NEW YORK CITY - We do this cruise in the latter part of September for optimum fall foliage viewing. Some years are better than others for color but always we will see some places in most of the ports with brilliant oranges and reds. We depart from the New York cruise passenger terminal after having an opportunity to see the Big Apple on a pre-cruise package. If you decide to join us early our full day sightseeing tour of New York is not to be missed. Our local guide steps on the bus and directs us around the busy streets of the city. Along the way our stops are the LDS Manhattan Temple, St. Patrick's Cathedral, a breathtaking view from the "Top of the Rock" and the very unusual but satisfying "noshing" lunch. Noshing means we begin in the ethnic villages on foot and our guide buys various food items from the neighborhood stores. We have enjoyed kosher pickles from the Jewish sector, all kinds of Chinese food in Chinatown, and breads, meats and cheeses from Little Italy. It is a 2 hour lunch with some free time between courses for shopping and sightseeing in these amazing villages. After seeing most of the noteworthy sites in New York including Macy's, Central Park, Harlem and the Empire State Building we end the tour on a solemn note when we visit Ground Zero. The viewing platform from the World Trade Center gives us a bird's eye view into the crater and the current construction. From the wharf area near the World Trade Center we can catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Just take a minute and say hello because when we sail out of the harbor departing New York we will sail right past the Grand Ole Lady.
On the other side of the ship is the spectacular skyline of Manhattan making the departure from New York Harbor a great start to a wonderful trip.
BOSTON - The very next day we find ourselves in Boston for a nice US heritage tour. We don't get there until the early afternoon so we stay out late on this tour. As we leave the cruise terminal area we come quickly upon Old Ironsides, the USS Constitution lying in the waters and on display. In the interest of time we only stop for pictures and maybe a quick look in the gift shop, then we have to move on to visit the Old Town and the venerable Old North Church.
Just outside the church we can take a quick snapshot of Paul Revere on his horse, the statue that is. We enter the old church and listen as a local guide tells us all about the patriots of that era. Check out the private pews in the church, especially the one decorated as it may have been back in the day. We will continue to walk through the Old Town to our waiting bus on the other side. If you get a minute take a quick peek into the cemetery on your right just at the top of the hill. You'll see it from the sidewalk. You might enjoy some of the history found therein. As we leave Boston we drive past Harvard and numerous homes of famous authors. We will take a 15 minute picture stop at the LDS temple as we travel out to Concord and Lexington. The grounds are beautiful and very peaceful at the temple so it is a perfect stop from the busy afternoon we just completed. As we approach Lexington notice the beautiful homes and well kept yards along both sides of the street. We will stop at the village green in Lexington and learn from our guide the history of the fledgling US and the fight with the British for freedom. Back on April 19, 1775 the first blood was spilt in the conflict right here on the green. Eight Minutemen lost their lives in that battle and the monument you see in the park was built in their memory.
We continue on the freedom trail to Concord to see the Old North Bridge. The setting couldn't be more perfect as we walk from the parking area down a dirt path lined with trees surrounded by fields and forest. The bridge is small, as is the river it crosses but here the British troops who had just marched from Concord were beaten back by the ragtag US Minutemen, providing a source of pride for the undermanned and under equipped men.
We are here at the monument in the early evening just as a Minuteman statue is silhouetted in the gold setting sun. You can linger for a few minutes and contemplate the events that took place before loading back on the bus for the short ride to the Colonial Inn for dinner. Parts of the old inn date back to 1716 and a building on the grounds was used to store ammunition for the Minutemen in 1775. We will enjoy a splendid meal here at the inn and then take a few minutes after dinner to visit the bookstore in the lobby or the haunted room, number 24 on the second level, for some hair raising photos!
PORTLAND, MAINE
If you ever wanted a calendar quality picture to show off to friends and neighbors, this is the place to take it. After a brief visit to the city of Portland we will go to the coastal area to visit the Portland Head Lighthouse. The setting is magnificent as the lighthouse stands on a cliff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, protecting those sailors who enter the harbor from the treacherous rocks below. As you approach the lighthouse go to the right along the chain link fence to the little viewing point looking back at the structure. I don't care how poor your photography might be, from this vantage point this is a sure fire calendar picture, just point and click.
