Overview
For well over 30 years now, we have been operating tours focusing on the spectacular scenery of Eastern Canada and New England during “The Fall” season. The itinerary for the past few years has reflected some changes and these enhancements have delighted our travellers and continued the tradition of relaxed touring, wonderful scenery, and great company.Seeing Eastern Canada and New England in The Fall is seeing nature at its best and most colourful. Our relaxed coach touring programme commences in New York City before heading off through New York State to Massachusetts and historic Boston. In New Hampshire, the grandeur of the White Mountains and Mt Washington contrast with the gentility of the small villages and towns that dot the landscape. Enjoy the country roads, red barns and covered bridges of Vermont before we cross back over into Canada for a special treat with an overnight stay at the wonderful Chateau Montebello. Then on to the nation’s capital, Ottawa, across into Quebec and Montreal where our coach touring finishes. But it’s not over yet …
The St. Lawrence River Cruise – 9 nights on board Holland America MS VolendamVisiting Canada’s charming cities and tracing the coast to New England’s quintessential seaside towns.
Tour Highlights:- New York for a total of 4 nights – plenty of time to explore this wonderful city, with a great mix of included sightseeing and free time for independent exploration.
- Boston for a 2-night stay
- Touring Vermont & New Hampshire
- A night at the magnificent Chateau Montebello
- Ottawa for a 2-night stay
- Montreal for 2-night stay and Quebec City
- 9 nights on board Holland America MS Volendam
Itinerary
Monday 15 September Auckland – New York (B) We depart this evening for New York. The flight crosses the international dateline en route and arrives New York in the evening. On arrival, we are met and transferred to our hotel for a 2-night stay. Tuesday 16 September New York (B,D)After a leisurely start we enjoy a half day tour of New York city to see its wonderful sights. We explore Times Square, see the Empire State Building, Chinatown, Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge. This evening we get together for dinner. Wednesday 17 September New York – Albany (B,D)After a relaxing start to the day, we depart the Big Apple, head inland and our overnight stop is in Albany, capital of New York State. There is time to see the Empire State Centre with a diverse range of architecture exhibited in the government buildings before we check-in to our hotel. Thursday 18 September Albany – Mohawk Trail – Boston (B,D)A lovely drive today as we sit back on our coach and enjoy the autumn colours of the Mohawk Trail. We travel through many small towns and colonial villages including Williamstown, known as the prettiest village in America and snugly nestled amongst the rolling hills of the Berkshire Mountains. At Shelburne Falls visit the only Bridge of Flowers in America. We will also enjoy a guided tour at a Shaker Village to learn about their way of life. Later this afternoon, we arrive into the great city of Boston for a 2-night stay. Friday 19 September Boston – Freedom Trail (B)Our morning tour shows us Boston City, the capital of Massachusetts and the most liveable large city in the USA. It is the cradle of independence, rich in history and culture, and it still retains much of the charm from an earlier age. We visit North Church, associated with the immortal Paul Revere and the Freedom Trail, and visit areas that in the past we have only read and heard about – “The Boston Tea Party”, Bunker Hill, Boston Pops Symphony Hall, Boston Common, and Beacon Hill. Saturday 20 September Boston – Cape Cod (B)Our tour today takes us down to Cape Cod – “Kennedy Country” and home to the rich and famous – along the rugged coastline through fishing villages and coastal estates. During the morning we visit Plymouth Plantation, a recreated village depicting life at the time of the Pilgrim Fathers. After lunch, we see Plymouth Rock at the harbour’s edge, commonly regarded as the stone on to which the “Mayflower” passengers first stepped ashore when they disembarked, and we visit a full-scale replica of the “Mayflower”. Then it’s down to Cape Cod and Hyannis and the JFK Memorial before we return to Boston late afternoon. Keep an eye out for the cranberry bogs which are a common sight in the area. Sunday 21 September Boston – White Mountain National Park (B,D)After a good breakfast to start us on our way, we continue our journey with a stop at the historic