Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting the Franklin Park Zoo

First thing to know is that if you live in Boston/Cambridge and you have a library pass you can get discount tickets to the zoo, you just have to go to the library and ask for them.

Unfortunately the “T” doesn’t get super close to the Franklin Park Zoo so if you don’t have a car you’ll have to take a bus, and for us it was a bit of a hike.  We got there on a summer day where the weather was in the 90 degree range and I realized that zoos everywhere are pretty much the same. You do a lot of walking in heat to see lazy animals hiding out in the shade.  Going into it with that mentality here are my thoughts about Franklin Park Zoo.

1) Price
Fairly expensive.  Adult ticks are about $20, children 2-12 are $13, 2 and under are free.  If you have a library pass I think the adult tickets are lowed to about $12/person.

2) Stroller Access
Yes! Lots of it and lots of walking!  If you have children who will still fit in a stroller and you want to see most of the park I would suggest bringing it along.

3) Size of Zoo and Variety of Animals
Honestly I thought this zoo was surprisingly small.  I just looked up the website to double check but the animals total in at 46 different species, many of which share enclosures.  I guess it sounds like quite a few, but you can tour the whole park fairly easily in an hour or two.

4) Playground
One of the best things about this zoo was that they have an awesome and huge playground in the middle of it.  After seeing about ten animals my two year old son was bored with the animals but he was super interested in the playground, I think he could have played there happily for hours.

Summary & Stars ★★★☆☆

Three Stars. Franklin Park Zoo is fairly difficult to get to by public transportation.  The zoo itself is quite small compared to other zoos I’ve visited (Hogle Zoo – Utah, San Diego Zoo – California) but was really manageable for a toddler.   The playground was amazing and if your children get tired of animals it’s a great place to kick back and let them run around in an enclosed area.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Franklin Park Zoo
1 Franklin Park Rd.
Boston, MA 02121

Phone: 617-541-5466
Website: http://www.zoonewengland.org/franklin-park-zoo 

Winter Hours(October 1- March 31) 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily

Summer Hours(April 1 – September 30) 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. weekdays
10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. weekends and major holidays 

Toddler A-Z – 170 Objects That Start with the Letter “W”

A group of my friends started doing something we are calling Toddler Time and each week we choose a letter to focus on.  I realized that finding objects that start with the letter of the week can be a challenge and I thought it might be helpful to have a long list of “W” letter objects them on hand.  If I’ve missed something drop me a note in the comments, I would be thrilled to add even more letter “W” objects.

