One historical town my high school failed to visit was Plymouth: the spot where English Puritans escaping persecution landed after departing in 1620 in search of the "New World." The Pilgrims decided to stay in the area, which had recently been abandoned by the Wampanoag tribe following an epidemic, because of its reliable source of fresh water and the fact that the land had already been cleared by its former inhabitants. Bursting with importance and close to Brandeis, it is a perfect day trip for historically-inclined students. Images of bonnets, large, dramatic boulders and Thanksgiving swam through my head as we departed X-lot for Plymouth, which is about an hour drive south, near Cape Cod. If you don't have a car but still want to experience what Plymouth has to offer, you could always take the convenient Commuter Rail, which takes approximately an hour and a half, depending on the schedules.

1:10 p.m. We

For your first stop, it makes sense to get Plymouth Plantation (137 Warren Ave, (508) 746-1622) out of the way. There, you will be greeted by a vibrantly colored sign featuring an angry looking Native American and an equally perturbed Pilgrim, hovering above the line, "Bringing the 17th century to Life." Parking was ample, though the lot can get crowded.

A bit of advice: look at ticket prices before going anywhere. Things turned sour when I saw the $21.00 for entry. If you're not as stingy as I am, and are willing to pay for a ticket, however, there is a lot to do and see within the walls of the Plantation, such as visiting the crafts center or talking to costumed characters portraying the Plymouth colonists-there is much fun to be had trying to puncture their veneers (ask the town fool how he can have cavity fillings over a century before they existed.) Remember, though, that the Plantation's original location is about 2.5 miles down the road. This is merely a re-creation.

1:13 p.m. Goats but no water

If you fancy animals, stop by the nearby Nye Barn next. There, you'll meet up with some friendly yet foul-smelling goats in a small stable. The animals there are apparently rare-mostly older breeds that were more common in past centuries.

An "eating pavilion" is located on the far side of the barn. Parched to the point of nausea, I immediately went over to investigate its unusually advanced vending machine. A bottle of water cost $2.00, but I was willing to spend it. I failed to find enough change or single dollar bills rifling through my over-flowing purse.

1:33 p.m. Plimoth or Plymouth?

Back in the town's visitor center, you'll note that Plymouth is spelled both "Plimoth" and "Plymouth" in a seemingly arbitrary manner. Curious about this inconsistency, I questioned the man behind the ticket counter.

"Governor Bradford wrote it that way most of the time in his journal," he answered. I then read that Plimoth Plantation was founded by Henry Hornblower II, that there was a special exhibit in the Visitor Center called "The Unexpected Beauty of Vegetable Gardens" and that I could go visit the Mayflower II for a much more manageable $8.00, which was located a few miles down on the waterfront, by Plymouth Rock. This Mayflower, a careful recreation of the original, features the same type of solid oak timbers and hemp rigging that helped transpart our forefathers. Also, you may be relieved to find that some (though not all) of the crew members of this ship acknowledge that they are from present day.

1:50 p.m. A lunch fit for colonists

While on the waterfront, take the time to walk down Water Street. This is a pleasant, touristy area with plenty of shops and restaurants, just in case you get tired of learning about maritime history. While here, you'll come across Carmen's Caf Nicole (114 Water Street, 781-878-4838.) of several restaurants featured in the Plymouth Dining, Shopping and Activities guide that can be picked up at the visitor center. The joint was pleasantly packed, but the ownder says that there is almost always room at the counter, There you will be faced by a beautiful blue mural of three friends sitting at a caf on the water, slightly reminiscent of a Monet.

Don't be surprised if the extensive menu-which covers everything from sea food to salads to Mexican cuisine-induces a mild panic attack. I recommend settling on the scallop roll, and to substitute sweet potato fries for regular ones. The waitresses are incredibly pleasant, and my drink arrived quickly After finishing my generous portion, the motto gracing Carmen's business card seemed about right:

Business is great.

Life is wonderful.

People are terrific.

3:15 p.m. An important rock

After absorbing the beauty of the Mayflower II, walk further down the path to find that famous rock you've heard so much about. Here, you'll find a sign stating that the Pilgrims may have built a makeshift pier from the rock while the boat was docked there for five months. The same informative board quotes Rose T. Briggs, a Plymouth historian, as saying "It is the fact that they landed-and remained-that matters, not where they landed. Yet it is not a bad thing for a nation to be founded on a rock."

Yet, the rock is not quite what most people expect. Crowds of people stand beside a Parthenon-like structure to look at a stone no bigger than a medium-sized cow with the year 1620 carved into it. Plymouth Rock is certainly not a breathtaking boulder, but it certainly has historical value. Perhaps more aesthetically inspiring is the muscular bronze statue of a Native American. A plaque says he was Massasoit, Great Sachem of the Wampanoag, the Protector and the Preserver of the Pilgrims in 1621. Nearby you will also find another statue standing in a green murky pool of water, honoring early Pilgrim women.

4:00 p.m. Don't forget the fudge!

Make sure to buy fudge at the John Alden Gift Shop (74 Water Street, 508-746-1887). The shop was full of everything you could want from a Plymouth gift shop: corny plaques with sayings like "I'm on a 30-day diet, and so far I lost 15 days;" a wide assortment of penny candy; and huge rubber spears for a mere $1.49. I nibbled thoughtfully on my peanut-butter fudge in the backseat as we drove out of downtown Plymouth, just as the rain began to plop against the windshield. "I'm just a weary pilgrim trying to find what feels like home," Dolly Parton crooned appropriately from the car stereo. So are we, Dolly, so are we.