town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire’s only seaport. This is a delightful town with many vintage Georgian mansions and colonial structures dating back to the 1690s and the time of the original English settlers. Our lunch stop is Concord and we have time for a visit to the State House, which at almost 200 years old is the oldest in the country where the state legislature still meets in the original chambers. We continue to our overnight stay in beautiful White Mountains. Monday 22 September White Mountain National Park – Burlington, Vermont (B,D)Our journey today takes us through White Mountain National Park. Spreading across New Hampshire into Maine, the White Mountains are the biggest in New England, noted for their spectacular scenery and many natural attractions – especially in the autumn. Dominating the rest is Mount Washington at nearly 7000ft. Then it’s across the border into Vermont where a “must do” is a stop at a maple syrup factory shop. We spend the night at Burlington located on the shores of Lake Champlain. Dinner tonight will be onboard the Harvest Moon Dinner Cruise, hopefully watching the moon rise over Lake Champlain.Tuesday 23 September Burlington – Cornwall – Ottawa (B,D)Today, we return to Canada via Cornwall. Our first stop is the Kinsmen Farmer’s Market, an all local, producer-only market which means everything for sale is grown or made by the people selling it. Come on out and visit fresh seasonal farmers’ market offering locally grown produce, fresh meats, homemade preserves, baked goods, and artisan vendors. After a lunch break (not included), we continue to Ottawa for an evening at leisure. Settle into our hotel, which is located in the heart of Canada’s capital next door to the Parliament Buildings. Dinner is included at a local restaurant. Wednesday 24 September Ottawa (B) We enjoy a sightseeing tour of Ottawa. The wonderful autumn colours in the parks and gardens, the grounds of the Prime Minister and Governor General’s residences, the Houses of Parliament and the embassies make a wonderful display. At the end of the tour, why not enjoy a lunch break at the Fruit Markets with a wide range of restaurants and coffee shops. The remainder of the day is free to explore this beautiful city. Thursday 25 September Ottawa – Montebello (B,D)Today is a full day of adventure. We start with a trip to the Canadian Museum of History for a special cultural exchange. Indigenous Experiences is situated on the grounds of the Canadian Museum of History on the shores of the Ottawa River, within the traditional territory of the Algonquin people. Afterwards, we have some free time to experience the museum on our own. Afterwards, we travel to Omega Park, located just outside of Montebello. From the comfort of the “Omega Bus”, experience Canada’s wildlife up close. A nature guide will accompany and help to spot elk, bison, moose, wolves, bears, beavers, eagles and foxes in their natural habitat. Feed local deer carrots, attend an animal presentation, and consider an easy walk through one of the many nature trails. Consider walking the First National Trail to view totems, inukshuks and more. We arrive at our historic hotel, modeled after a hunting chateau. Our dinner is included at our hotel. Friday 26 September Montebello – Montreal (B,D)With massive grounds for hiking, gorgeous lakes for canoeing and yachting, a full service spa and golf course, the Chateau Montebello has so much to offer. This afternoon, we depart our hotel for Montreal where we will have ample free time in old town for lunch in local cafes. After lunch, we start our Montreal city tour with a local guide in charming Old Town. We start our sightseeing at the magnificent Notre Dame Basilica with its wood interior and stained-glass windows illustrating biblical scenes as well as the city’s history. The Old Town area offers a range of buildings covering the centuries since the foundation of the city and our drive-up Mont Royal provides panoramic views over the city and the St Lawrence River Valley. Saturday 27 September Montreal (B,D)Founded in 1642, Montreal is decidedly “French”, yet it is also very cosmopolitan with many immigrants from all over the world who have made the city their home. We have left the day at leisure, a chance to explore the underground city which protects the locals from the harsh conditions of the northern winters. Sunday 28 September Montreal – Commence Cruise (B,D)We have a relaxing morning. In the afternoon, we board our cruise ship and become familiar with our home for the next 9 nights. Our ship sets