Trail of Religious Freedom - Itinerary
Combine religious history with United States history as you visit some of early America’s most significant cities. Begin in Providence, Rhode Island, founded by Roger Williams in 1636 after fleeing banishment from Massachusetts Bay Colony because of his belief in “soul liberty” and separation of church and state. In Providence, he also founded the first Baptist church in America. In Boston, follow along the Freedom Trail and engage your mind in some of the most exciting chapters of the early history of the United States.
In New York City, the “Big Apple,” explore all that this endlessly fascinating city has to offer. Ride a ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and imagine the overwhelming emotion of an immigrant catching a first glimpse of her new home. Take a sobering walk around Ground Zero and visualize the Twin Towers that once magnificently stood there. In Washington DC, marvel at the great monuments and institutions that symbolize the ideas of our nation’s founders. Visit the museums of the Smithsonian, “the nation’s attic,” containing some 70 million catalogued items, and honor America’s fallen soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery.
The sequence of touring and days may be altered to adjust to religious holidays, special closings of sites, air schedule changes, etc. Hotels listed subject to availability. Meal inclusions may vary by departure.
DAY 1, JACKSONVILLE/PROVIDENCE
Today we gather at the airport for our flight to Providence, Rhode Island. Fleeing banishment from Massachusetts Bay Colony because of his belief in "soul liberty" and separation of church and state, Roger Williams founded the first town in Rhode Island in 1636. After arrival, we are met by our Tour Director and have a brief overview of the city of Providence. We have dinner on our own at the Providence Mall before transferring to the Holiday Inn Express in Warwick, Rhode Island, where we have overnight. (meals aloft)
DAY 2, PROVIDENCE/BOSTON
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer the short distance to Providence and the First Baptist Church (organized by Roger Williams as the first Baptist church in America) where we celebrate our morning worship. After the service we drive to Boston, where we have lunch on our own at Quincy Marketplace. This afternoon we enjoy an overview tour of Boston's Freedom Trail. As we follow the Trail, we will walk not only into the past of Boston, but into some of the most exciting chapters in the early history of the United States. Included will be a visit to the Old North Church (the oldest church in Boston). The two lanterns hung from its steeple on the night of April 18, 1775, signaled that the Redcoats were leaving for Lexington and Concord and started Paul Revere on his ride. In 1781, the old bells in the steeple rang out the good news that Cornwallis had surrendered at Yorktown. The Cyrus Dallin equestrian statue of Paul Revere graces the small park at the rear of the Church. We see the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides), the 44-gun frigate first put to sea in 1798 and the oldest commissioned ship of the U.S. Navy. We visit Beacon Hill, where many of Boston's wealthy, socially prominent families lived throughout the nineteenth century, the Boston Public Garden and Common and the Back Bay. The earliest of American botanical gardens features colorful, seasonally changing plantings and a lovely lagoon, home of the famous swan boats that have charmed generations of Boston children and adults. The most ambitious of Boston's 19th-century land reclamation projects was the filling of a stagnant backwater of the Charles River called the Back Bay. The brick and brownstone mansions with which the new streets were lined still stand, although most have long since been renovated into apartments. The Back Bay today is not only an architectural treasure but the cultural center of Boston as well. It houses schools, colleges, and galleries, the Museum of Fine Arts, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Dinner is included in Boston after our tour. We return to the Holiday Inn for overnight. (B,D)
DAY 3, PROVIDENCE/NEW YORK CITY
Today we travel to New York City, the "Big Apple." A stop will be made at Clinton Crossing, with 70 outlet stores in an outdoor village setting, for a quick lunch. After arrival in New York, we check into The Days Hotel, located on 8th Avenue between 48th and 49th Streets, and convenient to the theatre district, and have the rest of the afternoon to explore on our own or just relax. This evening we visit the Empire State Building, one of the world's tallest office buildings. (B)
DAY 4, NEW YORK CITY
Today we take the ferry to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, where 12 million immigrants first entered the U.S. Lunch is included in Little Italy. This afternoon we visit Ground Zero and the United Nations. We will also meet Dr. David D'Amico, CBF Missionary to the Diplomatic Community of the U.N. He will share with us about his work here. The evening is at leisure. Perhaps you will want to attend a Broadway show. (B,L)
DAY 5, NEW YORK CITY/WASHINGTON, DC
We depart this morning for Washington - the city which symbolizes the ideas of our nation's founders, and the city which keeps those ideas alive as it has since our government's inception in 1800. Every day, people in Washington alter mankind's fate upon this earth. Some days they change it greatly; some days only a little. And only history can tell which. This afternoon we visit the Museums of the Smithsonian. Many people may not realize that the main building of the Smithsonian was built in 1852 with funds willed by Englishman James Smithson, who had never even seen America. The Smithsonian has been called "the nation's attic," and it contains, at last count, something over 70 million catalogued items. Dinner is on our own at the Ronald Reagan Pavilion. After dinner we check in at the Sheraton Suites in Alexandria, Virginia (or similar). (B)
DAY 6, WASHINGTON, DC
Today we have a guided tour to include the Capitol, the White House, Ford's Theatre and the Peterson House. We also visit Arlington National Cemetery and view the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and grave of the late President Kennedy with its eternal flame. Lunch will be on our own at Union Station. A farewell dinner will be included this evening. We will have as our guest and speaker, Mr. Brent Walker, Chairman of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs. (B,D)
DAY 7, WASHINGTON, DC/JACKSONVILLE
After breakfast we transfer to the airport in Baltimore for our return flight to Jacksonville. (B, meals aloft)
