John Fitzgerald “Jack” Kennedy (JFK) was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. At age 43, he was the youngest person and the first Roman Catholic ever elected President. JFK’s presidency was very active & addressed many major issues of the day – the Cuban Missile Crisis, Vietnam, Latin America and the spread of Communism, Civil Rights, and he is credited with establishing the Space Program and the Peace Corps.
Many United States Presidents have vacationed on Martha’s Vineyard dating back to President Ulysses S. Grant in 1874 to most recently President Barack Obama. Of all the Presidents who have visited the Vineyard over the years, none has been as closely connected as JFK. JFK and his siblings learned to sail on Nantucket Sound, and the Vineyard was a frequent destination. He came here as a boy, as a young man, when he was a congressman and a senator. His family came as well, to sail, to swim, to water-ski, to hobnob, and on occasion to attend church at St. Elizabeth’s Edgartown. It was here, at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport in 1999 where John Jr.’s plane crashed, which killed him, his wife and his sister in law. Their ashes were scattered on the waters off the island. In 1978 Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought 366 acres of windswept dune, freshwater ponds and coastal heath in Aquinnah. She maintained the home here until her death in 1994. More recently their daughter, Caroline, has lived there. In 2006, she received approval for a subdivision of it, so future generations of the family might maintain their connection to this place.
Day 1 – Home to Cape Cod
A morning flight takes us from Minnesota to Massachusetts, the “Bay State.” Our motorcoach and local guide will meet us at Logan Airport for a short drive into Boston, one of the oldest cities in the United States. As the largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial “Capital of New England” for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. First stop today will be the John F. Kennedy Library & Museum. Relive the powerful story of the Kennedy years. We will enter the re-created world of the Kennedy Presidency for a “first hand” experience of John F. Kennedy’s life, legacy, and leadership plus special Centenary Anniversary exhibits. Then we will travel south to the sandy shores of Cape Cod. R&J has chosen a wonderful beach front resort for our 5 night stay on the Cape! Upon check in enjoy a reception held in our honor! Dinner tonight will be a fabulous lobster dinner served at the resort!
Included Meals: Dinner
Hotel: Red Jacket Beach Resort (5 Nights!)
Day 2 – Martha’s Vineyard
Following breakfast at the resort we board a high speed ferry to the island of Martha’s Vineyard. Upon arrival we will board a local bus for a sightseeing tour and will learn about the history and lifestyles of the islanders as we pass through Vineyard Haven. There will be free time for lunch and shopping in the historic whaling town of Edgartown. Complete your day on the island in Oak Bluffs, where you may choose to stroll through “Cottage City” with its brightly painted cottages and decorative “gingerbread” trim.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Nantucket Island
Enjoy another wonderful breakfast as day breaks on the Cape! Our local guide will join us as we board the high speed ferry to the stunning island of Nantucket. Here our guide will point out the restaurants, galleries, shops, and museums that are within walking distance of the dock. We will then enjoy a special Nantucket Island Tour. There will also be plenty of time for shopping and lunch before we board the ferry back to the Cape and return to the Resort. Another fabulous dinner is included this evening!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 – Hyannis
Another beautiful day on the Cape dawns and after an enjoyable breakfast our local guide gives us a tour of the town of Hyannis. We’ll enjoy a stop at the John F. Kennedy Memorial – this contemplative site pays tribute to the man who created “Camelot.” The memorial includes a fountain and a field-stone monument with the Presidential seal and inscription: “I believe it is important that this country sail and not lie still in the harbor.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy In Hyannis Port in 1928, Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy & Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. purchased their Hyannis Port summer home, now known as the Kennedy Compound. It has served as a getaway for the Kennedys for generations. The location will be pointed out but the grounds are still private. Close by is St. Francis Xavier Church where Rose Kennedy always sat in the front row. She considered the church as the catholic spiritual center. When their oldest son Joe Jr. died after his plane was shot down during World War II, the service was held here. The main altar is a memorial to him. John F. Kennedy attended the Sunday mass in this church during the summertime. A little further is the Hyannis Armory – John F. Kennedy accepted the 35th presidential nomination in this building. After JFK and his wife Jacqueline voted in Boston, they flew to Cape Cod to await the election results at the Kennedy Compound. When it was announced that Richard Nixon conceded, the family formed a cavalcade and rode down to the Hyannis Armory, where Kennedy delivered his acceptance speech. A stop at the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum will be a real treat! The seas and shores of Hyannis Port inspired our 35th President like no other place on earth. It was here that he contemplated and accepted his run for office. Discover why he loved this place so, and how he spent his time on Cape Cod. “I always go to Hyannis Port to be revived, to know again the power of the sea and the master who rules over it and all of us.” John Fitzgerald Kennedy The museum is right on main street, which is perfect for additional free time for having lunch, shopping or visiting the Cape Cod Maritime Museum. Here the Kennedy legacy continues, sharing with the community their love for the sea and the need to preserve and celebrate the Cape’s rich maritime heritage. Learn about President Kennedy’s nautical history. Stroll through Aselton Park past the Peace Corps Memorial. The Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961. JFK sought to encourage mutual understanding between Americans and people of other nations and cultures by sending volunteers from the U.S. to work in developing countries. This memorial commemorates the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Peace Corps. We’ll return to the resort this afternoon to enjoy our surroundings at leisure. Dinner with entertainment (1950’s and 60’s) is included this evening at the resort and since we are celebrating a birthday, let’s have some birthday cake!
