Archive for the ‘United States’ Category

« Older Entries

Lighting the Way

April 26, 2013

New%20England%20Fall%20Foliage_PH1[1]

This tour has just about everything! City tours, great eateries, gorgeous scenery, tram rides, boat rides, rail rides, and oh so much more.  You won’t believe all that is included!

I have long held an inordinate fascination with lighthouses.  On this wonderfully comprehensive sojourn you will have a great opportunity to see some beautiful old lighthouses, up-close and personal. Many of the earliest lighthouses predate the birth of our nation. The first lighthouse in America arrived in 1716 in Boston Harbor. Following that introduction, other North Atlantic cities built them as well. The lighthouses were built to nurture the growing maritime economy of the colonies. The North Atlantic waters were a “superhighway” for ships, and lighthouses served as the signs, signals and direction for the congested open waters. They were essential for navigation as the marshy coast lines from Delaware to North Carolina often made navigation difficult and the New England coast line remained treacherous due to its rocky shores. Navigation on the North Atlantic coast was essential to the growth and survival of the British colonies in America, and the development of the lighthouse system, with their sounds and signals from the shore, allowed the shipping industry to develop smoothly. Today there are lighthouses all along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, as well as the Great Lakes region.

Onshore lighthouses built on land, made up the majority of the earliest lighthouses in America. These revealed various architectural styles and were made from a variety of materials. Wood, stone masonry, brick, cast-iron plates, skeletal and reinforced concrete make up some of the most common types of lighthouse construction materials. Wood lighthouses were common before the nineteenth century because wood was readily available. It was phased out as a primary material due to the susceptibility to fire. Masonry towers were made from rubblestone, cut stone, brick and concrete. The oldest standing masonry tower in the U.S. is Sandy Hook Lighthouse (1764) in New Jersey. The stone towers were typically built in the form of a cone.

On day two of your tour, you will enjoy a narrated 90 minute scenic cruise through the busy Portland harbor and innermost islands to see not only lighthouses, but forts, lobster boats, seals, and seabirds. Four lighthouses will be viewed close-up with as many as six in view during the cruise, including a close-up view of Maine’s oldest and most photographed lighthouse, Portland Head Light! Lighthouses seen on your cruise may include: Bug Light (Portland Harbor Breakwater Light) – This cast iron tower replaced an uglier wooden lighthouse in 1875 and everyone thought this new tower was just “as cute as a bug”, hence the nickname Bug Light! The tower is patterned after the Greek monument of Lysicrates in Ancient Greece.

Ram Island Ledge Light, completed in 1905, makes it the second newest lighthouse on the Maine Coast. Built of granite blocks, it is severely beaten by storm seas throughout the year. The remote location of the tower, along with the battering it takes from mother-nature, made it a difficult place to be assigned as a lighthouse keeper. Keepers’ log books tell us that the tower was often made to ring like a bell when it was struck by heavy seas! The light was automated by the lighthouse service and has a sensor in the tower that turns the light on at dusk and off again at dawn. It is powered by solar panels and battery banks that are on the seaward side of the lantern gallery.

Portland Head Light, built in 1791, was authorized by President George Washington, and is the oldest lighthouse in Maine. Reportedly it is the most photographed in the country. The tower stands at 101 feet above sea level and its light can be seen 26 miles to seaward on a clear evening. The lighthouse sits within the park land of Fort Williams in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. So delight in the salt air, and spectacular sights, while enjoying this interlude on the coast.

Every special day of this Fall Foliage Tour is packed with wonderful things to see and do with enough free time to shop, explore or just bathe in the beauty of Mother Nature and the changing season.  Please review the complete itinerary and reserve your place on this scenic and intrinsically spectacular interlude.  Be prepared to be enchanted.

New England Fall Foliage (click here for details & departure dates)
7 Days, 6 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
•Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog
•Sign up for our email newsletter
•RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Fall Foliage, Special Benefits, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Nantucket – Something for Everyone

April 3, 2013

IMG_5237
Stepping onto Nantucket changes your whole prospective. Immediately, the years pass away and you feel as if you have stepped back in time … a time when whaling ships sailed the seas and gaslit cobblestoned streets invited you to look further…into charming shops with one of a kind merchandise and to welcoming inns and bed & breakfasts – charming and quaint. The entire island of Nantucket is a historic district designated as a National Historic Landmark.  Being a small island, you won’t find any chain restaurants or big-name clothing stores (except for Ralph Lauren) – most businesses are family-owned or locally-owned, giving you the feeling that on this island interlude, you have truly escaped to a vacation wonderland.

