Itinerary

Day 1:
NEW YORK CITY. Welcome to “The Big Apple!” Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
NEW YORK CITY–CORNING–NIAGARA FALLS. Depart Manhattan, heading northwest across New Jersey, through the PoconoMountains and into upstate New York, arriving in Corning at midday. Late this afternoon, cross the border at Rainbow Bridge and proceed to the Canadian side of the Niagara River in the province of Ontario. Spend the next two nights in beautiful Niagara Falls.

Day 3:
NIAGARA FALLS. On this morning’s sightseeing tour, behold the spectacular falls from Table Rock. Then, board the MAID OF THE MIST for amazing close-ups. Your afternoon is free, so why not hop aboard the People Mover (local transport) and visit attractions such as the Butterfly Conservatory, Great Gorge Adventure, Botanical Gardens, and Niagara Parks Greenhouse, or ride the aerial cable car. Tonight, join our optional fun-filled Canadian musical. This entertaining evening includes a five-course dinner served family style.

Note: The operation of the Maid of the Mist cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Usually, favorable conditions exist from mid-May to late-October. When weather is unfavorable, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.

Day 4:
NIAGARA FALLS–PHILADELPHIA. Head southeast through the Appalachian Mountains and into the Susquehanna River Valley. Then it’s on to the handsome city of Philadelphia for an overnight stay.

Day 5:
PHILADELPHIA–WASHINGTON DC AREA. The “City of Brotherly Love” is also the birthplace of American Independence and is therefore steeped in history. Our morning orientation tour focuses on the city’s historic landmarks. Then it’s on to the U.S. capital and seat of government, Washington DC, for a two-night stay. Later, join the optional outing, featuring dinner followed by an illumination tour of the city’s most famous memorials.

Day 6:
WASHINGTON DC AREA. The nation’s capital is a sightseeing treasure-trove, and your half-day tour features ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, the KOREAN and VIETNAM WAR VETERANS MEMORIALS, and many other wellknown sights. Stop for photos at the White House and Capitol Hill. The afternoon is free. Your Tour Director will suggest independent activities to explore this fascinating city.

Day 7:
WASHINGTON DC AREA–NEW YORK CITY. This morning, drive to Newark International Airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 5:30 p.m. The trip ends in Manhattan in the late afternoon.

Dates & Prices

In Niagara Falls and Washington DC; Philadelphia orientation tour
 

Itinerary

Day 1:
BOSTON. Welcome to “Bean Town!” Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
BOSTON. Boston’s numerous landmarks reflect the important part the city played in the history of the United States. Many of these sights are included on your guided morning tour: Faneuil Hall, Old North Church (where Paul Revere was signaled of the departure of British troops to Lexington), and Boston Common. The afternoon has been set aside for independent activities. Your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do and see. Tonight, join the optional dinner outing to one of Boston’s famous restaurants.

Day 3:
BOSTON–KENNEBUNKPORT–PORTLAND. North this morning into Maine, with a stop in Kennebunkport, the summer retreat of many artists and writers who have found the picturesque setting conducive to creativity. Next is the historic Maritime city of Portland. Stroll the cobblestone streets of Portland’s famous Old Port Exchange, lined with many boutiques, coffee houses, and art galleries. An included sightseeing tour upon arrival shows off this beautiful coastal region, including spectacular Ocean Point Drive, three lighthouses, and local lobster fisherman.

Day 4:
PORTLAND. BOOTHBAY EXCURSION. Drive up the coast to Boothbay and have a full day to explore this delightful coastal village filled with shops, eateries, and picture-perfect harbors dotted with lobster boats, pleasure craft, and beautiful views of Maine’s rocky coastline. The restaurants are plentiful and varied and the food is delicious. Savor the wharves, with clams and mussels steaming on the dock. Perhaps an afternoon cruise passing summer colonies, lighthouses, small islands, and sunbathing seals would be of interest.

Day 5:
PORTLAND–SHELBURNE–NORTH CONWAY. Today, head to the fabulous White Mountains of New Hampshire. Admire the land of covered bridges, quaint towns, and forests noted for their foliage of contrasting colors in the fall. In Shelburne, explore on your own or join the optional tram ride up Wildcat Mountain. Tonight, you overnight in North Conway, known for its beauty and quaintness.

Day 6:
NORTH CONWAY–FRANCONIA NOTCH–BURLINGTON. Depart for a beautiful drive along the renowned Kancamagus Scenic Byway. Hugging the Connecticut River, head south to Hanover where you will see the Dartmouth College campus, one of the nation’s eight prestigious Ivy League institutions. Cross the river into Vermont and look forward to two more sightseeing stops on the way to Burlington. First, visit WOODSTOCK , a village noted for its well-preserved homes and charming village green. End the day with a visit to nearby BILLINGS FARM AND MUSEUM, a living museum of Vermont’s rural past as well as a working dairy farm. Our overnight is in Burlington, located on the shores of Lake Champlain and once the home to patriot Ethan Allen.

Day 7:
BURLINGTON–MONTPELIER–CONCORD–HYANNIS. Stop in Montpelier, Vermont’s picturesque capital city. Visit a nearby MAPLE SYRUP FARM before proceeding to Concord, New Hampshire’s capital and financial center, for lunch. Continue to the Cape Cod resort town of Hyannis. This evening is at leisure for independent activities.

Day 8:
HYANNIS. Today is free for independent activities. Take a ferry ride to Nantucket Island, one of the most unique, historic, and visually stunning places in the world. Originally a booming whaling port, Nantucket has been named a National Historic District and has architecturally changed little since the 17th century. Seaside cottages and old-fashioned lamps still line its streets. Sign on for a guided tour of the island or pick up a picnic lunch and rent a bike, a good way to discover Nantucket on your own. Walk the cobblestone streets and take in the boutique shops or explore the art galleries and museums.