List of 170 Things that start with Letter W

  1. Waders: Protective waterproof boots typically worn by fishers that extend from the feet to the chest.
  2. Wafer: A thin, crisp sweet or savory food.
  3. Waffle Iron: A cooking appliance used to make waffles.
  4. Waffles: A dish made from leavened batter cooked between two plates to give a characteristic size, shape, and surface impression.
  5. Wagon: A vehicle with four wheels used for transporting goods or passengers.
  6. Wagon Train: A group of wagons traveling together, typically in conjunction with pioneers or settlers.
  7. Wagon Wheel: A large circular disc that rotates on an axle and is part of a machine, primarily a wagon.
  8. Wagtail: A small songbird with a long tail that it wags up and down.
  9. Wainscot: A material used as the lower half of the walls in a room, separate from the upper wall.
  10. Wainscoting: Wooden paneling that lines the lower part of the walls of a room.
  11. Wainwright: A craftsman who specializes in making and repairing wagons and carts.
  12. Waist: The part of the human body below the ribs and above the hips.
  13. Waiter: A person who takes orders and serves customers in a restaurant or cafe.
  14. Waitress: A female waiter who serves food or drinks to customers in a restaurant or cafe.
  15. Wakeboard: A short, wide board for riding on water, pulled by a motorboat.
  16. Walker: A frame used by disabled or infirm people for support while moving.
  17. Walkie-Talkie: A portable two-way radio communication device.
  18. Walkman: A portable audio cassette player with lightweight headphones.
  19. Wall: A continuous structure that encloses, divides or protects an area.
  20. Wallaby: A small or mid-sized macropod native to Australia and New Guinea.
  21. Wallet: A pocket-sized flat folding case for holding money and plastic cards.
  22. Walleye: A freshwater fish native to most of Canada and the Northern United States.
  23. Wallpaper: Material used to cover and decorate the interior walls of homes, offices, and other buildings.
  24. Walnut: The nut of any tree of the genus Juglans, particularly the Persian or English walnut, Juglans regia.
  25. Walrus: A large arctic marine mammal with flippers, a broad head, short muzzle, small eyes, tusks and whiskers.
  26. Wand: A thin stick or rod, typically used for magical or ceremonial purposes.
  27. Warbler: A type of small singing bird, usually of the songbird subfamily Sylviidae.
  28. Ward: A division or district of a city or town, for electoral or administrative purposes.
  29. Warship: A naval ship equipped for warfare, primarily of a military nature.
  30. Wart: A small, hard, benign growth on the skin caused by a virus.
  31. Warthog: A wild hog of African savannah, known for its large tusks.
  32. Wasabi: A pungent green condiment made from the stem of a plant of the cabbage family, typically used in Japanese cooking.
  33. Washboard: A board with a corrugated surface against which laundry may be rubbed.
  34. Washcloths: A small cloth used for washing the face and body.
  35. Washerwoman: A woman who takes in laundry, washing it for pay.
  36. Washing Machine: A home appliance used to wash laundry.
  37. Wasp: An insect of the order Hymenoptera, known for its sting and slender body.
  38. Waste: Material or objects discarded as useless or unwanted.
  39. Waste Basket: A container for disposing of waste, typically used inside buildings.
  40. Watch: A small timepiece worn typically on a strap on one’s wrist.
  41. Watchdog: A dog kept to guard your home, or a person or organization responsible for making sure that companies act honestly and fairly.
  42. Watchtower: A high tower with a view, used for the purpose of observation.
  43. Water: A transparent, odorless, tasteless liquid that forms the seas, lakes, rivers, and rain and is the basis of the fluids of living organisms.
  44. Water Buffalo: A large bovid originating in South Asia, Southeast Asia, and China.
  45. Water Gun: A toy gun that squirts water.
  46. Water Lily: Aquatic plants with floating leaves and beautiful, often fragrant flowers.
  47. Water Polo: A team sport played in water where the aim is to throw a ball into the opponent’s goal.
  48. Water Ski: A recreational device designed to allow an individual to be pulled across water.
  49. Water Snake: A type of non-venomous snake that primarily lives in water.
  50. Waterbed: A type of mattress filled with water to provide support and comfort.
  51. Watercolors: A painting medium where pigments are suspended in a water-based solution.
  52. Watercourse: A natural or artificial channel through which water flows.
  53. Watercress: A semi-aquatic perennial plant often used in salads and sandwiches for its peppery flavor.
  54. Waterfall: A natural flow of water dropping vertically from a height, often seen over a cliff or steep rock face.
  55. Waterfowl: Birds that are typically found in places with water, like ducks and swans.
  56. Watermelon: A large, sweet fruit with a hard green rind and red or yellow flesh.
  57. Waterspout: A tornado that occurs over a body of water.
  58. Waterwheel: A machine that utilizes the energy of flowing or falling water to provide power.
  59. Wave: A physical disturbance that travels through a medium, such as sound through air or ripples in water.
  60. Wax: A flammable, carbon-containing solid that becomes liquid when heated above room temperatures.
  61. Weasel: A small, slender carnivorous mammal known for its quick and agile movements.
