9D8N Classic New England (8100)

Welcome to Boston! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

Head north into Maine, with a stop in the historic Maritime city of Portland. An included city sightseeing tour upon arrival shows the beautiful coastal region, including lighthouses and the local lobster fishermen. Time to stroll the cobblestone streets of Portland's famous Old Port waterfront, lined with working fishing wharves and converted warehouses with restaurants and shops. Continue northeast via Bangor, to Bar Harbor, a popular seaside resort and gateway to Acadia National Park. This evening feast on steamed mussels, Maine lobster, and delicious corn on the cob at an optional lobster bake.

Bar Harbor is situated on Mount Desert Island, one of the most beautiful Atlantic Islands and site of Acadia National Park, a landscape marked by woodland, rocky beaches, and glacier-scoured granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain. Among the wildlife are moose, beaver, whales, and seabirds. Drive through the park, passing Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast, to see some of New England's most spectacular scenery. Your afternoon is free to explore the quaint village of Bar Harbor on your own. You may decide to go whale watching or take a nature cruise. Gift shops, galleries, and boutiques line the village of Bar Harbor, if you prefer some souvenir shopping. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and dining.

Travel inland through the Longfellow Mountains and head for the fabulous White Mountains of New Hampshire. Admire the land of covered bridges, quaint towns, and forests noted for their vibrant colors during fall foliage. Overnight at the Sunday River Resort located in classic New England.

Today, you are greeted with the deep forest smells of the pines and changing leaves. A beautiful drive through Franconia Notch, along New Hampshire's Kancamagus Scenic Byway, and the White Mountain National Forest, is renowned for its fall leaf viewing. The "Kanc," as the locals call it, remains unspoiled by homes or service stations, allowing you to watch the maple, beech, and birch trees burst into a brilliant kaleidoscope of yellows, browns, oranges, and reds. In Montpelier, visit Vermont's oldest sugarhouse before ending the day in Stowe, one of America's most popular ski resorts as well as a favourite summer destination.

This morning visit Woodstock, its village green reminiscent of 19th-century England. Next, visit Billings Farm & Museum, a living museum of Vermont's rural past and working dairy farm. At Quechee Gorge State Park, Vermont's little Grand Canyon see fabulous views of the gorge and, in Rockingham, visit the charming Vermont Country Store. This afternoon, enjoy some time in downtown Brattleboro, named one of the top-10 small art towns in the country.

This morning, venture to the seaside town of Hyannis, a village on the Cape Cod peninsula. Hyannis is known internationally as the "All-American City" and where you will find the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, award-winning restaurants, quaint storefronts, and beautiful beaches.

Today, drive the arm of the Cape, to Provincetown. This dazzling seaside town along the Atlantic is a small haven at the end of the world, with the most beautiful beaches of New England, a bountiful culture, and an innumerable number of paths. Return to Hyannis, where the remainder of your time on the Cape is free for independent activities.

Depart this morning for Boston. Upon arrival, your guided tour focuses on the city's most prominent landmarks. See Boston Common; Old State House; Old North Church, from where Paul Revere got the signal to start his famous ride; historic sights of the Freedom Trail; and Faneuil Hall, with the chance to browse in Quincy Market. A stop at Boston Logan International Airport for those with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm.