Compare The Gifts of Niagara: From the Falls to the Underground Railroad by Road Scholar vs Mackinac Island featuring Niagara Falls by Tours of Distinction
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4.5 | Great
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5 | Excellent
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| Duration | 6 days | 8 days |
| Price From | $ 799 | $ 1,690 |
| Price Per Day | $ 133 | $ 211 |
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| Trip Style | Small group tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
| Activities | N/A |
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| Meals Included |
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7 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 5 Dinners |
| Description | Immerse yourself in the story of Western New York through its Underground Railroad history, Native American heritage and, of course, the grandeur of Niagara Falls. |
Magical…Magnificent… and, Marvelous - are three words that encapsulate the charm of Mackinac Island, the jewel of the Great Lakes. Crowned as “one of the world’s friendliest islands” get ready to experience a slower, more genteel time as you take a carriage ride through a “living” Victorian village, have lunch at the Grand Hotel and visit Fort Mackinac that dates to the 1700s. |
Day
1
Check-in, Welcome Dinner, Orientation, Class
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: FINAL SCHEDULE DETAILS FOR ENTIRE WEEK ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DEPENDING UPON SPEAKERS' AVAILABILITY. Detailed schedule with starting times will be provided when you register on-site. Feel free to call us in advance if you need specific details in advance of your arrival that are not reflected within this booklet (716-754-7376, Ext. 1).
Afternoon: Check-in from 1:00 to 4:45 pm. Earlier check-ins available with advance notice. Once on the Stella Niagara campus, be sure to use the "Center of Renewal Entrance" and NOT the "Main Entrance". The Center of Renewal entrance is a porch with black railings, plenty of signs in the windows, and it is the last building on the right after the "Main Entrance".
Dinner: 5:00 pm Dinner at Center of Renewal
Evening: 6:15 pm | Formal welcome and orientation session to introduce you to the program highlights this week. 7:30 pm | Welcome wine-and-cheese social
Day
2
Cave of the Winds, Native Americans, Underground Railroad
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Begin our first full day with a better understanding of Native Americans in Western New York history. Join us on the Cave of the Winds walking tour right up to the edge of Niagara Falls ... from the bottom up! Learn about the Underground Railroad from various perspectives, including a group discussion on key topic areas.
Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal
Morning: This morning we will focus on the important role of Native Americans in the history of the Niagara Frontier, as presented by a member of the Cayuga Nation.
Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch
Afternoon: Experience the power of Niagara Falls as you might never imagine, up close and personal. Guests on the Cave of the Winds Niagara Falls tour follow wooden walkways along Niagara River nearby the torrents of Niagara Falls. Enjoy Niagara Falls as never before at Cave of the Winds Niagara! (In case of unexpected extended weeks of cold weather causing excessive build-ups of snow & ice, the walkways might be closed to the public. In this unlikely event, we will substitute another enjoyable activity.)
Dinner: 5:00 pm | Dinner at Center of Renewal
Evening: This evening we will learn about the impact of the Underground Railroad and the Niagara Frontier during the Civil War. The group will also be invited to share in discussion questions appropriate to the topic.
Day
3
Niagara Falls, Boat Ride, Illumination of the Falls
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Morning lecture on Niagara Falls State Park. Afternoon boat ride up to the Falls. Evening illumination of the Falls. VALID PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO CROSS THE BORDER THIS EVENING!
Breakfast: 8:00 am Breakfast at Center of Renewal
Morning: Morning lecture with Carol Rogers, knowledgeable educator from Niagara Falls State Park who will discuss Niagara Falls geography and natural history. Also explore what Niagara Falls is like in the wintertime and discover if the Falls have ever frozen over.
Lunch: 12:00 pm Lunch at the Center of Renewal.
Afternoon: 1:15 pm | Enjoy a field trip and ride on the "Maid of the Mist" boat (pending seasonal availability and weather restrictions) and other nearby sights ... a breathtaking afternoon experience!
Dinner: Dinner in Niagara Falls, Ontario Canada
Evening: BRING YOUR PASSPORT to view panoramic Niagara Falls from the Canadian side of the Falls this evening. We'll stay in Canada long enough to experience the nighttime colorful illumination of the Falls before returning to the USA.
Day
4
Canada: Skylon Tower, Botanical Gardens, and Butterflies!
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Enjoy lunch atop the Skylon Tower, and an afternoon at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory. VALID, GOVERNMENT-ISSUED PASSPORTS ARE REQUIRED TO CROSS THE BORDER TO
Day!
Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal
Morning: Board the bus for Canada trip. IMPORTANT! BRING VALID PASSPORT AND JACKET or SWEATER FOR TRIP TO CANADA (it gets cool near the Falls at night). We'll be in Canada all day through early evening when we will then return to the USA, not before. Feel free to bring a pillow from your room in case you want to take a nap on the bus; just remember to return it to your room after the bus trip ends later this evening.
Lunch: Enjoy a special dinner-type lunch served in the revolving restaurant at the top of the Skylon Tower overlooking Niagara Falls -- breathtaking views and a wonderful meal, too! Skylon Tower's world-famous dining simply must be experienced. Their award-winning continental cuisine is presented in an elegant setting 775 ft. above the Falls. Experience once-in-a-lifetime views of Niagara Falls and the Great Gorge. Lunch includes admission to the Skylon Tower Ride-to-the-Top and the Indoor/Outdoor Observation Decks after lunch.
Afternoon: Continue our visit on the Canadian side of the Falls and Ontario, Canada with an afternoon at the 100-acre Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens, maintained by the School of Horticulture, and the fascinating Butterfly Conservatory. This magical attraction features over 2,000 colorful tropical butterflies floating freely among lush, exotic blossoms and greenery. Paths wind through the rainforest setting, past a pond and waterfall and the Emergence window, where butterflies leave their pupae and prepare to take their first flight. Relax at your own pace with this self-guided walking tour.
