SHENANDOAH VALLEY:

Early today we board our comfortable Christian Tours Prevost motorcoach and head to Maryland. Our route take us through the Shenandoah Valley.

LONGWOOD GARDENS • MYSTIC:

This morning we take a walk through one of the world's largest indoor conservatories at beautiful Longwood Gardens! Longwood Gardens, sometimes referred to as the DuPont Gardens, was created by industrialist Pierre S. du Pont. The entire estate offers 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands, and meadows; 20 outdoor gardens; 20 indoor gardens within 4 acres of heated greenhouses; 11,000 different types of plants, and spectacular fountains. We leave Longwood and travel to Mystic, CT, for overnight.

NEWPORT • TEN MILE DRIVE • SANDWICH & HYANNIS TOUR • DINNER:

Our first stop of the day is in Newport at the famous Bowen's Wharf to explore the many shops and boutiques. Then we're off to see the acclaimed “Ten Mile Drive.” As our coach slowly winds through the many homes and exquisite estates of the “400,” we'll marvel at the beauty of these buildings & grounds. In the early afternoon, we will depart from Newport and travel to Cape Cod. We travel historic Route 6A through Sandwich viewing the village green, the dunes at Sandy Neck, a cranberry bog and Cape Cod Bay. We continue our journey into Hyannis for a tour of the area including the Kennedy Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Hyannisport and a view of St. Francis Xavier Church, where the Kennedy's worshiped. We spend the next four nights on Cape Cod. Tonight we'll enjoy an included dinner! (D)

MARTHA'S VINEYARD • LOBSTER DINNER:

This morning we board the ferry for a cruise to Martha's Vineyard, where we enjoy a sightseeing tour of the island. You'll discover that much of the island remains as it was when the first white settlers came. See Oak Bluffs, beaches in long sweeps of unbroken beauty, salt sea marshes, picturesque yacht harbors, and Edgartown, a fashionable harborside community of narrow streets and stately old homes. Tonight we'll treat you to a delicious lobster dinner at one of the local restaurants. (D)

CAPE COD NATIONAL SEASHORE • PROVINCETOWN • OPTION OF WHALE WATCH OR DUNES TOUR:

Today we travel historic Route 6A, the Old King's Highway, a scenic byway winding through centuries of Cape Cod history. It winds past hundreds of historic structures which characterize its early development. We see the Eastham Windmill, a Cape Cod Lighthouse, and visit the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor's Center. Sand dunes and the ocean surround us as we approach “Land's End,” Provincetown. We are now at the extreme tip of Cape Cod. Formerly known as the “Province Lands” the pilgrims landed here first before they decided to settle across the bay in Plymouth. You will have time for lunch and browsing through the wonderful variety of shops, and galleries that make this artists/fishermen village so unique. This afternoon you can choose from two options: Board an excursion vessel for an amazing experience of whale watching. You travel into the natural habitat of a diverse marine environment including birds that migrate here from all over the Atlantic and fish which use these shallow waters to feed. An onboard naturalist will introduce you to everything you see and will answer any of your questions about the whales, birds, fish and lighthouses. Or you may choose: The Dunes Tour Excursion rides through the protected lands of the Cape Cod National Seashore, the largest protected coastline in the country. Your driver/guide will point out the “dune shacks” where famous artists and writers became inspired to create their art. Late this afternoon we return to Hyannis. Dinner is included this evening. (D)

HYANNIS • NANTUCKET ISLAND:

We board the high speed ferry to Nantucket, which is not just an island but an experience! Here, on the warm clear waters of the Atlantic is nestled a community whose original colonial New England heritage and atmosphere of 300 years ago is virtually unchanged. It's a treasure chest of history, legend, art, & architecture reflecting the longgone, but never forgotten whaling era. You will have a sightseeing journey around the island and time to browse the old maritime town and enjoy the quaint shops and sights before boarding the ferry back to the mainland. We arrive back to Hyannis where you'll have free time on Main Street to browse the shops and have dinner (on your own).

MAYFLOWER II • PLYMOUTH ROCK • PLIMOTH PATUXET • LUNCH • BOSTON CITY TOUR:

The Mayflower II returned to Plymouth after a 3-year multi-million dollar restoration and was the centerpiece of the 400th commemoration of the Pilgrims' arrival in 2020. We tour this full scale reproduction. Next, we see Plymouth Rock, the point of the Pilgrims' landing on December 21, 1620. We make a stop at the impressive National Monument To The Forefathers, erected in 1889 to commemorate the Pilgrims. We continue to Plimoth Patuxet, a living village recreating life in early Plymouth. Costumed people in 17th century attire portray actual residents of the 1627 community. Lunch is included today. This afternoon's agenda includes a guided tour of Boston. See the Boston Common, the oldest public park in the country, where cows once grazed, soldiers drilled, witches were hanged, and “common scold” were dunked in the Frog Pond. See the Old State House, from whose balcony the Declaration of Independence was first read to the citizens of Boston in 1776. And see Faneuil Hall, known as the “Cradle of Liberty” because of the frequent protest meetings that took place there. We also see the Old North Church, from whose tall steeple Robert Newman hung two lanterns that started Paul Revere's famous ride. We see the USS Constitution, “Old Ironsides” of the War of 1812 before traveling to Massachusetts for our overnight. (L)

MARK TWAIN HOUSE • DINNER:

In Hartford, Connecticut, we'll visit the Mark Twain House. If you've seen A&E's series on Castles of America, you may be acquainted with the Mark Twain House. Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn and other classics were penned while Samuel Clemmons resided here. The three-story Victorian mansion features many rare Tiffany pieces and Clemmons memorabilia. This evening we enjoy an included dinner together. We overnight just outside of Delaware. (D)

HOME:

All good things must come to an end. This morning finds us homeward bound, filled with delightful thoughts of new places to add to our treasure house of memories.