Savor the diversity and enchantment of the great cities of the Northeast and Canada on this enticing vacation, featuring a boat cruise and visits to the most important monuments. Begin your trip in exciting Boston, where your sightseeing tour focuses on historic sites such as the Old North Church and the Old State House. Then it's on to romantic Québec City, Canada's only walled city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your Québec City tour with a Local Guide features the Place d'Armes, the ancient Palace Royale, and the Plains of Abraham. Next, continue to Montréal, Canada’s second-largest city, for a sightseeing tour, a visit to Notre Dame Basilica, and an afternoon at leisure.Drive west to beautiful Ottawa, Canada’s capital, where you’ll see the Canadian Mint, Parliament Hill, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Stables, and other famous sites on your guided tour. Next is the cosmopolitan city of Toronto, Canada’s largest city, for a sightseeing tour and free time. See magnificent Niagara Falls on a Maid of the Mist cruise before returning to the U.S. to visit Lancaster, Pennsylvania, home of the religious Amish and Mennonite communities. Enjoy a traditional Amish feast and learn about the Amish faith, culture, and way of life. Next, travel to Washington DC, where your tour features Washington DC’s famous monuments and government buildings. Finally, travel north to Philadelphia for a sightseeing tour including Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Your grand vacation ends in New York City.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Boston. Welcome to Boston! At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
Day #2 Boston. Sightseeing focuses on the city’s most prominent landmarks, such as the historic sites near Boston Common, including the Old State House; Old North Church, from where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride; and Faneuil Hall, with an opportunity to browse through Quincy Market. Next, board a harbor CRUISE which takes you to see the USS Constitution, the Bunker Hill Monument, and the Boston Tea Party boat. Balance of the day at leisure. (B)
Day #3 Boston–Franconia Notch State Park–Québec City. Journey north through New Hampshire, passing the state’s capital dome at Concord and continuing to the majestic beauty of Franconia Notch State Park in the scenic WHITE MOUNTAINS. Capture inspiring views of one of nature’s true masterpieces as the grandeur of mountain scenery blends to a green carpet panorama in northern Vermont, which is blessed with innumerable forests and lakes. Enter the French-Canadian province of Québec. The next two nights are in romantic Québec City on the banks of the mighty St. Lawrence River. Until the British victory of 1759, Old Québec was the center of New France; today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This evening, enjoy [LF] regional French cuisine at a special dinner in Old Town Québec. (B,D)
Day #4 Québec City. Start the day with an included tour by a Local Guide of Canada’s only walled city, including the Place d’Armes, ancient Place Royale, and the Plains of Abraham. The balance of the day is free for independent sightseeing. Tonight’s optional dinner outing takes you to Montmorency Falls and over to Ile d’Orleans for a delightful dinner at a fine restaurant in a restored 17th-century flour mill. (B)
Day #5 Québec City–Montréal. Travel southwest to Montréal, Canada’s second-largest city. Sightseeing with a Local Guide includes NOTRE DAME BASILICA, the Old Seminary of St. Sulpice, and a drive to the top of Mount Royal to enjoy a panorama of the city. Afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps stroll through the underground shopping area of Place Ville-Marie or visit historic Old Montréal. (B)
Day #6 Montréal–Ottawa. Drive west into Ottawa, the country’s beautiful capital. On a guided tour, you’ll see the Canadian Mint, residences of the Governor General and Prime Minister, the hexagonal National Arts Centre, Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and the stately residences. Dinner tonight is at a specially selected restaurant. (B,D)
Day #7 Ottawa–Toronto. This morning, visit the [LF] ROYAL CANADIAN MOUNTED POLICE STABLES to learn the Mounties’ history of ensuring peace, safety, and security. Afterward, sit back and relax as you journey through Ontario’s cities to Toronto, the cosmopolitan provincial capital. (B)NOTE:The RCMP Stables are closed on Sundays in September and October. When the stables are closed, a visit to Gatineau National Park will be substituted.
Day #8 Toronto. On today’s sightseeing, view Toronto’s two city halls, the legislature buildings, the university, and some neighborhoods, including Chinatown. The balance of the day is free, and your Tour Director will have plenty of suggestions for things to do and see in Canada’s largest city. Our optional dinner outing includes a visit to the top of the famous CN Tower for great views of Toronto’s harbor and skyline. (B)
Day #9 Toronto–Niagara Falls. Drive around the “Golden Horseshoe” of Lake Ontario and through vineyards and rich farmlands. Then, board the MAID OF THE MIST for a thrilling boat ride to view the thundering falls from river level. You may opt to take the optional helicopter flight over the falls. This evening, you may join an optional dinner at a local restaurant followed by a once-in-a-lifetime experience to personally light up the falls. (B)NOTE:The operation of the Maid of the Mist cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. When conditions are unfavorable, a walking tour through the scenic tunnels will be substituted.
Day #10 Niagara Falls–Lancaster. Cross the border at Rainbow Bridge and enter New York State. Then, journey into Pennsylvania through the rolling Appalachian Mountains and on to Lancaster, home of the religious Amish and Mennonite communities whose faiths stress humility, family, community, simple living, and separation from the world. Tonight, enjoy a traditional AMISH FEAST and get an intimate view of growing up Amish. (B,D)
Day #11 Lancaster–Washington DC. Visit an [LF] AMISH FAMILY and their farm, where you will learn more about this faith, culture, and traditional way of life that excludes the use of modern conveniences such as electricity and telephones. You’ll have the chance to visit the barn, see their miniature horses, learn about their homemade quilts and crafts, and sample delicious Dutch treats. Then, depart for Washington DC, the nation’s capital. Join us for the optional dinner tonight at one of Washington’s favorite restaurants, followed by an illumination tour of some of the city’s most beautiful monuments. (B)
Day #12 Washington DC. This morning’s sightseeing features many of Washington DC’s famous landmarks, including the VIETNAM, KOREAN, and WORLD WAR II Memorials. Enjoy a ride through history on a tram tour while visiting ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY, where you’ll see the KENNEDY GRAVESITES, the TOMB OF THE UNKNOWNS, and ARLINGTON HOUSE, the Robert E. Lee Memorial. Also stop for photos at the White House and Capitol Hill. An afternoon at leisure to do as you wish. Be sure to visit the many museums of the Smithsonian Institution and the glorious Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, or Washington National Cathedral. This evening’s farewell dinner is hosted by your Tour Director. (B,D)
Day #13 Washington DC–Philadelphia–New York City. Travel north this morning to Philadelphia for included sightseeing focusing on the important buildings of this historic city, the birthplace of the nation. Visit major attractions, including the LIBERTY BELL and INDEPENDENCE HALL. Continue north into New Jersey and on to Newark International Airport for guests who have homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 4 pm. For guests with flights out of Kennedy or LaGuardia International Airports, transfers are not included and it is suggested to book flights after 6 pm. The tour ends at the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers in the late afternoon for those guests with extra nights. (B)
Hotels:
BOSTON Boston Park Plaza (SF)
QUÉBEC CITY Hilton Québec (MD)
MONTRÉAL Delta Centre-Ville (SF)
OTTAWA Lord Elgin Hotel (F)
TORONTO Delta Chelsea (SF)
NIAGARA FALLS Doubletree Fallsview Resort & Spa (SF)
LANCASTER Marriott at Penn Square (SF)
WASHINGTON DC Capital Hilton (SF)