If you like to explore, there are several walking paths along the ridge, all offering various views of the lighthouse and the rugged shoreline and all offering spectacular scenery. We will spend an hour here before leaving and traveling to the cities of Kennebunk and Kennebunkport. As we approach the city the guide will point out the different architectural styles of the beautiful homes in the area. I am sure you will find one to suit your style. The two cities are separated by a river but in reality they are the same place. This village is the perfect New England coastal town and can be best viewed on foot. This is also our lunch stop where we will eat in one of the quaint restaurants along the coast. After lunch we'll take a few minutes to explore the town, shop and take pictures. The chocolate shop is a favorite of mine, stop by if you have time.
We will also ride out near President Bush's home on an island. The bus can't stop here but the driver will go slowly so we can get a few pictures. It will be on our right. If time allows, we stop at one of the finer beaches in the area so we can dip our toes in the ocean. Dipping is all we will want to do, the water here is very cold!
SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK
This is our first foreign port on the cruise and they make our arrival special for us by passing out roses, lapel pins and even providing live entertainment welcoming us to the city. We will be tempted to visit the large tented area housing the local merchants and their handicrafts but we need to exercise some self discipline and walk on by, this time. I promise we will be back with plenty of time to shop on the return. This tour revolves around the ocean and the amazing tidal change that takes place in the Bay of Fundy. The water level can change 50 feet in just a matter of hours. This surge can actually reverse the flow of rivers coming from the land to the ocean. We will view one such river and depending on the time table we may actually get to see the tide push the river backwards for almost 10 miles, or see the river emptying this large amount of water back to the ocean, or if we are there just right we get to see it doing both. There are viewing platforms over the river that let us see this phenomenon up close.
We will also explore the tidal change at the Bay of Fundy where we can actually walk on the ocean floor when the tide is out.
While at the Bay of Fundy we have a light lunch at a small cafe on the rocky beach. They have won several awards for the fish chowder they are about to serve so enjoy the moment. If you don't like fish try the chicken although I must tell you they haven't won any awards for that. Next stop is just down the road in a local village. If we position ourselves just right we can take a picture that includes two wooden covered bridges and a lighthouse. How's that for an interesting picture?
If the tide is out we will see several boats in the harbor resting on the ocean floor, that is how great the tidal change is here. Of course for the shoppers there are several vendors around with handicrafts at this very same spot. To conclude the tour we will visit the LDS Stake Center where the local Stake President gives a short PowerPoint lecture and explains how the church was started in this area and shares with us the stories of people from the past that made the sacrifices necessary to build the church in this area. It really is a nice way to end the tour.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
If you like fishing villages, UNESCO Heritage sites, and lighthouses - this is the tour to take. We will visit the city of Halifax and learn from our guide the history surrounding the founding of the city and view some of the more historic places. After seeing these highlights the bus takes us out of town to the fishing village of Mahone Bay where we will have free time to explore.
We get off at one end of the city and walk through the town to the bus waiting on the other side. There are a couple of churches worth looking into and many speciality shops along the way. One of the most famous is Amos Pewter and it is worth a stop even if we just look at the delicate artwork that is part of the collection. From here we will travel to the fishing village of Lunenburg, one the designated Heritage sites as they have tried to stay true to the original buildings and plans of the original city built in 1753. Our lunch is in a nice restaurant overlooking the bay and seems to be a place to linger in the warm sunshine glowing through the windows. We can take advantage of the free time to shop and visit the sites of this historic city or even the interesting fishing museum that is next to the restaurant (entrance fee required). Be sure and walk up to the wooden church and look inside. The interior is done in hardwoods and is very beautiful. Our journey now turns and heads back towards the city of Halifax and on the way we stop at what has to be one of the most beautiful lighthouses around. Peggy's Cove is the destination and the lighthouse is situated on some large granite boulders strewn up and down the coast. If the tide is in, waves will sometimes crash in close proximity to the lighthouse. It is always fun to walk in this wonderland and view the ocean perched high on a rock. Take your passport with you, so you can get a Peggy's Cove stamp put in it at the lighthouse. If the office is closed in the lighthouse just ask at the large souvenir shop, they'll have a desk where you can obtain the stamp. Don't miss Peggy's Cove, it will be one of the highlights of your trip.
