Fall Colours & Scenic Trains

Be dazzled by New England's brilliant autumn colours on this spectacular seasonal tour through Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Connecticut. Experience the vibrant fall foliage on breathtaking rail excursions aboard some of New England's most scenic trains including the Maine Eastern Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad and Cape Cod Central Railroad and delightful lake cruises.

Tour Inclusions & Scenic Highlights

• Hotel accommodations for 9 nights
• 9 meals (4 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners)
• Scenic train excursions aboard the Maine Eastern Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad and Cape Cod Central Railroad
• One-way coach class transportation aboard Amtrak's Downeaster from Boston to Portland and Vermonter from White River Junction to Brattleboro
• Sightseeing per itinerary
• Transportation by deluxe coach
• Services of a professional tour manager
• Baggage handling
• Taxes and service charges

• Boston
• Farnsworth Museum
• L.L. Bean
• Portland
• Franconia Notch State Park
• Old Sturbridge Village
• Gillette Castle
• Mystic Seaport
• Hyannis
• Cape Cod National Seashore
• Provincetown

Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrival in Boston
Arrive in Boston today, check in to your hotel and take the remainder of the day to explore the city on your own. You may wish to take an Old Town Trolley tour to get acquainted with the city and see all of its most impressive sights. Overnight Omni Parker Hotel.

Day 2 - Boston Sightseeing
This morning is at your leisure. You may wish to follow Boston's Freedom Trail highlighting the city's rich history or take advantage of an opportunity to sleep in. Late this morning, we depart the hotel for Boston's South station, where we will board the Downeaster for the relaxing 2 ½-hour journey north to Portland, Maine. Overnight Holiday Inn by the Bay. (B)

Day 3 - Maine Eastern Railroad
Embark on a full day of sightseeing that begins with a breathtaking rail journey aboard the vintage rail cars of the Maine Eastern Railroad. Admire the fall coastal scenery as you travel past quaint seaside villages on the journey from Brunswick to Rockland. Your touring continues with visits to the Farnsworth Museum of Art and quintessential Maine clothier L.L. Bean. We'll return to Portland this evening where we'll indulge in a traditional lobster dinner. Overnight Holiday Inn by the Bay. (D)

Day 4 - Conway Scenic Railroad
Today we drive to North Conway where we will board the Conway Scenic Railroad for a breathtaking journey through New Hampshire's fall foliage. Keep an eye out for spectacular views of Crawford Notch and Mount Washington. There will also be time to explore the train depot, now a National Historic Landmark, museum and roundhouse. After lunch, we'll board our coach for the scenic drive to Franconia Notch State Park, located in the heart of the White Mountains. There will be photo stops at Echo Lake and the Old Man of the Mountain historic site, where this natural rock formation once stood. Overnight TownPlace Suites Marriott. (L)

Day 5 - Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise
We travel to Weirs Beach today where we will board the ms Mount Washington for a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee, which offers a new vantage point from which to see the brilliant red and gold fall colours. There will be time this afternoon to browse the shops in Meredith before returning to Gilford with the remainder of the day at your leisure. Overnight TownPlace Suites Marriott. (B)

Day 6 - Vermonter to Brattleboro / Old Sturbridge Village
Late this morning we board Amtrak's Vermonter for the 1 ½-hour trip to Brattleboro, Vermont. Upon arrival we'll transfer by coach to Old Sturbridge Village, New England's largest living museum that focuses on life in rural New England from the 1790's to 1830's. Overnight Public House. (B, D)

Day 7 - Gillette Castle
This morning's scenic drive takes us into Connecticut for lunch at the Griswold Inn, one of the oldest continually operating inns in the country and one of Essex's historic landmarks. After lunch we will visit Gillette Castle. Once a private residence and now part of Gillette Castle State Park, the estate has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1986 and its grounds consist of the estate, a museum and hiking trails on more than 180 acres sitting on a chain of hills overlooking the Connecticut River. Later, we'll continue our scenic drive to Mystic. Overnight Hampton Inn. (L)

Day 8 - Hyannis Harbor Cruise / Cape Cod Central Railroad
Our day begins with a visit to Mystic Seaport, a maritime museum founded in 1929 featuring tall ships, a recreation of a 19th-century coastal village and a preservation shipyard. Later, we will drive to Hyannis for a scenic harbor cruise and an evening rail excursion through cranberry bogs and lush marshes aboard the Cape Cod Central Railroad with dinner. Overnight Hyannis Cape Cod Comfort Inn. (B, D)

Day 9 - Cape Cod National Seashore / Provincetown
Our day starts with a visit to Cape Cod National Seashore, 40 miles of protected beach, marshes and ponds. Later, we'll make the short scenic drive to Provincetown. Located at the tip of Cape Cod, this colourful resort area is the country's oldest artist colony and the birthplace of playwriting. It is well-known known for its beaches and famous residents, which have included Tennessee Williams, Norman Mailor and Kurt Vonnegut among many others. We'll return to Hyannis this evening. Overnight Hyannis Cape Cod Comfort Inn.

Day 10 - Return to Boston
Your fall foliage tour comes to a close this morning when you transfer to Boston's South Station or Logan Airport for your travel home.

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

1. Dates & Pricing
2. Trains & Transportation
3. Accommodations