In contrast the meager set-up for the Indians was overcome by the native Americans and their pride in their culture. The Mayflower workers were friendly and told us some stories in line with their exhibit.

Interpretive guides in period dress and with colonial dialects showcase the rigors of 17th century life. Several houses typical of the era can be observed as well as activities such as meal preparation, furniture, shoe, and pottery making and weaponry.

Pilgrim Hall Museum is the site of the oldest American public hall in continuous operation. Allow a minimum of one hour and as much as 3-4 hours, if you plan to dine and shop, to tour the Plantation.

Within this historic area is a replica of the Pilgrim sailing ship, the Mayflower II, which is open for modern day boarders to explore. It is a 180 ton vessel made in England and sailed to the U.S. in 1957. Allow about an hour to see the ship.

If you have babies in your group you might want to bring a back carrier since it is impossible to push a stroller around the ship, up and down the vertical ladders. Having bottled water in tow is also advisable since it gets very hot below decks in this cramped, stuffy, dark ship. Costumed docents are in character and add to the knowledge you can glean from your self-guided tour.

This is a great history lesson for the kids (great photo ops for those show and tell pictures), a delightful journey back in time for the adults, and a lesson in appreciation for how soft we all have it today.

Plimouth Plantation is open April through November from 9:00 to 5:00 seven days a week. Combination tickets for all the sites can be purchased ahead of time via the internet website at www.plimouth.org. They range from $14.00 for children 6-12, under 6 are free, to $22.00 for adults. Seniors and college students with I.D.'s get discounts.

There is a wide range of dining options available within the village. We were not fortunate enough to sample it, but there are special holiday dinners served Pilgrim style in October and November.

The Plantation and ship are in Plymouth Mass. off Route 3, exits 4 and 6, coming from Boston or points south. Metered parking is available at the ship and a parking lot that will accomodate RV's is at Plymouth Plantation. A commuter rail service from Boston to Plymouth Station will put you within a 10-15 minute taxi ride to the site. Plymouth-Brockton Bus runs from Boston to Plymouth where you transfer to the local Gatra Bus Line taking you directly to the Historic area.

For more information you can write to Plimouth Plantation, P.O. Box 1620, Plymouth, MA 02362 or call 508/746-1622.

The Plantation is open from March 26th until November 27th and is closed in the winter. You begin in the interpretive center, which has a snack bar, large gift ship, small museum, and a movie to introduce you to what you are about to see. The cost to visit for adults is $21 and $14 for kids. The better value is to buy a combination ticket that includes the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor, which costs $24 or $14.

Once inside the plantation, you are in a small cluster of cottages. There are no stores and shops. Unlike Williamsburg, this is a basic settlement built for survival of the brave and hearty pilgrims. About the village you will meet docents in 1620s garb. They will speak to you in reference to the 1620s and will not break character. They are pros and stay in period at all times. They encourage you to ask questions and even banter a bit. They will tell you about life here in Plimoth Plantation almost 400 years ago. You can step into their homes, smell their cooking, see their beds, or watch them as they do their daily chores.

You quickly learn this isn't the turkey-and-pumpkin life of the pilgrims we learned about. My son put it best as we got back into the car. He said, "Life sure was harsh." This is exactly what I think the curators want you to take away from this experience. During the year, they have many special events where you can eat a meal with the pilgrims or even sleep at Plimoth Plantation. Check the website for dates and details.

Beside the cluster of pilgrim homes, there is also a Wampanoag Village. Wampanoag were the Native Americans who lived in this area. They too will share their crafts and story with you. I actually found their sleeping accommodations to be more comfortable than the pilgrims!

Overall, it was a fascinating day, and one that will teach even the adult. So much of what I was taught about the pilgrims was just American folktales and not the truth. Here at Plimoth you can learn the real story.

"Do you drink tea?" my friend asked, eying the jug standing beside the chicken thirstily. But she was met with a perplexed look and a polite, "Tea? What is that?"

Tea, you see, that stereotypically English beverage, wasn't widely consumed in England or America before the 18th century. No wonder the young Pilgrim woman was confused--the interpreters in the Pilgrim village at Plimoth Plantation act as if they know nothing beyond the year 1627.

Encounters with the interpreters are the best part of visiting Plimoth Plantation--ask them questions about what they're doing as they go about their daily chores: caring for livestock, tending their gardens, maintaining their houses, and preparing food. They'll be happy to tell you all about it (provided, of course, that you don't ask them something that an Englishman or woman of 1627 wouldn't know). You can also stroll the streets (well, street, really) of Plimoth Plantation and snoop in people's homes and gardens.

Once you're done visiting the English settlers, you can visit Native Americans at Hobbamock's homesite. The Natives are dressed in traditional costumes, and, like the colonists, do typical daily tasks. Unlike the colonists, though, the Native interpreters speak from a modern perspective. Stop and spend some time there--it's not only interesting to look around at the summer and winter wigwams (more rustic looking, but better adapted to the forests of Massachusetts than the colonists' homes), it's interesting to hear native perspectives on history and on their culture.

Younger children will enjoy visiting the historic livestock breeds at the Nye Barn, and everybody can get gifts (including crafts made at Plimoth Plantation) at the museum's gift shops.

Plimoth Plantation is located 3 miles south of Plymouth, MA, and is open from 9 -5. The combination ticket also allows visitors to see the Mayflower II, a replica of a 17th Century vessel, that's docked on the Plymouth waterfront (it's really close to Plymouth Rock, so you can kill two sites with one stone, as it were).

1627 Pilgrim Village: You can wander around and strike up conversations with the folks in the village, who all stay true to characters living in the 1600s.

Wampanoug Indian Homesite: Hosted from a third person (not in character) perspective.

Crafts Center: Watch a craft (i.e. woodworking or glassblowing) being demonstrated.

Shops

[Mayflower II: While this is technically part of the Plimouth Plantation, it had its own admission fee--unless you buy a combo ticket--so I will cover it in another summary.]

Don't forget to ask about why they spell it "Plimouth" instead of "Plymouth"!!