May I suggest a few things to do while on the island?  You can find the remnants of the whaling industry at the Whaling Museum –fascinating and informational.  There are many great beaches, like Jetties and Surfside to relax and sink your feet into the welcoming sand.  If you prefer a sans-sand afternoon, inland you might want to visit a little gem like Cisco Brewers and enjoy a few free samples. Pop in and out of shops and restaurants or just relax with a glass of wine and soak in the surroundings.

IMG_5120

I have long been intrigued with Lighthouses and Nantucket has gorgeous ones.   With a long history of maritime pursuits, the three lighthouses that guard the island’s northern tip, eastern shoreline and harbor are proud reminders of a time when the people of Nantucket took their harvest from the sea. They truly symbolize the merging of past and present and have gallantly stood through decades of history as Nantucket evolved from the whaling capital of the world to a premier vacation resort. Now majestic landmarks, Great Point Light, Sankaty Head Light and Brant Point Light all played important roles in guiding sailors home, with their bright beacons guiding vessels safely  through the fog and around the shoals. Located on the northern tip of the island, Great Point Light overlooks miles of pristine conservation land and beaches- a favored spot for bird watchers. Sankaty Head Lighthouse, high atop Sankaty Bluff, overlooks one of Nantucket’s finest golf courses.  Finally, the Lighthouse most closely associated with Nantucket…Brant Point Lighthouse. With its original structure erected in 1746, it was the second lighthouse built in America and still stands proudly guarding the harbor.  Bring your camera and your beach shoes and plan to enjoy all of them as you explore the Nantucket harbor.

            If you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air,

quaint little villages here and there,

you’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.  

If you like the taste of a lobster stew,

served by a window with an ocean view,

you’re sure to fall in love with Old Cape Cod.

Please review the full itinerary and plan on joining us on this fully escorted tour  and discover for yourselves what Patti Page was singing about.

Nantucket, Cape Cod & Martha’s Vineyard in the Fall (click here for details & departure dates)  5 Days, 4 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Short Getaway, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Mohonk – A Castle in the Clouds

March 31, 2013

Image-1[1]

According CondeNast Traveler; “A spectacular gem nestled in a pristine mountain setting” in the Hudson Valley, this “wonderful, historic resort” is just 90 miles north of New York City. Done in wood and Shawangunk stone, “the huge Victorian mélange of buildings” offers five room types in different styles—some with light country decor and others with antique furnishings and warm wood tones. “Outstanding activities” include cross-country skiing, horseback riding, and hiking on 85 miles of trails. The “first-class spa” has 16 treatment rooms, a heated outdoor mineral pool, and “exceptional staff.” From late spring to early fall, guests can dine outdoors at The Granary, overlooking Lake Mohonk. At all the restaurants, “the food is delicious, and they really work with special diets.”  Mohonk Mountain House Resort also was awarded the Readers Choice Award in 2012. The spa was just voted #1 by CondeNast as well, and it truly deserves that title.   And…YOU can enjoy all the opulence and charm of this historic beauty when you join us on this fully escorted adventure.

Spend three nights in this quaint old-fashioned chateau as you day-trip through the incredibly beautiful Hudson River Valley.  It’s a peaceful place that feels really far away from everything- in a very positive way.  The best thing about Mohonk is being out in nature–there’s a lake, a mountain, but it’s nature done comfortably. The lake and nature surrounding it are splendidly beautiful, full of wildlife and amazing views.  From the top of the lookout tower, you can have a view of 6 surrounding states – now how cool is that! The whole place has an old, wooden vibe, but they have wifi – so they are in the 21st century. Mohonk is meant to be a whole experience; a getaway from your real life. From the moment you pull up, you’re overwhelmed with a feeling of pure vacation. The grounds, the gardens, the mountains, everything is groomed (or ungroomed!) to perfection and is absolutely and spectacularly breathtaking. Be sure to note the impressive architecture! As you enter the manor  (more of a castle, really) you’ll see beautiful, old, yet updated decor and smell the sweet, nostalgic scent that’s like a combination of tea, leather, and grass all spun around with joy. However, what stands out more than anything else, is the service. When you’re there, you are treated royally. The staff can’t seem to do enough to make sure you’re happy, comfy, and relaxed. Now, isn’t that the way life “on vacation” should be?

