Get acquainted with the history, beauty, and coastal traditions of Cape Cod and its neighboring islands on this fascinating vacation. Your trip begins in Boston with guided sightseeing of “Bean Town’s” most famous sites, a harbor cruise, and two overnights. Head southeast to the pilgrim’s Plymouth to see Plymouth Rock and a replica of the Mayflower II; then visit a working cranberry bog and explore Plimoth Plantation. On to the resort town of Hyannis for three overnights and an orientation tour that features the JFK Memorial and St. Francis Xavier Church. An included excursion takes you along the peninsula’s Cape Cod National Seashore to Provincetown for an exciting whale-watching cruise.Next, take a ferry ride to Nantucket for guided sightseeing of the imposing mansions and Quaker influences. Journey to Martha’s Vineyard, where you’ll spend the night and take a morning guided sightseeing tour. A high-speed ferry whisks you to Woods Hole and the cobblestone streets of New Bedford, former whaling port of Moby Dick fame. Continue to elegant Newport, Rhode Island, where you’ll spend two nights and enjoy an orientation tour that shows off Cornelius Vanderbilt’s opulent Breakers mansion. Your incredible Cape Cod & the Islands vacation ends as you return to Boston for your homebound flight.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Boston. 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. Your guided 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. Next, board a harbor CRUISE, which takes you to see the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Boston Tea Party boat. Balance of the day at leisure. (B)
Day #3 Boston–Plymouth–Hyannis. Head south to Plymouth, where the Pilgrims landed almost 400 years ago and founded the first permanent settlement in New England. See the famous Plymouth Rock and board a full-scale replica of the MAYFLOWER II. Next, explore PLIMOTH PLANTATION and learn about how daily life was for the Pilgrim forefathers. Continue to [LF] FLAX POND FARMS, a working cranberry bog, and hear how this native fruit is harvested and processed. 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 to Cape Cod. Drive the length of the peninsula’s arm to Provincetown to CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE. 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. Excursion to Nantucket. 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. Return to Hyannis for a traditional [LF] LOBSTER & SEAFOOD BAKE dinner. (B,D)
Day #6 Hyannis–Martha’s Vineyard. After free time in the morning, 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)
Day #7 Martha’s Vineyard–Woods Hole–New Bedford–Newport. 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. 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. 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 tour ends. Please schedule flights from Boston’s Logan Airport after Noon. (B)