Compare The Hudson Valley 2021 by Tauck vs Best of Eastern Canada & USA 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1 Arrive Montreal

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Le Westin Montreal. A transfer is included from Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport to Le Westin Montreal, set in the heart of Old Montreal, just a short walk from world-class museums and shopping, vibrant nightlife and centuries-old historic sites. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your hotel overlooking the city's historic district.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Le Westin Montreal

PORTOFCALL : Montreal, Canada

Day 2 Magnificent Montreal to Lake Placid

Your Hudson Valley tour begins with an exploration of romantic, beguiling Montreal; from gleaming skyscrapers to the timeless charm of 17th-century cobblestone lanes, this morning’s city tour introduces the highlights of this dynamic bilingual city, a medley of European and North American influences. Views include McGill University’s downtown campus, which prides itself on drawing “no line between university life and the real world” and Mont Royal, the iconic summit and landscaped park visible from all parts of the city. In Old Montreal, between the St. Lawrence River and downtown skyscrapers, stroll with your guide through narrow streets that date back to the city’s founding in 1642. Galleries, cafés, shops and museums keep it a still-vibrant part of the city. Following lunch, depart Montreal for a drive through Québécois farmland to the U.S. border crossing and on through countryside that satiates with mountain views, foothill farms and orchards. A short stop at Ausable Chasm (a sandstone gorge two miles long carved by the Ausable River) reveals nature’s power in the roar of waterfalls set deep within towering cliffs; this natural wonder known as The Grand Canyon of the East was a major tourist draw in the 19th century. Your final destination is a classically elegant white clapboard resort and spa on Lake Placid; dinner is on your own tonight.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Lake Placid, New York, USA

Day 3 Lake Placid cruise, an Olympic ski jump & John Brown's farm

The day begins serenely on a private boat cruise on Lake Placid, described as “a clear, cold jewel” in the Adirondack wilderness, and then steps up in pace at the Lake Placid Olympic Center. Watch the thrilling hurl-into-flight during a ski jumping demonstration, and drink in the area’s beauty over lunch. Afterward, visit the nearby John Brown Farm, the historic home and burial site of the abolitionist who led the ill-fated raid on the federal arsenal at Harper's Ferry in 1859, prior to the start of the Civil War. Return to your hotel for time at leisure; a leisurely walk along Mirror Lake, the views from an Adirondack chair, and the alpine village of Lake Placid are all at your disposal. Have dinner at the hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa

PORTOFCALL : Lake Placid, New York, USA

Day 4 Blue Mountain Lake, the Adirondack Museum and Lake George

A year-round playground for outdoor enthusiasts, the Adirondacks' rugged mountains and vast forests have also long been home to lakeside villages and quaint towns. A drive through the region’s beauties ends at Blue Mountain Lake, home to the renowned Adirondack Museum, where modern galleries and historic buildings tell the unique story of the Adirondacks' residents – how they have lived and worked, from logging to mining and railroads, and played – from hiking, to rock climbing, skiing and snowshoeing – over time. After lunch, stunning scenery continues on a drive to your accommodations, a gorgeous resort lodge in Bolton Landing on the shores of a private island at Lake George.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : The Sagamore Resort

Day 5 The hip Hudson Valley, Olana & Lake Mohonk

From Lake George, head south through rolling countryside that is home to small farms, wineries and villages, with a stop in the resort town of Saratoga Springs. Continue on to Olana State Historic Site in Greenport, the former riverside home of noted 19th-century Hudson River School landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church and his wife Isabel, for a Tauck Exclusive visit including lunch in the Wagon House. Much of the estate, a National Historic Landmark, was designed by Church himself – including the eclectic Orientalist central villa, featuring a mix of Persian, Moorish and Victorian styles; and the sprawling, parklike grounds offering remarkable views of the Catskills, the Taconics and the Hudson Valley, as well as a working farm. Preserved much as it was during Church's lifetime, the estate displays many exotic objects collected by the Churches on their world travels, as well as some 40 paintings by the artist and his contemporaries. Your final destination is Mohonk Mountain House, a Victorian “castle” set on forested cliffs above Lake Mohonk – a resort once frequented by presidents, celebrities and turn-of-the-century industrialists, where you'll spend the next two nights.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Mohonk Mountain House

PORTOFCALL : Rhinebeck, New York, USA

Day 6 FDR's Hyde Park and old Rhinebeck

Fantastically wealthy retreats of statesmen and robber barons preside on the cliffs along the river like castles on the Rhine, and your Hudson River tour includes visits to several of the most famous of them. Explore the Roosevelt National Historic Site today at Hyde Park, the lifelong home of Franklin D. Roosevelt and his summer White House. A guided visit to Springwood, the family mansion, offers a window into an American way of life modeled on an English country estate – where the lives of the domestic staff and the home’s relationship to the local community were an integral part of the story. Afterward, a stop in historic Rhinebeck along the Hudson leaves time for lunch on your own and a chance to wander through a town designated as a National Landmark District and an au courant reputation for arts and culture. Return to Mohonk Mountain House late afternoon and have dinner at the hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Mohonk Mountain House

