The Pilgrims and America's Founding Fathers Experience
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ITINERARY
Dr. Steven J. Lawson, and Dr. Stephen Nichols will be sharing their theological and historical reflections throughout the tour.
Dr. R.C. Sproul will be attending as a guest, health permitting.
Day 1 - Arrive in Boston, MA
Arriving at Logan International Airport, you will be greeted by Sovereign Guardian Angels who will provide welcome amenities as you wait to be loaded into private luxury sedans that will deliver you to your Boston hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, guests are pre-keyed into each of their appointed rooms and will be given the Day 1 Pilgrims and America's Founding Fathers Experience newsletter that will identify the day’s events. We recommend that you use this day to visit Boston sites on your own. Full welcome buffet dinner at the hotel with welcome lecture by one of our lecture speakers. HOTEL: City Center Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 2 - Boston
After an early breakfast lecture, we will embark on our full day's journey first to Newburyport where the great preacher George Whitefield is interred. We will visit the church that holds his remains and seek to understand the controversy that surrounded Whitefield's fiery delivery and tremendous popularity. We will depart for the historic town of Salem, MA where you will have the opportunity to choose from a number of eclectic restaurants for lunch on your own. Our teaching staff will lead us through a historic understanding of Salem and the influence of Puritan and Reformed theology. This evening, you are free to explore the varied world-class restaurants of downtown Boston. HOTEL: City Center Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 3 - Cape Cod
The morning will start with a full breakfast and a lecture on the journey and perils of the Mayflower as the Pilgrims sailed from Europe to Provincetown Harbor in Cape Cod. We will then board our luxury motor coach that will transport our group to Boston Harbor where we will echo one small step of our Forefathers by boarding a chartered ferry** to sail to Provincetown. Once we arrive in Provincetown, we will visit the Pilgrim Monument and read the famous words of the Mayflower Compact. Our group will have lunch in the sea side town of Provincetown on their own, and then we will depart for Harwich on the south side of Cape Cod where we will enjoy a traditional lobster bake* and an evening lecture on the fortitude of the Pilgrims. Here we will gain insight on how the Pilgrims understood God's providential rule over the universe. HOTEL: Beach Front Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 4 - Cape Cod
We will first enjoy a fresh farm-to-table breakfast at our hotel followed by Sunday Worship. By means of a motor coach, we will head to Plymouth, to Plymouth Rock, the traditional landing spot of William Bradford and his Mayflower sojourners. Then our group departs for Plimoth Plantation for an experiential journey into the lives and daily challenges that the early Pilgrims faced. After you enjoy lunch in Plymouth on your own, we will embark the Mayflower II, a precise replica of the original Mayflower. We will end the day with a visit to the stunning Pilgrim Father’s Monument. On our return to the resort we will have time for reflection on the seashore of Cape Cod as we appreciate the sacrifices of the past and look forward to the sacrifices that may lay before our own generation. We will end the day by enjoying a special dinner and lecture. HOTEL: Beach Front Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 5 - New Haven
Enjoy a farm fresh breakfast and lecture in Cape Cod. By motor coach, we will head to New Haven, Connecticut and to Yale where we will enjoy a visit to the Jonathan Edwards Center. We will explore Edwards' prolific writings, artifacts from his life, and seek to understand his bold motivations as a champion for the Gospel. After lunch on your own, we will enjoy an afternoon in New Haven and retire to our hotel. Dinner is on your own and this interesting city is yours to explore. HOTEL: City Center First Class Accommodations |
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Day 6 - Princeton
After a full breakfast, we will leave New Haven and journey to the historic university city of Princeton. HOTEL: First Class Accommodations |
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Day 7 - Philadelphia
Leaving Princeton, we will travel to Philadelphia where two great ideas are still in competition between the self-proclaimed "virtuous heretic," Benjamin Franklin, and the man of soulful righteousness, George Whitefield. We will examine how the powerful oratory of George Whitefield led to the establishment of the University of Pennsylvania. We will visit Whitefield's statue at the University and recall where Benjamin Franklin records Whitefield's call on him to experience the new birth as well as Whitefield's concern that Franklin had not yet experienced the new birth. Franklin noted his friendship with Whitefield saying, "I knew him intimately upwards of thirty years. His integrity, disinterestedness, and indefatigable zeal in prosecuting every good work I have never seen equaled and shall never see excelled." Clearly, Whitefield's gospel preaching impacted the colonies. Some scholars have suggested that his preaching may have been one of the significant influences that helped to unify the disparate colonies into united American States. We arrive at our Downtown Philadelphia hotel and enjoy a period dinner and lecture with our teaching staff and our own private time at Independence Hall. HOTEL: City Center Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 8 - Philadelphia
After a full American breakfast, we will seek to understand the philosophical and theological underpinnings of the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution. We will see how the influence created by the Great Awakening softened what otherwise would have been a purely secular humanist society. We will enjoy the Franklin Square, The Liberty Bell Center, Independence Hall, and Carpenters Hall This evening, you will be experiencing an epicurean adventure at one of the top rated restaurants in Philadelphia: Alma de Cuba. James Beard award - winning Celebrity Chef and Sovereign Culinary Director Chef Douglas Rodriguez will personally prepare and create a special meal for Ligonier guests on the last night of our tour. HOTEL: City Center Luxury Accommodations |
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Day 9 - Philadelphia
After enjoying a continental breakfast, Sovereign's Guardian Angels will assist you to your private chauffeured cars to depart to Philadelphia International Airport. MEALS: B |
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Please Note: Schedule of tour events is subject to modification without notice. To fully participate in this tour, you must be able to walk long distances, have good balance capabilities and be able to walk on uneven terrain. There will also be some climbing involved as well as long periods of standing. Due to the historical nature of some of our destinations, not all facilities will be ADA compliant. **Weather Permitting |