January 2017 - Starr Tours & Charters

New Year’s Travel Resolutions for the Young at Heart – JFK’s 100th Birthday Celebration

MA_JFKPresidentialLibraryandMuseum-familyphoto_CreditCityPass_TTO--For the final edition in our New Year’s Travel Resolutions series we offer you a once-in-a-lifetime tour like no other. We’re whisking you away to New England for a special 100th birthday celebration for John F. Kennedy. On this special trip you’ll get to learn all about the Kennedy family while enjoying many of their favorite places and activities!

President John F. Kennedy was born in Brookline, Massachusetts on May 29, 1917. His family spent summers in Hyannis Port, in Cape Cod and built the famous Kennedy Compound on the shore. Beyond a summer residence in childhood, Hyannis Port would also become the primary headquarters of JFK’s presidential campaign. Stroll the streets of Hyannis that were lined with his supporters and explore the shops and boutiques before embarking on a special Hyannis Harbor Cruise where you’ll get a view of the historic compound as well as the Kennedy Memorial, Egg Island, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, and Point Gammon Light.

Your time in Hyannis will be highlighted with a New England Clambake and 1960s Beach Party at a spectacular Hyannis venue where we’ll dine and dance overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. This meal is complete with “steamahs, chowdah and lobstah,” plus, an escape entrée for landlubbers. After dinner, gather round for live entertainment. Hear tunes from the ’60s and ’70s as “Kokomo,” “Under the Boardwalk,” “Surf City” “Summer Wind,” and “California Girls.”

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John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

The Kennedy family’s roots are firmly planted in Boston and the city is home to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum as well as many of JFK’s favorite places including his and his father’s alma mater, Harvard University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in government. You’ll enjoy a tour of Boston that includes the sights and landmarks that played an important role in John F. Kennedy’s rise to the White House. Join a local guide and walk past sites such as the JFK Statue on the State House Lawn where JFK delivered his famous “city upon a hill” speech, The Bellevue Hotel where he resided during his run for the congressional seat, The Omni Parker House notably the site of his announcement for his bid for Congress and his proposal to Jackie Bouvier, Old City Hall, the Irish Famine Memorial, JFK”s Senate Headquarters, Faneuil Hall, and the Rose Kennedy Greenway. You’ll also enjoy dinner at the Union Oyster House, the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States and a favorite of JFK – see Booth 18 where JFK would sit and enjoy his favorite clam chowder.

Visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, “dedicated to the memory of our nation’s 35th President and to all those who through the art of politics seek a new and better world. Located on a ten-acre park, overlooking the sea that he loved and the city that launched him to greatness, the Library stands as a vibrant tribute to the life and times of John F. Kennedy.” Tour the Museum “which portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy, conveys his enthusiasm for politics and public service, and illustrates the nature of the office of the President.”¹ There will be special exhibits and events at the Library to commemorate this milestone birthday.

Travel to Newport, Rhode Island, known for its gilded-age mansions and its connections with the Kennedy Family. Visit St. Mary’s Catholic Church where in 1953, Senator John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier were married. See Hammersmith Farm, Jacqueline Bouvier’s home where her wedding reception was hosted. Also, visit The Breakers, the Vanderbilt Home which is the most lavish summer “cottage” in town. We’ll also visit the Green Animals Topiary Garden where, for several years, Alice Brayton hosted a “Harvest Party” to entertain the Kennedy children, Caroline and John, Jr.

Our trip’s highlight is “A Night in Camelot.” Join us as we celebrate JFK’s 100th Birthday. As we remember the “High Hopes” of that youthful administration, and dance to the music of the era (1960-63) during a show that is a tribute to both the celebrities and songs he liked best. The entertainment is a live orchestra, with a crooner and an MC, performing as they once did for the President of the United States. It’s a night of music that the President would have enjoyed and a night filled with songs that you will remember.

So, come with Starr on an exclusive, one-of-a-kind, tour and travel event to discover these highlights and more in celebration of our 35th president.

 

References:
¹ John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

New Year’s Travel Resolutions For the Young At Heart – Mississippi’s Gulf Coast

This week we travel south to Mississippi where one of many highlights on your New Year’s Resolution vacation is your stay at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino, but the great things about this trip don’t stop there. Take everything you would expect at a beachfront destination, add historic attractions, beautiful towns, delicious cuisine, and mix in a heaping spoonful of Southern hospitality. Now that’s a recipe for fun!