PORTOFCALL : Rhinebeck, New York, USA

Day 7 Boscobel Mansion to West Point and Tarrytown

This morning features an upscale 19th-century view of Hudson Valley life on a visit to critically acclaimed Boscobel Mansion. Completed in 1808, this elegant home was built by a gentleman farmer (and British loyalist) who furnished his home from the most fashionable shops in London. A century later, the house lingered in a state of neglect until local architects and citizens rallied efforts for its rescue in the late 1950s. A tour of the house brings with it a trove of Federal antiques, spectacular Hudson views and the story of its rescue accompanied with a Tauck Exclusive, a lunch inside the mansion. Next up, get an inside view of the US Military Academy at West Point on a guided tour that tells the story of its historic role in the Revolution, the contemporary experience of its cadets, and of those who have left their mark here – including George Washington, Robert E. Lee, Douglas MacArthur and Dwight Eisenhower. Your accommodations tonight are in the historic town of Tarrytown, where Washington Irving’s Ichabod Crane first encountered the Headless Horseman; the author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Knickerbocker Tales did much to enlarge the myths, legends and Dutch history you'll find in this region.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Tarrytown

PORTOFCALL : Tarrytown, New York, USA

Day 8 Rockefeller's Kykuit to New York City's heart

Named after the Afrikaans word for “lookout,” Kykuit was the name given by John D. Rockefeller to his six-story stone mansion (on 3,000 acres) which looks impressively out over the Hudson River and the New York skyline in the distance. This morning’s visit takes you through terraced gardens, where fountains, pavilions and sculptures include the work of Alexander Calder and Henry Moore, and art galleries featuring 20th-century art. Hear stories of the Rockefeller legacy in business, government, philanthropy and the arts. After lunch on your own, depart for the final, but certainly no less dramatic, leg of your Hudson River tour: a two-night stay at Parker New York, just steps away from New York City’s Central Park; explore on your own tonight in the heart of the "Big Apple."

MEALS : B

LODGING : Parker New York

PORTOFCALL : Tarrytown, New York, USA

Day 9 New York, New York... it’s a glamorous town

Feel the energy of Manhattan on this morning’s New York City tour, accompanied by a local expert who maps out landmark sights and the stories behind them. Start with an unobstructed view of the city’s sensational man-made peaks and valleys, from 70 floors up with a visit to the Top of the Rock atop a Rockefeller Center skyscraper; including the story of its construction, which put thousands of people to work just after the 1929 stock market crash – an initiative credited to John D. Rockefeller. Spend the rest of this morning on a guided city tour, where you will see Times Square, Radio City Music Hall, and the Chrysler and Empire State buildings followed by a Tauck Exclusive meeting with an NYPD detective who interprets the poignant events of September 11th and the subsequent recovery efforts. Early this afternoon, head to Lower Manhattan to view St. Paul’s Chapel and the 9/11 Memorial, honoring those who were lost – and expressing hope for the future. Return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Tonight, please join us for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel.

MEALS : B, D

LODGING : Parker New York

PORTOFCALL : New York City, New York, USA

Day 10 Journey Home

Tour ends: New York City. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Parker New York to La Guardia, JFK or Newark International Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for flight check-in.

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : New York City, New York, USA

Day 1: Thrilling Toronto

Welcome to Toronto, a vibrant city on Lake Ontario, full of fine restaurants, bars and an eclectic mix of cultures. On arrival at Toronto International Airport, a transfer will take you to your hotel. You’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Dinner with wine at 18:00.

Day 2: Toronto and the Thundering Falls of Niagara Relaxed Start

Travel up University Avenue to see Queen's Park and the Parliament Buildings, before venturing on to spectacular Niagara Falls. Take in this great natural wonder up-close on a cruise to the base of the falls. Browse quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake before returning to Toronto.

Day 3: Kingston and Ottawa

Journey to historic Kingston, otherwise known as the Limestone City and view the old buildings, churches and fortifications, with many of them being constructed from limestone itself. Continue to the Canadian capital of Ottawa where you’ll join a cooking demonstration at C’est Bon. Set in their state-of-the-art kitchen facilities close to ByWard Market, you’ll learn new culinary skills and discover more about local cuisine. Ingredients include Canadian staples such as maple sugar, haskaps, labrador tea and wild flowers. End the experience with a delicious three-course dinner with wine, before heading back to your hotel.

Day 4: Canada's Capital to Montreal

Get ready for an exciting morning exploring Ottawa, with a tour of the city’s stately boulevards. Then, you'll join your Indigenous Cultural Ambassadors and experience a lively traditional Pow Wow dance. Join this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and learn about the Manitobah Mukluks Storyboot Project which aims to revive the traditional arts by creating partnerships with elders and artisans. Continue to the diverse metropolis of Montreal, which is in the French-speaking province of Quebec.

