BOSTON, Oct. 3, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- The aroma of steaming apple pie fresh from the oven. The family gathered around the table. This Thanksgiving, why not bring your time-honored traditions of the holiday home to Massachusetts, where it all began? From Plymouth, where the Pilgrims sat down to the first Thanksgiving with Native Americans, to Boston, where the staff at historic hotels are waiting to pamper you, Massachusetts offers many unique places to spend the holiday season.
In Plymouth, south of Boston, there are a multitude of festive things to experience this holiday season. A visit to Plimoth Plantation (www.plimoth.org), a living history museum depicting life in a 1620s village, is a must see. On Thanksgiving day, enjoy America's Hometown Parade. This annual parade follows the path of the original settlers. Next on your tour of Plymouth, take a walk down to the waterfront and visit Plymouth Rock and The Mayflower II, a replica of the Pilgrim's ship that carried them to the new world. End your day with a ride on the Plymouth Rock Trolley and a Colonial Lantern Tour through Plymouth's quaint streets.
Sturbridge, located in the central part of the state, is full of fun things to do this Thanksgiving. Make sure to visit Old Sturbridge Village (www.osv.org), a replica of an 1840s New England village. You can watch a traditional 19th century dinner being prepared in an open hearth and then enjoy it in the tavern. The Publick House (www.publickhouse.com) in Sturbridge, an historic country inn, also offers a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner as well. You can also spend a day antiquing in one of the many shops along Rte. 20.
For those of us who may not have Martha Stewart's touch with the turkey baster, a classic inn or hotel steeped in tradition is a wonderful place to enjoy your holiday dinner. Not only the inns, but the towns they reside in, are full of history. Some of the many appetizing locations to spend the night or enjoy a holiday meal include:
-- Longfellow's Wayside Inn in Sudbury, situated on 100 scenic acres,
including a working grist mill, is the oldest operating inn
in America.
-- The Colonial Inn in Concord, nestled in a quaint New England
village famed for its revolutionary and literary history,
welcomes visitors to stay in their romantic rooms and dine
in their elegant restaurant.
-- The Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, immortalized in Norman
Rockwell's painting Main Street, Stockbridge, epitomizes
New England tradition.
-- The Salem Cross Inn in West Brookfield, is a 1620 colonial
home listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It resides on 600 acres amidst rolling hills and woodlands.
-- The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem is a beautifully restored, stately
Federal-style hotel named for author Nathaniel Hawthorne.
-- The Deerfield Inn in Deerfield, is a classic country inn built in
1884. It's an original, full-service inn located in the center
of the 350-year-old National Historic Landmark village of
Deerfield.
-- The Jared Coffin House in Nantucket, built in 1845 by one of
the more prominent and successful ship owners of the time,
it was the first three-story mansion on Broad Street.
For those who prefer the excitement of downtown Boston -- perhaps to add a little pre-Christmas shopping to their getaway -- there are a variety of hotels and restaurants to choose from. From the cobblestone streets of historic Beacon Hill, to the eclectic neighborhoods of neighboring Cambridge, Thanksgiving is a great
opportunity for a getaway at fine hotels including:
-- The Four Seasons Hotel overlooking the famed Public Garden
and Beacon Hill is within easy reach of every notable
historic, entertainment and cultural attraction.
-- The Fairmont Copley Plaza has been a bastion of sophistication
and elegance since its gala opening in 1912.
-- Le Meridien an elegant four-star, four-diamond hotel located
in the heart of the financial district.
-- The Millennium Boston across from historic Faneuil Hall and
home to Seasons, one of the finest restaurants in town.
-- The Ritz Carlton, Boston, an historic landmark located across
the street from the beautiful Boston Public Garden.
-- The Charles Hotel situated in the heart of Harvard Square, the
intellectual center of the nation.
If you really want to work up an appetite before you sit down to dinner, why not run the Thanksgiving Day 5K Road Race (www.mvy.com) in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard. Start time is 8:30am, which gives you plenty of time to get home for the turkey. Or head to Springfield for the Parade of the Big Balloons (www.spiritofspringfield.org). Everything from "The Cat in the Hat" to dozens of marching bands is included. And if you're one of those who just can't wait for the Christmas lights to go up The Lighting of the Pilgrim Monument (www.pilgrim-monument.org) takes place on the 28th of November. 5000 lights will adorn the 255-foot monument.
To request your FREE Massachusetts Getaway Guide full of great vacation ideas, click on massvacation.com or call 800-447-MASS ext. 300.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism (MOTT) is the state agency dedicated to promoting Massachusetts as a friendly, family-oriented destination set in the midst of rich historical and cultural traditions. Tourism is recognized as the Commonwealth's third largest industry, welcoming more than 26 million people who spend nearly $12 billion dollars annually.
The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism logo is available at: http://media.primezone.com/prs/single/?pkgid=695