Compare Passage Through New England & Eastern Canada by Great Value Vacations vs New England's Fall Foliage 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations
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Trip |
4 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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Duration | 12 days | 8 days |
Price From | $ 3,850 | $ 3,475 |
Price Per Day | $ 321 | $ 434 |
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Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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Travel Themes | N/A |
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Countries Visited | ||
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Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
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Meals Included | N/A | N/A |
Description |
This is an escorted tour. It’s perfect if you prefer not to do your own driving and want to see as many sights as you can during your vacation. GOOD NEWS - The local tour operator will no longer require a COVID-19 vaccination for travelers as of March 1, 2023. For travelers departing before March 1, the tour operator requires that travelers aged 12 and older provide proof of full COVID-19 vaccination in the form of written documentation (paper or electronic copy), in English, for all vacations. Proof of vaccination must be completed at least 14 days prior to the tour start date. *Exceptions apply to children who do not qualify for vaccination. Immerse yourself in the beauty of New England and Eastern Canada on this enchanting 11-night vacation! Start off with stays in Boston, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Montreal. Enjoy a guided sightseeing tour of historic Boston, a visit to Montreal's Notre Dame Basilica, and a tramway ride up to the 4,080-foot-summit of Cannon Mountain in gorgeous Franconia Notch! Then depart on a 7-night cruise through Canada's most scenic towns and landscapes! Aboard a 5-star Holland America ship, you'll travel to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Quebec City, charming Charlottetown on Price Edward Island, stunning Sydney, Halifax, famous for its lighthouses and coastal cliffs, and Bar Harbor in Maine, surrounded by spectacular Acadia National Park. |
Embrace the beauty of New England during this 8-Day guided tour. Behold Boston, one of the oldest cities in the U.S. and where much of the country was formed; here, you will traverse the red-brick Freedom Trail, where you will see the hall that housed the country’s first-ever town meeting and many more historic sites. Admire the bronzing leaves of Vermont’s lush trees as you travel to Stowe, where the real Von Trapp family of ‘The Sound of Music’ chose to live — and where you will stay. In Montpelier, visit a maple syrup farm where you can taste the sweet golden liquid tapped straight from the trees. Ride a gondola at Loon Mountain Resort into New Hampshire’s White Mountains and see as far as Canada. See Maine’s oldest lighthouse in Portland, then celebrate your trip with a decadent fresh lobster dinner. |
Day 1 Welcome to Boston!
Touch down in the charming, historical city of Boston. Enjoy a comfortable transfer to your hotel and check-in. Once you're all settled, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink! Say "cheers" to an amazing journey.
Day 2 Boston - Franconia Notch State Park - North Conway
Recharge with a delicious breakfast, then enjoy an interesting orientation tour of Boston including Boston Common, the State House, Faneuil Hall, and more! After a fun morning, you'll depart Boston and head for New Hampshire and the scenic White Mountains! Upon arrival at Franconia Notch State Park, you'll board the Cannon Mountain Tramway for a thrilling ride to the 4,080-food summit! On a clear day, you can see the mountains of four states and Canada! As you explore, enjoy input from the Raven Interpretive Wildlife Program, which focuses on the flora and fauna of the area.
Day 3 North Conway - Stowe - Vergennes
Rise and shine! Today, embark on a beautiful drive to Stowe, stopping for a tour at a maple syrup farm! Learn the art of making maple syrup and enjoy a local treat. Midday, continue onto Vergennes, overlooking Lake Champlain with views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains!
Day 4 Vergennes - Shelburne - Montreal
This morning, visit nearby Shelburne Heritage Park, which exhibits one of the nation's most extraordinary collections of American decorative, folk, and fine art. It showcases buildings from around New England and New York, including an 1890 railroad station, a lighthouse, a stagecoach inn, and an Adirondack lodge! After a fun start to your day, you'll travel northwest to Montreal, Canada's second-largest city! Check-in to your hotel, then explore this unique hub of culture and history. You may want to visit Old Port Montreal or stroll around Mount Royal Park!
Day 5 Montreal - Cruise Departure
Enjoy a yummy breakfast, then get ready for a morning of sightseeing! Join a local guide to the Notre Dame Basilica, the Old Seminary of St. Sulpice, and take a drive up to the top of Mount Royal, where you'll enjoy a stunning panorama of the city. This afternoon, you'll be transferred to Montreal's port, where you'll embark on your ship for a 7-night cruise!
Day 6 Quebec City
First stop on your cruise: Quebec! Visit Canada’s only walled city, which, until the British victory of 1759, was the center of New France and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll within the walls and see the Place d’Armes, Laval Seminary, and ancient Place Royale. You'll also want to see the historic Plains of Abraham and the Old World houses that crowd the narrow streets in Lower Town by the St. Lawrence River.
Day 7 Quebec City - Scenic Cruising in the Gulf of St. Lawrence
Take in the beauty of the Saguenay Fjord, a 200-mile-long natural canal that brings saltwater from the Atlantic Ocean inland and creates a breathtaking environment for the communities of the St. Lawrence River. Spend the day at leisure aboard the ship, taking advantage of its numerous amenities!
Day 8 St. Lawrence - Charlottetown
Spend the day in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, the provincial capital named after Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III! This beautiful city is famous for hosting the 1864 conference that, three years later, led to the creation of the independent Dominion of Canada. Later, you might want to take a trip to Cavendish and visit the famous Anne of Green Gables homestead.
Day 9 Charlottetown - Sydney
Cape Breton Island boasts so much greenery and Gaelic culture that Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell called it home for the last 37 years of his life. You can still hear this heritage through the accents in some remote villages, and in the great popularity of Scottish-style folk music. Today, you may choose to travel along the scenic Cabot Trail, or visit the historic Louisbourg Fortress!