Please review the complete itinerary and pack your royal cape and crown – for this decadent interlude where lavishness is the norm.  Be careful, you could get used to being so spoiled.

Legendary Resorts of the Northeast (click here for details & departure dates)  7 Days, 6 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , ,
Posted in Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Mansions, History…and Chocolate

March 12, 2013

Brandywine%20&%20The%20Poconos_PH1[1]

May is the perfect month to visit the Brandywine Valley and the foothills of the Poconos.  Spring exudes from every crevice at the formal gardens of both Nemours and Longwood which are, in a word -exquisite.  Nemours is the spectacular mansion built by Alfred DuPont on 3,000 acres in Wilmington DE. Designed in late-18th century French style, it is named after the French town that his great-great-grandfather represented in the French Estates General.  The home, though inspired by the past, features thoroughly modern technology and many of Alfred’s own inventions.  The gardens are positively splendid! Do take the “Long Walk” which features two elk at the top of the Vista, ( the work of French sculptor Prosper Lecourtier); and includes Japanese cryptomeria, pink flowering horse chestnuts and pin oaks. The Long Walk extends from the Mansion to the Reflecting Pool.  The “Long Walk” is beautifully reflected in the one-acre pool which features more French sculpture. The grounds are truly magnificent.  If you want a really good read – discover Alfred DuPont – you’ll find family problems, unhappy marriage, divorce a slight scandal and wealth beyond expectation.  I found it fascinating!

Longwood Gardens was the home of another Dupont, Pierre. At the age of 36, Pierre bought the Peirce farm and began creating what would become Longwood Gardens. He followed no grand plan; rather, he built the gardens piecemeal, beginning with the 600-foot-long Flower Garden Walk in 1907. Although his later gardens would draw heavily on Italian and French forms, this garden reflected what he termed an “old-fashioned” influence, with nostalgic cottage-garden flowers, exuberant shrubs, rose-laden trellises, and even a shiny gazing ball. The scale was grand, the accessories quaint.  He did the same with the house.  Pierre enhanced Longwood by enlarging the original Peirce farm house, notably in 1914 when he doubled its size. The house had its share of country place amenities: a bowling alley, automatic fire doors, and counterweighted windows that lowered into the basement, and a built-in rug rolling machine – quaint at best. The attached conservatory was Longwood’s first “winter garden” and Pierre’s first experience with the aesthetics of greenhouse gardening. It would only get better.

Pierre’s other great love was fountains and you will be mesmerized by them at Longwood.  Basing his Italian Water Garden on the Villa Gamberaia near Florence, but he added 600 jets of recirculating water. At the Open Air Theatre, he replaced old waterworks with 750 illuminated jets. The result of his hydraulic masterpiece is the Main Fountain Garden in front of the Conservatory: 10,000 gallons a minute shooting as high as 130 feet and illuminated in every imaginable color- wonderful!  Longwood has many gardens, but a must see is the Topiary Garden and the New Rose Garden nearby.  Having grown up in Philadelphia, Longwood has always been a treat to visit – its breadth and depth and color and organization will astound you.  It is a wondrous place.

This lovely Interlude has it all:  a day trip to Philadelphia – a patriotic adventure to where it all began AND an immersion into the world of Hershey chocolate.  You’ll also spend time in the Poconos which are so lovely in May – I summered there for years as a child, and it is really special.  Please check out the complete tour itinerary and make your plans to head East.  This sojourn is a must for the garden lover, the historian and the chocolate addict!  Breathe deeply and plan to enjoy it all.

Brandywine and the Poconos (click here for details & departure dates)  7 Days, 6 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Our Experiences, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Navajo Nation and More!

