Summertime in Cape Cod & Maine

Day 1

Day 1: Tuesday, July 30, 2024
It’s time to enjoy some late summertime fun in Cape Cod and some great lobster bakes in Maine! Be greeted by a friendly Trailways tour host and driver as you board one of our luxury motorcoaches and settle in as we make our way to our end destination today, the Essenhaus Inn in Middlebury, Indiana. Many of you already know that the Essenhaus is a favorite overnight stop of ours, and for those who have not yet gotten to stay here, well you will soon see for yourself why. We will make our usual rest & refresh breaks every 2 ½ hours or so along the way so that you can stretch your legs. Once we are checked in this evening, we will have a group dinner at the Das Dutchman, located right next door to the Inn. Here you will be treated to a fabulous meal representing Indiana’s Amish country. It is also Indiana’s largest restaurant and is very known for its pies. After dinner you may have a bit of time to check out the other buildings and shops on the Essenhaus Complex before retiring for the night.

Day 2

Day 2: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Rise and shine, it’s time for breakfast and to have your luggage set out for pick up this morning before we check out. Although you will have already had breakfast, we cannot be in this area without making a quick stop at the Rise‘n Roll Bakery, another Trailways Travelers favorite. Grab a couple of items for later today or tomorrow and perhaps a jar or two of jam or pie fillings. A young Amish couple began baking recipes handed down in the woman’s family for generations. They sold baked goods from their front porch. Over the years, they worked on perfecting the recipes, until in 2004 they opened the first Rise’n Roll Bakery in Middlebury, Indiana and we are sure glad they did! They are also known for their Cinnamon Caramel Doughnut, a yeast-raised donut, fried, dipped in caramel, and sprinkled (heavily) with cinnamon-powdered sugar. Yum, yum!
We will make our normal rest & refresh breaks, plus a lunch and dinner break as usual on our way to our end overnight destination of Batavia, New York. Tonight we stay at the Hotel at Batavia Downs once more, and if so, perhaps you will want to try your hand down on the casino floor with the Free Play dollars they will provide each of you.

Day 3

Day 3: Thursday, August 1, 2024
Enjoy breakfast before we check out and depart this morning but do know that your lunch and dinner today will also be included so you may want to pace yourself. We head out to make our way to the Berkshires, Massachusetts. We will arrive just in time for a private lunch on the Veranda at The Mount, the Edith Wharton Estate. The Mount is a turn of the century home designed and built by Edith Wharton in 1902. In 1921, she became the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction, for her novel The Age of Innocence. Wharton drew upon her insider’s knowledge of the upper-class New York “aristocracy” to realistically portray the lives and morals of the Gilded Age. Today a National Historic Landmark, The Mount is a cultural center that celebrates the intellectual, artistic and humanitarian legacy of Edith Wharton.
We continue on our way to overnight at a country lodge in historic Sturbridge, Massachusetts. The Publick House was established on the Sturbridge Common in 1771 by Colonel Ebenezer Crafts, who led the local militia against the British at the Battle of Lexington and Concord when the Revolutionary War began. Our accommodations should be in the Tillyer House. This evening, we gather together for an included group dinner at the historic inn.

Day 4

Day 4: Friday, August 2, 2024
Breakfast is included this morning at the inn before we depart to make our way to Cape Cod and Sandwich – the oldest town on Cape Cod. A group of settlers from Saugus, Massachusetts colonized Sandwich in 1637 with the permission of the Plymouth Colony. It was named for the seaport of Sandwich, Kent in England and was incorporated in 1639 making it the oldest town on Cape Cod together with Yarmouth, Massachusetts. You will have time for lunch, on your own, here in Sandwich before meeting up with a local tour guide and moving on.
Our guide will provide you with plenty of information and history about Cape Cod as we make our way to Hyannis, the gateway to the Cape Cod area. The town is best known as the presidential getaway for the Kennedy clan who spent any available downtime at the family compound in Hyannis Port. Today you will visit the John F. Kennedy Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, and get a view of St. Francis Xavier Church, the summer parish of the Kennedy family as well as the Kennedy Family Compound.
It is then off to Yarmouth and a visit to the Whydah Pirate Museum. The museum is home to thousands of items from the Whydah and houses the largest collection of pirate artifacts recovered from a single shipwreck anywhere in the world. The Whydah was a fully rigged galley ship built by the British. During one of its voyages in 1717, it was captured by the famed pirate Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy. During an infamous storm off the coast of Cape Cod, the Whydah sank, laying its treasure just 500 feet off the shore.
In 1984 underwater explorer and Massachusetts native, Barry Clifford, found the ship’s remains and the Whydah became the first authenticated pirate shipwreck in North America. In 1988 it was ruled that 100% of the Whydah rightfully belonged to Clifford, and he has kept The Whydah Collection intact without selling a single piece of the more than 200,000 recovered artifacts, which includes tens of thousands of coins, more than 60 cannon, and the “everyday” objects used by the crew. It is now on display for you to be able to see and touch the world’s only authenticated pirate treasure.
We say goodbye to our guide as we check into the Fairfield Inn Hyannis for the next three nights. A group dinner is included this evening where you can rehash everything you got to see and do today.

