Explore with Viking—United States

Explore Norfolk’s colorful Botanical Garden and view its diverse collection of plants. Board your motor coach and travel through Norfolk, en route to the Norfolk Botanical Garden. Established during the mid-20th century, today it is Virginia’s largest botanical garden and powered entirely by renewable energy. During its early days, it was designed exclusively to nurture azaleas; today, it is home to many more plants, including holly, orchids and roses. Upon arrival, you will glimpse some of the 60 themed gardens across its 175 acres during a tram ride through its grounds. Afterward, you will have free time to explore further on your own, perhaps visiting the idyllic Japanese Garden or the Bristow Butterfly Garden, which is home to more than 50 native species. After time to browse the gift shop, you will return to your awaiting ship.

Explore the history of American achievement during the 20th century at the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation. Founded by famed automobile manufacturer Henry Ford, the museum contains an extensive collection of historically significant artifacts and Americana that tell the story of 20th-century American society. Enjoy a guided tour, during which you can admire American ingenuity through exhibits showcasing the evolution of presidential limousines during the past century and a replica of the airplane flown by the Wrights at Kitty Hawk in 1903. Enjoy free time to browse the museum’s many culturally important items, such as the limousine President John F. Kennedy was riding in on November 22, 1963 in Dallas, President Abraham Lincoln’s chair from Ford’s Theatre and the Montgomery bus where civil rights icon Rosa Parks refused to surrender her seat in 1955.

Discover the charming downtown of Alpena during a guided walk. Meet your knowledgeable guide and set out to see the sights of the town called the “Sanctuary of the Great Lakes.” You will pass notable landmarks, including the IOOF Centennial Building, a well-preserved example of late Victorian-era commercial architecture, as well as a number of historically significant and uniquely shaped buildings that tell the story of the development of Alpena. Learn the story behind the inspiring murals on display throughout the downtown district and gain insight into local life in Alpena. Cap your walk with free time to explore the displays and artifacts at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center, including an immersive storm experience while standing on the deck of a full-size replica of a schooner. Afterward, you will walk back to your ship.

Discover the historical sights and yesteryear charm of scenic Mackinac Island. A National Historic Landmark, the island has undergone extensive preservation and restoration, including the banning of almost all motor vehicles. You will embark on a horse-drawn carriage ride to view major landmarks. See Fort Mackinac, one of the few Revolutionary War fortresses still in existence. Built atop a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac, this former military outpost was the site of two strategic battles during the War of 1812. Admire the elegant facade of the Victorian-era Grand Hotel; a vacation destination for several US presidents, the hotel’s 660-foot-long front porch is billed as the “longest in the world.” Stroll the bustling downtown streets, then enjoy free time to explore the shops or sample the island’s renowned fudge.

See the sights of Milwaukee, on the shores of Lake Michigan, during a panoramic excursion. Meet your guide at the pier and set out by motor coach to delve into the city’s past and present. Your guide will regale you with historic tales of the first European settlers who arrived on these shores during the early 19th-century, creating distinctly German, Irish, Polish and Italian neighborhoods. Stop in front of the Milwaukee Art Museum to behold the stunning Quadracci Pavilion, a winged structure designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Learn about the North Point Lighthouse and stop to visit the Pabst Mansion, a grand Flemish Renaissance Revival-styled house built for the founder of the Pabst Brewing Company. Cap your tour with a visit to Milwaukee-born Harley-Davidson campus and gift shop, before returning to your ship.

Immerse yourself in Thunder Bay’s maritime heritage during a museum visit and boat ride over storied shipwrecks. Begin your exploration at the Great Lakes Maritime Heritage Center. On arrival, you will enjoy a video presentation showcasing the area’s shipwrecks and the research of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Explore the exhibits with your guide, including a replica of a 19th-century schooner and simulator where you can experience the sensation of being caught on the water in the middle of a storm. Learn about the history of Great Lakes shipping and the many tragic shipwrecks that reside on the bottom of Lake Huron, as well as stories of miraculous survival, then view artifacts recovered from the lake. After, embark on a cruise into Thunder Bay with an expert archaeologist on board a purpose-built, glass-bottom boat to glimpse the ships beneath the surface.

