Availability Period: June.
Our program is timed for late spring, just before the major tourist
influx comes to these extremely popular destinations. The tour includes a five-night stay in Providence RI, two nights on Nantucket Island, and one night in Hyannis MA.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Friday, June 6: Our British Airways flight departs from London Heathrow at 10.55 for our 7 hour flight to Boston. On arrival we take our road coach to Providence, Rhode Island (about one hour
journey). Our hotel for the next five nights is the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Providence in the historic Union Station Plaza, just one block from the current Amtrak station or about 15minutes from the airport. This was the landmark former New Haven RR depot.
Day 2, Saturday, June 7: A short journey mid-morning takes us to board the Ripta ferry to Newport RI. Lunch is included on arrival, followed by tours at famous Marble House (built for William K. Vanderbilt in 1892) and Rosecliff, used as the setting of the movie “The Great Gatsby” filmed in 1974.
Rosecliff was designed by Stanford White in the style of the Grand Trianon at Versailles and features garden ornaments by famed sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens. Following a brief tour of the general area, we have free time before boarding the Newport Dinner Train for a run along the shores of beautiful Narragansett Bay as we enjoy a four-course dinner in their Budd dining cars. Includes: (L), (D).
Day 3, Sunday, June 8: Our coach takes us southwest today, topping first in the lovely village of Essex CT for a late morning ride behind steam along the Connecticut River on the Essex Steam Train. Upon our return, we have a fine included lunch at the Griswold Inn, a Colonial inn operating since 1776. The Griswold claims to be America’s oldest continuously operated inn, although the Beekman Arms in Rhinebeck Ny makes a similar claim!
There is free time to walk, shop or make an optional visit to the Connecticut River Museum in the village before we depart for the Shore Line Trolley (Tram) Museum. Here we can visit the museum itself, which contains almost 100 historic U.S. and Canadian trolleys, and ride a three-mile line (the last portion of the Branford Electric Railway in operation) on an historic trolley.
Our day concludes with a ride on Amtrak’s Acela Express high-speed train from New Haven to Providence, a ride of approximately one-and-one-half hours. We reach speeds of 150mph as we follow the very scenic former New Haven “Shoreline” along the coastline of the Long Island Sound and Narragansett Bay. Includes: (L).
Day 4, Monday, June 9: We depart from North Kingston this morning on the Vineyard Fast Ferry to Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. Upon arrival, we have an included tour of the island and lunch in Edgartown, followed by several hours of free time before our return departure by ferry. Historically, Martha’s Vineyard was a whaling town, and fishing still is an island industry.
Now, it is a noted travel destination for its beautiful beaches and sport fishing as well as a getaway for the well-to-do and famous during the summer. Beautiful homes, wildlife sanctuaries and shopping abound. After re-crossing to the mainland, we return to Providence by coach in early evening. Includes: (L).
Day 5, Tuesday, June 10: Everyone on the tour is provided with a link trackless trolley pass for today, which allows visits to many of the important sites in Providence. The Gold Line in the Capitol Hill area stops at the Amtrak station; the State House (which contains a painting of George Washington by Gilbert Stuart, the original 1663 Royal Charter granted by King Charles II of England and other objects of interest); and Water place Park, a four-acre park in the city center which hosts water fire on some evenings.
The Green Line includes Restaurant Row, the East side Marketplace, the First Baptist Church in America (established 1638 and housed in a 1775 structure with a 1792 Waterford crystal chandelier), and the famous Rhode Island School of Design. The Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design contains over 80,000 works of art and is well worth the visit! The Gold and Green Lines join at Kennedy Plaza, within walking distance a few blocks from our hotel. Includes: (L).
Day 6, Wednesday, June 11: This morning our coach transfers us to Hyannis Ma for the noon fast ferry to Nantucket, with optional lunch available on the ferry. Upon arrival on Nantucket, we (and our luggage) are transferred to our hotel for the next two nights, the charming Nantucket Inn.
This property has both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, an exercise center, tennis courts, billiards and bicycle rentals. We are located about three miles outside the village, so the hotel provides complimentary hourly transfers to/from town or Surf side Beach. We have free time this afternoon before an included dinner at A. K. Diamond’s restaurant. Includes: (D).
Day 7, Thursday, June 12: Following an included breakfast buffet, we have a mid-morning tour of Nantucket Island, ending by mid-day. The afternoon is ours to explore on our own. Nantucket has a number of historic sites, shops and restaurants. We have included History Passes on this tour which allow free visits to the spectacular new Whaling Museum, the historic Hadwen House, the Oldest House, the Old Mill, the Old Gaol (jail), the Quaker Meeting House and the Fire Hose Cart House (fire equipment). The Historical Association also offers walking tours of downtown Nantucket at an optional cost. An inexpensive bus service is available to visit areas outside the village. Includes: (B).
Day 8, Friday, June 13: Following our breakfast buffet, we are transferred to the Nantucket ferry dock and ride the ferry back to Hyannis, where our coach meets us. We then drive the Cape Cod National Seashore, with pack lunches included, stopping at points of interest en route. The Seashore stretches for forty miles along Cape Cod, consisting of towering sand dunes, forests, cliffs and marshlands. Cottages, lighthouses and villages are found along the route.
Upon our return to Hyannis, we have time to freshen up at our hotel, the Holiday Inn Hyannis, before our Farewell Dinner on the Cape Cod Central Railroad. Our journey of three hours takes us along the Cape Cod Canal and across the historic Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge to Buzzards Bay. We pass cranberry bogs, marshes and sand dunes while enjoying a five-course meal on our diesel-powered train following 23 miles of original track of the Old Colony Railroad. Includes: (B), (L), (D).
Day 9, Saturday, June 14: This morning we make a very short drive to Sandwich Ma to visit Heritage Museums and Gardens, which specializes in American history and art. A replica Shaker round barn houses a wonderful collection of antique automobiles including a Cord 812 Phaeton, a Duesenberg Model J, a 1962 Corvette and a 1932 Auburn 8-100A Boattail Speedster. A working hand-carved carousel, Nantucket baskets, scrimshaw and numerous art works are located in the Art Museum; and the American History Museum includes antique toys, military miniatures and Native American artifacts.
Paths and a shuttle service provide access to the 100-acre site which also includes gardens, nature trails, a maze and an old mill. Lunch is included on site. Following our visit, our coach returns us to Boston for our overnight flight back to Heathrow (arriving on Sunday morning). Extra nights can be arranged in Boston. Includes: (L).
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price:
- Full 9-night holiday to, from Heathrow or Manchester in a shared room: 1699;
- Full 9-night holiday to, from Providence: from 1259;
- Single room supplement: 340;
Price Includes:
- All trains and excursions as listed in the itinerary;
- All coach and ferry transportation;
- Luggage handling from arrival at our hotel on Day One to drop-offs at the airport on Day Nine;
- Hotel accommodation;
- All meals as listed in the itinerary;
- Services of our tour guides in New England (holiday is fully escorted).
Price Excludes:
- Other meals;
- Alcoholic beverages;
- Items of a personal nature.
Also see tour packages in:
USA
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Railway Trips
Boating and Sailing
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