Day 5

Day 5: Saturday, August 3, 2024
Enjoy an extended continental breakfast this morning at the hotel before we meet up with our local guide for a full day of Cape Cod touring. We travel historic Route 6A, known as the Old King’s Highway, a scenic byway winding through centuries of Cape Cod history. It winds past hundreds of historic structures which characterize its early development. Today you will view a Windmill, a Cape Cod Lighthouse and visit the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor’s Center. If you are a fan of the Cape Cod brand of chips you just may recognize this lighthouse, the Nauset, which overlooks the National Seashore.
Sand dunes and the ocean surround you as you approach “Lands End” – Provincetown. We are now at the extreme tip of Cape Cod. Formerly known as the “Province Lands,” the pilgrims landed here first before they decided to settle across the Bay in Plymouth. While here you will have some time to enjoy the wonderful variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries that make this artists and fishermen village so unique.
You cannot be in Cape Cod and not go out on a whale-watching cruise! Board an excursion vessel this afternoon for an amazing 3-hour cruise into the natural habitat of a diverse marine environment. You will also see many birds that migrate here fron all over the Atlantic and fish in these shallow waters for food. An onboard naturalist will introduce you to everything you see and will answer any of your questions about the whales, birds, fish and lighthouses. Try to spot the Humpback, Minke, and Fin whales going about their daily business. It is truly amazing to see the sheer size of them, but yet also their gracefulness. But, if staying on land is more your comfort level then you may take a one-hour Dune Tour riding along the shoreline of the protected lands of the Cape Cod National Seashore. These tours are generally taken in Land Rovers with a guide that will point out the “dune shacks” where famous artists and writers become inspired to create their works.
After such a full day of touring and being on the water or beach we are sure you are ready for a fabulous, included meal this evening with all of your Trailways Traveler friends. We return to the hotel for the remainder of the evening and bid farewell to our guide.

Day 6

Day 6: Sunday, August 4, 2024
Breakfast is awaiting you once more at the hotel this morning before meeting up with our local guide and heading out for another day of adventure. Today we will be going to the Hy-Line Docks to grab our tickets and board the ferry to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Comprised of 6 towns, Martha’s Vineyard is renowned for its stunning scenery – with rolling hills, wildflower fields, and miles of pristine coastline. After our leisurely ferry ride (takes about an hour) we will board a local bus to set out on a Sightseeing Tour. Learn about the history and lifestyles of the islanders as you pass through Vineyard Haven, an affluent neighborhood in Tisbury.
There will be free time for lunch and shopping in the historic whaling town of Edgartown before we complete our day on the Island in Oak Bluffs. Be sure to stroll through “Cottage City” with its brightly painted Victorian cottages with their decorative “gingerbread” trim before we depart the island on the ferry to return to the mainland.
Our guide will be able to offer suggestions for this evening’s dinner that will be on your own so that you can sample the local fare of your choice and have some time for exploration on your own.

