Treasures of Cape Cod & the Islands
Experience Overview
This 8-Day guided tour blends history with glamour as you travel from Massachusetts to Rhode Island. Follow the red-brick Freedom Trail in Boston to see where the U.S. took shape. On the shores of Cape Cod Bay, see Plymouth, a coastal town famous for its rich history as the landing site of the Pilgrims in 1620; visit the living history museum at Plimoth Patuxet. At Martha's Vineyard, a driver will take you past the former home of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and to Oak Bluffs, an idyllic town with gingerbread-like cottages. Indulge in a sea-to-table feast filled with fish caught from local fishermen, fresh produce from nearby farms and delicacies picked by foragers. In the seaside city of Newport, board an 80-foot schooner to cruise the coastline, taking in views of historical buildings and the homes of the rich and famous — and learn about the area’s past as a pirates’ haven.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 3 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Dinner with Wine (DW)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Newport: A striking destination for design lovers and motoring enthusiasts alike, this museum reimagines the automobile as a canvas for innovation. Housed in a repurposed missile plant, its collection features over 100 cars, from the sculpted lines of mid-century Cadillacs to performance icons like the Ford GT, Porsche 911 and Corvette Stingray. Each car is selected for its impact on design, engineering and culture.
- Newport: Established in 1872, this is America’s oldest topiary garden, where horticultural craftsmanship meets imaginative design. Set on seven coastal acres, the collection includes more than 80 sculpted shrubs, from giraffes and elephants to intricate geometric forms. Maintained by generations of gardeners, it remains a living work of art on Rhode Island’s historic shoreline.
Authentic Dining
- Boston: At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a dinner with wine and an opportunity to mingle with fellow guests.
- Martha's Vineyard: Indulge in a locally sourced dinner in a private dining space in Bettini Restaurant.
- Newport: Meet your new friends in the evening for a seafood dinner with wine, where you can share the highlights of your trip while savoring a freshly prepared meal.
Insight Choice
- Newport: A striking destination for design lovers and motoring enthusiasts alike, this museum reimagines the automobile as a canvas for innovation. Housed in a repurposed missile plant, its collection features over 100 cars, from the sculpted lines of mid-century Cadillacs to performance icons like the Ford GT, Porsche 911 and Corvette Stingray. Each car is selected for its impact on design, engineering and culture.
- Newport: Established in 1872, this is America’s oldest topiary garden, where horticultural craftsmanship meets imaginative design. Set on seven coastal acres, the collection includes more than 80 sculpted shrubs, from giraffes and elephants to intricate geometric forms. Maintained by generations of gardeners, it remains a living work of art on Rhode Island’s historic shoreline.
Insight Experiences
- Newport: Meet your captain and jump onboard the Adirondack II, an 80-foot schooner sailing ship and cruise around the coastline. You’ll sail out and pass nearby islands, old historical buildings and homes of the rich and famous, as you learn about the region’s exciting history, including its pirate activity.
- Newport: Enjoy a visit to one of Newport's renowned landmarks, The Vanderbilt's Breakers Mansion.
Make Travel Matter
- Plymouth: Led by a Mayflower descendant, enjoy a guided visit to Pilgrim Hall Museum, the oldest continuously operating public museum in the United States. View original 17th-century artifacts and possessions carried on the Mayflower as you explore the personal stories behind early Plymouth Colony. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education through inclusive programming, extensive historical resources and its mission to deepen public understanding of America’s colonial beginnings. Your Experiences advances United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4: Quality Education
Top Rated Highlights
- Plymouth: Visit detailed reconstructions of a 1600s English village and a Wampanoag homesite. As you walk through the open-air exhibits, see timber-framed houses, dugout canoes and heritage crops, and observe traditional skills in practice. This museum offers a clear, research-based insight into the lives of early colonists and Indigenous communities in what was once Patuxet.
- Boston: Trace America’s path to independence with your Travel Director as you stroll past Boston’s iconic sites. See Boston Common, the oldest public park in the United States; the red-bricked Granary Burying Ground where Samuel Adams rests; and the evocative Old State House, the spark site of the Boston Massacre.
