8-night Northeast Harbors Cruise

Day 1 New York City

New York City is a captivating, awesome, and glamorous empire. There are countless museums, theaters, restaurants, parks and towering skyscrapers. It is a shopping capital of the world. In midtown Manhattan are most of the designer boutiques; Fifth and Madison Avenues are locations of such world-renowned department stores as Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue. FAO Schwartz is one of the largest toy stores in the world. New York is also a world-class culinary experience - with pockets of ethnic restaurants: Chinatown, Little Italy, Little India and Little Brazil. The famous Statue of Liberty sculpture symbolizing the American Dream can be reached by ferry from Battery Park. Once the first stop for over 12 million immigrants, Ellis Island now houses the Museum of Immigration, including the American Immigrant Wall of Honor. The Art Deco Empire State Building is one of the world's best-loved skyscrapers with two observation decks. Also take time to visit the Chrysler Building, Radio City Music Hall, and St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

Day 2 Sag Harbor

Day 3 Old Saybrook

Day 4 New London/Groton

New London and adjacent Groton were one city until 1705. They're nearly midway between New York City and Boston, along the Thames River (pronounced as it looks, not like the river in England) and Long Island Sound. Both cities have been known for shipbuilding: The world's first atomic-powered submarine was built in Groton by General Dynamics. You can learn about submarines at the USS Nautilus Memorial (where the first nuclear-powered sub is open for tours) and the adjacent Submarine Force Museum.

While in New London, take time to visit some of the impressive old homes and stroll along the beautiful coastline. Visit the Shaw-Perkins Mansion; the Joshua Hempstead House (1648); the Nathaniel Hempstead House (1759); Monte Cristo Cottage (the home in which playwright Eugene O'Neill spent summers as a child); and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Ocean Beach Park is a major recreation area, good for ocean swimming. The Yale-Harvard Regatta, a classic Ivy League rowing competition, takes place in June in New London.

In Groton, you can visit Fort Griswold State Park, which commemorates the Revolutionary War battle during which Benedict Arnold directed British forces to burn New London and Groton. Also in the park is the Ebenezer Avery House, a restored home from the 1700s. Learn about oceanography and marine biology by taking a cruise on EnviroLab, a working research vessel that lets passengers participate in studies of the sea. Subfest, a family-friendly festival, takes place in July.

Nearby Ledyard is home to Foxwoods, a resort-casino run by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians that is said to be one of the highest-grossing casinos in the world. This upscale resort offers the usual casino attractions (slots, roulette, poker, blackjack and baccarat) as well as shows by such top-name entertainers as Bill Cosby, B. B. King and Tom Jones. The income the tribe has received from the casino has financed the lavish Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. It includes a simulated glacier, a 2-acre/1-hectare indoor re-creation of a Pequot village in the 1500s (complete with the smell of burning wood), film and video programs and a restaurant serving Native American cuisine. Uncasville also has a casino, the Mohegan Sun.

Other possible side trips include Old Lyme and Essex. Old Lyme is a small town west of New London with beautiful beaches and lovely old homes. It has been a favorite summer retreat for artists since the early 1900s, when it was a center of the American impressionism movement. Essex looks the way most people think a quaint New England town should look. It has beautiful colonial homes and two blocks of shops, as well as a first-rate marina and a maritime museum. The Valley Railroad operates a vintage steam train along the scenic route to Deep River Station, and visitors can also take a riverboat cruise. The Ivoryton Playhouse (just east of Essex) stages theatrical performances. New London is 45 mi/75 km southeast of Hartford.

Day 4 Mystic

Mystic, Connecticut, on Long Island Sound, makes a lovely day's visit, especially for families. There's plenty for the kids to see. Topping the list is the Mystic Seaport and the Mystic Aquarium.

Other sights in town include Olde Mistick Village (shops and restaurants) and two historic houses, Whitehall Mansion (now a bed-and-breakfast) and the Denison Homestead (now a museum). Several companies run sightseeing and dinner cruises out of the Mystic harbor.

Nearby Stonington has preserved its close connections with the sea. Narrow one-way streets, sea captains' homes and a protected harbor for small fishing boats maintain the feel of a whaling and sealing hub of the 1800s. It also served as a secluded vacation spot for writers, including Truman Capote—whose risque swimwear caused a ruckus in the 1950s.

You can drive or walk through the village to Stonington Point (it juts out into the harbor and is accessible to the public). Visit the Stonington Lighthouse Museum, an 1840 lighthouse that houses nautical artifacts and has a commanding view of three states from the top of the circular staircase. Take some time to watch the boats going out into Long Island Sound and to swim at the small public beach. A visit to this unspoiled village is a relaxing way to cap a day spent at the busy attractions of nearby Mystic. Be sure to dine at one of the seafood restaurants in the area.

Among the notable events on Mystic's calendar are the Antique & Classic Boat Rendezvous (July), the Outdoor Art Festival (August) and Chowderfest (food and entertainment—October).

Casino gambling, fine dining and entertainment are available at Foxwoods Resort Casino (toll-free 800-369-9663; https://www.foxwoods.com/casino) in Mashantucket and Mohegan Sun (toll-free 888-226-7711; http://www.mohegansun.com) in Uncasville.

Day 5 Newport, RI

Newport became important as a resort for wealthy industrialists who built their “summer cottages”, modeled after European palaces, here and elevated Newport to position of “Queen of Summer Resorts.” A tour of the mansions is a must. Newport is also famous as a yachting capital and site of international tennis championships. Colonial Newport boasts a collection of 18th- and 19th-century and pre-Revolutionary buildings. Colonial Downtown is best explored on foot, and much of the town was burned down during British occupation, but enough buildings survived to rival Boston in number of original 18th-century homes. George Washington’s assurances to Newport’s Jewish community of religious liberty encouraged them to build Touro Synagogue in 1763, making it the oldest in the nation. St. Mary’s Church is the oldest Catholic parish in Rhode Island. The Grand Newport Casino and International Tennis Hall of Fame held the first national tennis championship in 1881 and is now Tennis Hall of Fame with a museum on tennis fashions and trophies.

Day 6 At Sea

Day 7 Plymouth, Massachusetts

Founded by the Pilgrims on December 21, 1620, this town situated on the banks of Plymouth Bay is ripe with historical significance to U.S. history. Any American grade-schooler can tell you about Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower and here one can see both. The town has a replica of the famous ship, the Mayflower II at the state pier. From museums to the Plimouth Plantation, where history repeats itself daily, Plymouth is a fantastic place to explore.

Day 8 Boston

The history and bricklaid beauty of Boston is easy to enjoy. Follow the Freedom Trail past Old North Church, Paul Revere Park, Fanieul Hall, the Commons, Old Ironsides and more landmarks of America's birth. Across the Charles River is Cambridge and Harvard. Venture to Marblehead and Salem to the south, or Lexington and Concord to the north. Back in town, have clam chowder at the warf or great Italian food in North End.