New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is where you can see 18th-century cobblestone streets, historic homes, the Seamen's Bethel featured in Herman Melville's Moby-Dick as well as the Whaling Museum. You can see whaling artifacts, including skeletons of unusual giant squids.
Buzzards Bay Brewing offers a unique experience of beer-tasting with the view of the ocean. The taproom is an old barn with a beautiful outdoor space. You can enjoy flights and pints with delicious food from a food truck and occasional live-music.
Buttonwood Park Zoo is the 12th oldest zoo in the US, which exhibits over 100 animal species, including endangered species such as white alligator, snow leopard, and others. The zoo is known for its beautiful grounds with picnic spots, playgrounds, and a greenhouse with beautiful flowers.
Acushnet Cedar Swamp is a hidden gem that offers two miles of walking trails through an ancient forest, including a 500-year-old Atlantic White Cedar tree. The trail offers freshwater ponds, bog bridges to cross, and an abundance of species of plants and animals. The cedar swamp is a great spot for nature lovers and hikers.
To get around New Bedford, the recommended mode of transportation would be by car as some places are located far from each other, and public transport is limited. Uber/Lyft is available. Estimated car rental cost may vary from $50 to $80, and it takes less than 5 minutes to drive from one location to another.
If you have more time, consider visiting Fort Taber Park and Fort Rodman Military Museum or the Lloyd Center for the Environment. If you have less time, skip Buttonwood Park Zoo and or replace Cedar Swamp with the Destruction Brook Woods Trail.
New Bedford Regional Airport (EWB) is the closest airport to New Bedford, which is located 20 minutes (6.1 miles) away from the city center. T.F. Green Airport (PVD) in Providence, Rhode Island is another option, located 1 hour (43 miles) from New Bedford.