- Cape Cod: Experience the natural wonder and human history emphasizing the cultural themes represented on Cape Cod, including the First People--the Wampanoag; European settlement culture; fishing, life-saving, and lighthouses; communication technology of Cape Cod's National Seashore.
- Nantucket: Walk through historic downtown Nantucket and discover the unique history of the island. Journey through Nantucket’s past and hear about the rise and the fall of the whaling industry, the rise of tourism, and the impacts the island’s economy has had on social and racial development on Nantucket.
- Martha's Vineyard: After disembarking from your ferry ride, visit the port neighborhood of Oak Bluffs and be transported to a different era. Known for its rainbow-colored, gingerbread-like cottages with Gothic storybook decorations, high-peaked roofs, and dainty verandas. You’ll also find the oldest operating platform carousel in America here.
Trip Details
Product Code: 30380
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Family, 55+, Luxury
Tour Operator:
Insight Vacations (CA)
Supplier Code: 19.1097B
Starts: Boston (MA), United States Of America
Finishes: Boston (MA), United States Of America
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,432 ($804 /day)
Itinerary
Boston, often described as America’s most European city, is a captivating blend of history, art, and culinary delights. Upon your arrival at the Hyatt Regency, nestled in the heart of downtown, you're just moments from sights such as the historic Faneuil Hall and the fashionable Newbury Street. Take a leisurely stroll through the charming South End or along the picturesque Charles River Esplanade. This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow guests for a delightful dinner, marking the beginning of your unforgettable journey.
Accommodation: Hyatt Regency, Boston
Meals: Dinner
Trace the path of American independence along Boston’s Freedom Trail. See the nation’s oldest public park, Boston Common, the Old State House and the Granary Burying Ground, final resting place of revolutionaries. Then travel to Plymouth and step aboard the Mayflower II, a full-scale replica of the 1620 ship. At Pilgrim Hall Museum, explore an extraordinary collection of 17th-century artifacts with a Mayflower descendant on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, gaining powerful insight into the founding stories of early Plymouth Colony. Finally, walk through recreated homesites at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, where you’ll witness traditional practices and lifeways of both the Wampanoag and English communities.
Accommodation: Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa, Sandwich
Meals: Breakfast
The windswept shores and pristine landscapes of Cape Cod await as you embark on a journey through the heart of New England’s maritime history. The Cape’s rolling sand dunes, historic lighthouses, and timeless fishing villages set the stage for a day rich in cultural discovery. Explore Cape Cod’s National Seashore, where the stories of the Wampanoag people and European settlers converge against a backdrop of stunning coastal beauty. Enjoy a relaxed evening in the historic charm of Sandwich.
Accommodation: Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa, Sandwich
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Set sail from Hyannis to the island of Nantucket, where cobblestone streets and preserved historic homes tell the story of a bygone whaling era. Stroll through the charming downtown, learning how the rise and fall of the whaling industry shaped Nantucket’s social fabric and economy. As you uncover tales of seafaring adventures, witness the island’s transformation into a beloved destination for visitors from across the globe. After a day steeped in maritime history, return to Hyannis by ferry for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation: Dan'l Webster Inn and Spa, Sandwich
Meals: Breakfast
Board a morning ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, an island known for its pristine beaches, charming harbor towns, and storied visitors, including U.S. presidents. Explore Oak Bluffs with its gingerbread cottages, visit the Flying Horses Carousel and see State Beach, made famous by the film Jaws. Discover the island’s colorful past, from whaling to modern-day tourism, as you gain insights into the history of Edgartown harbor lighthouse. Later, enjoy island hospitality with seasonal offerings from local farms, fishing boats and foragers during a dining experience at Bettini, located in your elegant hotel.
Accommodation: Harbor View, Martha's Vineyard
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Arrive in Newport, where over 95 years of hospitality and charm characterize the historic Hotel Viking. Set in the heart of this coastal city, your boutique accommodation offers luxurious rooms and stunning views. Personalize your afternoon with Insight Choice. Opt to visit the Newport Car Museum, where over 100 vehicles highlight milestones in design and performance of cars throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Or explore Green Animals Topiary Garden at the Brayton House, the oldest of its kind in the United States, where sculpted shrubs have been meticulously shaped since 1872. This evening, take a leisurely stroll through Newport’s vibrant streets, where every corner reveals another piece of its storied past.
