This grand vacation travels through northeastern parts of the U.S. and Canada. Begin your trip in New York City with an exciting sightseeing tour. Then travel north to Boston, a city known for its colonial history, for a guided tour and time to discover the city on your own. Travel north through New Hampshire’s beautiful mountains and scenery on your way to Québec, a French-Canadian province. Enjoy a guided tour of Québec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the best-preserved cities in North America. In this historic walled town, perhaps dine in one of the French restaurants.Turn south toward cosmopolitan Montréal, a city which blends historic architecture with modern skyscrapers, and enjoy an included sightseeing tour. Be sure to study up on your French, as it is one of the world’s largest French-speaking cities. Then drive west to the capital of Canada—Ottawa—for a city sightseeing tour and free time to explore. Visit St. Lawrence Islands National Park with an included scenic cruise on the river.Next is cosmopolitan Toronto, Canada’s largest city and Ontario’s capital. See major landmarks such as the CN Tower and SkyDome Stadium on a city tour. From Toronto, travel to Niagara Falls and board the Maid of the Mist for up-close views of thundering Niagara Falls. Toward the end of your journey, leave Canada and travel through the Appalachian Mountains into Pennsylvania Dutch Country to learn about the faith, culture, and way of life of the Amish in Lancaster County. Then visit the capital of the U.S., Washington DC, and spend two nights getting to know this fascinating city. Your guided tour of Washington DC includes some of the city’s main highlights. Finally, stop in Philadelphia, a city of historic significance, for an orientation tour on your way back to New York City, where your vacation ends.
Highlights:
Scenic Highlights:Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church, Boston Common, scenic White Mountains, French-Canadian province of Québec, St. Lawrence River, Québec City (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Place d’Armes, Laval Seminary, the star-plan Citadelle, once-walled Old Montréal, Seminary of St. Sulpice, Mount Royal, modern Montréal, Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal, Rideau Falls, CN Tower, Niagara Falls, Appalachian Mountains, and Pennsylvania Dutch farm country.
Itinerary:
Day #1 New York City. Welcome to the “Big Apple!” Enjoy time at leisure to relax or to do some independent exploring. Your Tour Director is on hand this evening to answer any questions.
Day #2 New York City–Boston. This morning, on the included sightseeing tour with a local expert, visit Broadway, the Empire State Building, Greenwich Village, Chinatown, City Hall, Wall Street, and Trinity Church. This afternoon, head for Boston—the “Cradle of American Liberty.” Visit its historic landmarks, reflecting the important part it has played in the history of the United States.
Day #3 Boston. On your morning guided tour of Boston, see Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church (where Paul Revere was signaled for the departure of British troops to Lexington), and Boston Common. This afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. This evening, why not join your traveling companions for dinner at a popular downtown restaurant?
Day #4 Boston–Québec City Area. Journey north through New Hampshire, passing the state’s capitol dome at Concord and on to the scenic White Mountains. Continue on to the Canadian border, where you’ll notice a sudden change in language and tradition as you enter the French-Canadian province of Québec. Overnight in historic Québec City, which was built on the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence River.
Day #5 Québec City Area. This morning, join your fellow traveling companions on a unique optional excursion to the Érablière le Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack. Visitors to the sugar cabin will enjoy a typical Québec breakfast, along with a guided visit and presentation to explain the process of maple extraction. Afterward, return to Québec City for a guided tour of Canada’s only walled city, crowned by the turrets of Château Frontenac. Until the British victory of 1759, Old Québec was the center of New France; today, it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls reside the Place d’Armes, Laval Seminary, the star-plan Citadelle with grand vistas from its bastions, and ancient Place Royale. See the Old World houses crowding narrow streets in Lower Town and the historic Plains of Abraham, where General Wolfe stormed the slopes. The afternoon is at leisure.
Day #6 Québec City Area–Montréal. Today, drive to cosmopolitan Montréal, one of Canada’s largest cities. Home of Expo ‘67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics, this afternoon’s included sightseeing tour includes St. Joseph’s Oratory, the lookout atop Mount Royal, once-walled Old Montréal, Notre Dame Church, the Seminary of St. Sulpice, built by the first missionary settlers, and modern Montréal.
Day #7 Montréal–Ottawa. Drive west to Ottawa, Canada’s beautiful capital. Your city sightseeing includes Parliament Hill with its gothic buildings, the Canadian Mint, the Rideau Canal, the hexagonal National Arts Centre, and stately residences and embassies. With a free afternoon, you might want to visit the Canadian Museum of Civilization, with panoramic views of Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River.
Day #8 Ottawa–Kingston–Toronto. Trace the Rideau Canal south to the amazing St. Lawrence Islands National Park. Enjoy many wooded islands along the St. Lawrence River, sprinkled with beautifully simple to opulent summer homes on your included SCENIC CRUISE.
Day #9 Toronto. Setting Toronto’s exciting architectural pace are City Hall; the downtown banking district; the SkyDome stadium; and stunning CN Tower, more than a third of a mile high. See all this and more on your morning city sightseeing tour. Then, spend the rest of the day exploring the city sights on your own, including Harbourfront, Ontario Place, and Chinatown.
Day #10 Toronto–Niagara Falls. Travel south along the lakeshore and through the rich farmlands and vineyards of Ontario to Niagara Falls. Stop at Table Rock and hear the raging waters. Then, board the MAID OF THE MIST for amazing close-ups at the base of the falls.NOTE:The operation of the Maid of the Mist cruise is subject to favorable weather conditions. When weather is unfavorable, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.
Day #11 Niagara Falls–Lancaster. Leave Canada today and head southeast through the Appalachian Mountains and along a portion of the Susquehanna River into Pennsylvania Dutch farm country. Tonight, join the optional excursion and experience a traditional Amish dinner
Day #12 Lancaster–Pennsylvania Dutch Country–Washington DC Area. This morning, stop at the AMISH FARM & HOUSE. A Local Guide explains the faith, culture, and way of life of these people for whom tradition forbids the use of electricity or telephones in the home. On to Washington DC for an afternoon arrival.
Day #13 Washington DC Area. Your half-day guided tour features the Korean, Vietnam War Veterans, and National WWII Memorials, as well as many other well-known sights. You’ll also stop for photos at the White House and Capitol Hill. Then, cross the Potomac River and see the graves of American heroes—including those of Robert, Ted, and John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis—in beautiful Arlington Cemetery. Your Tour Director will also suggest a number of independent activities that explore different facets of this splendid city.
Day #14 Washington DC Area–Philadelphia–New York City. This morning, drive to Philadelphia, birthplace of the nation, where an orientation tour focuses on the historic significance of the city. Afterward, leave for New York City via Newark International Airport for those with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 6 pm. For guests with flights out of Kennedy or LaGuardia International Airports, transfers are not included and it is suggested to book flights after 7 pm. The trip ends in Manhattan in the late afternoon for those guests on the New York City extension.
Hotels:
NEW YORK CITY Skyline Hotel (ST)
BOSTON Holiday Inn Boston-Brookline (MF)
QUÉBEC CITY AREA Hotel Universel (MF)
MONTRÉAL Hotel Maritime Plaza (MF)
OTTAWA The Cartier Place Suite Hotel (F)
TORONTO Best Western Primrose Hotel (F)
NIAGARA FALLS Best Western Plus Cairn Croft (F)
LANCASTER Lancaster Host Resort (MF)
WASHINGTON DC AREA Crowne Plaza Old Town Alexandria (F)