Boston to Plimouth Plantation
 

We want to see this (well, my husband does). Is there a bus or train there or will I have to hire a car?

Be careful about going to the Plantation at this time of year during the week as it is a common end of year fieldtrip for schoolchildren. Bus loads of schoolchildren. Tell him you'll go to Plantation if then you can spend the night at Chatham Bars Inn afterwards.

I hope he's not going to the rock, it is so small, I remember as a child how disappointed I was, The plantation was better.

No it is the plantation - we are going 29 June, so school is finished. Do I need to hire a car?

Yes, you do.

Here is their website:

http://www.plimoth.org/

Go to the section on "Directions to the Museum" under travel. Near the bottom of the page are instructions for taking public transit. We visited a couple of years ago, by car. It was really fascinating and well worth the trip. Our children found it interesting, as well.

In some ways it is like Colonial Williamsburg, though less commercial. (Maybe more like the Jamestown re-creation.) The village is built on what is known of the Plymouth Colony and the actors play real people who lived there, and actually do what those indiduals did on that day in history, according to the records. They do not break character, as they invite you to learn about their lives. I think it gives you a good appreciation for American history - turns the dry text into real life.

Outside is a Native American village. The actors do break character there to describe the life of Native Americans and answer questions.

There is a good gift shop at the actual Plymouth Rock. We got really lovely character Pilgrim dolls there that we decorate with on Thanksgiving.

Although the web site gives directions for taking public transit, they rely in part on a local bus service that runs only 3 times per day in each direction and which is notoriously unreliable, I would never recommend this strategy to a visitor.

Here's another recommendation for hiring a car.

I'm wondering at this point about your "road trip". Previously, you've been headed for points north of Boston. Even mentioning planning to spend five nights of a 2-week trip in Quebec.

There's plenty to see and do in Plymouth, but, in my opinion, it would not be a "fun" place for your 5 & 6 year old children.

You've not a lot of time left to plan. But, I'd like to help. E-mail me [email protected]

End of June should be good time to visit - no more school trips and summer camps that do day trips have not started yet.

You need a car - public transit maps/directions to outlying areas around Boston are usually overly optimistic about the practicality of making such a trip.

The drive is easy once out of Boston - and depending on where you are staying, that part can be quite easy as well. You will be headed in opposite direction from most commuter traffic, but try to avoid rush hour anyway.