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.