MOHAWK RIVER VALLEY PLUS Skaneateles Lake

MOHAWK RIVER VALLEY PLUS Skaneateles Lake

The Mohawk Valley Region is a fascinating mosaic of history, nature, and culture. Central New York’s Mohawk Valley Region covers seven counties with nearly 200 communities and upwards of one million residents. All share and celebrate a distinguished history. The Mohawk River corridor through the center of the region is the easiest, most direct route between the Atlantic seaboard and heartland America. This key geographic passage was hotly-contested territory and a huge factor in shaping the history of our American nation from earliest times. It is also the ancestral homeland of the Native American Iroquois Confederacy. The legendary Erie Canal, a technological wonder of its era, was built here taking advantage of the convenient path
nature carved through the eastern mountain range to construct a more modern
transportation waterway. This reinforced national ambitions, expansion of America’s western frontier, and the westward spread of eager settlers. We will depart Manassas at 7:30 a.m. and Woodbridge at 8:15 a.m. Return time is approximately at 6:00 p.m.

                                                Itinerary

DAY ONE:

Today you depart on your deluxe motor coach for a scenic drive to Syracuse, New York where we will make a lunch stop at a Cracker Barrel ($20 gift card) and then continue to our lodging for three nights at the Hampton Inn. Dinner tonight is at the Longhorn Steak House, with a choice of ribeye steak, parmesan crusted chicken or salmon.

DAY TWO:

After a full buffet breakfast at your hotel, you travel to nearby Herkimer, New York in the heart of the Mohawk River Valley, named for the Native Americans that inhabited the area when the first European settlers arrived. The picture-perfect town of Herkimer was originally settled in the 1700s by Palatine families from the Rhineland in Germany. This morning you are treated to a private tour of the Herkimer Home built in 1764 for Nicholas Herkimer, son of the founding father of the town. The colorful formal gardens in this lovely brick mansion are
beautiful in the Spring! No visit to this area would be complete of course, without a stop at Gems Along the Mohawk, a 5000 square foot gift shop filled with food and gifts from vendors all over New York state. Enjoy! Now it’s on to the Herkimer Diamond Mines Complex, where you have lunch on your own in the cafe here. Herkimer “Diamonds” are actually quartz crystal gems that are naturally double faceted which makes them extremely rare and valuable. Estimated to be over 400 million years old, these world-famous gems were first discovered by local Native Americans in the 1700s and have continued to
be mined for nearly two centuries. Yes, they are known by scientists to be the clearest, most perfect quartz in existence! Today, your tour here includes a lesson on panning for Herkimer Diamonds with a free five by seven-inch bag filled with sand and gems for each member of your tour group. After the lesson, the gems are yours to take home! There will be plenty of time for visiting the wonderful museum and gift shop here before enjoying a delicious 2-meat dinner buffet at the Mineral Tavern. Have fun!

DAY THREE:

After a full buffet breakfast at your hotel, you take a 29-mile drive to Auburn, New York, where you have a fascinating tour of the William H. Seward Home, dedicated to President Abraham Lincoln’s secretary of state. Seward passed away here in 1872. On display are the original family furnishings as well as Seward’s private collection of rare gifts he received from all over the world. Included are a Russian tea samovar, shining armor from the crusades and even 1800s board games in their original boxes – all in mint condition! Now, you take a 5-mile drive to the sparkling waters of Skaneateles Lake where you enjoy a private one-hour cruise. Your narrated tour will include the history of the lake
(which means “Long Lake” in Native American language) and a description of the homes of noted people you will pass, including the Roosevelt family estate. Now, after having time for lunch and shopping on your own in the charming dockside town of Skaneateles, you end your touring day at the gorgeous vineyards of the Anyela Winery, where you have wine-tasting and a talk on the rich history of the area. Now, a private sumptuous buffet dinner awaits you at the beautiful, historic Springside Inn built in 1851. What a wonderful way to end your tour!

DAY FOUR:

This morning, after a full buffet breakfast at your hotel, you depart with wonderful memories. We will be including lunch at a Cracker Barrel ($20 gift card)

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