Day 5: Montreal, the Royal Mountain

Today you’ll join a Local Expert who will guide you around Old Montreal, the grand mansions of Mount Royal, and the iconic Notre-Dame Basilica. The rest of the day is free to enjoy as you please.

Day 6: Montmorency Falls Park to Quebec City Relaxed Start

Depart Montreal and head to Montmorency Falls today.Stop at a traditional Sugar Shack and learn how maple syrup is created and harvested.After lunch, continue onwards to Montmorency Falls Park where you will experience that natural wonder that towers 272 feet (83 metres) tall. Walk the full width of the falls on a suspension bridge, or if you're feeling adventurous, you can take the panoramic staircase down along the cliffside.Continue on to Quebec City.

Day 7: Quintessential Quebec Relaxed Start

Discover more of Quebec’s unique European charm with a Local Expert, who will guide you along the city’s quaint cobblestone streets. You'll see the Latin Quarter, Plains of Abraham, City Hall and Palace Royale. You'll also walk past the Citadel, which offers great view of the city and Château Frontenac. In the evening you’ll choose from a selection of top local restaurants on a Dine-Around Evening.

Day 8: Quebec to Bar Harbor

Bid 'Au Revoir' to Quebec City as you cross the U.S. border and travel toward Mount Desert Island on the Atlantic Coast. A tranquil getaway, this large island comes with freshwater lakes, rugged clifftops, forests and striking mountains. Make the most of the serene setting at your hotel, which is situated on the island itself.

Day 9: Explore Acadia National Park

Take in the natural beauty of Acadia National Park, with its dramatic rocky shoreline and rugged nautical charm. You'll witness amazing views of the park from the top of Cadillac Mountain, while guests wanting to explore on foot can join their Travel Director to view well-known spots such as Thunder Hole. You'll have time to explore Bar Harbor on your own. Stop for an ice cream or head to the bustling souvenir stores to stock up on some holiday treats. The evening is saved for a delectable Highlight Dinner with your new friends, as you feast on authentic Maine lobster, a local specialty and one that won't disappoint.

Day 10: Coastal New England to Boston

Follow the rocky Maine shoreline, stopping in picturesque Kennebunkport, a glitzy, New England resort town and the iconic home of the Bush family. The town has a number of fine, well-preserved mansions, many of which have been turned into charming inns.

Day 11: Boston, the Cradle of Liberty

Famous for its American Revolutionary war history, Boston is a place for keen history buffs. Join your Travel Director as they guide you along the Freedom Trail, a route that leads you to several historically significant sites, including the Old State House and the meeting house where the Boston Tea Party of 1773 was planned. The rest of your day is at leisure. Perhaps take a stroll to Downtown Crossing or historic Faneuil Hall. For foodies in search of the city's best street eats, head to Boston's North End. With its large Italian community, this part of town houses some of the best Italian bakeries in the city, as lines of shoppers circle the block to get their hands on fresh cannoli and other treats.

Day 12: A Bite of the Big Apple

Follow the bright lights to New York City. Choose to visit the Top of the Rock Observation Deck with stunning views of the New York skyline. Alternatively, take a scenic bike tour of Central Park and explore its iconic sights.Your hotel is in the heart of Midtown and a short, 10-minute walk from the United Nations Headquarters and just steps away from Grand Central Terminal and the Chrysler Building.

Day 13: A Manhattan Masterpiece Relaxed Start

Explore the City that Never Sleeps with your Local Expert, before heading out on your own. If it's tranquility you're after, relish the calm of Central Park, an expansive space designed by renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Later, MAKE TRAVEL MATTER by visiting Essex Lower East Side Neighborhood Market for a food tour and demonstration.

Day 14: Liberty in Philadelphia and D.C.

Travel to Pennsylvania's largest city, Philadelphia, where the Liberty Bell first chimed and Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Explore Independence National Historic Park and visit the Liberty Bell with your Travel Director. Journey to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. Perhaps join an optional Illuminations Tour in the evening before spending the night at the luxurious Fairmont Washington D.C. Georgetown.

Day 15: Washington, D.C. Sightseeing and Leisure Time

In the morning, immerse yourself on a sightseeing tour and delve into the proud heritage of a nation. View the White House, the striking Washington Monument, and sprawling National Mall. Reflect on the country's most turbulent days at the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial. Next, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture, the newest member of the Smithsonian Institution and the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. The rest of the day is at leisure. Join your Travel Director and fellow guests for a Celebration Dinner and toast to new friends and fantastic memories.

Day 16: Depart Washington, D.C.

A morning transfer at leisure will take you to Dulles International Airport or Reagan National Airport for your flight home. Alternatively, extend your stay at your own pleasure.