  62. Weathervane: A device showing the direction of the wind, typically mounted on a building.
  63. Weaver: An artisan who creates fabric by interlacing threads or yarns.
  64. Web: A complex network or interconnected system.
  65. Webbed Foot: A type of foot found in aquatic or semi-aquatic animals, where skin connects the toes to aid in swimming.
  66. Wedding Cake: A traditional cake served at wedding receptions following dinner.
  67. Wedding Chapel: A building or room where weddings are conducted.
  68. Wedding Gown: A dress worn by the bride during a wedding ceremony.
  69. Wedding Ring: A band traditionally worn by married individuals to signify marital commitment.
  70. Wedge: A piece of a material, like metal or wood, thick at one end and tapering to a thin edge at the other, used to separate two objects or portions of an object.
  71. Weed: An unwanted plant growing wild, especially one that grows on cultivated ground to the exclusion or injury of the desired crop.
  72. Week: A unit of time equivalent to seven days.
  73. Weenie: Slang term for a hot dog or a frankfurter.
  74. Weevil: A small herbivorous beetle with a prolonged snout, the larvae of which are often pests in crops, stored food, and trees.
  75. Weight: A measurement of the heaviness of an object.
  76. Weimaraner: A large dog breed originally bred for hunting.
  77. Weir: A low dam built across a river to raise the level of water upstream or regulate its flow.
  78. Welder: A person who joins metal pieces together by heating the surfaces to the point of melting using a blowtorch, electric arc, or other means, and uniting them by pressing, hammering, etc.
  79. Welterweight: A weight class in combat sports.
  80. Westfalia: A model of camper van produced by the German company Volkswagen.
  81. Westie: A small, white terrier breed of dog originally from Scotland.
  82. Wet Suit: A garment, usually made of neoprene, which provides thermal insulation, abrasion resistance and buoyancy for water activities.
  83. Wet Wipes: Small, folded, and often individually wrapped pieces of paper or cloth soaked in a solution for cleaning purposes.
  84. Wetland: Land consisting of marshes or swamps, saturated with water.
  85. Wetsuit: A close-fitting suit made of material designed to trap a thin layer of water against the body, keeping the wearer warm in cold water.
  86. Wey: A historical term for a specific weight measure, particularly for bulk goods like wheat.
  87. Whale: A large, marine mammal known for their size, intelligence, and intricate songs.
  88. Wharf: A structure built parallel to the edge of a waterway for docking ships.
  89. Wheat: A grain crop that is one of the most widely cultivated and consumed in the world.
  90. Wheatear: A small, migratory bird noted for their characteristic white or pale ‘rump’ marking.
  91. Wheatgrass: A type of food made from the young shoots of the wheat plant, often used in juices and health supplements.
  92. Wheel: A circular object that rotates around an axis, allowing easier movement of objects.
  93. Wheelchair: A piece of equipment with wheels, used for the mobility of people who cannot walk or find difficulty in walking.
  94. Wheelbarrow: A simple vehicle often used in gardening and construction to transport heavy loads.
  95. Whetstone: A stone used for sharpening blades and other tools.
  96. Whipped Cream: A dairy product often used as a topping, made by beating heavy cream until it is light and fluffy.
  97. Whippet: A breed of dog characterized by its slender build and exceptional speed and agility.
  98. Whirligigs: Wind-powered toys or objects that spin or whirl.
  99. Whirlpool: A rapidly spinning body of water produced by opposing currents or a powerful underwater disturbance.
  100. Whirlwind: A column of air moving rapidly around and around in a cylindrical or funnel shape.
  101. Whisker: A long, stiff hair growing from the face or body of many mammals.
  102. Whistle: A tool that produces sound from a stream of gas, most typically air.
  103. White: The color produced by reflecting all visible light without absorption.
  104. White Chocolate: A type of chocolate made from cocoa butter, sugar, and milk solids.
  105. White Head: A type of acne marked by a white tip caused by the accumulation of sebum and dead skin cells.
  106. Whitebait: A collective term for the immature fry of fish, typically used in cooking.
  107. Whiteboard: A smooth, shiny surface where one can write with special markers and easily erase.
  108. Whitecap: A wave with a crest of white foam.
  109. Whitefish: Coldwater fish marked by its silvery white scales, popular in cooking.
  110. Whoopie Pie: A sweet baked product, traditionally made of two round pieces of chocolate cake with a creamy filling.
  111. Wick: A strip of porous material up which liquid fuel is drawn by capillary action to the flame in a candle or oil lamp.
  112. Wicker: A technique for making products woven from any one of a variety of cane-like materials.
  113. Wicker Basket: A basket made by weaving thin branches, twigs, or strands of other flexible material together.
  114. Wicker Chair: A chair made from flexible plant material, often willow, rattan, reed, or bamboo.
  115. Wiffle Ball: A variation of the sport of baseball designed for indoor or outdoor play in confined areas.
  116. Wig: Artificial hair used to cover the head or as part of a costume.
  117. Wild: Living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.
