Boston, Cape Cod & The Islands

Welcome to Boston, described by many as the most European city in the U.S., you can expect a thriving art scene, delicious variety of seafood delicacies and plenty of charm. Arrive to the Hyatt Regency Boston, just steps from Boston's most desirable area-attractions such as the Boston Common, Faneuil Hall, and Boston's famous shopping destination, Newbury Street. A 10-to-15 minute walk will bring you to the South End, Back Bay or the Charles River Esplanade. At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner with wine and an opportunity to mingle with fellow guests. (DW) Stay: Hyatt Regency, Boston

Explore the city with your Travel Director and learn about the city's transformative past. You'll follow part of the red-brick Freedom Trail that brings the story of the American Revolution to life. Sights include Boston Common, the Old Corner Bookstore and the Bunker Hill Monument in Charlestown. View the colourful neighbourhoods of Back Bay and historic North End, otherwise known as Boston's Little Italy. Make sure you try the neighbourhood's famous cannoli and grab yourself some of the best espresso in town.

Later, choose to visit Fenway Park, America's oldest baseball stadium and home of the Boston Red Sox or tour The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum dedicated to the memory of the nation's thirty-fifth president. The rest of the day is free to pursue your own interests. (B)

This morning, discover Plymouth's history at the first Pilgrim settlement. Visit Pilgrim Hall Museum, the oldest continuously operating public museum in the country and America's museum of Pilgrim possessions. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you visit the Plimoth Patuxet museum. This living memorial is dedicated to preserving the histories of the Native and English inhabitants of this region and educating the public on early settlers and the Wampanoag People in an immersive and engaging environment.

Later you'll get to know the Cape more intimately as you make your way to the coastal haven of Sandwich.

This afternoon, discover the art and science of glass making at Sandwich Glass Museum where you can watch glassblowers in action and explore exhibits spanning over three centuries. Enjoy a dinner back at your hotel later this evening featuring local favourites. (B/DW) Stay: Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa, Sandwich

Head out to Salt Pond on Cape Cod's National Seashore and learn about the natural wonder and human history represented on the Cape, from its First People and European settlement to modern lifestyles and communication technology. An optional experience on the Sand Dunes of the National Seashore may present itself later today. Roll through the Dune Shacks of Peaked Hill Bars Historic District, catching sight of Pilgrim Lake and the famed artists' dune shacks while Local Experts share the history and ecology of these striking and inspiring dunes. (B)

Board a ferry this morning to Martha's Vineyard (seasonal). Home to pristine sandy beaches, outdoor attractions and heavenly harbour towns, this summer hangout is no stranger to presidential visits. The island has hosted the Clintons and the Obamas, while the former U.S. First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, maintained a home here.

After disembarking, make your way to Oak Bluffs, known for its rainbow-coloured, gingerbread-like cottages with gothic storybook decorations, high-peaked roofs, and dainty verandas. You'll also find the oldest operating platform carousel in America here. Get acquainted with the island, before reaching your hotel.

Tonight's dinner is sure to delight with the season's freshest offerings from local farms, fishing boats, foragers and markets. (B/DW) Stay: Harbor View Hotel Martha's Vineyard

Depart Martha's Vineyard in style on a high-speed catamaran for the picturesque island of Nantucket. Not only has it retained the charm of a bygone era, it is one of the most exclusive coastal communities in the U.S. During your visit, take in the beauty of the antique cobblestone streets, lined with high- end boutiques and breathtaking architecture during a guided walking tour. The homes date back to its whaling days which also influenced much of the culture on the island. In the past, the style of home directly correlated to a whaler's ranking.

Return to the mainland in the evening to relax at your luxurious hotel. (B) Stay: Hotel Viking, Newport

This morning, you'll enjoy a visit to The Breakers, a Gilded Age mansion and summer residence of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. The 70-room estate is the grandest of Newport's summer cottages. Today, it is a National Historic Landmark that serves as a symbol of the Vanderbilt family's social and financial pre-eminence in the Gilded Age.

This afternoon, sail around Newport Harbor aboard the Rum Runner II cruising by Newport mansions and former speakeasies, lighthouses, islands, and many other points of interest along the waterfront. Our journey through New England is almost at its end, but not before you join your fellow travellers for a Celebration Dinner at La Forge Casino Restaurant originally established in 1880. (B/DW)

It's time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as you return to Boston. For those heading home there will be complimentary transfers to Boston Logan International Airport, arriving at 12:00. Alternatively, you may return to the Hyatt Regency Boston if you wish to extend your stay. (B)