Drive through the central part of Klaipeda to the resort town of Palanga. A stroll through the Botanical Park leads you to the 19th-century Neo-Renaissance-styled mansion that houses the biggest Amber Museum in the Baltics. During your visit, the Amber Museum will reveal the marvel of its Baltic gold; amber's origins, places where it can be found, and amber processing and jewelry-making. You will also have an opportunity to stroll through the gardens, and see the swans and other birds in the ponds, on the way back to your coach.

Every visitor to Palanga is drawn to Palanga's Basanavicius Promenade. Cafes, bars and restaurants line both sides of the street as well as many souvenir stalls. You will have a little free time here to enjoy this pedestrian precinct and its lively atmosphere.

Enjoy an orientation walk through the narrow streets of Klaipeda’s Old Town. See the old Fachwerk construction buildings, along with the houses where shoemakers, blacksmiths, bakers and other craftsmen lived. Stop at Theater Square where you’ll find a symbol of romantic love and the story behind it; the sculpture of Annchen from Tharau adorns the fountain. At the end of your walk, stop for a Lithuanian beer or a soft drink at a local restaurant; it’s on the house! Then, you will have a few minutes of free time before returning to your ship or you may also choose to stay in town and make your way back to the pier on your own.

Enjoy a tour that reveals Klaipeda’s history, including the years under Soviet rule, and then discover how fossilized amber has shaped the city’s fortunes.

Pass several of Klaipeda’s architectural gems such as the Clock and Watch Museum, the neo-Gothic post office and a former military barracks that now houses Klaipeda University. Like the rest of Lithuania, Klaipeda was ruled by the Soviets from the end of World War II until 1991, when the country gained its independence.

You will pause for photos at one of the few remaining Soviet memorials before driving through residential areas that the Soviets built. The scenery and guide’s commentary with offer great insight into the nearly 50 years that the Soviets controlled Lithuania.

As influential as that period was, the production of items made with amber has also had a huge impact on Klaipeda. Since ancient times, this organic substance from pine trees has been used for medicinal purposes, as an ingredient in perfume and for jewelry. During a visit to an amber workshop, you will learn about the importance of this fossilized tree resin and see how natural amber turns into one-of-a-kind jewelry. Find out from the craftsmen themselves the remedial qualities of 50 million years old Baltic amber.

Back in Old Town, you will visit the Amber Antiques Museum and sip a cup of amber tea while listening to tales of the ancient amber trade route that passed nearby, stretching as far as Rome. Enjoy an orientation walk through the narrow streets of Klaipeda’s Old Town. See the old Fachwerk construction buildings, along with the houses where shoemakers, blacksmiths, bakers and other craftsmen lived. Stop at Theater Square where you’ll find a symbol of romantic love and the story behind it; the sculpture of Annchen from Tharau adorns the fountain.

Klaipeda's world of fairy tales and legends awaits your arrival during this scenic visit to the Black Shore, and Witches Hill.

A short drive through Klaipeda, then a 10-minute ferry ride across the Curonian lagoon takes you to the Curonian Spit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site which captivates visitors with its unique natural beauty. Your destination is the Black Shore, or Juodkrante, the oldest fishing village on the Curonian Spit. This picturesque village, now a resort, still retains its Old World charm. Drive by Amber Bay, a 19th-century amber-mining site, along with traditional fishermen's houses typically decorated.

The highlight of your visit to Juodkrante is Witches Hill, which features 80 sculptures carved from oak along the edge of a forest path. See the giant Neringa and Egle, the queen of grass-snakes, a dragon slain by the prince, the thunder, poacher and many witches performing their devilry. You will also hear some of the stories and legends related to them, and understand why Lithuania is renowned as Europe's last pagan state.

The stop in the town of Joudkrante, will also give you a chance to walk on the quay of the lagoon, decorated with modern sculptures or stop to see the Evangelical Lutheran Church and visit the gallery of weather vanes. In the 19th century, weather vanes were used as a special marking system on the top of the flat fishing boats, or kurenas. Later, they became particularly colorful and artistic symbols of the Curonian Spit.

On your return drive, stop for photos at the long honey colored shores which have been awarded the Blue Flag and are considered one of the best beaches of the Baltic Sea.

Explore the beauty and tragedy of Lithuania’s past and present during visits to Kretinga's Church of the Annunciation and monastery, and the historic mansion and museum of Count Tiskevicius.

A scenic drive takes you to Kretinga, a quaint little town north of Klaipeda. Upon arrival, you will visit the 17th-century Church of the Annunciation. On the grounds surrounding the church lie the Stations of the Cross. You will visit the church, and explore the cellars below. The adjoining Franciscan monastery combines Renaissance and Baroque elements. The Franciscan friars, who lived in the monastery, made a great contribution to education in Lithuania. They opened the first school, and later began publishing books and newspapers. The Franciscan monastery was closed by the Tsarist government, and again later in Soviet times. After Lithuania's declaration of independence in 1992, the Franciscans returned again. Today, they look after the church, and hold heavily-attended services. One of the brothers will lead your tour of the church if they are not at prayer.Drive through the center of Kretinga en route to Count Tiskevicius' 19th-century estate. This historic mansion houses a museum displaying spiritual and cultural treasures of Kretinga. During your visit you will see a collection of Lithuanian wooden art and countless pieces of equipment used in authentic Lithuanian living. You You will also learn about a tragic period in Lithuania's history when thousands of people, including the Franciscan monks from the monastery, were deported to Siberia soon after the Soviet occupation in 1940.

Today, the museum is also renowned for its beautiful winter garden, which showcases a wide variety of exotic plants from all over the world. Enjoy light refreshments served in an elegant café nestled amidst the tropical foliage.

Back in Klaipeda, enjoy an orientation drive before stopping in the Old Town for a stroll in the handicrafts and amber market.

Discover Lithuania's natural beauty, and the former nuclear threat imposed by its Soviet neighbors, during this visit to the Plokstine Forest and Soviet Nuclear Weapons Site.

A stark reminder of the Cold War, the Soviet Nuclear Weapons Site was constructed in Zemaitija National Park under great secrecy in 1960, and became operational in 1963. Soldiers working around-the-clock excavated the silos by hand. Four silos housed the R 12 surface-to-surface missiles. The nuclear missiles were targeted towards the biggest European cities, including Berlin, London, Madrid and Paris. From this very same site in 1962 similar missiles were deployed to Cuba, in what became known as the Cuban missile crisis. The Nuclear Weapons Site was closed in 1979, but four silos and the central control complex remain.

In sharp contrast to this apocalyptic site, the Plokstine Forest is filled with an abundance of scenic vistas, and you will stop to view the most beautiful sites of the national park, including the crystal-clear waters of Plateliai Lake, and three spectacular islands.

During your visit to the nuclear weapons site, you will follow your guide through the 88.5-foot-deep corridors, mineshaft and underground tunnels of this old Soviet launch site. Along the way, you will see some of the symbols of the Soviet Army, and have an opportunity to climb through the narrow hatch and view one of the silos.

On your way back to Klaipeda you will stop for a light lunch of traditional national dishes and a local beer, in authentic Lithuanian restaurant.

Make the most of your time away from the bustle of the town while Kayaking on the River Minija, admiring the gorgeous scenery and discovering what village life is like on a river delta in rural Lithuania.

Drive through the lush countryside as your guide describes points of interest and offers commentary on the history of Lithuania, a country that gained its independence from the Soviets in 1991. Arrive in the green lush valley of the river Minija, which stretches for 202 km and is well known for fishing and kayaking.

Following a short briefing and fitting your life vests, you will ease into a kayak and begin paddling through the river’s typically calm waters. Kayaking offers the opportunity to view the Lithuanian countryside from a unique perspective, taking in the scenery and pausing to enjoy the serenity of the setting. You may encounter other kayakers and anglers fishing for freshwater species such as tench and zander, but the river will most likely be uncrowded. Back on shore, regain some energy with Lithuanian cake and fresh juice before returning to the pier.

Ride a ferry across the lagoon that separates Klaipeda from the Curonian Spit, where you will bicycle along its sand dunes and discover how this rare ecosystem has been preserved.

After departing from the pier on a bicycle, you will soon board the ferry that crosses the lagoon to the Curonian Spit, a sand dune peninsula that has been inhabited since prehistoric times. UNESCO declared the spit a World Heritage site because its lagoon settlements reveal how humans have adapted to the ever-changing environment over the centuries.

Once you disembark from the ferry, you will bicycle to Hagen’s Dunes, where a stone obelisk commemorates the work of 19th-century Prussian physicist Ludwig Hagen. He is credited with preventing the dunes’ erosion by planting native flora. From the bicycle trail that winds through the dunes, you will enjoy a panoramic view of Klaipeda across the lagoon.

The trail continues through a forest, parts of which Hagen planted, and on to a beautiful beach where you will pause to rest for a few minutes. There is a beach café nearby where you might purchase refreshments. Later, you will bicycle past 19th-century Nerija Fort, a six-sided defensive complex that now houses a maritime museum and aquarium.

Time permitting, you will pause for photos one last time at the breakwater before retracing your route back to Klaipeda. During free time in popular Theatre Square in the compact Old Town, be sure to notice the German-style architecture. It reflects the influence of Germany on Klaipeda, which was founded in 1252 around a castle that Teutonic knights built.