freedom trail

Day 1	BOSTON
Arrive in historic Boston, the “Cradle of the American Revolution” and New England’s premier city. Founded in 1630 by English Puritans, Boston quickly became colonial New England’s largest seaport and remains its cultural and political capital. Get oriented on the Freedom Trail, a self-guided walking tour of historic Boston’s most important revolutionary sites and events

Day 2

BOSTON

A full day to explore Boston and its surroundings. Begin your day rambling through the cobblestone streets and fine brick houses of Beacon Hill, the traditional home of Boston’s “Brahmins”, early Boston’s social, intellectual and artistic elite. Then, cross the Charles River to the vibrant streets of Cambridge and Harvard University, America’s first institute of higher education (1636). Return through Back Bay’s boulevards for stylish shopping and dining, then make your way to the Fenway for the artistic treasures of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and the Museum of Fine Arts

Day 3

BOSTON » CAPE ANN » SALEM (75 mi / 120 km)

Depart Boston for Salem, famous for the witch trials of 1692. At the Salem Witch Museum, a multimedia presentation (available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian) recalls the witch-hunting hysteria. A pleasant, walkable city, Salem was a major American seaport in the grand age of the sailing. Today, the fine homes of sea captains still line the streets, and the Peabody Essex Museum holds important collections of maritime and American decorative arts, including the wonderful ornate figureheads that once graced the bows of tall clipper ships and fine samples of early New England homes. Nearby Cape Ann offers a wonderful scenic coastal drive through old fishing villages dating back to the 1600’s, including Gloucester, popularized by the 2000 film A Perfect Storm. If you’re brave enough, meet some of the locals, both past and present, on a ghost tour of Salem this evening

Day 4

SALEM » LEXINGTON » CONCORD » NEWPORT (125 mi / 200 km)

Depart Salem for historic Lexington and Concord, where the first shots of the American Revolution were fired. Afterwards, drive to Newport, an important colonial port city that evolved into a summer resort for America’s wealthiest families. The large mansions they called their “cottages” still line Ocean Drive and Bellevue Avenue, and many are open to visitors daily. A variety of American architecture dating back to the 1600’s can be seen in downtown Newport

Day 5	NEWPORT » CAPE COD (170 mi / 275 km)
Depart at your leisure for Cape Cod. With fishing villages, artists’ homes, and over 500 km of sandy beaches, Cape Cod is New England’s summertime playground. You can visit picturesque towns on your way to colorful Provincetown at the tip of Cape Cod, or spend some time relaxing among the sand dunes at Cape Cod National Seashore

Day 6	CAPE COD
A full day to relax and enjoy Cape Cod. Take a ferry from Hyannis for a day trip to the resort islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, or join a whale-watching cruise from Barnstable

Day 7

CAPE COD » PLYMOUTH » BOSTON (75 mi / 120 km)

Time in the morning for a visit to the beach or some antique shopping before departing for Plymouth, Massachusetts. The first successful English settlement in New England, Plymouth was founded in 1620 by the Puritan Pilgrims after their voyage on the Mayflower. It was in Plymouth that the first Thanksgiving holiday was celebrated, and Plimoth Plantation, a living history museum, recreates the life of the Pilgrims and their Wamponoag Indian neighbors. Return to Boston for a night on the town before your journey home.

Day 8	BOSTON
Make time this morning to revisit a favorite place, discover a new one, do some final shopping, or just relax before your departure flight