Plymouth is a picturesque town on Plymouth Bay, with a pretty harbor, beautiful
beaches, cranberry bogs, and an abundance of activities during the fall. All of
this is within a very easy drive from your nearby Cape Cod vacation rentals, or even Boston
and other northeast metropolitan areas.
Plimoth Plantation
Plymouth is also the site of the first Thanksgiving when, in 1621, the Pilgrims
and the Wampanoag Indians shared in a 3-day feast to celebrate their first successful
harvest. But did you know that the Pilgrims actually first landed in Wellfleet on
Cape Cod?
On November 9, 1620, Mayflower's crew first sighted land off Cape Cod near the Wampanoag
village of Pamet. The next day, the ship attempted to travel south around the Cape
to the colonists' intended destination at the mouth of the Hudson River (present-day
New York). Bad weather and dangerous shoals forced the Mayflower to turn back. The
ship made landfall on November 11 at the tip of Cape Cod (now Provincetown). After
exploring the Cape Cod area for several weeks, the colonists finally decided to
settle at Plymouth.
At historic Plimoth Plantation,
you can experience what that first Thanksgiving was like for the Pilgrims who came
to live side by side with, and learn from, the Wampanoag Indians. The English Village
is a re-creation of the settlement that existed in 1627. You will meet role playing
colonists who speak, act, and dress as the Pilgrims did then, and they always stay
in character.
At the Wampanoag Homesite, you will meet modern day Native People in traditional
dress, who will tell you about traditional Wampanoag life and culture as it existed
in the 17th century during the time of the Pilgrims.
Also, be sure to visit the Mayflower II, which will return to Plymouth Harbor in the spring of 2020 after being restored. The
ship is a full-scale reproduction of the original 17th century vessel. On board,
you will meet “Pilgrims” in period costume who will describe their difficult 66-day
journey in 1620.
The symbolic Plymouth Rock is located along the waterfront very near to where Mayflower
II is anchored. This is the spot where the Mayflower Pilgrims were believed to have
disembarked from the ship.
If you are planning a fall trip, see our
Plymouth area vacation rentals, many of which are available for rent by
the week or for long weekends.