Cape Cod & The Islands

Day 1 - Arrive in Boston. (Fri.) Welcome to "Bean Town!" This evening, mix and mingle with your traveling companions at 6 pm, for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.

Day 2 - Boston. (Sat.) Sightseeing focuses on the city's most prominent landmarks, such as the historic sites near Boston Common including the Old State House; Old North Church, from where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride; and Faneuil Hall, with an opportunity to browse through Quincy Market. Balance of the day at leisure. (B)

Day 3 - Boston - Plymouth - Hyannis. (Sun.) Head south to Plymouth, where the pilgrims landed more than 389 years ago and founded the first permanent settlement in New England. See the famous Plymouth Rock, the very place where these hardy folk stepped ashore. Also, board a full-scale replica of the MAYFLOWER II and visit PLYMOUTH COLONY WINERY for a tour of a working cranberry bog to see how this native fruit is harvested and processed. Next, explore PLIMOTH PLANTATION and learn how daily life was for the Pilgrim forefathers. On to Hyannis, a favorite Cape Cod resort town, where you will see the John F. Kennedy Memorial and St. Francis Xavier Church before reaching your hotel. (B,D)

Day 4 - Hyannis. Excursion on Cape Cod. (Mon.) Drive the length of the peninsula's arm to Provincetown, savoring views of CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE on the way. At MacMillan Wharf, board a cruise boat and head out to sea for a WHALE-WATCHING expedition narrated by a local marine biologist. Free time later to wander through "P-town," a lively summer resort and artist's colony. On the way back to Hyannis, spend some time in Chatham, a typical Cape Cod village. (B)

Day 5 - Hyannis - Nantucket. (Tue.) This morning, head to the harbor for your FERRY ride to Nantucket. Time for lunch and a stroll around Straight Wharf with its marinas, shops, and art galleries. Your guided tour spotlights the strong Quaker influence during the early days of settlement. Drive the narrow streets and admire charming Colonial-style houses and imposing mansions that reflect the prosperity of Nantucket's whaling era. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a special CLAM BAKE dinner. (B,D)

Day 6 - Nantucket - Martha's Vineyard. (Wed.) After free time in the morning on Nantucket, FERRY to Martha's Vineyard and spend some time in Edgartown, once an important shipping and whaling center. Check out the enticing village stores, take a walk along the ocean, enjoy the invigorating salty breezes, and admire the elegant homes along the tree-lined streets during your time here. (B)

Note: The 05/21, 09/10, and 09/24 departures will fly to Martha's Vineyard.

Day 7 - Martha's Vineyard - Woods Hole - New Bedford - Newport. (Thu.) Enjoy a morning tour that features Oak Bluffs with its Victorian "gingerbread" architecture and the multi-colored cliffs of Gay Head before returning by high-speed FERRY to Woods Hole this afternoon. Upon arrival, head to New Bedford on Buzzard's Bay. See the cobblestone streets, the seaman's bethel, the wharves crowded with fishing craft and fisherman"the sights and scenes of this former whaling port of Moby Dick fame. The history of the town is captured in the vast collections of prints, logbooks, and scrimshaw exhibits at the NEW BEDFORD WHALING MUSEUM. Then, journey south to Newport, an elegant yachting mecca on Narragansett Bay in the "Ocean State" of Rhode Island. (B)

Day 8 - Newport. (Fri.) Today, enjoy a Newport orientation tour and see the first state house, the nation's oldest synagogue, and the city's oldest meeting house and library. Afterward, explore the extravagant lifestyle of a bygone era when visiting THE BREAKERS, shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt's opulent mansion. Your afternoon is free for exploring on your own. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 9 - Newport - Boston. (Sat.) Depart this morning for Boston. After a transfer to the airport for guests who have homebound flights, the motorcoach continues downtown to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, where the vacation ends. Please schedule flights from Boston's Logan Airport after Noon. (B)