10 Day Cradle of Colonial America

Embark on a great American travel adventure as you journey back in time to our Colonial and Civil War history. Drift past the architectural splendor of old plantation homes set on the lovely shores of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. Marvel at restored historic districts with leisurely stops in beautiful Charleston and Wilmington. Immerse yourself in the famed Civil War sites that determined the fate of a nation. Optional excursions take you to some pivotal battlefields, including Gettysburg, Harper’s Ferry and Manassas.

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Day 1 - CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA
One of the four largest cities on the Eastern Seaboard, Charleston contains a wealth of 18th and 19th century mansions, as well as reminders of its part in American history as the site where the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. Board the Spirit of Nantucket and spend the night moored in its downtown harbor. D

Day 2 - CHARLESTON
A guided stroll through Charleston’s historic streets introduces you to the charms of the city. Choose to join an optional excursion that takes you to the botanical treasures of Middleton Place Plantation, or an optional historic tour featuring a stop at the Joseph Manigault House, built around 1803 and one of the finest Adamesque mansions in the country, and a drive through The Citadel, the military college of South Carolina.
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Day 3 - CRUISING THE ATLANTIC INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY
Enjoy the typical Low Country landscape of marshes filled with aquatic plants, many species of birds and a host of other wildlife.
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Day 4 - WILMINGTON, NORTH CAROLINA
This morning, make a turn up the Cape Fear River, sailing to the historic city of Wilmington. Having played parts in the American Revolution and serving as the main port of the Confederacy, this city is filled with history. Explore its historic district on a walking tour of the city and its picturesque riverfront. Discover Fort Fisher with its battle remnants, and Bellamy Mansion, a superb example of antebellum architecture built in 1859 by free and enslaved black artisans. BLD

Day 5 - MOREHEAD CITY (FOR BEAUFORT, NORTH CAROLINA)
Follow in the wake of notorious pirates — from Blackbeard to Anne Bonny — who terrorized the North Carolina coast in the 17th and 18th centuries as we cruise to Beaufort. In the morning, tour the town’s center with its buildings beautifully restored to their colonial perfection. At the North Carolina Maritime Museum take a look at the area’s fascinating seafaring history, including an exhibit about Blackbeard, whose flagship was discovered near Beaufort Inlet. Spend the afternoon cruising the Outer Banks past stretches of scenic waterway.
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Day 6 - YORKTOWN, VIRGINIA
Celebrate 300 years of American history in the historic triangle of Yorktown, Williamsburg and Jamestown. In Yorktown, experience village streets, 18th century houses and revolutionary battlefields that look much as they did in colonial days. Then choose to explore either Colonial Williamsburg, the country’s earliest political and cultural center, where more than 500 buildings have been restored to their 18th century glory, or Jamestown, where a colonial fort, a Pohowtan Indian village and majestic sailing ships have been faithfully re-created.
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Day 7 - ST. MARY’S CITY, MARYLAND
Historic St. Mary’s City is a museum of history and archaeology located in the beautiful tidewater of Chesapeake Bay. Explore a perfectly re-created plantation, inns and public buildings and one of the earliest English sailing ships. BLD

Day 8 - ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND
After cruising Chesapeake Bay, dock in Annapolis, first peacetime capital of the United States and an integral port for maritime trade. Travel through the bustling dock area to the Maryland State House, where the Continental Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris that officially ended the American Revolution. Explore other government buildings and formal gardens, and visit the U.S. Naval Academy. BLD

Day 9 - ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA (FOR HARPERS FERRY / MANASSAS)
The Spirit of Nantucket docks in Alexandria right next to Old Town. Those who wish, may join an optional excursion that visits two famous wartime sites. First, stop in Harpers Ferry, at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers where Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia meet. After lunch in Leesburg, continue to Manassas (Bull Run). This once-coveted railroad hub, setting for the war’s first major battle in 1861, is also where General Thomas Jackson earned the moniker “Stonewall.” BLD

Day 10 - ALEXANDRIA
After breakfast, disembark the Spirit of Nantucket and transfer to the airport for your return flight home.
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