  118. Wildcat: A small cat native to Europe, the western part of Asia, and Africa.
  119. Wildebeest: A large antelope with a long head, humped shoulders, and slender legs.
  120. Wildfire: An uncontrolled fire in an area of combustible vegetation occurring in rural areas.
  121. Wildfowl: Birds of the duck, goose, and swan family that are typically found in wetlands.
  122. Will O’ the Wisp: A phosphorescent light seen at night in marshy areas, often attributed to fairies or ghosts in folklore.
  123. Willow: A type of tree known for its long, slender branches and lance-shaped leaves.
  124. Willow Tree: A type of tree known for its long, drooping branches and slender leaves.
  125. Wimple: A cloth worn around the head and neck, often by religious women.
  126. Wind: The natural movement of the air, particularly in the form of a current of air blowing from a particular direction.
  127. Wind Chime:A decorative arrangement of pieces of metal or glass hung so that the wind can cause them to tinkle.
  128. Windbreaker: A light, wind-resistant jacket.
  129. Windfall: An unexpected gain or advantage, often in the form of money.
  130. Windlass: A type of winch used especially on ships to hoist anchors and haul on mooring lines.
  131. Windmill: A building with sails or vanes that turn in the wind and generate power to grind grain into flour.
  132. Window: An opening in a wall or screen through which light and air may pass.
  133. Window Box: A long narrow box in which flowers and other plants are grown on a window ledge.
  134. Window Pane: A single sheet of glass in a window.
  135. Windowsill: The ledge or sill forming the base of a window.
  136. Windpipe: The air passage from the throat to the lungs; trachea.
  137. Windshield: A glass screen protecting the occupants of a vehicle from wind and weather.
  138. Windsock: A conical textile tube designed to indicate wind direction and relative wind speed.
  139. Windstorm: A storm characterized by high wind with little or no precipitation.
  140. Windward: The side or direction from which the wind is blowing.
  141. Wings: Appendages used for flying or gliding through the air.
  142. Wingtip: The furthest point of a bird’s or aircraft’s wing from the center of the body.
  143. Winter: The coldest season of the year, typically characterized by snowfall and low temperatures.
  144. Wiper Blade: A device used to wipe rain, snow, or debris from a vehicle’s windshield.
  145. Wire: A thin, flexible thread of metal.
  146. Wishbone: A forked bone between the neck and breast of a bird, traditionally used in making a wish.
  147. Wisteria: A climbing shrub of the pea family, with hanging clusters of fragrant flowers.
  148. Witch: A person, typically a woman, who is thought to have magical abilities.
  149. Witch Hazel: A shrub with fragrant yellow flowers, the extract of which is often used in astringents and toners.
  150. Witchcraft: The practice of magical skills and abilities traditionally attributed to witches.
  151. Withe: A thin supple twig or branch.
  152. Wizard: A man who is believed to practice magic or sorcery.
  153. Wok: A bowl-shaped frying pan used typically in Chinese cooking.
  154. Wolf: A wild carnivorous mammal that lives and hunts in packs.
  155. Wolverine: A stocky, aggressive carnivore related to the weasel and bearing a coat of dark, shaggy fur.
  156. Wombat: A burrowing plant-eating Australian marsupial, with a slow pace and sturdy build.
  157. Wood: The hard fibrous material that forms the main substance of the trunk or branches of a tree or shrub.
  158. Wood Carving: The craft of carving an artistic design on a wooden surface using a hand tool or a chisel.
  159. Wood Pile: A pile or stack of cut wood ready for use in heating or cooking.
  160. Woodchuck: A North American marmot with a heavy body and short legs, known for its ability to predict the weather.
  161. Woodpecker: A bird with a strong bill and a stiff tail that climbs tree trunks and feeds on insects found in the bark.
  162. Woodshed: A shed for storing firewood or wood fuel.
  163. Woodwind: A group of musical instruments in which sound is produced by the vibration of reeds in the mouthpiece or by the passing of air across a mouth hole.
  164. Wool: The fine, soft curly hair that forms the fleece of sheep and other animals.
  165. Woolen: A type of yarn made from carded wool.
  166. Woolly mammoth: An extinct species of mammoth that had long, curved tusks and a covering of long hair.
  167. Word: A single distinct meaningful unit of language, used to express something meaningful.
  168. Workbench: A sturdy table at which manual work is done.
  169. Worktable: A table or desk at which work is done.
  170. World: The earth, together with all of its countries, peoples, and natural features.
  171. Worm: An elongated soft-bodied invertebrate animal.
  172. Wrap: A garment that is wrapped around the body for warmth or an item that encloses something in order to protect it.
  173. Wrapper: A covering that encloses something without completely covering it.
  174. Wreath: An arrangement of flowers, leaves, or stems fastened in a ring and used for decoration or for laying on a grave.
  175. Wren: A small and compact bird with a short tail and rounded wings.
  176. Wrench: A tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects
  177. Wrinkle: A slight line or fold in something, especially fabric or the skin of the face.
  178. Wristband: A band worn around the wrist, often for identification or fashion.

Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting the Bunker Hill Monument & Museum with Kids

One of the last stops of the Boston Freedom Trail is the Bunker Hill Monument.  For two years I could see the spire of the monument light up at night from my apartment window, but somehow whenever we went on the Freedom Trail or took visiting friends or family we always got distracted from the Freedom Trail about the time we went near Mike’s Pastries and never finished the second half.

When my parents came to town to visit I was determined that we were going to do the full trail so that I would finally see both the USS Constitution and the Bunker Hill Monument.

The Bunker Hill Monument was created to commemorate the Battle of Bunker Hill, which was the first fight between the British and the New Englanders during the American Revolutionary War (battle fought on June 17, 1775)  From my perspective it’s a huge, tall, monument with 294 very narrow stairs leading to the top.

We climbed the 20 flights on a blisteringly hot day.  Somehow, and I’m not really sure how, my husband managed the climb well ahead of us, with toddler on his shoulders.  I’m kind of glad I didn’t see it because those stair are narrow and I’m sure seeing my boy on his shoulders would have scared me to death.  The other three of us made it about 50 stairs and had to take a break, then we would walk 40 stairs and a break, then 35 stairs … anyway, eventually we made it to the top sweaty, exhausted, and empowered.  The view was fantastic and it was totally worth it… though I could not control my legs or get them to stop shaking for about an hour.

Things to Note:

1.  Price
Both the Bunker Hill Monument and Bunker Hill Museum are free.

2.  Stroller Access
You can easily bring a stroller into the Bunker Hill Museum, but there didn’t seem to be any handicap access and certainly no elevators leading to the top of the Bunker Hill Monument.  If you want to enjoy the view from up there you’re going to have to hike a lot of stairs and either leave your stroller bound tots at the bottom while you do it or carry them to the top with you.

3.  The Stairs
There are so many stairs leading to the top of the monument and they are narrow and winding.  If you’ve got kids with you you’re going to want to keep a close eye on them and if they are too big to be carried but too little to walk all the way up you should probably not attempt to bring them.  The stairwell as well as the stairs are narrow and not a great place for little ones to play.

4.  The View
The view from the top was fantastic, but the windows to enjoy the view were tiny and dirty… and even when you get to the top there is not a ton of room.  Don’t plan on getting there and hanging out or having a picnic or anything.  It’s more like a get to the top, check out how awesome Boston is, rest for a minute, and then start the decent.

Summary and Rating: ★★★★☆

Four stars, it’s hard to complain about free. This place will give you a serious work out and it’s not for the faint of heart.  Not super toddler friendly though you can easily bring up older children and, if you’re feeling strong, you can carry up a baby.  On the off chance that you don’t want to walk to the top you can still enjoy the view from the hill.  There is lots of green grass to run around on and the area surrounding it is beautiful.  Plus right across from the monument is Bunker Hill Museum, which has air conditioning, water and an elevator.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Bunker Hill Monument & Museum
Boston National Historical Park Monument Square
Charlestown, MA

Phone: 617-242-5641 (Group tours 617-.242-5689)
Website: www.nps.gov/bost or https://www.thefreedomtrail.org/freedom-trail/bunker-hill-monumnet.shtml

Museum: September – June, daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. July – August, daily 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Monument: September-June, daily 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. July – August, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day

Toddler Letters – “Q” is for “Quail”

Supplies Needed:

  • Colored Craft Paper
  • Letter “Q” Cutout
  • Elmer’s Glue
  • Scissors
  • Googly Eyes
  • Orange Pipe Cleaner
  • Colored Feathers
  • Markers

Set Up:

We started by trimming down some of our feathers so that they would be short enough to fit on our letter “Q”.  Then we added a layer of glue to our “Q” and added our feathers to it making sure that all of the letter was covered.  I cut the orange pipe cleaner into 3 inch sections and then made 5 tiny bends in the middle of each one before twisting the two ends together to form the quail feet. Then I cut a small part off of another pipe cleaner and bent it into a “V” for the beak.  We finished by gluing on our quail feet, beak and two googly eyes.