February 16, 2013

Canyon%20Country_PH2[1]

We would love to welcome you to the Navajo Nation’s Monument Valley.  While here,  you will experience one of the most majestic – and most photographed – points on earth. This great valley boasts sandstone masterpieces that tower at heights of 400 to 1,000 feet, and when the angle of the sun accents these graceful formations, the scenery is simply spellbinding!

Monument Valley was created as material eroded from the ancestral Rocky Mountains, and was deposited and cemented into sandstone. The formations in the valley were left over after the forces of erosion worked their magic on the sandstone. A geologic uplift caused the surface to bulge and crack. Wind and water then eroded the land, and the cracks deepened and widened into gullies and canyons, which eventually became the scenery you’ll see on this sojourn. Natural forces continue to slowly shape the land – it is a testament to the ever-evolving beauty of nature.

The tranquility of the land, culture, and traditions infuse the valley with a uniquely Navajo flavor. The landscape overwhelms, not just by its beauty but also by its size.  The fragile pinnacles of rock are surrounded by miles of mesas and buttes, shrubs, trees and windblown sand, all comprising the magnificent colors of the valley.  All of this harmoniously combines to make Monument Valley a truly wondrous experience.  You cannot help but thoroughly enjoy this beautiful land.

On this Interlude you will experience spectacular sunrises and phenomenal sunsets. Your time at the Goulding’s Lodge provides scenic views from every room and the Lodge has terrific amenities to offer the traveler. Who could find fault with a place that provides an unparalleled view of Monument Valley?  The view from the Hill House is simply fantastic.  The restaurant is really good and there is a very nice trading post with Indian jewelry, rugs etc.  It is essentially an historic motor lodge built on the spot of an even more historic trading post. The motel has been recently fully updated and provides an authenticity to this unique adventure.  The Goulding’s Lodge Trading Post & Museum is a great stop if you’re interested in the movie history of the area.  The building is the original trading post that Harry and ‘Mike’ Goulding built a few years after they first arrived in Monument Valley.  Part of the museum is set up like the old trading post, another part is filled with movie memorabilia, and the upstairs- which was originally the Gouldings’ living quarters- is still set up with their furniture and some of their belongings.  I think you’ll find this fascinating.  When you visit Monument Valley and experience the land of the Navajo you will  discover its unique qualities and gain an appreciation of both the land and its people.

Monument Valley is only a small fraction of what you can see and do on this wonderful escorted tour.  Arizona, Las Vegas, and some of the most beautiful lands of Utah are part of this western adventure.  Please review the attached itinerary and make plans to join us.  The Canyon land is incredibly beautiful and you really don’t want to miss it!

The Canyon Country Experience (click here for details & departure dates)  
7 Days, 6 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Rocky Mountain High

February 14, 2013

images[2]

You all know how much I love railroad travel and this interlude has a wide assortment of unique railroading experiences for you to savor and enjoy.  However, tucked in between all the tracks and cogs and rails is a very special and wonderful adventure.  The Colorado National Monument is on board for a visit on the evening of Day 6 of your train escapade and will be an absolutely AWESOME experience.  You have all been to big cities and experienced man-made beauty, but when in Colorado, you will witness the real beauty that only God and Nature can make.  Cameras are a MUST on this trip! (So are good shoes!!)

The drive there is absolutely breath-taking and the pullouts allow for safe picture taking.  It is absolutely huge, the colors are amazing and the rock formations make you truly appreciate the wonders of Nature.  And… you will be going in the evening when the lighting will add a special ambience to the entire view.  I guarantee you will not cease to be amazed at what awaits around every bend.

Sheer-walled canyons, monoliths, colorful formations, and a spectacular road reflect the environment and history of plateau-and-canyon country.  Gravity-defying boulders, tunnels carved of stone and red-rock canyons within a canyon define the sheer-walled landscape of the Colorado National Monument.  The monument’s 32 square miles of quiet, wild country have an otherworldly feel – up here, “all’s right with the world”.

Nature lovers and photographers have spotted desert bighorn sheep, mule deer, desert cottontails, collared lizards and, soaring eagles are among the many unusual birds who call the area home.

While navigating the drive and stopping at the scenic overlooks, you can check off a list of wind- and water-sculpted rock formations with shape-inspired names like Window Rock, Pipe Organ, Kissing Couple, Praying Hands and Sentinel Spire. It can be a bit of hide-and-seek to find the best angle and light for a frame-worthy shot of the massive monoliths – but my guess is that you will rise to the occasion.