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Beau Rivage Resort and Casino

You’ll stay at the luxurious waterfront Beau Rivage Resort & Casino located on the Gulf of Mexico in Biloxi, MS. A AAA Four Diamond Award recipient, this hotel overlooks the Gulf of Mexico and offers fabulous gaming, a large and diverse selection of shopping opportunities, and 12 options for dining with everything from a great buffet to fine dining and a 24 hour cafe.

Get the real southern coastal experience with a Shrimping Trip and Marine Adventure Cruise. “The pride and heritage of Biloxi comes alive aboard this unique and interesting cruise.  Learn everything you ever wanted to know about catching, cooking, and eating this delicious southern delicacy, Mississippi Gulf Coast Style. The crew will entertain and educate while dropping a 16 foot trawl and dragging the bottom of the Mississippi Sound for all of the delicacies she has to offer. Upon leaving the harbor, the shrimping net is set out with full details of how and what makes the net spread and operate correctly.”¹ The net will catch shrimp and other sea creatures in its path. You’ll have an opportunity to see one or all of the following: Blue Crabs, Flounder, Stingray, Oysterfish, Squid, Pufferfish, and numerous other species of local marine life.

Biloxi, Mississippi

Experience the city of Biloxi, one of the oldest communities in the country, settled in 1699. The city is a cultural melting pot set against a backdrop of sugar-white sand beaches, museums and historic sites, tantalizing seafood restaurants, and more. Our unique tour of Biloxi will take you back in time on an historical journey though Old Town Biloxi and the Hurricane Katrina devastated areas.  You’ll get to see Biloxi’s Visitor Center & Museum, Hurricane Memorials, Biloxi Town Green, and Biloxi Lighthouse.

Speaking of history, another highlight of this trip includes a visit to Beauvoir, the last home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.  The beautifully restored Beauvoir house dominates the sprawling complex that includes antebellum outbuildings, a Civil War museum, a historic cemetery, the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and nature trails.  You’ll also pay a visit to The Little White House Historic Site – the cottage where Franklin Delano Roosevelt died on April 12, 1945. Preserved as it was on the day he died, you’ll see original furniture, memorabilia & the portrait on which Elizabeth Shoumatoff was working on when the President suffered a stroke.

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French Quarter, New Orleans

You’ll love New Orleans, yet another highlight on this vacation. Your New Orleans City Tour is a thorough and fascinating introduction to the endless variety of sights found in America’s most European city. Then, experience a wonderful Jazz Brunch Buffet at the Court of Two Sisters before having free time to explore the French Quarter on your own. See the famous architecture, gaze at the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square then head across the street for a famous beignet from Cafe du Monde. The French Marketplace isn’t far from here, and the French Quarter itself is teeming with art and antiques and unique shops. And then there’s the music… it is hard to go anywhere in the French Quarter without hearing some of that fabulous New Orleans jazz. This is a city that will keep you coming back for more!

The Gulf Coast is home to many special southern treasures and this is just a small sample of all that you’ll see and do on this vacation. Come with us and see what Mississippi’s Gulf Coast has to offer!

 

Reference:
¹Biloxi Shrimping Trip

New Year’s Travel Resolutions for the Young at Heart – Nova Scotia

New Year’s Travel Resolutions for the Young at Heart – Nova Scotia

This week, we offer you a chance to experience an idyllic island like no other. Step out of the hustle and bustle of your life and into the spellbinding tranquility that is Nova Scotia. “Nova Scotia is a place where you can feel your pace fall in sync with the rhythm of the sea, as the clean salt air breathes life into an afternoon. Immerse yourself in culture that ranges from traditional to avant-garde, from bagpipes to world-class golf.”¹ On this tour you will enjoy a vacation filled with rich heritage, scenic wonders, and historic landmarks set in a landscape of breathtaking beauty.

Your journey through the Appalachian region of Canada begins in St. John, New Brunswick.  “Step into a vibrant past with an intriguing modern edge. Here, hundreds of years of history are alive. Feel it in the architecture, parks, and galleries that have survived to delight today’s visitor. As the oldest incorporated city in Canada, no other place in the country offers the experiences of Saint John,”² like Reversing Falls rapids where the extreme tides of this region create a unique tidal phenomenon.