Tracing Letters:

Have you made this craft?  What was your experience like and do you have an suggestions to make it better?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments section below.

You may also be interested in:

Touring Boston – What to Know About Visiting Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II with Kids

In addition to visiting the Plimouth Plantation I would highly recommend continuing the adventure by visiting Plymouth Rock (Free… though… not as impressive as I was expecting) and the Mayflower II.

Plymouth Rock is a fairly small rock, I feel like my toddler could have climbed it, surrounded by a monument and a bunch of fences.  It about a thirty second tour and then you’ve seen it and there is not much else to be done.

On the other hand Plymouth Rock is located on the same beach as the Mayflower II, which is worth a tour.  The Mayflower II is a replica of the original ship (Mayflower).  It was also built in England and sailed to Plymouth.  The ship was tiny!  The original ship had 130 passengers and we learned that the pilgrims all had to stay below decks (100 or so of them) along with all the animals they brought (goats, chickens & dogs.) They ended up landing at Plymouth in December (brrr) and then dying off due to exposure.  Only two people died while sailing over, and half of all the passengers and crew members died after they landed. Yikes!  All in all they ended up trapped on the ship and below decks for 7 months, though sailing there only took 2 months… the rest of the hardship was finding somewhere to live and building shelters.

I learned (probably relearned since I’m sure my history teachers covered it along the way at some point) this from the actors on the boat telling their stories, which were fantastic.  The sleeping space looked awful and tiny, and I am shocked only two people died on the way over… I would have suspected a lot more murders with them being confined to that tiny space.

After we walked around the Mayflower II we decided to take a short walk up the city hill to the local cemetery.  Along the way we were able to see some of the original house and the cemetery was where the first pilgrims were buried.   We ended our tour with a quick run through the grist mill and then we all needed some time off our feet, trying to see the Plimouth/Plymouth Plantation, Mayflower II and Grist Mill all in one day is a fairly exhausting endeavor…

Things to Note:

1) Parking
There are free and paid areas to park, and you can ask where they are when you buy your tickets.  When we went to see the Mayflower II we ended up parking by the Grist Mill and walking a 1/2 mile or so to the ship.  We were happy to do it because the trail was really scenic and we were able to drop by Plymouth Rock along the way.

2) Pricing
There are a bunch of options for pricing depending on how many of the Plymouth attractions you want to see.  They range in scope from about $20 – $30/Person.  You can find out more here: http://www.plimoth.org/plan-your-visit/hours-prices

3) Stroller Friendliness
This part of the Plymouth experience was not very stroller friendly.  We took our stroller on the 1/2 mile walk from our car to the Mayflower II, but from there on you will need to either have someone stay behind with your stroller/young child or you will need to give your stroller to the people at the desk to keep an eye on and carry your child onto the ship.

4) Child Friendliness
Again this part of the tour was not super baby/toddler friendly.  Seeing a lot of the ship requires you to be able to move up and down some fairly steep/narrow stairways and your child/children will likely need a fair amount of help to do it safely.

5) The Experience
The Mayflower II is populated with actors portraying people that actually traveled on the Mayflower.  They spend the time going about their daily business, talk in accents, and answer questions as if they were actually there.  I thought it was a really fun way to learn more about the Mayflower and what conditions on board were like.  I also really liked talking to the woman on the ship and finding out that her parents sent her away on the ship to find a husband… and mostly to get rid of her.  It was both horrible and fascinating learning about that kind of culture.

Summary and Rating ★★★★☆

Four Stars.  This was a fairly expensive history lesson, but one of the best and most engaging I’ve had.  Being about the see people dressed from the time period and interacting with them was a blast.  I loved being able to direct this history lesson and learn more about the things that I though were interesting in the form of personal conversation, rather than reading similar things from a information card.  Again the Mayflower II allows children, and mine really enjoyed being able to touch things and walk around, but they are going to need a fair amount of supervision while on the boat.

Have you been here before?  If so I’d love to know more about your experience and any tips or tricks you have in the comments section below. 

Plimouth Grist Mill
6 Spring Lane
Plymouth, MA 02360

Plimouth Plantation’s Mayflower II
State Pier (across from 74 Water Street)
Plymouth, MA 02360

Phone: 508.746.1622
Website: https://www.plimoth.org/