The Colorado National Monument should be a “bucket list” item and is a marvel of 1930′s civil engineering and landscape architecture, NOT to be missed.  While in the National Monument, admire the modernist architecture of the 1963 Visitor’s Center – it’s most interesting.

So…enjoy the rails, unique and diverse as they are, savor the sightseeing, and delight in the “high” you’ll find when visiting the Colorado National Monument.  Can’t wait to see your pictures!!!

Please review the entire itinerary and sign up to guarantee your place on this wonderful escorted vacation into “God’s Country”.

Colorado Train Adventure (click here for details & departure dates) 
8 Days, 7 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Special Benefits, Train Travel, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

A Masterpiece

October 19, 2012

With the Grand Tetons standing so tall and the park curling cozily at their feet, you cannot fail to appreciate the surrounding environment of rivers and high valley floor. Grand Teton National Park features a young range of old pre-Cambrian granite, sliding upward along a 40-mile-long fault sculpted over the course of the last 13 million years, with some help from geological upheaval, retreating glaciers, and erosion. The result is truly a masterpiece of dramatic and scenic splendor. Shimmering lakes, thickly carpeted forests, and towering peaks blanketed with snow throughout most of the year are simply remarkable.  While here, you will have time to really savor the breathtaking beauty that surrounds you on this interlude.

You may have seen many photographs by famed American photographer Ansel Adams, many featuring the landscapes you will enjoy on the sojourn.  His dramatic, panoramic photographs that celebrate the redemptive potential of the natural world were made in the American West, including a large group of works made in the Yosemite Valley. You will see firsthand what so captivated the lens of this famous photographer.

Yellowstone and Grand Teton are so much more than photo ops and places where animals roam free. Both parks are works in progress; they are living, breathing wilderness areas. Be sure to bring a comfortable pair of walking or hiking shoes and explore. On this escorted vacation you will enjoy pristine, forested glades with nothing to distract you but wild moose and awe-inspiring mountains.

Your time at Jackson Lake Lodge located beside Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Parks largest lake, offers wonderful opportunities to shop and dine. The lodge was built in the 1950’s- be sure to take in the unique architecture which includes a flat roof and great big windows ideal for the stunning views that surround the lodge. While there you are sure to experience all that Grand Teton National Park has to offer.  Keep those cameras ready – the sights are incredible!

While visiting the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone you’ll learn of the geologic story of the canyon, its historical significance as a barrier to travel, its significance as destination and attraction, and its appearance in Native American lore and in the accounts of early explorers. The “ooh-ahh” factor is a given:  enjoy the beauty and grandeur of this masterpiece. Please review the full itinerary which allows for escorted travel as well as enough time on your own to pursue that which speaks to your soul.  While here you will see and do things that are guaranteed to make your heart sing.  Join us.

Did you know?  There were no wolves in Yellowstone in 1994. The wolves that were reintroduced in 1995 and 1996 thrived and there are now over 300 of their descendants living in the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Yellowstone Wildlife Safari (click here for details & departure dates) 
 7 Days, 6 Nights

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

“Ga-ron-teed” Fun!

September 22, 2012

On this escorted vacation you will enjoy a tour of the French Quarter, where all the old French, Spanish and Creole splendor are preserved, and visit market places, wharves, dueling places, millionaire homes and dramatic gardens. And after visits to Jack London’s Square, the Garden District, Saint Louis Cemetery and City Park it’s time to roll up your sleeves and create – at the New Orleans Cooking School, where we’ve arranged for you to be the CHEF!  This fun filled culinary class will have you cutting, chopping, and sautéing a full meal.  You will receive the recipes and a New Orleans School of Cooking apron too.  After all your hard work, you are free to enjoy the house red or white wine, Abita beer or lemonade, iced tea, and coffee and dine on what you have created – and how cool is that! What a perfect place to bring out the inner “foodie” in you and share in an absolutely great time as well.

Since 1980, the New Orleans School of Cooking has introduced countless visitors from around the world to the wonderful world of food – Louisiana and New Orleans style.