Day 7

Day 7: Monday, August 5, 2024
Have breakfast at the hotel before we check out and bid farewell to Cape Cod with sand in your shoes, seashells in your pockets and many fond memories. It is time to move on to “Vacationland” which has been the slogan on Maine license plates since 1936 and serves to promote the state’s reputation as the premier vacation destination.
Fun Maine Facts:
Maine is the only state in the US with one syllable.
Maine is the only state in the US that only borders one other state.
Maine produces 90% of US toothpicks.
Maine is almost as big as the other five New England states combined.
On our way to Maine, we stop in Portsmouth, New Hampshire for a self-guided tour of one of our country’s oldest waterfront neighborhoods and the Strawbery Banke Museum. Take time to explore this 10-acre living history museum that has preserved the lifestyles and traditions of four centuries of New Englanders. See 40 buildings – most on their original sites – spanning from the late 1600s to the mid 1950s. From the spare storefronts of colonial merchants to the elegant Georgian-style mansion of Governor Goodwin, and from the humble dwellings of early Jewish immigrants to the penny candy counter of the WWII-era Abbott Store, Strawbery Banke tells the stories of the neighborhood over time.
While in Portsmouth, we will take some time to do some shopping and have lunch, on your own, in the historic waterfront section of town.
As we continue our way, we make a stop at the flagship store of Stonewall Kitchen for Maine-made specialty jams, vinegars, and other products. Founded in 1991 by partners Jonathan King and Jim Stott, the two established themselves selling jams and jellies at local farmers’ markets, fairs and festivals beginning in Portsmouth with their flavorful line of distinctive and high-quality food items. Stonewall Kitchen Headquarters and Company Store has become one of Maine’s largest tourist destinations welcoming over 500,000 visitors each year. When asked where the name came from, they responded “The name Stonewall Kitchen came from looking out our kitchen window at an old stone wall.” Be sure to pick up a few of their products to take home either for yourself or gifts for others.

We will be greeted with a Welcome Reception upon our arrival at Meadowmere Resort I Ogunquit, Maine. This resort has also become known as a ‘favorite’ of our Trailways Travelers, and we are sure you will soon learn why and wholeheartedly agree. It is located within a 10-minute walk to the shops in Ogunquit Village or the Marginal Way – a paved, shoreline pathway along the rocky coastline. Take some time to freshen up before we depart once more. We make a stop at Maine’s southernmost lighthouse in Cape Neddick at Nubble Lighthouse for a photo opportunity and to just soak in the beauty. Then it is time to grab and put on your very own souvenir Maine Lobster Hat for an authentic Lobster Bake Dinner! Easily the most recognizable and popular dish in Maine must be boiled lobster. People come to Maine year-round to feast on lobsters. Maine fishermen catch millions of pounds of lobsters every year from the Gulf of Maine and most people agree that lobster is some of the best seafood they’ve ever eaten. You can decide for yourself tonight!
After, we depart and make our way back to the Resort for the remainder of the evening.

Day 8

Day 8: Tuesday, August 6, 2024
Have an included breakfast at the next-door restaurant this morning before we check out and depart to travel north to meet our local guide for a narrated tour of Portland, Maine’s largest “city-by-the-sea.”
See Portland’s historic waterfront district and drive by the boyhood home of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the Victoria Mansion, and other sea captain’s mansions. Learn about Portland’s famous citizens and its maritime history as you pass by views of old forts, the working waterfront and the islands dotting Casco Bay. We will make a stop at nearby Portland Head Lighthouse for a photo opportunity of this classic Maine lighthouse.
We get to have some time in Portland’s historic waterfront district, known as the Old Port, for lunch, on our own, and some time to browse through the quaint shops selling crafts, antiques, and Maine-made products. Then it is time to sit back and relax for our drive along the coast “Downeast” to the Bar Harbor area. You’ll see quiet little protected harbors filled with working lobster boats along the way. Ospreys and Bald Eagles nest high in the spruces along the rugged shores, deer browse the open fields, moose forage the wetlands, and harbor seals make their annual pilgrimage to quiet coves. Cross the causeway onto Mt. Desert Island, the gateway to Acadia National Park.
We check in for a 2-night stay at our waterfront resort, the Atlantic Oceanside Resort. You’ll find amazing views at this full-service resort on the shore with balcony rooms overlooking Frenchman’s Bay. The hotel features pools and a jacuzzi, beautiful grounds, a restaurant and lounge. Freshen up before an included dinner at the resort this evening. After dinner, you may wish to have a drink at the lounge or do a little exploration before retiring for the night.

