Nearby: The Town of Plymouth

A short continuation of the last post on Plimoth Plantation-above are shots from the town of Plymouth itself, a couple miles north of the plantation. In the town is where you can find the replica of the Mayflower, along with the Plimoth Grist Mill, a reproduction of the mill built in 1636, which made the lives of the settlers (or at least the lives of their hands) a tad easier. Plymouth Rock is also nearby, and sadly, is not at all exciting. Important? Maybe. But certainly not thrilling. The town itself is as quaint as one can expect, and in fact, I will look forward to returning to the area come fall to see the cranberry fields. The day we went really could not have been lovelier and was a true sign that spring is here. 

Nearby: Plimoth Plantation

Until recently, the history of seventeenth-century America has never quite intrigued me. I privileged the stories of our patriots over those of our pilgrims, and dismissed Puritanism, along with other realities of seventeenth-century life in the colonies, as wholly uninteresting. But to live in Massachusetts is to be regularly reminded of our country's roots, and to explore its old environs is to be left wanting to know more. In the remnants of our villages, the small can suddenly become significant and an interest is sparked. I'm slowly cultivating my own interest, and chose Patriot's Day to visit Plimoth Plantation. Though the admission fee is a tad pricey, I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, most especially to the English Village.  There was a beauty to the rusticity that left me feeling enchanted, no doubt helped on by the bright azure sky and sea. There was also an honesty about the reenactors that was refreshing, even if there were few of them present to share their stories. 

Those who were present were happy to talk about how their current spring was progressing-the spring of 1627-and what brought them to the New World, either on the Mayflower in 1620 or on a later voyage. I would have enjoyed even more exchanges, as the ones I had were both amusing and enlightening. But what I appreciated most of all was exploring the simple interiors of their homes, which had a quiet elegance all of their own. 

Nearby: World's End

A few weeks ago, I sought World's End to embrace the final days of autumn, when the trees were still alit with color and when sunlight was not as precious as it's now become. World's End, which can be found in the south shore town of Hingham, boasts enchanting carriage trails that run beside sprawling meadows and spectacular shores. According to the Trustees of Reservations, it has an intriguing history of nearly becoming something else, whether it was the site of a housing division designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, the UN headquarters, or a nuclear plant. As I wandered for many hours through World's End, I was quite grateful that it remained as it always was, a remarkable landscape touched only by the feet of mesmerized visitors . 

Nearby: Old Scituate Light

Scituate is a charming, small coastal town on the South Shore easily accessible from Boston. It has a long history, dating back to 1627 when it took its name from an Indian word for "cold brook." Today I found myself standing beside the Old Scituate Light, built in the early 1800s and made famous for its involvement in the War of 1812. When a British warship approached the harbor, two teenage sisters who were keepers of the lighthouse played a fife and drum in an attempt to scare off the ship. Shockingly, their plan worked and the warship retreated. Now the lighthouse sees only tourists and locals alike enjoying the beauty of the landscape. My family and I could not have chosen a better day.