New England is steeped in history and known for its amazing fall foliage, and on this vacation you’ll have a chance to experience the spectacular beauty and historic places. A couple of living history museums will show you what life was like in New England’s past, including a living museum simulating life in a 1800s New England coastal village, a living history museum of Vermont’s rural past, and a living history museum showcasing 19th-century New England. A sightseeing tour in Boston highlights landmarks that were pivotal to the United States’ history, and a visit to Cornelius Vanderbilt’s mansion gives you a taste for life in a bygone era. History is not all you’ll experience on this marvelous tour. You’ll also see spectacular beauty and amazing fall foliage. In Maine, you’ll visit Acadia National Park, one of America’s most visited national parks, where you’ll take a carriage ride. In New Hampshire, travel to the scenic White Mountains, New England’s greatest range and premier outdoor playground, and enjoy the Raven Interpretive Program. Throughout your tour, marvel at the scenic drives and stunning fall colors full of blazing red, orange, and yellow leaves (if Mother Nature permits). It's a trip not to be missed!
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Boston. Welcome to “Bean Town!” At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Day #2 Boston–Portland–Bar Harbor. From Massachusetts, head north via New Hampshire’s short shoreline and along Maine’s rocky coast to Portland, one of New England’s most famous cities. Stroll down the cobblestone streets of Portland’s famous Old Port Exchange, lined with its many boutiques, coffee houses, and art galleries. The next two nights are in Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine’s oldest summer resort. Your dinner this evening is a typical [LF] LOBSTER BAKE featuring Maine lobster, steamed mussels, and delicious corn-on-the-cob. (B,D)
Day #3 Bar Harbor. Excursion to Acadia National Park. Nowhere along the Atlantic seaboard is the rock-bound coast as picturesque as in ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, one of America’s most visited national parks. Take the scenic park road and enjoy the spectacular panorama from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise. Afternoon is at leisure to pursue your favorite interests and activities. Maybe join an optional whale-watching expedition or stroll around the charming Bar Harbor waterfront with its many shops, galleries, and boutiques. This evening, enjoy a short [LF] CARRIAGE RIDE along the world-famous carriage roads in Acadia National Park, as designed and built by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. You will then be treated to dinner at the historic Jordan Pond House, located inside the park. (B,D)
Day #4 Bar Harbor–North Conway. Back to the mainland and west through Maine for vistas of sparkling lakes and forests. Then, on to New Hampshire and the scenic White Mountains, New England’s greatest range and premier outdoor playgrounds. Later, enjoy the RAVEN INTERPRETIVE PROGRAM focusing on the unique environs of northern New England and local wildlife. (B)
Day #5 North Conway–Dartmouth–Woodstock–Ludlow. Depart for a beautiful drive through Franconia Notch and along the renowned Kancamagus Highway. Hugging the Connecticut River, head south to Hanover to see the Dartmouth College campus, one of the nation’s eight prestigious Ivy League institutions. Cross the river into Vermont and visit Woodstock, its village green reminiscent of 19th-century England. Next, visit BILLINGS FARM & MUSEUM, a living museum of Vermont’s rural past as well as a working dairy farm. (B,D)
Day #6 Ludlow–Stockbridge–Sturbridge. Journey south to Stockbridge in the Berkshire Mountains for a visit to the NORMAN ROCKWELL STUDIO & MUSEUM, which houses a large collection of works by one of America’s favorite artists. Continue on to Sturbridge, one of New England’s most charming towns, where you will enjoy dinner at the Colonial Salem Cross Inn. (B,D)
Day #7 Sturbridge–Mystic Seaport–Newport. This morning you’ll visit STURBRIDGE VILLAGE to explore early New England in the company of farmers, craftsmen, and fascinating characters at this 19th-century living history museum. Head south to explore MYSTIC SEAPORT, a living museum showcasing the many activities that might have been found in a New England coastal village in the 1800s. Next, travel to Rhode Island, the “Ocean State.” (B)
Day #8 Newport. Today, enjoy a Newport orientation tour and see the first state house, the nation’s oldest synagogue, and the city’s oldest meeting house and library. Afterward, explore the extravagant lifestyle of a bygone era when visiting THE BREAKERS, shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt’s turn-of-the-century mansion. Your afternoon is free for exploring on your own. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day #9 Newport–Boston. Depart this morning for Boston. Your tour of the city’s landmarks with a Local Guide focuses on the city’s most prominent landmarks, including the historic sites near Boston Common; Old State House; Old North Church, from where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride; Freedom Trail; and Faneuil Hall, with an opportunity to browse through Quincy Market. After a transfer to the airport for guests who have homebound flights, the motorcoach continues downtown to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel, where the tour ends. Please schedule flights from Boston’s Logan Airport after 3:30 pm. (B)
Hotels:
BOSTON Boston Park Plaza (SF)
BAR HARBOR Bluenose Inn (SF)
NORTH CONWAY North Conway Grand (F)
LUDLOW Jackson Gore Inn (SF)
STURBRIDGE Sturbridge Host Hotel (F)
NEWPORT Newport Harbor Hotel & Marina (F)