Explore the highlights of Mackinac Island and enjoy lunch at the iconic Grand Hotel. Set out on a leisurely horse-drawn carriage ride—almost all motor vehicles are banned from the island—to see the island’s major sites. See charming cottages nestled between landmarks such as the Governor’s Summer House, Arch Rock and Fort Mackinac, one of the few Revolutionary War fortresses still in existence. Built to defend the surrounding waterway, the fort sits atop a bluff overlooking the Straits of Mackinac; it was the site of two strategic battles during the War of 1812. Continue to the elegant Victorian-era Grand Hotel; built in 1887, this Queen Anne-style hotel is a registered National Historic Landmark. Cap your visit with a buffet-style lunch while taking in sweeping views of the Straits of Mackinac from the world’s longest front porch, followed by free time.

Step into the past during a visit to the former capital of 18th-century Virginia. Call at the historic district of Colonial Williamsburg, where you will meet your guide and embark on a tour of this living-history museum. Here, you will find several hundred restored buildings dating to the 18th century, when the city served as the capital of Virginia. See the Palladian architecture of the Governor’s Palace and stroll along Duke of Gloucester Street, the area’s main thoroughfare. Enjoy lunch at a local eatery, accompanied by a glass of wine or beer. After, you will have free time to explore the district further; perhaps browse the stores at Merchant Square or visit the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum to glimpse American and British antiquities and art from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. At the end of your excursion, return to your awaiting ship.

Explore the seafaring heritage of Norfolk during an excursion to museums showcasing regional maritime history. Drive to Newport News, located on the Historic Virginia Peninsula, gaining insight into the rich maritime history of Hampton Roads, one of the nation’s oldest ports. At The Mariners’ Museum and Park, browse the many exhibits ranging from military history to sailing in the world-renowned America’s Cup. At the park’s USS Monitor Center, view artifacts from the ironclad USS Monitor. Then, enjoy free time for lunch and further exploration. Continue to the Nauticus, a maritime discovery center, where you will visit the Hampton Roads Naval Museum and climb on board the historic USS Wisconsin, one of the last and largest battleships ever built. After, you will have a chance to see the rest of the ship, Nauticus and the Hampton Roads Naval Museum at your leisure.

Explore two historic and well-preserved Michigan lighthouses on the shores of Lake Huron. Embark on a scenic drive by motor coach to the northeastern shores of the lake. Here, you will find the two lighthouses, separated by just a mile. Visit the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1840 and reaching a height of 30 feet; the oldest accessible lighthouse in Michigan, it is rumored to be haunted by a former keeper. Afterward, travel to the nearby New Presque Isle Lighthouse, built in 1870 to replace its counterpart and reaching 113 feet tall. Both stops will include guided tours of the buildings and the grounds. You will also have an opportunity to climb the stairs to the top of each tower, where you will admire sweeping views of the lake and harbor. At the conclusion of your excursion, you will return to your ship.

Delve into the world of automobile manufacturing during a visit to the Ford Rouge Factory. Designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn and built along the banks of the Rouge River in Dearborn, the River Rouge Complex opened in 1928 and was a manufacturing marvel, the largest integrated factory in the world at the time. Throughout its history, it has produced such iconic vehicles as the stylish Thunderbird and high performance Mustang; today, it produces the F-150 pickup truck. Upon arrival, meet your docent, who will lead you on a two-hour tour. Marvel at the immense scale of the factory’s size as you learn about its storied history of harnessing American ingenuity to facilitate game-changing technology and sustainable design. You will also get an inside look at the production of the F-150 and gain insight into modern manufacturing’s most progressive concepts.