Guest Author - Kimberly Misra
The Thanksgiving season is a perfect time to plan a trip to Plymouth, Massachusetts. Nowhere else can your family immerse themselves so thoroughly in the history of the first permanent English settlement in New England and the history of the Native People. We recently spent a fall weekend exploring the many family-oriented attractions Plymouth has to offer. You can find great hotel deals in this area during the off season. We based ourselves at The Governor Bradford Inn, located on the harbor within walking distance to Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II.
We began our tour by visiting Plymouth Rock. As we’d heard, the rock was almost disappointingly small. It’s covered by a pillared canopy so you need to look down to see the rock; no touching allowed. Not far away is the Mayflower II, a replica of the original Mayflower which the Pilgrims sailed on their dangerous voyage from England. We were able to get discount combination tickets for visiting the ship and Plimoth Plantation. The kids were encouraged to explore the ship and ask questions of the costumed interpreters (unlike the staff at Plimoth Plantation, they will answer from a modern viewpoint). The most surprising thing was how very small the ship is; it’s difficult to imagine 120 people crammed aboard it. It was too cold for the town beaches, but we did wander along the waterfront admiring the boats. Dinner was fried seafood at The Lobster Hut, which also offers steamed fish and kid-friendly food like chicken tenders and hot dogs.
Next on the agenda was a day at Plimoth Plantation. This recreated settlement proved to be the highlight of the weekend. The kids loved exploring the thatched roofed cottages, watching the blacksmith work, petting goats, and hunting for chickens. The costumed actors really enjoy their parts; they engaged the kids in conversation, asking such questions as why they were visiting (and portraying confusion at the word “vacation”) and what chores they helped with at home. The Wampanoag Homesite was also a hit, the kids enjoyed watching native dishes being prepared over a fire, visiting the replica wetuash (houses), and walking along the Eel River. Dinner that night was at Woods Seafood, another casual waterfront restaurant. We followed up with ice cream from Peaceful Meadows, a small shop with great monthly specials.
We spent the last morning of our trip at the Pilgrim Hall Museum. We were initially inclined to skip this attraction with our boisterous crowd since the brochure advertised “irreplaceable treasures”. However, the staff was great with children. Each recieved a scavenger hunt that kept them busy looking for artifacts such as a piece of Plymouth Rock. When they finished they received a small prize. We chose a couple of historical children’s books from the tiny gift shop before leaving. Last stop before heading home was Plymouth Colony Winery, for the parents’ souvenir. This small shop surrounded by cranberry bogs produces an excellent cranberry wine (perfect for Thanksgiving dinner).
