Discovering Plimoth Plantation & Cape Cod With Your Grandchild

Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing the up-to-date schedule that reflects any changes, other important information, and to confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please ask for your packet when you check in. Remember to bring your name-tag (sent previously). Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. For field trips outdoors, wear sneakers, casual clothes you don’t mind getting wet, and always apply sun protection. Bring a windbreaker or sweatshirt, towel, bathing suit, and change of clothes/shoes for our coastal explorations. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: In the hotel restaurant, we’ll have a plated and served meal with soda, coffee, tea, water included.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately 10 miles total; about 1/2 hour roundtrip. Walking up to 2 miles at Plimoth Plantation; on our feet up to 2 hours; unpaved and hilly terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel, we’ll have vouchers for a plated and served meal with milk, juice, coffee, tea, water included.

Morning: We’ll board a motorcoach for a field trip to Plimoth Plantation. Led by an expert, we’ll walk through this living history museum complete with actors who portray 17th century colonists and learn about these early settlers. Then we’ll visit the Wampanoag Village and the Pilgrim Settlement with a museum expert, and then have some time to explore on our own.

Lunch: At Plimoth Plantation café, we’ll have a cafeteria-style meal with soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included.

Afternoon: We’ll continue at Plimoth Plantation with on-site staff as they offer commentary related to pilgrim and Native American life as we explore the activities on site. Then we’ll head to Plymouth Harbor via motorcoach for a walking field trip led by a Plimoth Plantation expert. For the first few years of its existence, this was the exact location where Plymouth Colony stood; normally the Mayflower II floats here as well. We will see Plimoth Plantation's full-scale reproduction of the original Mayflower that sailed to Plymouth in 1620 and learn about its voyage from our local expert. Additionally, we will see and learn about other major sites vital to Plymouth's history, like Plymouth Rock, Cole's Hill, Leyden Street, and Town Brook. We’ll then return to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure. You may like to take a dip in the hotel pool, walk down to the waterfront and through downtown Plymouth, or just relax.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately 60 miles total; about 1.5 hours roundtrip. Getting on/off vessel via a small ladder; ride is approximately 1.5 hours. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; standing approximately 1.5 hours; terrain includes sand, rocks, and seaweed beds, some slippery surfaces. Sneakers or sturdy water shoes required. Date and timing of activities may be adjusted due to changing tides.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: After arriving at the dock via motorcoach, we’ll take an ocean study cruise on Vineyard Sound and actively engage in studying oceanography through first-hand observations of natural marine phenomena and data collection. Aboard the fishing vessel Gemma with the Marine Biological Laboratory and our marine expert, we’ll discover the wonders of ocean science. As “guest” scientists, we will take plankton and bottom samples to see what might be found in our area—a great way to learn more about Cape Cod's ecological systems!

Lunch: At a local restaurant, we’ll enjoy a plated meal with coffee, tea, water.

Afternoon: Transferring via motorcoach, we’ll join a local expert as we experience life along the coast by observing and learning about the creatures that inhabit these shores on a nearby beach. On a walk by the water’s edge, we’ll take a closer look at the tide pools to learn about regional marine life and their environments. Bring your bathing suit if you'd like! Before heading back to Plymouth, we will explore the Cape Cod Canal Visitor Center and participate in a scavenger hunt led by visitor center staff and our Group Leader who will deepen our knowledge about Cape Cod.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At leisure.

Activity note: Getting on/off boat via ramp; depending on tides, the ramp may be at an incline or decline; boat ride is approximately 3 hours. Level of activity during free time dependent on personal interest.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: As a special highlight, we’ll go on a whale watching expedition out of Plymouth Harbor. Throughout our adventure, expert naturalists will provide an intriguing look into the “wonderful world of whales” while also including commentary on local ecology and the area’s unique history.

Lunch: Aboard the whale watching ship, we will have boxed lunches.

Afternoon: Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Dinner: Hotel plated meal.

Evening: At the hotel, we’ll have an evening of fun games with our Group Leader.

Activity note: Getting on/off motorcoach; driving approximately 40 miles total; about 1 hour roundtrip. Walking up to 2 miles throughout the day; cobblestone streets, grass.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: After boarding our motorcoach, we will head to Hyannis, a charming and characteristic Cape Cod village. We’ll spend the morning at the Cape Cod Maritime Museum on the waterfront, learning about the Cape’s maritime history and culture, ships past and present, and participating in an expert-led hands-on activity during which we will design and build our own miniature ships out of items supplied by the museum.

Lunch: At the Nature Center, we’ll have boxed lunches featuring a sandwich, chips, and dessert.

Afternoon: Our next field trip will be to the town of Sandwich, the oldest on the Cape, where we’ll visit the Greenbriar Nature Center. In this “quiet corner of peace and beauty,” we’ll walk through the grounds with a freshwater pond, and then participate in a hands-on activity led by an expert naturalist to learn about the creatures that inhabit local waters and analyze them under microscopes. We’ll then return to the hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, we’ll enjoy a plated farewell dinner with soft drinks, coffee, tea, water included. Share some of your favorite experiences with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departures after our final session in the morning.

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: Hotel plated meal.

Morning: We’ll walk to the Plimoth Grist Mill with our Group Leader. After more than a decade of laboriously grinding corn by hand in wooden mortars, the Plimoth colony authorized construction of a water-powered corn grinding (grist) mill on Town Brook in 1636. The official website for Plimoth Plantation tells us: “The mill we see today is a reproduction the 1636 original. Many of the parts — the stones, spindle, and stone furniture — are from the early 1800s and were salvaged from another mill.” During our visit, we’ll explore the mill and learn how important the process of grinding corn was in the 1600s. We’ll also learn about the ecology of the Town Brook area, including the annual herring run. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!