Day 9:
HYANNIS–PLYMOUTH–BOSTON. This morning begins with a harbor cruise, which gives you the chance to see the famous Kennedy Compound. Afterward, leave Hyannis for Plymouth—where it all began. Visit the Plimoth PLANTATION , where costumed interpreters portray the early 17th-century lifestyle. After a photo stop at Plymouth Rock, continue on to Boston. A stop at Boston Logan International Airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 4 p.m.

Dates & Prices

In Boston and Portland.

Itinerary

Day 1:
NEW YORK CITY. Welcome to “The Big Apple!” Enjoy some time at leisure to relax or do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.

Day 2:
NEW YORK CITY–NEWPORT–PLYMOUTH. Depart Manhattan this morning and follow the Connecticut shore via New Haven of Yale University fame. Enter the tiny state of Rhode Island and sightsee in Newport, the “Great Gatsby” resort of spendthrift tycoons. Visit THE BREAKERS, Cornelius Vanderbilt’s magnificent 70-room Italian palazzo, before heading north into Massachusetts, where you’ll spend the next three nights in the historic seaside port of Plymouth, where the Pilgrim Fathers landed in the Mayflower in 1620.

Day 3:
PLYMOUTH. Begin the day with a visit to PLIMOTH PLANTATION, a living history museum of 17th-century Plymouth, where costumed interpreters portray residents of the colony. This afternoon, board a cruise boat and head out to sea for one of the true highlights of your trip—an exciting WHALE-WATCHING expedition with commentary by a local marine biologist. Keep your eyes peeled because these Atlantic waters are a prime feeding ground for finback and humpback whales, as well as dolphins. The evening is yours to relax or explore more of Plymouth.

Day 4:
PLYMOUTH. This morning, visit the MAYFLOWER II and explore a reproduction of the ship that brought the Pilgrims to the New World. Next, visit Plymouth Rock, the spot where the Pilgrims landed before crossing Buzzards Bay to Cape Cod, known for its temperate climate and scenic beauty. Afterward, drive the length of the peninsula arm to Provincetown, savoring views of Cape Cod National Seashore along the way. There’s plenty of free time to wander through Provincetown, a lively resort and artist colony. For a fun-filled evening, join the optional excursion in America’s original settlement with a walking tour of the historic district and the waterfront while hearing intriguing tales of this town’s history. End the excursion with a tour of the Jenney Grist Mill and dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 5:
PLYMOUTH–BOSTON–OGUNQUIT. The “Cradle of American Liberty” has numerous impressive landmarks which reflect the role the city has played in the history of the United States. Our included sightseeing tour with a Local Guide will take you to many of the major sights, including Beacon Hill, the Old North Church (where Paul Revere was signalled of the departure of British troops to Lexington), Boston Common, and the Public Gardens. There’s plenty of free time to explore the city at your own pace. Maybe visit one of the city’s excellent museums, which include the Museum of Fine Arts and Museum of Science, or the New England Aquarium. Next, travel to the beautiful oceanfront village of Ogunquit, a haven for writers and artists, for an overnight stay. In the evening, sample the delicious local fare on our optional lobster bake excursion, including steamed clams, Maine lobster, and delicious corn-on-the-cob.

Day 6:
OGUNQUIT–LAKE WINNIPESAUKEE–SHELBURNE. Marvel at New England’s autumn splendor as we head northwest through forests ablaze with color to Lake Winnipesaukee, one of the region’s largest and most beautiful stretches of water. Enjoy a cruise across this islandstudded lake aboard the historic MS MOUNT WASHINGTON from Wolfeboro to the lake resort of Weirs Beach. Your overnight is in Shelburne, where you have a free evening.

Day 7:
SHELBURNE–MONTPELIER–BURLINGTON. This morning, it’s off to North Conway and Wildcat Mountain. You might choose to board a chairlift for an optional ride to the summit, with sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and as far north as Québec. Traveling through glorious rolling countryside, carpeted with colorful autumnal forests, continue across New Hampshire. Next stop: Vermont, where birch, oak, and maple leaves form a brilliant kaleidoscope of yellows, browns, oranges, and reds. After a stop in Montpelier, Vermont’s picturesque capital city, we visit a nearby MAPLE SYRUP FARM. Next, we visit COLD HOLLOW CIDER MILL, one of New England’s top producers of fresh apple cider. See how cider is made and take time to wander through the store and sample many of the other goodies produced there. On to Burlington,

Day 8:
BURLINGTON–LAKE CHAMPLAIN–LAKE PLACID. This morning, drive to the shores of Lake Champlain and board the ferry at Burlington for the SCENIC CROSSING into the state of New York. Travel through the scenic foothills of the Adirondack Mountains to the village of Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics. Tonight join the optional farewell dinner outing.

Day 9:
LAKE PLACID–SARATOGA–ALBANY. Perhaps join the optional excursion this morning, featuring a visit to the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex followed by a cruise on scenic Lake Placid. If you prefer, continue your exploration of the village to shop for souvenirs on Main Street, enjoy a leisurely stroll along Mirror Lake, or visit the Olympic Skating Center where you can watch future Olympic athletes train. A late lunch stop in Saratoga, the historic city in upstate New York. An orientation tour shows off the beautiful Victorian estates and downtown with its tree-lined streets, one-of-a-kind boutiques, and gorgeous floral plantings.

Day 10:
ALBANY–NEW YORK CITY. The final leg of your journey takes you south into New York City. A stop at Newark International Airport for those with homebound flights. (Please schedule flights after 4:00 p.m.) The trip ends at the Holiday Inn Manhattan in the afternoon.

Dates & Prices

In Boston.