Cape Cod and the Islands With Whale & Seal Cruise

DAY 1

Step on board your Wolf's coach for travel north to Cape Cod, Massachusetts with rest and meal stops enroute. Early evening, you arrive for a check-in at the Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Cape Cod Hyannis (508-771-6100) for a delightful four-night stay. The hotel features an indoor heated pool, fitness center, business center, convenience shop and complimentary Wi-Fi access. Spacious guest rooms offer visitors modern conveniences including a mini refrigerator, microwave, coffee/tea maker and supplies, hairdryer, flat screen LCD TV and iron/ironing board. Dinner is included tonight with the remainder of the evening to relax and unwind.

DAY 2

Start your day with an extended continental breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast, board your coach and welcome your local guide for a full day of touring. Your travels begin on historic Route 6A, the Old King's Highway, a scenic byway winding through centuries of Cape Cod history. It winds past numerous historic structures which characterize its early development. View a windmill and a Cape Cod lighthouse prior to a short stop at the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitors Center. Sand dunes and the ocean surround you as you approach "Land's End" - Provincetown. This is 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. You will have some free time to enjoy lunch on your own in Provincetown and browse the shops and galleries that make this artists/fishermen village so unique. This afternoon, board an excursion vessel for an amazing experience of Whale Watching. You cruise into the natural habitat of a diverse marine environment including birds that migrate here from all over the Atlantic, and fish, which use these shallow waters to feed. The onboard naturalist introduces you to everything you may see and will answer questions about whales, birds, fish and lighthouses. OR You may choose to stay on dry land and take a narrated Dune Tour. Ride along the shoreline of the Cape as your guide highlights points of interest including the "dune shacks", where famous artists and writers became inspired to create their art. Dinner tonight is on your own and your guide will offer you some suggestions.

DAY 3

Following your extended continental breakfast included at the hotel, you board the motorcoach with your local guide who will offer narration as you travel to the "south side" of the Cape enroute to the seaside village of Chatham for an unforgettable outdoor adventure on 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 1 ½ hour excursion has plenty of photo opportunities of the scenic harbor and Grey Seals swimming, sunning and entertaining you. Once back on shore, you depart for admission included at the Marconi-RCA Wireless Museum. 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 Titanic passengers with self-exploration of the museum. A boxed lunch will be provided today. This afternoon, you continue your traveling tour of the area with a view of 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 Chatham Break and the dramatic changes to the shoreline that have occurred, thanks to Mother Nature. Next, admission is included in the visit to 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. After your "enlightening" experience, you will return to the hotel for the remainder of the night and dinner on your own and at your expense. Your guide will offer suggestions in the local area.

DAY 4

Wake to an extended continental breakfast included at your hotel this morning before you make your way to the Hy-Line Docks for ticketing and boarding of your ferry to either Martha's Vineyard OR Nantucket. If choosing Martha's Vineyard, upon arrival you will board a local bus for a Sightseeing Tour. Learn about the history and lifestyles of the islanders as you pass through Vineyard Haven. Enjoy some free time for lunch and shopping in the historic village of Edgartown. Complete your trip today on the Island in Oak Bluffs, where you may choose to stroll through "Cottage City" with its brightly painted cottages with decorative "gingerbread" trim. If you choose to visit Nantucket Island, your ferry transports you to the stunning island where weathered wharves are linked by cobblestone streets. Upon arrival, you will have some free time for lunch and shopping on your own. There are restaurants, galleries, shops and museums that are within walking distance of the dock. Before departing Nantucket Island, you will enjoy a narrated driving tour. The island is a beautiful oasis of over 40% conservation land with plentiful beaches. Please remember to wear comfortable walking shoes for the cobblestone streets and brick sidewalks that line Nantucket's downtown area. Following your visit to either Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket Island, you return by ferry to the mainland for dinner included with a Lobster choice, alternate choices will be available for any "landlubbers" not wishing to eat shellfish. You then return to the hotel for the night.

DAY 5

Awake to your last morning at the hotel and enjoy an extended continental breakfast included prior to check out and departure. You travel home to Pennsylvania with some delightful memories of your trip to Cape Cod. Meal and rest stops will be made enroute home.

**

***ALL WOLF'S TOURS - TIMES AND ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

B=Breakfast, BL=Boxed Lunch, D=Dinner