October 7-11, 2013
(5 days)
Pickup: Lancaster, Ephrata
Lv-7:00 am Rt-9:00 pm
Price per person: $799 Double $1,045 Single
$733 Triple $700 Quad
Deposit - $200 per person at registration
Balance due by August 23, 2013
4 breakfasts 2 lunches 4 dinners
MON, OCT 7 (Day 1) We drive to the sunny shores of Cape Cod, before arriving in Hyannis, Massachusetts. Our local guide will greet us at our hotel in West Yarmouth, our home for the next four nights. (D)
TUE, OCT 8 (Day 2) The highlight of our day will be a visit to the A.D. Makepeace Cranberry Bog, the world's largest cranberry grower. Our guide will show us examples of an existing bog currently in production and will discuss the stages of the cranberry growing process. We will learn from the expert cranberry growers about farming and harvesting this fruit named "craneberry" by the Pilgrims. We will enjoy a box lunch picnic before heading to America's hometown, Plymouth, MA Here we will view the Forefather's Monument, the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock. We head back to Cape Cod to explore the Cape's oldest village of Sandwich where we will view the great salt marsh, the dunes at Sandy Neck and the village green. Next, we will visit Pairpoint Glass where we will see—what else—cranberry glass! We will also enjoy Heritage Museum & Gardens with exhibits designed to please everyone. There is a round barn with antique cars, a hand-carved working carousel, a windmill, Americana arts & crafts, landscaped gardens and much more! Dinner and overnight in West Yarmouth. (B, L, D)
WED, OCT 9 (Day 3) Today we will enjoy a scenic view of Martha's Vineyard on a leisurely ferry ride. Upon arrival at "Storybook Island," we will board a local coach for a Down Island Tour. We will travel throughout the townships of the island learning about the history and the lifestyles of the islanders. There will be free time for lunch and shopping in the whaling port of Edgartown. We'll complete our island day with a walking tour of the gingerbread cottages that encircle the Tabernacle at the historic Methodist Campgrounds in Oak Bluffs. We depart the island via ferry to arrive in time for a fine dinner and overnight in West Yarmouth, MA. (B, D)
THU, OCT 10 (Day 4) A local guide meets us before we visit the home port of Cape Cod—Hyannis. This is the business, retail and transportation hub of the area. Driving along Main Street and through the village of Hyannisport, we stop at the Kennedy Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and view St. Francis Xavier Church. We will travel to the Northside of the Cape and learn about the history of the area as we drive along scenic route 6A, passing through colonial villages filled with wonderful examples of New England architecture. Next we stop at Gray’s Beach in Yarmouthport to view Cape Cod Bay and “get some sand between our toes!” The town of Dennis is home to clipper ships and the country’s first cultivated cranberry bog. In 1816, Henry
Hall discovered the sand from Cape Cod Bay that blew in and covered his “wild” cranberry field made the berries sturdier and larger. This discovery was the catalyst that transformed cranberry farms into a big business. This original bog is still in production today tucked away on a narrow dirt road north of route 6A. Our guide will tell us about the “Legend of Scargo Lake” as we continue along Route 6A. We will travel from the north side of the Cape to the south side and visit the quaint seaside village of Chatham. We stop at the Chatham Light, view the Chatham break and enjoy time shopping along the quaint Main Street. We continue along the southern shoreline to the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitors Center in Eastham. See the exhibits, visit the museum shop and take pictures of the beautiful view. We make a picture stop at Nauset Light and visit the Red Barn Gift Shop. A lobster dinner is included this evening; there is an alternate entreé for those who do not prefer lobster. Overnight in West Yarmouth, MA. (B, D)
FRI, OCT 11 (Day 5) Our final day takes us to Essex, CT, and the Essex Steam Train, where a coal-fired locomotive takes us for an exciting ride before we depart for home. (B, L)