Plymouth, Cape Cod and The Islands
The Best of Plymouth, Cape Cod and The Islands9 nightsFrom £1295 per person
Price includes: Flights, accommodation and car hire
Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrim Fathers landing in America with this 10 day self drive that will introduce you to the history, beauty and coastal traditions of Cape Cod and its neighbouring islands. Learn what life was like for the Pilgrims and the true story of Thanksgiving at Plimoth Plantation, a re-creation of a small farming and maritime village built by the Pilgrims in the 17th century. Don't miss the magnificent centrepiece - the Mayflower II replica - recently unveiled after months of painstaking restoration.
Day 1 - Boston, MA
Arrive in Boston for two nights. Boston offers attractions to suit every taste and interest. Explore on a "Hop On, Hop Off" trolley tour or walk the Freedom Trail, a well-preserved pedestrian path that weaves in and out of historic neighbourhoods.
Day 3 - Boston to Plymouth, MA, approx. 40 miles
Drive to Plymouth, 'America's Hometown'. Go aboard Mayflower II, the renovated replica of the original ship and a gift from Britain to the USA. Tour Plimoth Plantation, arguably America's best living history museum, where costumed interpreters depict life in a 1627 pilgrim village.
Although the 2020 commemorations of the Pilgrim Fathers had to be delayed, special exhibitions in Plymouth will still display fascinating 17th-century memorabilia and tales of the Birthplace of America.
Stay one night in Plymouth.
Day 4 - Plymouth to Chatham, MA, approx. 90 miles
Drive to Cape Cod for a two night stay. Chatham is the quintessential New England village by the sea, with smart shops, small restaurants, some typically colonial-style white churches, a fishing harbour and a lighthouse with dramatic ocean views. The Cape Cod National Seashore has 40 miles of pristine sandy beach, marshes, ponds and diverse birdlife.
Day 6 - Chatham to Provincetown, MA, approx. 40 miles
Drive to Provincetown at the very end of Cape Cod. This colourful and fascinating little town has art galleries, tiny seafood restaurants, shops, narrow streets and pretty gardens. A morning to explore the town and this afternoon enjoy a whale watching cruise. Stay for one night in Provincetown.
Day 7 - Provincetown to Hyannis, approx. 50 miles for Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, MA
First thing in the morning, head to Hyannis for the ferry to pretty Nantucket Island, with its cobblestone Main Street shaded by giant elm trees and magnificent homes of merchants and ship captains. It is one of the best preserved towns in New England. In the last afternoon take the high speed ferry back to Hyannis and then the short ferry ride to the lovely island of Martha's Vineyard, where you will stay for three nights.
Day 8 and 9 - Martha's Vineyard
Two days to relax on the island, a Mecca for summer visitors, that has played host to the rich and famous, including film stars and American Presidents. Tour the Vineyard to see the gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs, and Gay Head cliffs in scenic Aquinnah.
Day 10 – Take the ferry back to Hyannis and then return to Boston, approx. 70 miles.
Fly home from Boston to UK.
