Benedict's, L.L.C. 2166 Charleston Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901     Ph : 570-724-5867                 Fax : 570-724-5693

GUIDED TOURS

Real Pirates at the Franklin Institute and the Battleship New Jersey Friday, June 20, 2008   $83 pp

REAL PIRATES: When the pirates ship Whydah sank in a 1717 nor'easter off Cape Cod, she took with her not only treasures looted from over 50 other ships, but also her captain, the notorious Sam Bellamy, and 143 of his crew. REAL PIRATES: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE WHYDAH FROM SLAVE SHIP TO PIRATE SHIP tells the compelling story of the Whydah and her crew with real artifacts recovered from the ocean floor by underwater explorer Barry Clifford, including the ship's bell, pirate dress items such as a silver pin, buckles, buttons and cufflinks; muskets, cannons and swords; gold and silver coins; Akan gold jewelry; and more.

Real Pirates takes visitors on a virtual journey aboard the mighty Whydah. Each of the 12 exhibit galleries represents a chapter in the ship's biography, from its construction and initial use as a slave ship to its takeover by pirates in the Caribbean and its subsequent demise to the modern day archeological recovery and conservation of its remains.
 

BATTLESHIP NEW JERSEY: America's most decorated Battleship is now the area's most exciting museum. Exploring "BB62" is experiencing history in a whole new way. Not only do you see exhibits of artifacts from the ship's past, but you are put into the exhibit on the guided tour. Sit in the chair from which Admiral Halsey commanded the fleet. Stretch out on the bunks where the sailors slept. Climb into the 16" gun turret and learn how the projectiles were loaded.

From the moment you step across the ship's brow you will understand that this is a museum where visitors take an active role. From strolling across forecastle to climbing the original ladders up to the bridge, and beyond, each step in your journey brings you closer to understanding what life was like for a sailor on the Battleship New Jersey.
 

The Best of Cooperstown Saturday, July 19, 2008     $96 Adult $93 (Seniors 65+) $87 (Children under 12)

FARMERS’ MUSEUM:  Rediscover the innocent beauty, the intricate wisdom and the enduring charm of our rural past.  Imagine turning the latch, opening the door and stepping over the threshold into another century.  At The Farmers' Museum, every visit is a new adventure, determined by the path you choose - through the gallery in the museum's glorious Main Barn, where you can marvel over the history of ice cream from the Egyptians to American suburbia in the new exhibit, Ice Cream: Our Cool Obsession.

Cross the Creamery Green where The Empire State Carousel swirls joyously, past the Country Fair. You may linger among the authentic architecture of the 1840s village, examine a rare find in one of many historic gardens, or hurry on to milk the cow at the Lippitt Farmstead. Around every corner are opportunities to reconnect with a richly colorful and ingenious rural culture that can still surprise and enchant more than 150 years later.
 

FENIMORE ART MUSEUM:  Nestled on the western shore of Otsego Lake, housed in an elegant 1930s neo-Georgian mansion, the Fenimore Art Museum presents a
perspective on the heritage and history of America through art.

The beauty of the museum setting is matched by the quality of the collections it houses, including some of the nation’s finest examples of American landscape, history and genre paintings, American folk art, photography and American Indian art.

William Sidney Mount, Thomas Cole, Gilbert Stuart, Benjamin West, E.L. Henry, Eastman Johnson, Thomas Waterman, John Wesley Jarvis, Grandma Moses and Ralph Fasanella are all represented in the museum’s holdings.  The Fenimore Art Museum is dedicated to integrating history with art history and including under-appreciated genres, primarily American folk art and American Indian art, in a broad and progressive American canon. The Fenimore Art Museum seeks to honor the extraordinary ability of ordinary people to shape American culture.
 

NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME:  Baseball's timeless appeal captures the minds of fans who are enthralled by a game that, like the "Odyssey," tells a story of the human condition, of confronting enemies, helping friends, and of course, getting home safely.

Located on Main Street in the heart of picturesque Cooperstown, New York, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is one of the country's most popular destinations and is surely the best-known sports shrine in the world. Standing as a three-story red brick building on Main Street in the center of Cooperstown, the Museum opened its doors for the first time on June 12, 1939. The Hall of Fame has stood as the definitive repository of the game's treasures and as a symbol of the most profound individual honor bestowed on an athlete. It is every fan's "Field of Dreams" with its stories, legends and magic to be passed on from generation to generation. The Baseball Hall of Fame's mission is to preserve history, honor excellence and connect generations.

The Hall of Fame Gallery serves as the centerpiece of the historic institution, where the plaques of all 278 Hall of Fame members line the oak walls. Only 199 former Major Leaguers -- one percent of those have played baseball in the major leagues -- have earned a spot in the Hall of Fame. The 2008 inductees -- Rich "Goose" Gossage, Dick Williams, Billy Southworth, Walter O'Malley, Bowie Kuhn, and Barney Dreyfuss -- will each have a plaque added to the Gallery on Hall of Fame Weekend (July 25-27).
 

Niagara's Fury: Creation and Sensation of Niagara Falls! Sunday, August 10, 2008   $102 Adults $84 Child (6-12)

JOURNEY BEHIND THE FALLS:  The sound is like thunder, the sight awe-inspiring!  Take a journey deep below and behind the heart of Niagara and stand in the mist where the mighty Horseshoe Falls tumbles from 13 stories above!
 

BUTTERFLY CONSERVATORY:  This magical attraction features over 2,000 colorful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery.  Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight!
 

MAID OF THE MIST ADVENTURE:  Water rushes all around as you “soak” in the excitement and explore the roar of the Falls.  A historical ride aboard the world-famous Maid of the Mist is a half hour thrill of a lifetime!  North America’s oldest tourist attraction, millions of visitors have enjoyed the boat tours since 1846.
 

PREMIERING IN JUNE, NIAGARA’S FURY promises to be one of the most spectacular, dramatic and immersive attractions in the world!  You’ll experience the extreme, violent and beautiful birth of Niagara Falls in a way you never dreamed possible!

Inside the stunning new Table Rock located at the brink of the Falls, Niagara’s Fury begins with a captivating family-friendly pre-show that tells the story of Niagara’s momentous creation.  Then, you enter an immersive environment to see and actually feel the sights, sounds and sensations of Niagara’s birth.  Your senses tingle with anticipation as you enter the dark space and feel the bone chilling cold.  Suddenly, snow fills the room.  You shiver as a harsh Arctic blast whips across your face and an onslaught of sight, sound and sensation like you’ve never experienced before, begins.

You will be humbled by the vast magnitude of nature’s power and beauty.  You won’t just watch nature’s fury.  You will be part of it!
 

U.S. Water Ski Show in Schenectady County Tuesday, August 12, 2008     $97 pp

GLEN SANDERS MANSION: The Glen Sanders Mansion restaurant is the perfect blend of the very old and the very new. Housed in the Mansion proper, steeped in history dating back to 1658, the main dining room features double Dutch doors, with hand made hinges and original fireplaces. Smaller dining room seat 6 to 30, offering character and charm for intimate celebrations and private business functions. The Mansion also features 22 deluxe overnight rooms and a beautiful patio with a view of the Mohawk River.
 

THE COSTUMER: Come and visit one of America's oldest and largest costume companies. Roam through their vast storage facility housing over 65,000 costumes. Visit the workroom where designers and seamstresses create costumes, which are then shipped to productions all over the world. You will learn the "ins and outs" of this most unusual and interesting industry.
 

MABEE FARM HISTORIC SITE: Take a step into the past and see how some of the earliest American settlers lived in Colonial America. This is the oldest house (300 years old) still standing in the Mohawk Valley. The original Mabee structures - the 1670-80 stone farmhouse, brick slave quarters and a frame pre-Erie Canal Inn - have retained many original characteristics of early 17th to 18th century rural dwellings with few alterations. A family cemetery holds graves dating back to the 1700s. The farm also has a 1760 New World Dutch barn, English Barn, Carriage Shed and othe outbuildings. Beautiful gardens grace the grounds with flowers, herbs, corn, green beans, squash and pumpkins. The Mabee Farm holdings include a large number of antique tools, farm equipment and mabee heirlooms, household artifacts and furniture, many of which are on display. The Farm also owns two bateaus, which are on display as well.
 

U.S. WATER SKI SHOW: New York's premiere Water Ski Show Team offers a unique and exciting way to spend a summer's evening. Performing on the Mohawk River, experience beauty, grace, thrills and raw power as the team performs one amazing act after another. The water ski shows consist of 14 acts, choreographed to a common theme. Think of it as a Broadway show on water - a liquid stage that's ever-changing and never the same twice.
 

Triumphs, Tragedies and Tributes Sunday, September 7, 2008     $93 pp

Experience the Chesapeake in Annapolis Friday, September 12, 2008   $112 pp

Experience the preserved colonial port town of Annapolis, home of the U.S. Naval Academy, with brick-lined streets, 18th century architecture, active boat harbor, several large Georgian mansions and historic pubs.

Your tour begins as you step back in time with a tour guide dressed in colonial attire who will greet your group. During the 2-hour walking tour, you will visit the exterior of the historic mansions and learn about the distinctiveness of Georgian architecture, as well as a view of the exterior and interior of the State House.

Your visit to Annapolis will also include a guided tour of the U.S. Naval Academy. Founded in 1845, the United States Naval Academy is home to 4,000 of our country's future naval leaders. As you tour this beautiful campus, you will experience the sense of military tradition and heritage everywhere. Your visit will include the Naval Chapel, the Crypt of John Paul Jones and Bancroft Hall.
 

Land, Sea and Mansions Saturday, September 20, 2008       $97 pp