Islands of New England

A major 18th-century port city, Newport, Rhode Island has the highest concentration of colonial buildings in the United States. However, the town is best known for being the summer resort of the newly rich American millionaires from the mid 19th century to the early 20th century. This Gilded Age was often expressed with sumptuous mansions called "cottages."

Dive into the cuisine and culture of Maine when you join a local lobsterman on a lobster boat. See how lobster traps are retrieved from the ocean and watch the cages get pulled to the surface.

The traditional site of landing by the Mayflower Pilgrims who founded the Plymouth colony in 1620. While no mention of "The Rock" is listed until over 100 years after the landing it has long represented the beginning of U.S. settlement.

Just south of the metropolis of Boston lies a island with 300 miles of shoreline characterized with quaint villages, sand dunes and bicycle trails. Cape Cod has become a popular escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Join a tradition of artists and industrialists who revered the Cape for its beautiful sunsets, natural preserves and fresh seafood.

Glacially formed, 30 miles off the coast of Massachusetts, this half-moon-shaped island takes its name from a Native American word meaning "far away place". Nantucket was a whale hunting center during the 1830s-1840s. Somewhat decimated by the decreased whaling industry, Nantucket has emerged as a popular art and summer resort as well as a home for wealthy Northeasterners.

A small island south of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard was settled by the English in the 1640s. Today the island is marked with 18th-century homes, gingerbread cottages, beaches and lighthouses. Enjoy lobster rolls or homemade ice cream while shopping for souvenirs, such as scrimshaw, in the island's boutiques.

When the first European settlers reached North America, lobsters would reportedly wash up on shore in piles up to two feet high. Routinely fed to prisoners, slaves, apprentices and children during the Colonial era and beyond, lobster became known as the poor man's protein. Considered a delicacy by WW II, American lobsters (or Maine lobsters) can grow up to 40 lbs (18 kg) and be 3 feet long (91 cm).