Fall trip in New England, to learn about the Pilgrims, American Revolution, and experience fall colors. Plus enjoy lobster roll and clam chowder.
Hotels:
Hyatt in downtown Boston for the first part and
Intercontinental Boston for the second part. Both hotels booked using points; otherwise room rates in Boston hotels were $300+. The Hyatt is in a better location but the Intercontinental has more luxurious rooms.
Plymouth
A visit to Plimoth Plantation, a re-enactment of the plantation in the 1620s when the Pilgrims arrived and begin establishing themselves in America. This unique museum features a Wampanoag Homesite, which depicts how people lived near the coast in the 17th century. There is also a craft center featuring items that were imported from England in the 1600s. Also walk through a re-enactment of an English village from 1627, featuring a fort and farms.
A few miles from Plimoth Plantation is Plymouth Harbor featuring a replica of the Mayflower which carried the Pilgrims across the Atlantic. There is also Plymouth Rock where the Pilgrims were thought to have landed. The harbor features many shops and restaurants - I had lunch at Lobster Hut where lobster rolls can be had for relatively cheap prices.
Off the main road is the National Monument to the Forefathers. It commemorates the Pilgrims arrival in America, their establishment in Plymouth, and their contributions to America.
Boston Tea Party
Boston Tea Party museum, which is a reenactment of the events leading up to the Boston Tea Party. It is an organized tour, starting with a recreated meeting in a town hall where people acted out the colonists protesting taxes. Then head towards the Boston Harbor to board the ship with crates of tea on board, and throw the crates into the water. Next is a movie showing how the Boston Tea Party kicked off the American Revolution. Finally, visit Abigail's Tea Room which has soups, salads, sandwiches, pastries, and a sampling of five of the teas (various types of black and green teas) that were thrown overboard during the Boston Tea Party.
Battle Trail
A tour of Cambridge, Lexington, and Concord, key locations along the Battle Trail. Highlights are the Cambridge Common where George Washington took leadership of the troops, the route Paul Revere took as he warned "the British are coming", and the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired.
After the tour I had lunch at Union Oyster House, the oldest operating restaurant (open continuously since 1826). Then visited Paul Revere's house in North End.
Fall Foliage
A day trip out to the New England country side, to experience the fall foliage colors. The reds, yellows, oranges, and purples were spectacular. We also visited Brookdale Farm in Hollis, NH where they sell lots of locally made food, including home grown apples and pumpkins.
In the Boston Public Garden, there is a sugar maple tree.
