Sunday, October 2 - Welcome to New England!
Fly into Boston Logan International, transfer via motorcoach to the Doubletree Hotel, Chelsea/Boston (D)
Monday, October 3 - Vermont Country Store, Woodstock & Quechee Gorge
After breakfast, travel through the Green Mountains of Vermont enjoying the beautiful autumn colors of the countryside. Arrive at the village of Weston for a visit to the Vermont Country Store. Founded in 1946, this authentic country store is stocked with 1000’s of practical and hard to find goods that will surely delight! Continue along to the quintessential New England village of Woodstock and enjoy views and a picture stop at one of the historic covered bridges. Enjoy a picture stop at Quechee Gorge, fondly named Vermont’s little Grand Canyon before arriving at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, VT. (B,D)
Tuesday, October 4 - Waterbury, Vermont Maple Sugar House & Gondola Ride
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then depart for another spectacular day touring around northern Vermont while enjoying the splendid foliage and countryside. Visit a traditional Maple Sugar house for a demonstration and maple treat! Tour through Vermont’s state Capitol of Montpelier and continue through Waterbury with a visit to the Vermont Annex, and sample Cabot Cheese, known as the “best cheddar on earth” and tour through the quintessential village of Stowe and enjoy beautiful views on a Gondola ride up Mount Mansfield! Enjoy a planned dinner tonight before returning to the Lake Morey Resort. (B,D)
Wednesday, October 5 - Mount Washington Hotel Tour & Luncheon and Conway Scenic Mountaineer Train
This morning, depart for the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Enjoy a visit to Franconia State Park visitor’s center for time to enjoy the walking paths leading to the Flume Gorge. Continue to the historic Mount Washington Hotel, a grand masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture, and a two-year labor of love for 250 master craftsmen. This National Historic Landmark opened in 1902 and immediately became a favorite summer haunt for poets, presidents, and princes. Enjoy a tour of this magnificent hotel followed by a delicious lunch in the grand dining room. This afternoon, board the Conway Scenic Railway ‘Mountaineer Train’ for an amazing 2 ½ hour ride relishing in some of the finest natural scenery in the East! We’ll pass through spectacular Crawford Notch with sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas and cross the famed Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge. Arrive in Conway village, board your coach and journey along the Kancamagus Highway, one of the country’s most scenic by-ways, check into the Indianhead Resort, Lincoln NH for the evening. Enjoy dinner on your own at the resort. (B,L)
Thursday, October 6 - Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise & Kennebunkport
After breakfast, venture out for another spectacular day of touring through New Hampshire’s Lakes Region and White Mountains. Arrive at Weir’s Beach to board the M/S Mount Washington for a scenic cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, the state’s largest and most beautiful lake. Following the cruise, continue to beautiful coastal Maine to the charming seaside village of Kennebunkport and check into the Nonantum Resort for a relaxing one-night stay. Enjoy the rest of the day and evening to explore the town and dine at one of the town’s great restaurants. (B)
Friday, October 7 - Kennebunkport, Ogunquit, York & Lobster Cruise
This morning after breakfast, check out and enjoy a scenic drive along the ocean to Walker’s Point, the well-known summer home of past President George H.W. Bush. Continue to the seaside village of Ogunquit – named by the Abenaki Indians meaning “Beautiful place by the sea”. Board the ‘Finest Kind’ cruises for a firsthand lobstering experience! Then it’s on to the village of York with a visit to one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country – Cape Neddick Light, popularly known as “the Nubble”. Continue touring through the historic waterfront town of Portsmouth NH and the New Hampshire shoreline. Overnight – Hilton Hotel, Woburn, MA. (B,D)
Saturday, October 8 - Historic Boston & Depart for home
After breakfast, we will head to Boston, the birthplace of American Freedom! Enjoy touring along Boston’s famous Freedom Trail viewing and visiting many historic sites while hearing tales of the brave Bostonians and Colonialists who dared to challenge Britain and helped establish the greatest republic in the world. Enjoy free time for lunch on your own at Faneuil Hall Marketplace which is as alive today as it was in 1742 when our nation’s fathers proclaimed it “The Cradle of Liberty.” Late afternoon departure to Houston. (B)
