Autumn in New England

Day 1 : New England Bound

We begin our delightful adventure to discover all that scenic New England has to offer. Tonight we have accommodations in northwestern Indiana.

Day 2 : Indiana & Ohio

We travel to Columbiana, Ohio for our lodging this evening. Our included dinner is served in the Pennsylvania Dutch tradition.

Day 3 : New York City

Enjoy an included lunch today before arriving in New York City for two nights. Our hotel is ideally located in the heart of Manhattan.

Day 4 : Broadway Musical

New York City is ours to explore today. Our country’s most populous city is a centerpiece to American culture, entertainment, economy, history, and is equally immense in its role in the global community. We’ll discover many Manhattan landmarks with an expert local guide and view Central Park, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Greenwich Village, 5th Avenue, and more. Later, we experience a Lower Manhattan Bay cruise to view the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Tonight we revel in the glitz and glamour of New York City’s Theater District at a Broadway musical.

Day 5 : JFK Library

We travel through Connecticut to Massachusetts. This afternoon we visit the John F. Kennedy Library where a documentary film and exhibits acquaint us with the political career and family life of one of our country’s most remembered presidents. Our accommodations for two nights are at the Royal Sonesta Boston.

Day 6 : Boston

This morning we join an 18th-century costumed guide on a tour exploring the historic sites on the Freedom Trail and learn about the crucial role they played in the American Revolution. Visit the Granary Burying Ground where some of America’s most notable citizens rest, including Paul Revere and Samuel Adams, and enter the Old North Church where signal lanterns ignited the American Revolution. Our lunch stop is at one of America’s most famous dining complexes, historic Quincy Market. After lunch we visit the USS Constitution Museum and learn about “Old Ironsides,” a 220 year-old naval frigate still floating in Boston’s harbor today. Later we visit the Boston Tea Party Museum to learn about the daring actions of the Sons of Liberty which lead to the birth of the nation. We join a historic reenactment of the town meeting held just hours before the Boston Tea Party, storm the wharf to destroy the Crown’s tea aboard an authentic 18th century replica vessel, and attend the award-winning, multi-sensory film Let It Begin Here.

Day 7 : Salem & the Canterbury Shakers

This morning we’ll visit the city of Salem for a guided city tour and a visit to its Maritime Visitor Center. We’ll witness historic architecture, learn about the city’s role in the American Revolution, and acquaint ourselves with its infamous 17th century witchcraft trials. Then we enter New Hampshire, whose hardwood forests present Mother Nature in brilliant autumnal colors! We receive a warm welcome at the Canterbury Shaker Village, a museum and historic site with 25 original Shaker buildings, gardens, and mill ponds dedicated to preserving their 200-year legacy. Our guided tour offers fascinating insight into their passion for community and commitment to historic preservation. Our accommodations this evening are in Meredith.

Day 8 : Franconia Notch

Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway. We make a stop at the Flume Gorge Visitor Center and learn about the natural wonders of the White Mountain National Forest and Franconia Notch State Park. Our next two nights are at the Capitol Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. We have time for lunch on colorful Main Street and a stroll to the Vermont State House, the state’s Greek Revival-style capitol building. Later at the Morse Maple Farm we learn about maple sugar and syrup production.

Day 9 : Vermont

Begin the day visiting the von Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. The family from The Sound of Music settled here after fleeing Europe in the 1940’s. We’ll tour the lodge, watch a documentary film about Maria von Trapp, break for free time to explore the town, and then return to the lodge for an Austria-inspired lunch. Our day continues with a visit to Waterbury, a quaint Vermont town that is also the home to Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream! We’ll visit the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory on a brief tour and taste their delicious flavors. At Cold Hollow Cider Mill we’ll learn how an apple press from the 1920s is still producing delicious ciders, baked goods, and more that have become regional favorites.

Day 10 : 1,000 Islands Cruise

We depart Montpelier and travel to Grand Isle, just north of Burlington. After crossing Lake Champlain by ferry we travel to Alexandria Bay where we hear about the history of the 1,000 Islands as a resort area for the rich and famous. Our accommodations are in the Alexandria Bay area.

Day 11 : Niagara Falls

Today we travel north of the Finger Lakes towards Niagara Falls. Upon arrival we will stop at the Table Rock Complex to have some lunch, relax, shop for souvenirs, and experience an up-close view of the spectacular falls. This evening we’ll dine at the revolving restaurant atop Skylon Tower and enjoy aerial views of the falls at over 700 feet. Later we see the nightly illumination of the falls and stay overnight nearby at the DoubleTree Fallsview Resort & Spa.

Day 12 : Homeward Bound

Our route takes us through Ontario’s farming region and back into the U.S. at Detroit. Tonight our Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner and lodging are in Kalamazoo.

Day 13 : Return Home

We arrive home with wonderful memories to cherish.