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Hosted By: Steve McMurray
Vice President and General Manager
WKTV
View Biography
Spring flowers are in bloom as we discover the culture and heritage of Holland and Belgium. Arrive in Amsterdam and visit Zaanse Schans, a picturesque open air museum with windmills and a recreated Dutch village. Tour Amsterdam and go on a narrated canal boat ride. See famous works of art at the Rijksmuseum and visit the Aalsmeer Flower Auction where 20 million flowers are bought and sold every day. Cross into Belgium to learn about the Belgian Draft horses and tour a Belgian brewery with an overnight in Bruges. Back in Holland, tour the city of Delft and the last remaining 17th-century Delft blue & white pottery factory on our way to the Hague, where we explore the city and stroll the pathways of Keukenhof, popularly known as “the Spring Garden of Europe.”
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April 19th, 2024 - April 27th, 2024
Occupancy
Price Per Person
Double
$5799
Single
$6699
Final Payment Date: 01/15/2024
Day 1 : Fly to Amsterdam
We fly to the Netherlands, known for their tulip fields, windmills, canals, rich history and interesting architecture.
Day 2 : Zaanse Schans & Haarlem
Our first visit is the famous Zaanse Schans, a picturesque village established as an open-air museum. See iconic windmills and quaint wooden houses. View a range of traditional Dutch crafts such as cheese and wooden shoe making. Then, enjoy a typical Dutch lunch and relax before our afternoon excursion. Later, we’ll explore a walking tour of the historic city of Haarlem including the St. Bavo church and view the Corrie Ten Boom House, a hiding place for Jews during World War II. Our home for two nights is in the historic city of Haarlem. Get to know your fellow travelers during a delicious welcome dinner this evening.
Day 3 : Amsterdam
At the Rijksmuseum we view an unrivaled collection of 16th and 17th-century art including works by Rembrandt and other Dutch Masters like Vermeer and Frans Hals. We will join a local Dutch guide to learn about this fascinating city and its unique architecture including a canal boat ride for another perspective of this city of canals. This evening, enjoy a typical Dutch dinner before our second overnight.
Day 4 : Flower Auction
We are spectators at the Aalsmeer Flower Auction, the world’s largest international flower market. Around 20 million flowers of many varieties are traded daily. Learn how the flowers journey from the fields to florists around the world in an amazingly short amount of time. Then, we travel just outside of the city of Utrecht to tour the enchanting Castle de Haar and see the beautiful and extensive gardens. Lunch is included at a charming local restaurant near the castle. Our destination today is Valkenburg, a historical city in the southeastern province of Limburg. This evening enjoy dinner at Chateau St. Gerlach, a former monastery located on a beautiful estate.
Day 5 : American Cemetery & Belgian Beer
We start our day with a visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten. Immaculately maintained rows of crosses and Stars of David mark the final resting place of 8,301 American military and over 1,700 missing in action from WWII. We then cross into Belgium to visit the Diepensteyn Stud Farm to learn about the origin and history of the Belgian draft horse. Originally bred as a work horse and eventually replaced by tractors, we see these magnificent horses which today are used by The Palm Brewery to promote their beer. Tour the Palm Brewery and indulge in the opportunity to taste this hearty Belgian brew. This afternoon we enjoy a walking tour of beautiful Bruges, Belgium, the Venice of the Benelux countries. Our overnight tonight is in Bruges.
Day 6 : Delft
We cross the border back into Holland to visit Delft. Our guided walking tour takes us through historic Delft, one of the most beautiful squares in the Netherlands, where we visit the iconic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). This afternoon, we tour Royal Delft, the last remaining earthenware factory from the 17th century. Here we observe skilled artisans create this distinctive, hand-painted blue & white porcelain. Our last three nights are spent in the city of The Hague.
Day 7 : Gouda & The Hague
This morning we journey to the city of Gouda to see the historic cheese market and learn how cheese was bought and sold in times past. After our tour of Gouda, we enjoy a stroopwafel making demonstration followed by the chance to make one of these traditional wafer cookies on your own! After, we pause to shop, wandering the charming streets. Later we tour The Hague, the Royal City of the Netherlands and the country’s government seat. See the Peace Palace, the home of the International Court of Justice for the United Nations.
Day 8 : Keukenhof
Sure to be a highlight of our vacation, we visit Keukenhof, “the Spring Garden of Europe." Pathways throughout this beautifully landscaped park weave among creatively designed plantings of tulips, daffodils, narcissus, and other spring blossoms. Stroll through the gardens at your own pace, explore the three exhibition halls, and walk up the windmill for a magnificent look at the adjoining bulb fields. We gather for our farewell dinner to relax and share memories of this enchanting journey.
Day 9 : Fly Home
WKTV Pickup Locations:
New Hartford, NY - Burrstone Inn
Syracuse, NY - Syracuse Hancock International Airport
Steve McMurray is the Vice President and General Manager at NewsChannel 2, a position he’s held since March 2014. Prior to taking over as GM, he was the News Director at the station for almost 10 years.
Steve is a Frankfort native and graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Broadcast Journalism.
Steve enjoys serving the community. He has been a member of the Frankfort Fire Department for 32 years. He is a past President of the New York State Associated Press Broadcasters Association, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce.
Steve still lives in Frankfort with his wife Carrie, his son Jack, and daughter Audrey.
Join Steve and WKTV viewers on this exciting vacation!
Interested in more travel opportunities? Click here or visit www.holidayvacations.com and enter keyword UTICA.
Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.
Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.