Wouldn’t it be fun to travel back to 1621 and eat Thanksgiving dinner with the Pilgrims and Native People? You can! Plimoth Plantation, a rustic living history museum, nestled in the coastal forests of Plymouth, Mass., handles all the details. All you have to do is plan the voyage.
On Thanksgiving Day, Plimoth Plantation offers a family-friendly “Story of Thanksgiving Dinner” hosted by “Pilgrims” and Native People. The family-style dinner that attracts people from all over America is traditional Thanksgiving fare. Kids will gobble it up—literally.
While you dine, listen to personal stories and historic accounts about the first Thanksgiving. Reservations are required.
What to see?
The 17th Century English Village is a replica of the town pilgrims inhabited during the 1620s. Costumed actors portray famous (Miles Standish) and not-so-famous pilgrims who lived in the first settlement.
Watch as they tend crops, repair timber-framed homes, make clothing and cook meals by the fire. Go ahead, ask them questions. They will gladly share their “stories.” All are experts on anything related to life in the 1600s. Just don’t ask them anything about modern day because you’ll get a blank stare.
At the Wampanoag Homesite, discover the culture and traditions of this Native tribe. It’s important to note, the Native People are not actors. They are all Wampanoag or from other Native Nations.
Bonus side trip
Modern Plymouth, Mass., is minutes away from Plimoth Plantation. Make a stop and gander at the famous Plymouth Rock.
This article originally appeared in the Fall 2018 issue of Chicago Parent’s Going Places. Read the rest of the issue.