CAN_NewBrunswick-BayofFundy_CreditJosefHanus_shutterstock_132065546--max600x600Enjoy the wind in your face as you look for whales and other sea life aboard the ferry from New Brunswick to Nova Scotia (indoor seating also available) followed by time exploring and experiencing a few of the best areas of Nova Scotia. Take part in a ceremony that began in 1605 and be officially inducted into “The Order of Good Cheer,”  visit Grand Pré  – a powerful monument that unites the Acadian people – located in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, step back in time in the quaint village of Peggy’s Cove, and witness the marvel of the the world’s highest tides in the Bay of Fundy.

CAN_NS-InternationalTattoo-stageshot_NovaTat--max600x600Experience a true taste of Nova Scotia at the world’s largest annual indoor show, The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Festival, featuring the unique and varied talent of hundreds of Canadian and international military and civilian performers. You will see bagpipes, highland dancers, military traditions, innovative acrobatic acts, comedy, modern music, contemporary dancing, trampoline routines, cutting-edge videos, and more! The Festival takes place in Halifax, the capital city of Nova Scotia and an urban city center bordered by seacoast and brimming with history.

Travel home through Prince Edward Island where “the beauty of the land, the living Celtic, Acadian and Mi’kmaq heritage, and the smiling faces and warm hospitality of Islanders create a special and unforgettable place to visit.”³

CAN_NS-PeggysCove_pixabay--max600x600Nova Scotia is a land of lush beauty and simple life. Her people are warm and friendly, her land is like that of Ireland in its richness, and her atmosphere is that of a simpler time. Gorgeous natural landscapes are dotted with picturesque sleepy villages. You can lose yourself here in a peaceful paradise away from big box chains and rural life, without giving up great amenities. Experience it for yourself this summer!

 

 

References:

¹ Nova Scotia
² Discover Saint John
³ Prince Edward Island

New Year’s Travel Resolutions for the Young at Heart – Cross Country

“Travel More” is a common New Year’s Resolution, but like many resolutions, it will easily fall to the wayside without ideas and plans for how to make it happen. Throughout the month of January, we’ll be offering a destination a week on our blog with New Year’s Travel Resolution destinations that you should check out to fulfill your “Travel More” resolution!

Traveling across the country is a free spirited dream held by many. The open road, endless possibility, and the chance to see so much of our beautiful country is such a tempting idea. When we get out of our daily routine and travel away from home we gain perspective, embrace new challenges and passions, and find fulfillment. Traveling across the country truly is a vacation of a lifetime and it is about time you experienced it!

cc-2017-max600x600On our 26-day Cross Country by Bus tour you’ll be guided by an experienced driver and knowledgeable tour director who will make your trip effortless and stress free so you can fully experience every fantastic destination, comfortable hotel, delicious meal, fascinating attraction, breathtaking sight, and more!

Speaking of which, exactly what will you get to experience on your trip? How about 5 national parks, 15 states, 3 monuments/memorials, and 9 historic landmarks for starters? You’ll visit the St. Louis Gateway Arch and take its tram up through the arch itself to the Observation Deck, 630 feet above the ground, where you can see for 30 miles on a clear day. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, you’ll take a ride on the Sandia Peak Tramway, the world’s longest aerial tramway spanning a distance of 2.7 miles above deep canyons, and breathtaking terrain.

Photo Courtesy of the Greater Phoenix CVB

Visit Arizona and fall in love with the breathtaking beauty of this unique state with a visit to the must-see Grand Canyon, a stop in beautiful Sedona, and a trip through Petrified Forest National Park and the Painted Desert. Spend a day in thrilling Las Vegas, Nevada. Travel all the way to California and take in the many sights and attractions you’ve only ever dreamed about, including Hollywood, Los Angeles, and Alcatraz! Begin to make your way back home by crossing through the northwest and stopping at Mount Rushmore, and Wall Drug Store. Experience Old Faithful’s timely eruption, gaze in amazement at the painted landscape of Badlands National Park, and take in the excitement of downtown Chicago. All of this and so much more make this trip an unforgettable journey!

Passengers on our past Cross Country tours (over 10 years worth!) have formed close bonds that extend through the years. It’s hard not to become friends with people you travel with for 26 days! And we make it even easier to connect with past and present Cross Country Travelers with our private Facebook group where you can get advice on how to prepare for your “Journey of a Lifetime,” meet others on your trip, and share memories and photos afterwards.*

So what are you waiting for? Put aside your worries about being gone for a month and travel the scenic roads of our great country! Trust me, you’ll be glad you did!

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*You must be a current Starr customer to join the Facebook group.