sail from Montreal at 3.00pm Monday 29 September Quebec, Canada (B,L,D)Few places in North America are as steeped in history as Québec City. Older than Jamestown and founded before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, it is the only city north of Mexico whose original fortifications remain intact. The Québec City historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is still home to religious orders and hospitals that date back to the 17th century. Its Place-Royale would look familiar to the explorer Samuel de Champlain, even with its modern attractions of gift shops and cafés. On the Plains of Abraham, you can walk the battlefield where, in 1759, the French forces under General Montcalm were decisively trounced by the British, led by General Wolfe. The British took control of all of New France within a year of that 1759 battle, but even so French culture still lives on here in Québec City. More than 95 percent of Québec City’s population speaks French as its first language, though it’s easy to sightsee and navigate the city in English. As you tour the museums and historic sights of Québec City that celebrate Québecois history, you’ll discover a remarkable culture that has survived and thrived into the 21st century.Arrives 7.00am, Departs 4.00pm. Tuesday 30 September Cruising Gulf of St. Lawrence (B,L,D)Just relax today as we enjoy a sea day.A lighthouse on little St. Paul’s Island is a stark reminder of days gone by as we sail past this infamous old shipwreck site, known as the graveyard of the gulf, on our way through the Cabot Strait and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. So huge is the gulf that half of Canada’s 10 provinces have a coastal connection to it. Perhaps that’s not surprising, considering that it’s the world’s largest estuary and fed all the way from the Great Lakes 1,200 kilometres away. Wednesday 01 October Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (B,L,D)Charlottetown is the capital of Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island, as well as its largest city, though it has fewer than 35,000 residents. Despite its modest size, the city has an impressive number of Victorian houses and buildings and great parks waiting to be explored. For Canadians, it is perhaps most famous as the Birthplace of Confederation. It was here, mostly at Province House, that an 1864 conference led to the creation of the Dominion of Canada. Prince Edward Island is linked to New Brunswick on the mainland of Canada by the 13-kilometer Confederation Bridge that soars over the Northumberland Strait. A remarkable feat of engineering, the bridge opened in 1997 and is the longest in the world over icy waters. Sites within downtown Charlottetown include the lovely Victoria Row, which becomes a pedestrian mall each summer, and other historic building, some of which are now museums. Nearby Prince Edward Island National Park is home to white-sand beaches and hiking and biking trails — plus fans can see the house and farm that inspired the beloved book Anne of Green Gables.Arrives 10.00am, Departs 6.00pm. Thursday 02 October Sydney, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (B,L,D)Sydney is the largest city on Cape Breton Island, which is linked by causeway to the rest of Nova Scotia. Sydney’s attractions start at the harbour, where visitors can shop for locally made crafts and see the world’s largest fiddle, which towers beside the port’s cruise pavilion. Some of the city’s historic houses and churches date back to the 1700s and 1800s and are open for tours. Restaurants often provide live music (expect fiddles and sea chanteys) along with meals of seafood fresh-caught in nearby waters. Sydney’s galleries give visitors a chance to meet local artists and purchase their work. Cape Breton’s natural wonders include the spectacular scenic drive known as the Cabot Trail. Hikers in Cape Breton Highlands National Park will find stunning vistas around every turn, while a boat ride on massive Bras d’Or Lake, which is ringed by wild hills, offers a different perspective on the province. Explore the region’s past with a visit to the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and learn about the area’s First Nations communities at Membertou Heritage Park.Arrives 8.00am, Departs 4.00pm. Friday 03 October Halifax, Nova Scotia (B,L,D)Located on a rocky inlet on the Atlantic Ocean, Halifax – Nova Scotia’s provincial capital – is defined by its maritime geography. It’s a spirited mix of world-class history and nautical-themed museums alongside bunkers and fortresses that guarded the harbour, plus striking public art and sights, funky shops and excellent pubs serving up folk music.Explore the Halifax waterfront where steamships once anchored to drop off arriving immigrants at Pier 21. Savour the low-key but classy culinary scene for fresh seafood and Nova Scotia specialties. Along Nova Scotia’s southern shores, the city is surrounded by lush greenery and charming villages that are worth the trip from downtown proper. Snap photos of attractions in the charming fishing village, Peggy’s Cove, with its picturesque lighthouse on a rocky outcropping. Or wander the streets of Lunenburg, whose colourful Old Town is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Arrives 8.00am, Departs 4.00pm. Saturday 04 October Eastport, Maine, USA (B,L,D)About as far “downeast” as you can get in Maine, the coastal city of Eastport is right across the bay from New Brunswick, Canada, and situated on Moose Island, between Cobscook Bay and Passamaquoddy Bay. Eastport has the deepest port on the East Coast, and this region is notorious for its ripping tides and powerful currents. These features have given birth to a rare phenomenon – reversing falls in nearby Pembroke. The churning water kicks food to the surface, supporting rare forms of aquatic life and attracting seals and eagles at high tide – great for whale watching. The best whale watching is from May through October.Arrives 10.00am, Departs 5.00pm. Sunday 05 October Portland, Maine, USA (B,L,D)Modern Portland, first settled in 1633, carries the marks of both subsets of Mainers. The restored brick buildings and warehouses of the Old Port and the fine upright houses of prosperous captains, merchants and shipbuilders make the city’s past a living part of its present. And the waterfront is a going concern, not a museum: Fishing boats chug into and out of their berths, buoys clang, harbour seals bark. Those shop windows aren’t displaying hardtack, rope or hand salve, though. Juice joints, art galleries, bookstores, bespoke menswear designers and gelato shops all jostle for attention. Don’t limit your visit to the Old Port, though. Wander through the terrific art museum or take a tour of one of the city’s historic homes. Jump on a ferry or whale-watching boat and get out into the busy harbour. Head to the coast – craggy, windswept and dramatic – a glorious and undeniably New England panorama. Get out and take it all in.Arrives 9.00am, Departs 6.00pm. Monday 06 October At Sea (B,L,D)Enjoy the ship facilities today on our last day at sea. Tuesday 07 October Disembark New York (B,D)Sadly, we disembark our cruise this morning in New York. We are met by our coach and enjoy a tour, including Soho, Central Park, World Trade Centre Memorial & Museum and the Statue of Liberty, along with other highlights. Returning to our hotel mid-afternoon, with time to rest until we meet again this evening for dinner and a Broadway Show! Wednesday 08 October New York – Hampton’s Day Tour (B,D)Today, we travel through Queens and leave the hustle and bustle of the big city behind. Learn why the rich and famous chose to make Long Island their own personal playground when the scenery transforms from tall buildings to open spaces, beautiful meadows, and magnificently landscaped homes. We continue east, passing the Long Island Duck before arriving at the famous town, Southampton where residents such as Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, Steven Spielberg, and others have made their home. We stroll down the picturesque main street, before heading through the historical area of the harbour and along the ocean drive, passing the homes of the rich and famous along the way. Continue to one of the oldest and best wineries in Southampton, where we’ll enjoy a wine tasting. Our next stop is Sag Harbor, a quaint town that invites its visitors to enjoy its unique atmosphere. We see the harbour and the yachts that are the toys of the rich, then stop at the antique stores or the old-world shops for some real bargains. After lunch, head west towards the Tanger Outlets where you can pick up a bargain with brand-name stores. In the late afternoon, we travel back to New York. We enjoy our last dinner together this evening. Thursday 09 October New York – Auckland (B)Another day in the Big Apple for you to explore at your leisure. As we depart on a late-evening flight, we have arranged for a late check out at our hotel so that you can freshen up after your sightseeing, prior to our transfer to the airport. Saturday 11 October Arrive HomeArrival time is early morning.