Accommodation: Viking, Newport
Meals: Breakfast
Your day begins with Newport’s famed Ten Mile Drive, a scenic route that hugs the coastline, showcasing public parks, historic landmarks and breathtaking ocean views. Afterwards, explore the grandeur of Newport’s "summer cottages" as you visit the Breakers, the grandest of them all. A symbol of the Vanderbilt family’s wealth and prominence, this opulent mansion offers a glimpse into the lavish lifestyle of America’s Gilded Age elite. Cap off the day with a sunset sail aboard the Adirondack II, gliding along Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay.
Accommodation: Viking, Newport
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
As your tour comes to a close, bid farewell to your fellow travelers and transfer to Logan International Airport for your onward journey. With memories of Boston’s historic charm, the beauty of Cape Cod, and the elegance of Newport, you leave with a deeper appreciation for this unique corner of New England.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
Insight Vacations (CA)
Part of The Travel Company (TTC) family of brands, Insight Vacations began operations in 1978 and is based in Cypress, CA. Journeys are featured to destinations, such as the U.S. and Canada, Europe, Latin America, North Africa, Asia, the UK and Ireland. The company offers are a variety of tours under the classifications of Regional Journeys, Country Roads, Discovery Journeys, Easy Pace trips, and Special Interest tours. Insight is the ideal name for the tour operator, as the journeys provided by Insight Vacations allow travelers to gain further insight into whatever destination they wish to explore. For example, Discovery Journeys are the ideal choice for first-time visitors to Europe. Itineraries include Dine-at-Home or Farm-to-Table experiences so travelers can learn more about how locals live and dine. Regional Journeys allow trip-goers to see a specific location in Europe that they have always wanted to see – Poland, Switzerland, Italy, etc. The carefully planned trips enable customers to immerse themselves in one specific region or country and to become acquainted with its culture, traditions, and people. For anyone seeking travel off the beaten track, Insight Vacations offers Country Roads – trips that lead travelers off the well-tread tourist trail to explore hidden gems where visitors can savor the local produce with Farm-to-Table dining. Some trips are offered under the Easy Pace travel style – the ideal trip choice for trip-goers who wish to slow their pace during their vacation. During these tours, vacationers stay at least 3 nights at each destination, giving them some additional time to explore a place and enjoy it. Regardless of the travel style, many of the vacations offered by Insight Vacations begin with Relaxed Starts – giving travelers time to sleep in a little, spend more time at breakfast, or explore an area on their own. The tour company prides itself on providing business class tours that features luxury coaches with 40 seats. While most coach touring operators provide vehicles with 53 seats, Insight Vacations has re-configured its motor coaches to hold up to 40 guests. This gives passengers extra leg room while traveling and offers them more space and privacy.
