The sample itinerary described below is approximately like the itinerary you will be during your stay with JB Tours. However, the exact times, day, and destinations may be different. Your timed itinerary and luggage tags will be sent to you along with your receipt.

DAY 1
Tuesday, July 14
A morning departure has you traveling to your overnight stop for check in at your hotel (pack an overnight bag). Dinner is on your own this evening.

DAY 2
Wednesday, July 15
Following breakfast, check out and depart for the Connecticut River Valley. Arrive in Mystic, CT, to visit Olde Mistick Village, an outdoor venue with shops, boutiques, eateries, and seasonal events in a throwback village setting. Enjoy lunch on your own while at Olde Mistick Village, then continue to nearby Mystic Seaport Museum, where you can visit the exhibits and historic vessels. This living history museum is the nation’s leading maritime museum and features a permanent collection and new acquisitions in their exhibits. It is notable for its collection of sailing ships and boats and for the re-creation of the crafts and fabric of an entire 19th century seafaring village. After your visit, depart for your hotel where you will check into your rooms and prepare for dinner at a local restaurant.

DAY 3
Thursday, July 16
After breakfast, you will depart for Essex, CT, for the Connecticut River Museum to discover the heritage and natural beauty of the Connecticut River. Explore the exhibits which focus on the marine environment and maritime heritage of the area. Enjoy lunch on your own and some window shopping in downtown Essex, then proceed to the 1891 Essex Station for the Essex Steam Train & Riverboat. This spectacular 2-1/2-hour, 12-mile, narrated round-trip journey will take you into the heart of the unspoiled Connecticut River Valley which is designated by the nature Conservancy as “one of the last great places on earth”. Experience an authentic journey back to the days of steam as the steam locomotive pulls the vintage coaches at 20 mph through the quintessential New England towns of Deep River and Chester. The picturesque countryside includes nostalgic towns, forests, streams, pristine meadows, a quaint farm, a millpond with waterfall, and trestles and bridges over rivers and creeks. A natural highlight is the undeveloped Selden Neck State Park, accessible only by boat. Your train ride passes several coves and preserves and travels near the tidal wetlands of Pratt Cove and Chester Creek, natural habitats for birds. At Deep River Landing, passengers are escorted onto the Becky Thatcher Riverboat for a cruise along the Connecticut River. Learn about the history that makes the Connecticut River special. The visual serenity of the river valley is on full display from the riverboat’s multiple decks. The deep water, coves, inlets, marshes, wildlife, and rocky shoreline are all breathtaking! You will also pass historic sights including Gillette Castle, Goodspeed Opera House, and the Haddam Swing Bridge. Your cruise will return to Deep River Landing, where you will board the steam train for the return trip back to Essex Station. After your scenic excursion, continue to dinner at an area restaurant.

DAY 4
Friday, July 17
Enjoy breakfast, then check out and depart for Old Lyme, CT, for admission to the Florence Griswold Museum, which was once a boardinghouse run by Florence Griswold for American Impressionist artists who often painted on the walls and doors of the house. It was the center of the Old Lyme Art Colony and is noted for its collection of paintings. The entire first floor has been furnished to reflect its appearance in about 1910. The second floor is exhibition space in five galleries with rotating selections from the permanent collection, as well as new acquisitions. Afterward, you can enjoy lunch on your own before departing for your overnight stop for lodging (pack an overnight bag). Dinner is on your own in the area.

DAY 5
Saturday, July 18
Following breakfast, check out and depart for home with lasting memories of the Connecticut River Valley.