Dinner: Casual lunch-type dinner on your own along the way.
Evening: As we prepare to cross the border back into the USA, enjoy our early evening ride along the scenic 14-mile drive, featuring floral displays and other sights.
Day
5
H2O power, Old Fort Niagara, Native American history
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L,D Center of Renewal Retreat & Conference Center
Activity note: Learn about how Niagara Falls affects massive amount of hydroelectric power. Learn about Niagara Frontier history from the 1600s on at Old Fort Niagara.
Breakfast: 8:00 am | Breakfast at Center of Renewal
Morning: This morning we'll board the bus for a field trip to New York State Power Authority to learn about hydroelectric power in the Niagara Frontier. Enjoy a fabulous view of the Niagara Gorge and Lower Niagara River from the deck of the Power Authority.
Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch
Afternoon: After lunch, we'll visit Old Fort Niagara in the nearby Village of Youngstown. There, we'll explore highlights of Native American history, the 1600s-1700s, the War of 1812, and much more.
Dinner: 5:00 pm Dinner
Evening: Open evening
Day
6
Final Learning Session, Lunch, Independent Departures
Center of Renewal at Stella Niagara, NY B,L
Activity note: See how much you learned via the fun game, "All You've Wanted to Know about Niagara Falls" complete with prizes. Check out from your room by 10:00 AM, enjoy lunch, and prepare for a relaxing trip home or to your next destination. Thank you for joining us!
Breakfast: 8:00 am Breakfast at Center of Renewal
Morning: Free time until 10:00 am to finish packing and checking out from room. 10:15-11:45 am | Final learning session and fun competition exercise: "All You've Wanted to Know about Niagara Falls", facilitated by adult learning facilitator and Center of Renewal executive director Nancy P. Askins, PhD. Enjoy this session structured as an enjoyable end-of-week learning game complete with prizes for the highest scores, with insightful fun for all.
Lunch: 12:00 pm | Lunch at Center; program officially ends after lunch. Have a safe trip home, and thank you for enjoying our Niagara Falls area Road Scholar lifelong learning adventure!
Day 1 - Arrive Erie, Pennsylvania
Arrive in Erie, PA where overnight lodging will be provided at the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn of Erie.
Day 2 - Erie - Dearborn, MI
Breakfast is included this morning before we follow the shores of Lake Erie to Cleveland, Ohio and a visit to the famous Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Located in a striking pyramid shaped building on the shores of Lake Erie, you’ll enjoy a morning with the legends of Rock & Roll. It’s a real trip down memory lane. This afternoon brings us to Dearborn, Michigan, for 2 nights at the Best Western Inn, with dinner.
Day 3 - Dearborn
After a full breakfast this morning, head just up the street is one of America’s great Museums. Enter the world of Henry Ford, with admission provided to both Greenfield Village and The Henry Ford Museum. At Greenfield Village we travel back in time to America of the mid-1800s, a living history museum far removed from today’s fast paced society. Next door is the Ford Museum, where Henry Ford stored his vast private collection. He was a man who collected just about everything. This afternoon we visit Cranbrook House, the home of Detroit newspaper publisher and philanthropist George Booth. Dinner is included this evening.
Day 4 - Dearborn - Mackinac Island
This morning depart after breakfast for Northern Michigan, the legendary home of Hiawatha. In Mackinaw City we’ll transfer to a high speed island ferry for the short trip across Lake Huron to beautiful Mackinac Island. Our hotel is the lovely Island House located on the Main Street amidst all the historic attractions and shops. The Island House is a National Historic Landmark that has welcomed guests to Mackinac for over 150 years. Dinner is included off the menu at the hotel.
Day 5 - Mackinac Island
Breakfast is included this morning at the Island House and then we will set out to explore the town. Everyone on Mackinac either walks or rides in horse drawn carriages, and today our sightseeing will be by horse drawn carriage in the true Mackinac tradition. Featured today will be the famous Grand lunch at the Grand Hotel. With its magnificent wrap around porch and beautiful gardens, this is one of the great hotels of North America. Enjoy the Grand Hotel and an afternoon to visit the shops and explore the Island. Dinner is on your own, and on Mackinac Island there are many wonderful restaurants to choose from.
Day 6 - Mackinac Island - Frankenmuth
After breakfast we’ll board the ferry to the lake port of St. Ignace and cross the famous suspension bridge over the Straits of Mackinac with Lake Huron on one side and Lake Michigan on the other. Continue on to Frankenmuth, Michigan’s Bavarian Village. For over 150 years Frankenmuth has been the center of German Culture in the Upper Midwest. Enjoy sightseeing and shop at Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland where they make beautiful glass ornaments. After checking into our hotel in Frankenmuth we will enjoy a true Bavarian Chicken Dinner.
Day 7 - Frankenmuth - Niagara Falls, Canada
Enjoy breakfast in Bavarian Frankenmuth and dinner in world famous Niagara Falls. Our hotel in Niagara Falls is the beautiful Hilton Niagara Falls on the Canadian side of the falls. Dinner is included in the Skylon Tower high above the Falls. What a view and what a dinner! See Niagara Falls illuminated after dark and try your luck at the big Casino near our hotel.
Day 8 - Depart Niagara Falls
Breakfast and a visit to the popular Duty Free Shop where there are great bargains on the fine gifts, perfumes, liquor, and fancy candies. Next we’ll cross the Rainbow Bridge back into the USA. Along the way we will stop off in Geneva, New York in the famous Finger Lakes. At Ventosa Vineyards overlooking scenic Lake Seneca we’ll enjoy a wine tasting and Lunch.
