DAY 01:

Welcome to Boston. Get settled at your hotel and then set out on your own to spot some of Boston's historic sites or enjoy a stroll along the waterfront before gathering at the hotel at 6 p.m. with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.

DAY 02:

Begin your journey through the vibrant colours of a New England autumn with a trip up the coast to Maine. Pass by old whaling villages dotted with lighthouses and widows' walks, the playgrounds of New England's rich and famous, and rocky beaches pounded by the great Atlantic swells on your way to Bar Harbor on Maine's Mount Desert Island. Once home to the largest hotel in North America, Bar Harbor also played host to the grand summer homes of the American aristocracy, including the Rockefellers, Vanderbilts and Astors. This evening, join your travelling companions for a traditional Maine lobster dinner and learn about lobster fishing from a fisherman, your Local Specialists.

DAY 03:

At 1,523 feet (464 metres), Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park is the first spot in the United States where you can see the sunrise. You won't be getting up that early, but you'll still have plenty of time to admire the view from the top of the peak before descending to discover the natural riches of New England's only national park. Marvel at granite cliffs overlooking dramatic, windswept beaches, graceful stone bridges arching over rushing streams and stands of ancient maples, their leaves glowing fiery red, burnt orange and mustard yellow in the crisp autumn air. Back in Bar Harbor, enjoy an afternoon on your own. Sip a coffee by the sea, stroll the quaint Main Street or take an optional nature cruise on Frenchman Bay.

DAY 04:

Bid farewell to the coast and travel over rolling hills ablaze with colour on your way to the wooded valley of Pinkham Notch, formed during the last ice age as glaciers scoured the earth. Late this afternoon, arrive in the pretty town of North Conway on the edge of the White Mountain National Forest. After dinner, get acquainted with the local flora and fauna during an engaging talk by a Local Specialists.

DAY 05:

Spectacular fall foliage awaits as you journey through Crawford Notch. See the Silver Cascade Waterfall and Bretton Woods offering stunning views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in northeast. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

DAY 06:

Visit a historic woolen mill in Quechee that now houses the Simon Pearce glassblowing workshop. Relish a Be My Guest lunch featuring local ingredients delicately arranged on Simon Pearce’s beautiful stem and flatware and delve into the art and science of glassblowing. Later, get a glimpse of agricultural life at the Billings Farm and Museum, a lovely estate that’s home to one of Vermont’s finest dairy producers. Arrive in Ludlow and enjoy dinner with your travelling companions this evening.

DAY 07:

From the Green Mountains, cross back into Massachusetts and the gorgeous Berkshires, alight in autumn with the fall colours that have made New England famous. Stop in Stockbridge to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum and learn about this beloved artist and his iconic paintings of small-town Americana. Continue on to Springfield, nestled on the banks of the Connecticut River. This evening, join your Travel Director and newfound friends for a festive Farewell Dinner.

DAY 08:

Travel east to see the birthplace of the American Revolution and the “shot heard round the world” as made famous in Ralph Waldo Emerson’s “Concord Hymn.” The battles of Lexington and Concord were the first skirmishes in the American war for independence and these small towns are still rich in history. See the famous statue of the Minute Man, adjacent to Concord’s historic North Bridge. Stop at Lexington Green, which saw the first drops of blood spilled in what George Washington laconically called “the dispute with the British.” Then it’s back to Boston where you are transferred to Boston Logan International Airport or to the hotel in Boston if you’d like to extend your stay.