The entertaining cooking classes are taught by well-known local chefs; skilled in the arts and traditions of Cajun and Creole cuisine. On this escorted mini-vacation you (the chef) will be treated to a wide range of local classics.  You will learn the basics of Louisiana Cooking in a way you’ll never forget. Fun is a primary ingredient in this kitchen! The Creole/Cajun experts teach New Orleans specialties such as Gumbo, Jambalaya and Pralines, and all the recipes are seasoned with history, trivia and tall tales. It’s a “ga-ron-teed” good time for all.

Let’s talk about something the locals wish you wouldn’t find out about – just so they can keep more to themselves. Always part of the first meal of the day, and often part of the last thing you think about before you go to sleep, is coffee and dessert.   This is some of the best eating you’ll do when in New Orleans. The New Orleans School of Cooking has coffee and sweets in stock in their general store, and you can buy them for your own personal use or bring them home as souvenirs for your friends who weren’t smart enough to book this trip. When you choose to take home a little piece of New Orleans, you can blend up some delicious New Orleans coffee, close your eyes and be right back in the city – do you hear those tenor saxophones on Bourbon Street?

Take a look at the attached full itinerary and mark your calendars to include this truly fun-filled adventure to the Big Easy – you’ll thank yourself!

Azaleas, Plantations & Cajuns (click here for details
7 Days, 6 Nights:  March 14-20, 2013

Eadie, Interlude Blog Team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us •Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Special Benefits, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Mission – San Antonio

September 15, 2012

In the 18th century, the Spanish empire established five Catholic missions along the San Antonio River, primarily to extend its dominion northward from Mexico, but also to convert the native population. What remains of the largest concentration of missions in North America provides us with an interesting look into Texas’ history. Today’s Mission Trail links four of the missions: San José, Concepción, San Juan and Espada with its nearby aqueduct.

The fifth is the Alamo itself (Mission DeValero)– much modified but still firmly fixed in the minds history buffs as the scene of a battle that helped secure Texas’ independence from Mexico and made legendary heroes of Jim Bowie, Davey Crockett, and William B. Travis.  Who doesn’t recall the immortal words of General Sam Houston “Remember the Alamo”!  The Alamo represents nearly 300 years of history.  You will visit three buildings – the Shrine, the Long Barrack Museum and Gift Museum – all housing exhibits on the Texas Revolution and Texas History.

On this escorted small group excursion you will also visit and delight in the other significant and beautifully historic missions along the famous “trail”.

Mission Concepcion looks just about as it did, more than 200 years ago. Founded in what is now eastern Texas in 1716. It was transferred to its present in 1731. The beautiful stone church was completed in 1755.

Mission San Jose is the largest and best known of the Texas missions. It is seen as the model among the Texas missions. Way back in 1777 it was referred to the structure as the “Queen of the Missions.” Founded in 1720, the mission was named for Saint Joseph and the Marques de San Miguel de Aguayo, the governor of the Province of Coahuila, Mexico and Texas.

Mission San Juan Capistrano made its home along the banks of the San Antonio River in 1731. San Juan was a self-sustaining community that had established a trade network stretching east to Louisiana and south to Coahuila, Mexico.

Mission Espada or San Francisco de la Espada is the southern most of the San Antonio chain of missions, Espada appears as far back in the woods today as it did in the mid-1700s. Founded in 1690 as San Francisco de los Tejas, this was the first mission in Texas. In 1731, the mission transferred to the San Antonio River area and renamed Mission San Francisco de la Espada.

If you are a big fan of old building and history you will love the Mission Trail which offers a solid footprint about the settling of Texas and a unique opportunity to visit history up close.

This wonderful escape to Texas offers quite the variety of interesting adventures –the Mission Trail is only one  item in a diverse and exciting menu.  Please check out the complete itinerary and make note of the Corpus Christi Option – it will really satisfy your inner cowboy!! 

Also, new to Interlude,  watch for our Facebook page where I’ll be posting some authentic Tex-Mex recipes and other tidbits about this trip. Pack your boots and head on out on this escorted journey.  Availability will be limited to ensure you savor the true  small group experience.