In Business Since 1978
Reviews
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Our tour guide was excellent. Tour director made sure everyone was looked after and he really listened to us. He was very knowledgeable about the area. One thing I did learn is to read reviews with an open mind. Before leaving I read some reviews which were truly terrible and I approached the trip with some trepidation. I was pleasantly surprised. All the dinners were good and the hotel in Sandwich did the best they could considering they had had a kitchen fire and the food needed to be brought in. The Nantucket dinner was beautifully presented and excellent. Overall, I thought the itinerary was very interesting . I would suggest lengthening the holiday to increase time spent in Boston. I would also skip the glass blowing in Sandwich. We enjoyed the free time we had. The towns were very quaint and fun to explore. Considering the price of the Hyatt in Boston, the hotel room was a bit shabby. We stayed in a nearby boutique hotel for three days prior to the tour which was half the price and really lovely with excellent service . The hotel in Nantucket was beautiful and it was right on the coast. Visiting the Breakers was fabulous as was the visit to the Plymouth area with the Settlers’ village and indigenous settlement.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Victoria M. - Traveled, October 2024
The sites visited were wonderful, as well as the local guides. The hotels and dinners were excellent. Our tour guide was wonderful!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
It was a wonderful itinerary and Insight handled all the logistics well throughout the vacation. Our tour director was personal and full of information while we were traveling on the bud. driver was an exceptiona throughout the trip driving thru the narrow streets of New England roads.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
It's a really good itinerary for touring the Cape. Knowledgable tour director including a few local guides. Jam packed with interesting places. Only one day was scheduled too tight with not enough time to get to Newport RI in time to eat dinner at the hotel. The hotels selected were ok, only two were really first rate.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Kendall V. - Traveled, October 2024
Insights provides average service for high-end tours. Emails are too lengthy and repetitive. They need to be better organized and shorter. Insights should send out emails at least one week in advance with full itinerary. And not wait till the last minute. Destinations are excellent. We were very fortunate to have good weather at all destinations. Hotels are good, but not superior. There are few hotels in the area for alternatives. The Hyatt hotel in Boston is unacceptable. Although the buffet was good, the location is very difficult and the hotel itself is old and CD. There are many other hotels from which to choose and insights should choose one of them instead of the Hyatt.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Our guide was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic even though we know she’s seen the sites many times. She encouraged everyone to enjoy each location and learn the historical significance of each. She made travel time fun with trivia, music and games. On Day 1, she knew everyone’s name which was impressive. We loved not having to arrange our transportation, admission or ticket fees, being able to see local areas of interest we would never have found on our own. We chose this itinerary as it hit all the places we wanted to see. We can now choose what we’d like to see more in-depth later.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2024
Maryanne J. - Traveled, November 2024
Excellent service. Fun trip. Good tour of the New England area and history.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2024
Margaret - Traveled, November 2024
Excellent! You fit a lot in but there is a nice balance of riding the bus and walking.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2024
Thomas B. - Traveled, November 2024
Our guide, Kim Chaulk, was great; knowledgeable, likable and fun. We really enjoyed her. She worked very hard and did a lot of extra things that made the trip more fun. We recommend her highly. The driver and coach were also top drawer. I thought the rooms could have been a little better in a couple locations but they were adequate.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, November 2024
Excellent. Very good loved.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 12/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Very helpful at all tomed. Loved the islands!!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Robert B. - Traveled, October 2024
Excellent. Great Trip!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
George S. - Traveled, October 2024
Best customer service I’ve been exposed to and I was in the customer service business for thirty years. It is everything it describes in the brochure and much more. Hotels where great. Both the travel director and the bus driver were the absolute best we have ever encountered in all our tours. They were the best informed, most enthusiastic and entertaining pair we have had the pleasure of being around. The tour director went out of his way to make our tour memorable and made us feel like family. He even sent us a slideshow of everything we saw on the tour afterwards—wow!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Christopher M. - Traveled, July 2024
Terrible. Left on our own way to often and tour director was not very knowledgeable of the area.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/01/2024
Daniel D. - Traveled, October 2024
There was a lot of things that were planned, and free time when you wanted it.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Debra A. - Traveled, October 2024
Very nice tour that takes you to places you might not have seen!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Belinda C. - Traveled, October 2024
This was my first insight tour. I really enjoyed the hotels and meals provided. Our tour guide was most knowledgeable. She had such a cheerful spirit everyday. This was a fun trip. There is a nice balance of time for sightseeing and shopping, meandering. It was an enjoyable trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Anonymous - Traveled, October 2024
Great travel director and great driver. Reasonable pace, good hotels, places of interest.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
Thomas D. - Traveled, October 2024
Exceptional Tour Director and Bus driver Superb information , videos throughout the tour. Good hotels and meals.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 11/01/2024
George T. - Traveled, July 2024
Hotel in Sandwich was poor and not up to standards. VERY DISSAPOINTED in not getting to Nantucket, The day was a looser. Not your fault but we all should get a refund. I certainly expect one. The driver and guide were good. Some hotels are not up to standards ie Sandwich Very disappointed Ferry was down and did not get to Nantucket . The day was a disaster even though they tried. I am due a refund because the tour was one day less than indicated. Not your fault but we suffered and your costs were less Also suggest 2 nights on Martha's Vineyard. The tour of Boston Harbour should be dropped.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 08/01/2024
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