• The Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620
• The witch trials were in Salem in 1692
• The Minutemen fought in the first battle of the American Revolution in 1775 in Lexington and Concord
• Pirates were busy up and down the coast the whole time!
We learned about all of these events and much more during our visit to Boston and the New England coast. It was so fascinating to actually be in the places that we learned about in American History classes when we were in school!
Plus – our first big city experience in Rose and Scooter proved to be much easier than we thought it might be – safe and uneventful - thanks to Gary’s good defensive driving!
Along the way….
Molly saw these dogs in their personal strollers and now she wants one too!
A problem with the air brakes – fortunately only a slight delay thanks to Gary the chief mechanic and bus driver
Some of the highlights:
• Walking the 3 mile Freedom Trail in Boston and seeing where Paul Revere began the midnight ride, site of the Boston Tea Party, tour of USS Constitution "Old Ironsides" and Bunker Hill
Bunker Hill Monument
• The Minuteman National Park in Concord and Lexington where the American Revolution began
The North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired and started the American Revolution
Minteman fireing a musket - click the arrow to see the video
• Salem – the site of the 1692 witch trials and learning about what really happened
Salem Witch Museum
On the main street in Salem - a great place to see in October!
When in Salem.....
The house of a person who was hung as a witch
The classic Lighthouse of Cape Cod
Classic New England seaside
Martha's Vineyard
• Learning about the Pilgrim’s voyage on the Mayflower and their colony at Plymouth
A replica of the Mayflower that actually sailed from Plymouth England to Plymouth Massachusetts
Little known fact - Thoreau lived on Walden Pond for 2 years and was only 30 minutes walk from his parents home
• Mystic Seaport and Submarine Museum
A fantastic outdoor museum of maritime history in America
We toured the Nautilus submarine and also learned that submarines were instrumental in the defeat of Japan in WW11
• A tour of the Vanderbilt "summer cottage" in Newport RI.
Newport is VERY posh! The sheep in the fields were better "coiffed" than we are ( of course that wouldn't take much)!
Next stops are New York City, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. – lots more “living history” to explore! We’ll definitely need some peaceful time in the countryside after 3 BIG cities in a row!
