Sun, Jun 8: After arriving in Norfolk, Virginia travel down picturesque coastal highways. Be swept away to the natural beauty of Outer Banks, North Carolina—America’s first beach. Two hundred miles of barrier islands offer wild landscape and history for you to explore. After settling into your beachfront hotel, enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers. (Meals: Dinner)

Mon, Jun 9: This morning start your exploration at the Wright Brothers Monument in Kitty Hawk, celebrating the historic accomplishment of Wilbur and Orville Wright in 1903 when they flew inches above the Outer Banks beach. In Corolla; that’s “Car-rah-la,” if you want to pronounce it like the locals, walk the grounds of the Currituck Beach Lighthouse or challenge yourself to climb to the top of the distinctive, exposed brick lighthouse. Known for its beautiful beaches and small-town community, you’ll still find an air of sophistication when touring the 39 acres that is home to the historic Whalehead Club. Learn about the wealthy Pennsylvanian residents that built their home here in the 1920’s and how it transformed over the years. After lunch, complete the afternoon with a Wild Horse Safari where catching a ride on a 4×4 vehicle allows glimpses of Colonial Spanish Mustangs roaming freely in their seaside environment. Enjoy dinner with the group before returning to the hotel. (B,L,D)

Tue, Jun 10: A scenic drive along the Cape Hatteras National Seashore takes you through marshlands, forests, and of course, graceful dunes and serene oceanfront. Start the day with the newly renovated Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. The treacherous waters surrounding the Outer Banks have been known to be particularly difficult for sailors and have caused over 5,000 known shipwrecks. Standing at 208 feet tall and candy-striped in black and white, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is picture perfect while protecting a treacherous part of the Outer Banks. After lunch, visit the historic Chicamacomico Life-Saving Station, which honors the early history of the Coast Guard in North Carolina. Lastly, stop at the Bodie Island Lighthouse and see the black and white horizontal stripes rising 150 feet high and topped with a first-order Fresnel lens. (B,L)

Wed, Jun 11: Enjoy a morning at leisure to stroll the beach, take a surf lesson, or for the more adventurous, a beginning hang gliding lesson would create vacation memories. This afternoon, a visit to the Elizabethan Gardens, located within Fort Raleigh National Historic Site, will delight. Acres of botanic gardens and sculptures highlight the flora of the region along with the surrounding history. Continue south to the charming and historic village of Manteo for a local rum tasting and exploration on your own. After dinner, attend a performance of The Lost Colony, which recounts the history of the area and features over 100 actors at an outdoor amphitheater located on the site of the original Roanoke Colony. (B,L)

Thu, Jun 12: This morning, depart the Outer Banks and ship out. Well, not quite, but while touring the Nauticus—a modern maritime museum located in Norfolk’s harbor—you’ll get a chance to explore the six-star, Battleship Wisconsin,one of the largest and last battleships built by the U.S. Navy. After doing battle and earning five stars in World War II, one star for her efforts in the Korean War, and commendation for service during the first Gulf War, Battleship Wisconsin was restored and berthed at Nauticus. Not only can you explore Navy life on board, but you can peruse the museum and its interactive and informative exhibits and shops. Late afternoon, depart for Indianapolis. (B,L)