Festive San Antonio (click here for itinerary)
March 18-22, 2013 San Antonio (5 days, 4 nights)
March 22-25, 2013 Corpus Christi Extension (4 days, 3 nights)

Eadie – Interlude blog team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us•Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog •Sign up for our email newsletter •RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , ,
Posted in Small group tour, Travel Infomation, United States, Upcoming Tours | Leave a Comment »

Steamboatin’

May 29, 2012

Steamboatin’  – a truly unique way to enjoy a Mississippi  river cruise and experience the history, heritage and the true culture of America’s heartland. Gracious, elegant, and modern in her amenities, the American Queen takes you back to a time when travel was an unhurried and relaxing experience.   The largest steamboat ever built, the grand American Queen is a gracious and elegant triumph of American ingenuity.

When you join this fascinating Interlude, you’ll discover a side of our country that few ever see, from the indescribable perspective of the river itself.   Forget speed, forget lines, forget all the hustle and bustle of deadlines, etc.  and step on board a bit of Americana for a journey that will long be remembered.  Combining the best of the old and the new, this beautiful lady of the river epitomizes the grace and grandeur of a bygone time.  Steamboatin’  is a treasured American tradition and once you are on board you will understand why.

You know I’m always about the food. Are you ever in for a treat!! Run by a celebrated American chef who draws her inspiration from our great Heartland, the kitchens aboard the Queen offer a veritable and delectable movable feast. From piping hot beignets and bananas foster French toast for breakfast to succulent five-course dinners, every day celebrates the culinary senses.   The food – superb, as are the well-appointed choices of dining venues on board – all are waiting just for you.   The opulent J.M. White Dining Saloon is the centerpiece, serving breakfasts, lunches and dinners that are extraordinarily grand. The Front Porch of America offers a wide variety of classic American favorites that will satisfy any craving, AND it’s open 24 hours a day – the kitchen that never sleeps!. The Calliope Grill serves up views that every bit as spectacular as the grilled fare and fresh salads and offers romantic, alfresco dining in the evenings.  And …you also must seek out the delightful Moonlight Supper in the Engine Room Bar which offers midnight delights to those who just need a “little something” before retiring from a thoroughly wonderful day.

Do you love to sing – well every evening you can sing away in the Main Deck Lounge before enjoying a lavishly luscious show in the two-deck-tall, not to be believed, Grand Saloon – an elegant showstopper on the river and that’s before the show even starts.

Because packing can often be a dilemma, I went right to the source to see what advice was offered.   Please see below:

We suggest you check a national weather source, such as the Weather Channel, its website at http://www.weather.com, or the national weather listings in your newspaper to plan what to pack for your voyage. For daytime, dress is casual. Be sure to bring sportswear and comfortable, nonslip walking shoes for ports of call and shore excursions. Slacks and shorts are acceptable in all public areas of the steamboat and ashore. You may want to bring a swimsuit for the pool or for lounging on the Sun Deck. For evenings, we suggest a dress, a dressy skirt and blouse, or a pants suit for ladies. While gentlemen may wish to wear a sport coat, one is not necessary and formal wear is not required any evening onboard. We recommend that you pack a raincoat and for spring and fall trips, a sweater or jacket and perhaps a hat or scarf. Though the boat is usually down south during the winter, occasionally it can still get chilly. A warm coat is recommended.

Fall is a wonderful time to explore the Northern exposures of the Mighty Mississippi and become embraced by the vibrancy of the changing season.  Experience what two centuries of travel on the river can provide, the locks, the quaint towns, the immeasurable pleasure of steamboatin’.  Celebrate with us as we pay homage to our glorious heartland and the expansive river that provided so much to the lure and legend we all cherish. Check out the impressive itinerary and call today to reserve your place – cabin space is limited!! Then look forward to “rollin on the river.”

Steamboatin’ Fall Colors Cruise & Tour (click here for itinerary)
October 16-22, 2012 (7 days, 6 nights)

Eadie – Interlude blog team

•For immediate service, please call (317) 913-0387 or email us
•Share your Interlude stories and photos on this blog
•Sign up for our email newsletter
•RSS this blog

Tags:, , , , , , ,
Posted in Guaranteed Departure, Paddleboat Travel, Special Benefits, United States, Upcoming Tours | 1 Comment »

« Older Entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.

Join 26 other followers

%d bloggers like this: