As others have mentioned, each person will have to figure out what works for themselves (and any riding companions).
How many miles are you targeting? 50 miles a day?
I like to force myself to stop, somewhere between every 20 to 50 miles. Eat a bit, and take off again. Sometimes I'll lay down for a second, but I'm often finding myself trying to maximize my time on the road for some pretty long rides. The "morning after" rides are still tough.
In your case, I'd do some back-to-back longer rides around the neighborhood. Head out for a 50 or so miles in an afternoon around home. Come back home for the night, and do an other 50 miles the next day. See what works for you.
I'd presume your tour would also dictate the activities a bit. In some cases, you may enjoy stopping and taking lots of photos along the road. Perhaps some short side-trips. Mini tours of the "sights".
In other cases, it may be about the destination. Head to the destination. Then spend the rest of the afternoon touring and having fun at the destination.