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 – Cape Cod
Following breakfast this morning we will travel historic route 6a, the Old King’s Highway, a scenic byway winding through centuries of Cape Cod history. It winds past hundreds of historic structures which characterize its early development. View the Eastham Windmill, a Cape Cod Lighthouse and visit the Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor’s Center. In 1961, President Kennedy signed legislation establishing an American treasure, the Cape Cod National Seashore, protecting the fragile coastline from Chatham to Provincetown. A long-time summer resident of the Cape, JFK had co-sponsored the legislation while in the Senate. The goal, he wrote, was “to preserve the natural and historic values of a portion of Cape Cod for the inspiration and enjoyment of people all over the United States.” This was the first time the federal government had created a national park out of land that was primarily in private hands. Today the Seashore encompasses more than 43,000 acres and draws more than 4,000,000 visitors a year. Sand dunes and the ocean surround us as we approach “Land’s End” – Provincetown. We are now at 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. Take some time to enjoy the wonderful variety of restaurants, shops, and galleries that make this artists/fishermen village so unique. This afternoon you will have an option: Board an excursion vessel for an amazing experience of whale watching. You will travel 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. Try to spot Humpback, Minke, and Fin Whales going about their daily business. An onboard naturalist will introduce you to everything you see and will answer any of your questions about the whales, birds, fish and lighthouses. OR You may choose to stay on dry land and enjoy a Dune Tour excursion. You will ride along the shoreline of the protected lands of the Cape Cod National Seashore. Your driver/guide will point out the “dune shacks” where famous artists and writers became inspired to create their art. After a great afternoon exploring either land or sea, we’ll travel back to the resort for our final evening on the Cape.
Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 – Cape Cod to Home
Following breakfast together and maybe a final walk on the beach, we will travel to Boston to view sites and landmarks which played an important role in JFK’s rise to the White House. The tour explores the emergence of an Irish political machine in Boston, led by JFK’s grandfathers, P.J. Kennedy and John F. “Honey Fitz” Fitzgerald. Our guide will point out sights along the Freedom Trail as well as the Boston Common and Public Gardens. After being introduced to many sites in Boston, we’ll enjoy free time for lunch at Quincy Market and visit Faneuil Hall where JFK delivered his final speech of his 1960 presidential campaign. Later we’ll travel to Logan Airport for our flight home. It’s been a great six days of exploring Cape Cod, Nantucket Island, and Martha’s Vineyard. An enjoyable flight home with our travel mates will allow us time to reminisce about our fabulous time in Massachusetts!
Included Meals: Breakfast
Flyaway Per Person Pricing Information
Flyaway Travel Protection Per Person
Travel Bucks
Deposit Due
Passport Needed
Tour Pace
Price Includes
RT Airfare including taxes, fuel surcharges, & baggage fees! 10 Meals, Hotels & Activities as stated in brochure, Luxury Motorcoach
Tour Map
Tour Highlights
5 Nights on Cape Cod at the Red Jacket Beach Resort
High Speed Ferry to Martha’s Vineyard
Sightseeing Tour of Martha’s Vineyard
Guided Tour of Hyannis
High Speed Ferry to Nantucket
Sightseeing Tour of Nantucket
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
Guided Tour to Provincetown along Scenic Route 6A
Cape Cod National Seashore Visitor’s Center
Whale Watch Excursion OR Dune Tour Excursion
John F. Kennedy Museum
Cape Cod Maritime Museum
Guided Tour of Boston