History, Hats & Humor in Cape May

Departure Info:

Yankee Trails, Rensselaer - 7:30am
Pet Smart, Crossgates Commons - 8:00am
*Catskill, Exit 21 Commuter Lot - 8:45am

*Overnight Parking is not permitted at this location. Per the NYS Thruway Authority this is a pickup/drop off location only.
Kingston Plaza, Kingston - 9:05am

Sunday, October 13:

We board the coach this morning in anticipation of tempting Lady Luck, strolling the boardwalk, touring the Victorian village, reliving the past, browsing through the shops and boutiques, and experience some new things in Cape May. Upon arrival you will have some free time for shopping and exploring at Washington Street Mall, a quaint outdoor shopping experience. Next we will head to our accommodations by the waters edge at Cape May’s Le Mer Beachfront Resort (800-644-5004). Fresh, bright, and thoughtfully designed with touches of home brings your ideal getaway to life starting with luxurious and modern guest rooms. Discover uninterrupted views of the ocean and captivating residential and city views. Enjoy dinner tonight at the hotel (included) and during our meal enjoy an interactive historical experience. During the late Victorian Period, the issues of temperance and prohibition were as much “hot topics” in Cape May as they were in the rest of the country. This interactive living history program presents a debate between a local saloonkeeper and a representative of the Women’s Rights Movement and other reform efforts. The rest of the evening is on your own. Your entree selections are 1)Chicken Marsala, 2)Seasonal Fish or 3)Rigatoni Bolognaise. Each comes with accompaniments, Caesar Salad and Cheesecake with strawberry sauce for dessert.

Monday, October 14:

After breakfast at the hotel (included), we will enjoy a tour of the Emlen Physick Estate which offers a look back at our Victorian past as evidenced by its architecture, decorative arts, customs, and the lives of one particular Cape May family, the Physicks. Emlen Physick Jr., his widowed mother, Frances Ralston, and his maiden aunt Emilie Parmentier moved into their home when it was completed in 1879. Emlen, who never married, was descended from a famous and wealthy Philadelphia family. His grandfather, Dr. Philip Syng Physick, was considered the father of American surgery and invented numerous surgical procedures and medical instruments that are still in use today. Your tour also includes a narrated trolley tour through the Historic District. See the oldest residential street in town, landmark buildings, gingerbread houses, Victorian architectural features, and the Grand Dames of Cape May. Following these tours, we will visit the current Carroll Gallery Exhibit. Some of our favorite dishes, like the ice cream cone, the ice cream sundae and the banana split are Victorian inventions. This exhibit celebrates summer’s favorite treat. See an authentic 1898 ice cream maker and other artifacts, and a reproduction Victorian ice cream wagon. Discover the diverse innovators and pioneers of ice cream, and the development of the ice cream scoop and commercial ice cream freezer, including Augustus Jackson, Nancy Johnson, Bassett’s of Philadelphia, and more. Lastly, we will savor a three-course luncheon (included) at the Inn of Cape May along with a presentation by Lynne Anne Donchez, author of For the Love of Hats. Enjoy a unique presentation of Lynne Anne’s 60-70 piece hat collection including pill boxes, clothes, fascinators and more while savoring assorted tea sandwiches such as chicken salad, cucumber and smoked salmon, and egg salad along with assorted desserts such as chocolate cream puffs, mini cheesecake and lemon bars. Coffee, hot and iced tea will also be served. Learn about the history, fashion and etiquette of hats from a broad range of eras. We will depart at 3pm with an approximate arrival in the Capital District at 8pm. One stop each way.