Day 9

Day 9: Wednesday, August 7, 2024
Fill up on breakfast at the resort this morning before we head out for a scenic Bar Harbor Nature Cruise. Today we will be on a 2-hour narrated cruise on Frenchman’s Bay where you will search for eagles, porpoises, seals and other marine mammals and birds. We will also pass by Egg Rock Lighthouse and see the beautiful coastline views of Acadia National Park.
We return to shore in Bar Harbor for some free time and to have lunch, on our own. There are many shops, boutiques and numerous restaurants that are centrally located along the waterfront.
This afternoon we will meet up with our local guide for a tour of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Acadia is the first national park founded east of the Mississippi River. We will see nine mountains over 1000 feet high, stone bridges, lakes, ponds, trails and carriage roads. We will travel the entire Park Loop Road with stops at Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, and Sier De Mont Springs Wild Gardens of Acadia as well as learn about the rich and famous visitors who built summer cottages in Bar Harbor.
It’s time to break out your souvenir Lobster Hat once more as we are headed for a traditional Maine Lobster Bake Dinner with all the fixin’s tonight in a beautiful waterfront venue. Be sure to bring your appetite for this feast! Return back to the hotel this evening to relax as you wish before retiring for the night.

Day 10

Day 10: Thursday, August 8, 2024
Enjoy breakfast at the resort this morning before packing up to begin our return back to the Midwest. Say farewell to beautiful Maine, but not before traveling through mid-coastal Maine where you want to have your camera ready for a photo stop atop Mt. Battie within the beautiful Camden Hills State Park. Here you will see sweeping views of Penobscot Bay and the surrounding islands.
We continue to Freeport, Maine, home to the L. L. Bean flagship store and a myriad of outlet shops and restaurants. Enjoy some time to shop but be sure to make time to get some lunch before departing. Our journey continues to West Brookfield, Massachusetts for a fantastic dinner at Salem Cross Inn, a historic inn built in 1705. Enjoy their Yankee hospitality amid fieldstone fireplaces, chestnut ceiling beams and extensive American antique furnishings. We will be treated to a hearth-cooked meal with a seasonal homemade dessert. We continue on to stay once more at The Publick House, the country lodge in Sturbridge that we rested at on the way out.

Day 11

Day 11: Friday, August 9, 2024
Start your day off with breakfast at the hotel before departing this morning. We are making our way to Niagara Falls – always a Trailways Traveler favorite destination as it is on many travelers’ bucket list. Did you know that Niagara Falls is made up of three different waterfalls (American Falls, Horseshoe Falls – aka Canadian Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls) and are collectively called Niagara Falls? Niagara Falls was formed from the same glacial-melt activity that formed the Great Lakes at the end of the last Ice Age, some 12,000 years ago. While Niagara Falls pales in height in comparison to others, what it lacks in vertical size it makes up for in horizontal size as well as in volume. More than 700,000 gallons of water per second pour over Niagara Falls at about 25 miles per hour. That makes Niagara Falls the largest in North America by volume and by width.
We overnight in Niagara Falls, at the Hyatt Place Nigara Falls, located within walking distance to the entrance of Niagara Falls State Park. This will allow you to come and go as you please. You can also view the fireworks from the hotel this evening too. Perhaps you’d like to ride the Maid of the Mist, check out the Observation Tower, perhaps visit Goat Island in Niagara Falls State Park; you’ve plenty of time to do what you wish, when you wish. But do be sure to go back to see the Falls lit at night and to view the fireworks. NOTE: If you have a valid Passport, you may wish to bring it along as you can walk across the bridge to the Canadian side for the view from there as well.

Day 12

Day 12: Saturday, August 10, 2024
Rise and shine – it’s time to head out this morning after having breakfast at the hotel. We are headed back to the Essenhaus today for one more overnight stay before returning home. Today we will take rest & refresh breaks as needed as well as a stop for lunch, on your own. Take time to enjoy the Essenhaus campus this evening or perhaps play some cards or board games in the open community area and to have dinner on your own.

Day 13

Day 13: Sunday, August 11, 2024
We board the motorcoach after having breakfast and checking out this morning for the remaining leg of our tour returning you back to your departure destination. Hopefully you will have made some wonderful memories of all you got to see and do while in Cape Cod and Maine. From viewing and touching authentic pirate treasure and having a drink at the Sam Adams Brewery, to visiting Martha’s Vineyard, seeing the graceful whales, taking in the beauty of the many lighthouses and the fabulous meals we enjoyed, this was a tour that had so many highlights it will be hard to pick your favorite! But best of all, we are sure you will have made some wonderful new friendships along the way.