Cape Cod Seals, Sails & Maritime Memories

Departure Info:

Pet Smart, Crossgates Commons - 7:15am
Yankee Trails, Rensselaer - 7:45am

Friday, Sept. 6:

We are on our way this morning to a delightful coastal New England destination, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After picking up our guide, we will travel to Sandwich, MA, the oldest town in Cape Cod. Lunch will be on your own at Seafood Sam’s on the Canal. A stop will be made at the Cape Cod Canal Visitor’s Center. Explore the rich history, fascinating features, and vigilant operation of the Cape Cod Canal. Learn the history of the construction of the canal from its first consideration in 1623, to 1909 when the first shovelful of earth was lifted, to its opening in 1914. We will then head to Hyannis for a one-hour Hyannis Harbor Cruise in Lewis Bay, featuring live commentary and views of the Kennedy Memorial, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, the historic Kennedy Compound, Squaw Island and more! A visit to the Cape Cod Maritime Museum will round out our day. Here the Cape and Islands maritime past, present and future is celebrated. Experience our inspiring passion and respect for the sea and how it continues to shape Cape Cod. Experience our maritime traditions and nautical history. We will continue on to our accommodations at the Fairfield Inn & Suites (508-771-6100), located in Hyannis, the heart of Cape Cod. This hotel offers an indoor salt water pool, free high speed WiFi, and each room features a coffee maker, mini fridge, microwave, & hair dryer. It is ideally located adjacent to the Cape Cod mall which offers retail shopping and restaurants. Enjoy a welcome reception upon arrival, followed by free time to relax and make the most of the hotel amenities. Dinner is included at a local restaurant this evening.

Saturday, Sept. 7:

Following an extended continental breakfast, our local guide will meet us at the hotel and we will travel to the “south side” of the Cape to the seaside village of Chatham. Get ready for an unforgettable outdoor adventure – a Seal Watching Cruise! Get an up close and personal view of seals in their natural habitat as you cruise out of Ryder’s Cove into Chatham Harbor. This 90-minute cruise has plenty of photo opportunities of the Harbor and Grey Seals swimming, sunning, and entertaining you. Next, we will enjoy a boxed lunch at the nearby Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum. After lunch you will explore radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi’s life and legacy, the role of maritime radio in world events, ship-to-shore communication with the actual shipboard radio from the hospital ship SS Hope, and artifacts from Chatham Radio Stations history. Learn how Marconi’s telegraph was used in World War I and saved the lives of the Titanic passengers. This afternoon you will view the Chatham Light, which has been a lifesaving beacon for sailors throughout the Cape’s history. Chatham’s location at the Cape’s “elbow” makes it very vulnerable to winter storms. Your guide will point out the Chatham Break and the dramatic changes to the shoreline that have occurred, thanks to Mother Nature. Admission is also included to visit the Atwood House Museum. Built in the 1750’s by Joseph Atwood, a Chatham Sea Captain, the “Old House” was occupied for five generations. The museum is a vibrant institution highlighting eleven galleries and a working Fresnel lantern from one of the historic Chatham Twin Lights. We will head back to the hotel to relax and freshen up before dinner (included) this evening at a local restaurant.

Sunday, Sept 8:

An extended continental breakfast is included at the hotel each morning. After your breakfast, you will check out and we will travel to the Ocean State, Rhode Island. Upon our arrival in Newport a local guide from Viking Tours will meet our group. Meet Mrs. Caroline Astor, the Grande Dame of Newport and New York Society in the Gilded Age of the late 1800’s. Enjoy the charm of Newport’s historic buildings and restored homes on this narrated tour covering over 150 points of interest. Take in the rugged beauty of Ten-Mile Ocean Drive and the fabulous mansions along tree-lined Bellevue Avenue. Admission is also included to The Sailing Museum & National Sailing Hall of Fame. Situated in the historic Armory building on the waterfront in downtown Newport, The Sailing Museum features interactive exhibits, displays chronicling the history of the sport, and galleries honoring inductees into the National Sailing Hall of Fame and the America’s Cup Hall of Fame. There will be free time for lunch and shopping on Newport’s famous Thames St. We will depart for home at 3pm with sand in your shoes, seashells in your pocket and many fond memories of your Yankee Trails tour to Cape Cod and Newport! Our approximate arrival in the Capital District is 7pm, one stop each way.