to our church building) for a whaling industry captain.

How to get there: from our parking lot, head out Eight St. to Union St. Turn right on Union, go one block to the traffic lights, and turn left onto County St. There is plenty of parking. The fee is $4 per person, $3 for students and seniors. Open Sundays from noon to 4 PM.

7) Enjoy the labyrinth in the First Unitarian garden.

After enjoying social hour, slip out the back door near the kitchen, and head out into the garden where you can walk the labyrinth. Kids like the labyrinth, too, as you will see in the pictures.
How to get there: on the grounds of First Unitarian. Free, for all ages. Enjoyable any time the weather allows.

Also open on Sunday

Many coffee shops, stores & businesses are open on Sundays within a few blocks of the church:

New Bedford Art Museum. Open Sundays noon to 5. Two blocks from the church at William and Pleasant St.