2010 – 2011 Coastal Discoveries Road Scholar Programs
September 5–9, 2010
Lighthouses, Lobsters and More: Discovering Portland, Maine
Experience the waterfront city of Portland, hailed a “jewel by the sea” by native son Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. (And, in 2006, Frommer’s travel guide listed Portland as one of the top 12 world destinations!) Surrounded by lighthouses and islands, its location has long inspired artists and writers. Discuss the life and works of Longfellow and visit his childhood home. Join a docent inside the Portland Museum of Art for an informed look at works by Homer, Kent and Wyeth among others. Explore the city’s complex maritime history and its current dilemma as the centuries–old waterfront area grapples with 21st–century development pressures. Discover Casco Bay, its lighthouses and islands on a narrated harbor cruise. Guided walking excursions, a private trolley excursion and a full Downeast lobster dinner complete your Portland adventure. Program #17548
September 26–30, & October 10–14, 2010
Exploring Historic New England Seacoast Towns (Portsmouth, NH)
“Portsmouth is an historic gem hiding in plain sight.” (New York Times travel section, 2002)
Discover Coastal New England’s art, architecture, and maritime and literary heritage from your base in downtown Portsmouth, the jewel of New Hampshire’s 18–mile coast. You’ll stay in a lovely, historic Queen Anne inn that is just a few blocks from the heart of downtown and Market Square – the social and cultural hub of Portsmouth. Learn about the city’s founding in 1623 at Strawbery Banke Museum, through walking field trips, exhibits and presentations by local historians. Walk the Marginal Way, a spectacular oceanfront path in Ogunquit (Maine), and visit the Ogunquit Museum of Art, one of the finest small art museums in the country. A full Downeast lobster dinner completes your New England experience. Watch a short video about this program | Program #14011
February 16 - 20, 2011
The Camden Conference: The Rise of Asia -- Challenge to the U.S.
We are very proud to partner annually with the esteemed Camden Conference to offer a stimulating, thought–provoking and mind–stretching Road Scholar program in conjunction with this internationally acclaimed event. Beginning with the 2011 event, we are even prouder to announce that Road Scholar participants will now be attending the conference “live” at the historic Camden Opera House. There, during breaks in the program, you’ll have a chance to rub shoulders with the renowned speakers and browse through the hundreds of conference-related books that will be for sale by a local bookstore. As a Road Scholar participant in the Conference, you will be staying at a charming, intimate boutique inn that’s just steps away from the Opera House and, of course, the heart of charming, downtown Camden. If you haven't experienced the quiet side of Camden, you have a delightful treat in store. Registration is now open for this remarkable educational opportunity. This is a small–group program and spaces are already filling. Program #15613
May 9 – 12, 2011
Snapshot of Troy: The Sweet Surprise at the Gateway to the Erie Canal
Burial site of Uncle Sam, birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution and site of a vibrant cultural renaissance, Troy lays claim to a fascinating portion of American history. Join local experts and learn how the city influenced American industry; enjoy its historic downtown adorned with locally cast wrought–iron ornaments and Tiffany windows; learn why movie directors repeatedly film here; and discover Troy’s leading role in abolition and women's suffrage. Watch a short video of the Troy program or read more. | Program #15922
May 18 – June 2, 2011
The Historic Waterways of America: The Great Lakes, Hudson River and Erie Canal (Road Scholar Adventures Afloat Program aboard The Grande Mariner)
From a small seaport town in Rhode Island to Navy Pier in downtown Chicago, this is truly a once–in–a–lifetime adventure. An exclusive Road Scholar charter aboard a small, family style ship that is one of only two passenger-carrying ships in the country that can make this unique voyage (the other ship that can make this journey is the Grande Caribe, the Mariner’s sister ship). Depart from Rhode Island in the afternoon and wake up the next morning to see the Manhattan skyline ahead of you. Join your historian on the Sun Deck (bring a cup of coffee or tea, if you'd like) for a memorable, personally narrated cruise down the East River, a fabulous photo op at the Statue of Liberty, and a reflective few minutes as you steam by Ground Zero before proceeding up the historic and beautiful Hudson River. This 15–night voyage is packed with sights to see, history to learn and places to visit. Since its debut as an Road Scholar program in 2007, "Historic Waterways" has quickly become one of the most popular Adventures Afloat programs and sells out annually. Come aboard with us and relax, learn, discover and laugh your way on a memorable journey on historic rivers, canals and lakes. Registration is now open for this program at roadscholar.org or by calling 1–800–454–5768.
August 10 – 15, 2011
Historic New England Islands and Seaports
(Road Scholar Adventures Afloat aboard The Grande Caribe)
New England’s islands have endured countless transitions and transformations over the centuries. Embark on a voyage of discovery into the mystique of summer on the water in historic captains’ homes, lighthouses, beaches and dunes, and the warm salt air breezes in timeless harbors. Delve into the history, art, literature and natural resources of Block Island, Cuttyhunk, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, New Bedford and Newport. Program #6018RJ
September 3 – 15, 2011
One Lock at a Time: The Living History of the Erie Canal
(Road Scholar Adventures Afloat aboard The Grande Caribe)
Discover the water routes that pioneers and explorers used over the last four centuries to reach interior North America. With your on–board historian, who intimately knows the waters you'll be traveling, learn how a young country with no engineers built more than 400 miles of canal through virgin wilderness. Marval at the raw beauty of the 1,000 Islands area of the St. Lawrence Seaway as you travel in leisure to two of the most fascinating and historic cities in North America: Montreal and Quebec City. Program #13384RJ
Key: Small Ship Cruising;Road Scholar Adventure Afloat Program