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Plymouth

Plimoth Plantation
In 1620 the Pilgrims docked at Plymouth, liked what they saw, and settled in. They weren’t the only ones in the neighborhood, the Wampanoag Indians had lived in the area for centuries and showed the Pilgrims how to plant crops to survive. On our visit to Plymouth, it was fun to see houses of our kids’ ancestors, John and Elizabeth Howland. On the Mayflower voyage, John Howland fell overboard, but lived to tell the tale.
Tip: The combination ticket for Plimoth Patuxet and Mayflower II is a saving and good for 2 consecutive days. Plimoth is about 3 miles outside the town of Plymouth, where the Mayflower II is docked.
Plymouth Photo Album
    Plimoth Patuxet (Plimoth Plantation)
    Plymouth town
    Cranberry Farm (Carver, just west of Plymouth) – Growing cranberries is a local tradition in the area. Take a tour of a cranberry bog, try sorting cranberries, along with cranberry juice samples. May to September, Flax Pond Farms.
    Sauchuk Farm (Plympton) – In fall, kids will have fun running around the corn maze, sampling cider doughnuts, going on a hay ride, riding the cow train through the corn, and more seasonal activities.
family hotels plymouth ma

Travel for Kids has plenty of fun things to do with kids in Plymouth, but you'll need a fun place to stay.

Here's our own Travel for Kids hand-picked list of family hotels, all styles and price ranges, comfortable for families, and near all the sights to see in Plymouth:

Plymouth family hotels
kids books plymouth massachusetts pilgrims
     
if you were a kid on the mayflower  

Sail to America with Hope and Theodore on the Mayflower, exploring the ship, waiting out a powerful storm, landing in November 1620. Plus fun facts – journal of the journey, food to eat, cannons for protection, tools for navigation, animals on board, baby born on the ship. (Picture book)

 

     
Thanksgiving on a Thursday
Mary Pope Osborne

Jack and Annie are whirled back to 1621, where they meet with Squanto, Governor Bradford and Captain Standish, preparing for the harvest festival. But will there be a festival when the kids dump the turkey into the fire? (Easy reader)

 

 
thanksgiving thursday
     
the  mayflower  
The Mayflower
Libby Romero

Discover what life was like for 102 passengers on board the Mayflower, and story of first year in America. Passengers included pilgrims, servants, orphaned children, crew, and animals, the journey was difficult, living conditions were hard (cold food, seasick passengers). Upon arriving, pilgrims had to find food and build shelter for a severe winter. Excellent illustrations, diagram of the ship, maps (where did they land exactly), timeline. (Picture book)

 

     
History Smashers: The Mayflower
Kate Messner, Dylan Meconis

Classic story of the Mayflower and first Thanksgiving is only partly true. When the Pilgrims arrived, they did not land at Plymouth Rock. The area was not a "desolate wilderness" – Wampanoag people had lived here for thousands of years, they constructed longhouses, farmed crops, hunted and fished. A European explorer kidnapped Native people, sold them as slaves, so Wampanoag distrusted the colonists. First Thanksgiving had military drills, food included ducks and eels, and Pilgrims did not celebrate a first Christmas day. (Illustrated chapter book)

 

 
history smashers the mayflower
     
plymouth ma childrens books pilgrims food Eating the Plates  
Eating the Plates
Lucille Recht Penner

Fun account of what the Pilgrim's ate the first year, when they were always hungry. On the Mayflower biscuits were rock hard and the cheese moldy, corn pudding was eaten for breakfast, lunch and dinner, families ate right out of the cooking pot. Included are recipes for your own Pilgrim meal. (Illustrated chapter book)

 

     
What Was the First Thanksgiving?
Joan Holub, Lauren Mortimer

Illustrated history of the Pilgrims, arrival at Plymouth, life in the new settlement, and first Thanksgiving feast (Native American guests brought the turkeys, there was no cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie), plus holiday tradition of Thanksgiving and turkey facts. (Chapter book)

 

 
what was the first thanksgiving
     
mayflower treasure hunt  
Mayflower Treasure Hunt
(A to Z Mysteries)
Ron Roy

Touring the Mayflower II, three kids learn about a jewelry theft on the original voyage. Following clues, they find the necklace and solve a 400 year old mystery, but they’re trapped on the ship. (Easy reader)

 

     
Mayflower 1620
Plimoth Plantation

Fascinating re-creation of the voyage of the Mayflower – the passengers arrive on board (there were about 30 children), provisions are loaded, storms and rough conditions at sea, charting a course, landfall at Plymouth. Illustrated with photographs from the Mayflower II and Plimoth Plantation. (Chapter book)

 

 
Mayflower 1620 history plymouth massachusetts kids books pilgrims
     
the boy who fell off the mayflower  

Illustrated story of John Howland's voyage to America, and survival in difficult times. Howland leaves his family in England, sails on the Mayflower, falls overboard, but is saved. The first winter is hard, and when Carver dies Howland is now a free man. A year later, a ship arrives from England - will Howland stay in America? (Picture book)

 

 
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