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Hosted By: Tom McIntyre
Veteran Reporter
WMBD TV
View Biography
Discover the rich history and breathtaking beauty of autumn in historic New England. Our adventures begin in colonial Boston with a guided Freedom Trail tour, museum visit, and a stop at the famous Faneuil Hall Marketplace. Next, explore the witch trial past in Salem before venturing into New Hampshire’s White Mountains and along Kancamagus Highway, where the vibrant colors of fall are abundant. Walk through the lives of historical figures and renowned creatives at Hildene, The Mount, and the Norman Rockwell Museum, then experience an authentic Shaker Village. This fantastic journey concludes in New York City with a city tour, sightseeing cruise, Broadway musical, and time at leisure.
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September 25th, 2024 - October 3rd, 2024
Occupancy
Price Per Person
Double
$4899
Single
$5999
Final Payment Date: 07/12/2024
Day 1 : Fly to Boston
Upon arrival on the East Coast we check in for a two-night stay in Boston.
Day 2 : JFK Library & Boston Sights
We begin our discoveries of New England with a guided tour of Boston. Explore sites on the Freedom Trail to learn about the crucial role they played in our colonial history, view Paul Revere's home, and Old North Church, where signal lanterns ignited the American Revolution, and much more. Our tour ends at Faneuil Hall, with time for us to stroll through the iconic marketplace and grab lunch on our own. Afterward, we visit the Boston Tea Party Museum or the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. At the Boston Tea Party Museum, we learn about the Sons of Liberty and join a historic reeactment of that momumental day. At the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, we browse nostalgic exhibits and watch an insightful documentary that celebrates JFK and the glamorous Camelot era. Tonight, we enjoy a Welcome Dinner with our Tour Director and traveling companions.
Day 3 : Salem
This morning we visit Salem, home to the infamous Salem witch trials. Tour the city and see the Witch Trials Memorial, the Salem Witch Museum, and more. We enjoy a guided tour of The House of Seven Gables, a historic home built in 1668 on Salem Harbor. It is best known as the setting of American author Nathaniel Hawthorne’s 1851 novel of the same name. Enjoy leisure time in Salem where we have lunch with time to explore and shop. We arrive in North Conway this evening and check in to our overnight accommodations.
Day 4 : Kancamagus Highway
Some of New England’s most beloved vistas unfold before us today on the Kancamagus Highway amidst the lush foliage and towering White Mountains of New Hampshire. Here, pristine brooks babble under iconic covered bridges. Adding more charm to our woodland excursion, we also take a ride on the Hobo Railroad along the winding Pemigewasset River. We continue our afternoon with a tour of Fadden’s Sugarhouse to learn about maple syrup production, from tapping the trees to the final product. Dinner is included tonight with time to unwind at our accommodations in Ludlow, Vermont.
Day 5 : Hildene – The Lincoln Family Home
We tour the home of Robert Lincoln this morning, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to live to adulthood. He later became Chairman of the Pullman Company. His Georgian Revival mansion was built in 1905 and is nestled in a valley surrounded by the scenic Green Mountain National Forest. Tour the mansion and the grounds, explore the 1903 Pullman Palace Car, Sunbeam, and much more. After, we visit the Bennington Battle Monument. This memorial stands over 300 feet tall and was built to commemorate the Battle of Bennington on August 16, 1777, which historians consider the defining turning point in the Revolutionary War. We spend the next two nights in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, the heart of the Berkshires.
Day 6 : Norman Rockwell Museum & Shaker Village
After breakfast we visit The Mount, a country house that belonged to author Edith Wharton. Wharton is best known for being the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for literature in 1921 for her novel The Age of Innocence. Next, we visit Norman Rockwell’s former home and studio, now a fascinating museum of his life, art, and legacy. We continue to the Hancock Shaker Village to admire the famous Round Stone Barn and enjoy a typical Shaker lunch. A guided tour sheds light on the pacifist, communal Shaker lifestyle and some of their handmade furniture. This evening is yours to relax.
Day 7 : New York City & Broadway Musical
Today we trade nature’s grand panorama for the exciting cityscape of The Big Apple. Discover many Manhattan landmarks on a driving tour with an expert local guide and view Central Park, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and other iconic venues. Once we check-in to our hotel, prepare to get swept away by the bright lights and big personalities at a Broadway Musical.
Day 8 : Liberty Cruise & NYC Your Way
Today we see New York from the water during a Liberty Cruise. We pass the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, and have spectacular views of One World Trade Center. Engage with your fellow travelers over an exciting Farewell Lunch and spend the rest of your last day in NYC with time at leisure for more exploration, relaxation, or both.
Day 9 : Fly Home
WMBD TV Pickup Locations:
Chicago, IL - O'Hare International Airport
East Peoria, IL - Holiday Inn & Suites
Normal, IL - Sam's Club
Tom has been a fixture on Central Illinois radio and television for half a century, beginning with WGLT-FM in Normal and continuing over the years at WIOK, WIRL, WWTO, WEEK, and now the veteran broadcaster calls WMBD-TV his media home.
An ISU graduate and navy veteran, Tom has won awards from the Associated Press, United Press International, The Illinois News Broadcasters Association, and a regional Edward R. Murrow award. He counts among his highlights a trip to Saudi Arabia with Peoria army reservists before the first Gulf War, and going to the White House to quiz Bill Clinton.
Join Tom and WMBD/WYZZ viewers on this spectacular vacation.
Interested in more travel opportunities? Click here or visit www.holidayvacations.com and enter keyword PEORIA.
Tour days tend to be shorter in length, at a relaxed pace, and include lots of unscheduled time for leisure. Expect standing and walking for extended periods of time on flat surfaces, mostly low altitudes, and consistent temperatures.
Tour days usually move at a leisurely pace. Some days’ scheduled activities last longer than others. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on occasionally uneven terrain. You may experience changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a consistent pace, and may include long travel days. Expect standing and walking for long periods of time on uneven surfaces. Some destinations may have changes in altitude and/or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a brisk pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on uneven surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.
Tour days tend to be long, move at a vigorous pace, and may include lengthy travel days. Expect long periods of walking and standing on rough surfaces. Scheduled activities may require physical effort or have distinct changes in altitude or temperature.