Day One - Wednesday, June 17: Arrival Norfolk, VA (D)
Today we will arrive in Norfolk, VA for a 4-night stay. So, unpack, relax and prepare for a great celebration of America's 250th anniversary with the Parade of Sail to see the visiting Tall Ships. Dinner is included this evening.
Day Two - Thursday, June 18: Norfolk and VA Beach by Land (B, D, E)
Today we will enjoy the day touring the city of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. While we will see the harborfront, we will focus on the rest of the city as we will be in the harbor area tomorrow for Harborfest. Today, we will visit The MacArthur Memorial. This is a museum and research center dedicated to preserving and presenting the story of the life of General of the Army Douglas MacArthur. No trip to Norfolk is complete without a visit to Doumars famous ice cream shop (home of the original waffle cone), where we will enjoy a frozen treat. This afternoon, we will visit The Military Aviation Museum. It is home to one of the largest private collections of WWI and WWII era military aircraft in the world. Each plane beautifully restored using original parts whenever possible. These planes are sitting and hanging in several hangars that are so clean you can eat off the floor! We will then drive the shoreline of Virginia Beach to First Landing State Park and the Cape Henry Lighthouses. Here is where English first landed in the New World in 1607. And the light house is the 4th oldest in the US originally commissioned in 1792 by George Washington. From here, we have a fun evening planned at the famous Mermaid Winery with a wine tasting, pairing with a very special dinner. The Mermaid is a mythical source of beauty that represents their vision to produce stunning wines. Their limited production wines are focused on articulating the characteristics of each varietal. We will enjoy their wine bar and a special customized private dinner! Then it's back on the coach for the short drive back to our hotel.
Day Three - Friday, June 19: Parade of Sail (Tall Ships) and Norfolk by Sea (B, D)
CONGRATULATIONS AMERICA!! Today we celebrate America's 250th Anniversary with a very special morning. Following breakfast this morning, we will head to Fort Monroe, where we have reserved stadium style seating overlooking where the Chesapeake Bay meets the James and Elizabeth Rivers. It is at this junction that the Tall Ships will be passing to celebrate America. We will watch this Parade of Sail before heading into Norfolk to enjoy the Norfolk Harborfest and see some of the same ships moored in the harbor. Our day will continue with tours by land and sea as we visit the Nauticus and Battleship Wisconsin. Nauticus is the science center and museum known as the National Maritime Center, which features one of the largest battleships in the US - Wisconsin. We will have a tour of the museum and the battleship. Then we will enjoy a cruise around the Naval Base and see these magnificent Naval ships from the sea with a narrated tour. This evening dinner is included.
Day Four - Saturday, June 20: Outer Banks Wild Horses (B, D)
Following breakfast this morning we will drive south out of Virginia Beach and even out of Virginia to the incredible Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is America's First Beach. The site of our country's first National Seashore and the place where the English first tried to settle in the New World at Roanoke Island. Here is the story of the “Lost Colony” and their plight to set up the first attempt of English civilization in the New World. Our first visit will be to the Wright Brother National Memorial, where Orville and Wilbur Wright broke our bond with the earth in 1903. Listen to an interpretive talk about the first flight from a park ranger, see the reconstructed campsites, view the markers that indicate where the Flyer landed, and walk up the monument itself.
This afternoon we will travel to the northern part of the Outer Banks to the beachside town of Corolla. Here amongst the sand dunes the Wild Horses roam with complete protection from man and all predators. We will take open air safari style trucks with 15 guests each and drive around the dunes and along the shore to see them in their natural habitat. This is one of those wonderful surprises that will never be forgotten. We will enjoy Dinner before returning to Norfolk.
Day Five - Sunday, June 21: Return home (B)
What a way to Celebrate America's 250th Anniversary! We will have a nice safe return trip home today.