Autumn in New England

Day 1 : New England Bound

We begin our journey to discover all that scenic New England has to offer. Tonight we have accommodations in South Bend, Indiana.

Day 2 : Indiana, Ohio & Pennsylvania

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

Day 3 : New York City

Today we arrive in “The Big Apple” and check in for a two night stay in a centrally-located New York City hotel.

Day 4 : Broadway Musical

New York City is ours to explore today a global megacity and the illustrious centerpiece to American culture, entertainment, history, economics, and so much more. See New York from the water during a Sightseeing Liberty Cruise, witnessing the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, One World Trade Center, and so much more. Discover many Manhattan landmarks on a driving tour with an expert local guide to see Central Park, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, and other iconic venues. 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 and Rhode Island to Massachusetts. This afternoon we visit the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library where exhibits and a documentary film acquaint us with the political career and family life of one of our country’s most remembered presidents. Our accommodations for the next two nights are in Boston.

Day 6 : Boston

This morning we go on a guided tour exploring sites on Boston’s Freedom Trail, learning about the crucial roles they played in our colonial history. View Paul Revere's home and 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 led 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

Visit Salem for a guided city tour. We witness historic architecture, learn about the city’s role in the American Revolution, and acquaint ourselves with its infamous 17th-century witchcraft trials. We then enter New Hampshire's hardwood forests that present Mother Nature in her brilliant autumn colors! 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 here offers fascinating insight into their passion for community and commitment to historic preservation.

Day 8 : Franconia Notch

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

Day 9 : Vermont

Begin the day visiting the Cold Hollow Cider Mill where we’ll learn how an apple press from the 1920s is still producing delicious ciders, baked goods, and more that have become regional favorites. Next we arrive at the Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe, Vermont. The family from The Sound of Music settled here after fleeing Europe in the 1940s. Savor an Austria-inspired lunch buffet in the dining room, tour the lodge, and watch a documentary film about Maria von Trapp. Our day continues with a visit to Waterbury, a quaint Vermont town that is also the home to some of the world’s most famous ice cream flavors! Visit the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory for a brief tour and taste their delicious varieties.

Day 10 : 1,000 Islands Cruise

Depart Montpelier and travel to Grand Isle, just north of Burlington. After crossing Lake Champlain by ferry we travel to Alexandria Bay, New York where we hear about the history of the 1,000 Islands as a resort area for the rich and famous during a cruise along the St. Lawrence River. Tonight we stay in Alexandria Bay.

Day 11 : Drive to Niagara Falls, NY

Travel through the Finger Lakes region of NY and arrive at the Upstate New York side of the epic Niagara Falls. Enjoy exploring, lunch of your choice, relax, shop for souvenirs, and experience marvelous views of the storied falls. This evening we enjoy dinner together before witnessing the enchanting falls at night when they are illuminated in bright colors.

Day 12 : Homeward Bound

Our route takes us to our overnight accommodations where we stay in the South Bend area and enjoy a Holiday Vacations Farewell Dinner with new friends.

Day 13 : Return Home