Day 10 Sydney - Halifax
This morning, arrive in Halifax, where lighthouses stand sentinel on cliff side ledges and tiny villages huddle in rocky inlets. Take time to explore Citadel Hill, with its early 19th-century star-shaped fort, the tree-shaded walks of the public gardens, and Fairview Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 100 people who perished on the Titanic. Tonight, indulge in a delicious dinner! Unwind with a cocktail and reflect on a great day.
Day 11 Halifax - Bar Harbor
Arrive in beautiful Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island, Maine’s oldest summer resort area! Stroll around the charming waterfront with its many shops, galleries, and boutiques. Alternatively, you might want to take an optional excursion to picturesque Acadia National Park, one of America’s most renowned areas of natural beauty.
Day 12 Depart Boston
Squeeze all your souvenirs into your suitcase and wave goodbye to the beauty of the northeast. Enjoy a comfortable transfer to the airport for your flight home!
Day 1: Welcome to Boston
Affectionately known as Beantown, this revolutionary city is one of the oldest in the United States. On arrival at Boston Logan International Airport, a transfer will take you to your centrally located hotel, which is situated next to Boston Common, the city's largest park. After settling in, perhaps take a stroll to Downtown Crossing or historic Faneuil Hall. For those looking to shop, Quincy Market offers big brands and local products, set indoors and surrounding the columns of a regal 19th century building. At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner with wine and an opportunity to mingle with fellow guests at your hotel.
Day 2: Beantown to Saratoga Springs
Today you’ll discover some of Boston’s most famous sights as you delve into the city’s transformative past. You’ll follow part of the red-brick Freedom Trail that brings the story of the American Revolution to life. Sights include Beacon Hill, Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Old South Meeting House. This afternoon, explore Stockbridge with an Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, home to the largest and most significant collection of original Rockwell art. Alternatively, choose to take a guided tour of Chesterwood, the former summer home and studio of renowned 20th century sculptor Daniel Chester French. Travel on through the rolling hills of the Berkshires to your boutique hotel. Tucked away in the heart of Williamstown, this beautiful property is a prime example of timeless elegance.
Day 3: The Legends of the Fall and Stowe
Say goodbye to Massachusetts and journey through the bronze fall foliage of Vermont. Visit the Vermont Country Store for a unique shopping experience - you'll step back into history with their nostalgic assortment of products. Explore the Rockefellers' renowned Billings Farm and Museum, a captivating working dairy and farm life museum, followed by a stop in the quintessential Vermont village of Woodstock with its picturesque, covered bridge. End your day in the northern Vermont town of Stowe, home to the breathtaking alpine setting that attracted the real Von Trapp family of "The Sound of Music." Enjoy Austrian-style lagers during your Highlight Dinner at Bierhall Restaurant, followed by a tour of the on-site microbrewery.
Day 4: A Taste of Vermont Relaxed Start
Enjoy Vermont’s beautiful scenery ablaze with fall’s golden red colours. Experience a guided tour of the Ben and Jerry's Factory and get behind the scenes of their iconic flavours. Return to the enchanting town of Stowe where the rest of the day is yours. From wandering its quaint streets to hiking in the woods or relaxing back at your lodge, make the most of your last evening at this mountain resort.
Day 5: North Conway and the White Mountains
Move on to Vermont’s pretty capital, Montpelier. You'll travel to Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, where maple syrup is "tapped" from the trees. Taste a Vermont tradition, the unusually named ‘sugar on snow’, which is maple syrup drizzled over packed snow. This tasty treat is traditionally served with a doughnut and pickle. Journey to New Hampshire’s White Mountains and enter striking Franconia Notch. Take a scenic ride on the Gondola SkyRide at Loon Mountain Resort. On a clear day, you'll have superb panoramic views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and Canada. Later, journey through the dazzling crimson and orange hues of the famed Kancamagus Scenic Byway to North Conway. This spectacular section of Route 112 is unspoiled by industry and boasts 34.5 miles of untouched natural beauty.
Day 6: Sightseeing in the White Mountains Relaxed Start
In the morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you enjoy an insightful talk by a naturalist on the North Woods' wildlife and ecology. Expert Chris Lewey is the Executive Director and Founder of Raven Interpretive Programs. He holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies and will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. Then, more spectacular fall foliage awaits as you journey through Crawford Notch, an arresting pass through the White Mountains. Stop for pictures at the Silver Cascade Waterfall and Bretton Woods, which offers stunning views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast at 6,288 feet (1,917 metres). Your Travel Director will guide you on a scenic hike to Diana's Baths, which features a series of small cascading waterfalls. Return to your hotel where you can enjoy an evening at leisure.
Day 7: The Rugged Maine Coast Relaxed Start
Cross from New Hampshire into Maine this morning as you visit the jagged coastline and Portland Head Light on the spectacular shores of Fort Williams Park. This popular landmark is one of the most visited lighthouses in the country and is the oldest lighthouse in the state. Explore the historic town of Cape Elizabeth, then spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner featuring Maine lobster with your fellow travellers.
Day 8: Back to Boston
Known for its sandy beaches, Kennebunkport is a year-round coastal destination that houses the rich and famous, even serving as the summer retreat of former President George H.W. Bush. Travel along Ocean Drive with more stunning views of the Maine coastline, before driving back to Boston. Guests departing Boston will arrive at Boston Logan International Airport at 12:30. Those extending their stay will return to the Hyatt Regency Boston hotel.