What better place to start the holiday season than Plymouth, the site of the very first Thanksgiving feast? Autumn is a time of celebration and festivities in Massachusetts, as visitors from across the country make their own pilgrimage here to enjoy the rich hues of fall foliage – and the rich heritage of our nation.
This year, kickoff of the Thanksgiving celebration is November 20, when the Plimouth Plantation cast participates in the America’s Hometown Parade in Plymouth Center. Enjoy the catch of the day at New England’s Chowder Festival following the parade.
Of course, November is one month when clam chowder moves to the back burner to make room for oyster stuffing. Get a taste of a real Thanksgiving gathering – and the real lifestyle of Plymouth’s English settlers – at Plimouth Plantation, a recreation of a 17th century Pilgrim settlement. Each weekend in November, a harvest feast is served – with English psalms, songs and table manners on the menu along with the turkey and corn pudding.
At the Plantation itself, there’s an ongoing can drive for charity as well as a special interactive event, Worship in Plymouth County, being presented on the 20th, 21st and 27th.
Other attractions like the Mayflower II and the Pilgrim Hall Museum will provide a historic perspective to the holiday. And, as you walk along the shores of the Atlantic where the Pilgrims first landed, make sure you stop by Plymouth Rock and reflect on the true meaning of the season. (Heck, it beats Black Friday shopping!)
Grown Up Travel, Chicago Style