Colours of New England Tour & Cruise

There’s history and culture around every bend in Boston—skyscrapers nestle next to historic hotels while modern marketplaces line the antique cobblestone streets. But to Bostonians, living in a city that blends yesterday and today is just another day in beloved Beantown.

Surrounded by natural treasures and glorious seascapes, Halifax is an attractive and vibrant hub with noteworthy historic and modern architecture, great dining and shopping, and a lively nightlife and festival scene. The old city manages to feel both hip and historic. Previous generations had the foresight to preserve the cultural and architectural integrity of the city, yet students from five local universities keep it lively and current. It's a perfect starting point to any tour of the Atlantic provinces, but even if you don't venture beyond its boundaries, you will get a real taste of the region.It was Halifax’s natural harbor—the second largest in the world after Sydney, Australia’s—that first drew the British here in 1749, and today most major sites are conveniently located either along it or on the Citadel-crowned hill overlooking it. That’s good news for visitors because this city actually covers quite a bit of ground.Since amalgamating with Dartmouth (directly across the harbor) and several suburbs in 1996, Halifax has been absorbed into the Halifax Regional Municipality, and the HRM, as it is known, has around 415,000 residents. That may not sound like a lot by U.S. standards, but it makes Nova Scotia’s capital the most significant Canadian urban center east of Montréal.There's easy access to the water, and despite being the focal point of a busy commercial port, Halifax Harbour doubles as a playground, with one of the world's longest downtown boardwalks. It's a place where container ships, commuter ferries, cruise ships, and tour boats compete for space, and where workaday tugs and fishing vessels tie up beside glitzy yachts. Like Halifax as a whole, the harbor represents a blend of the traditional and the contemporary.

If you come directly to Cape Breton via plane, ferry, or cruise ship, Sydney is where you’ll land. If you’re seeking anything resembling an urban experience, it’s also where you’ll want to stay: after all, this is the island’s sole city. Admittedly, it is not the booming center it was a century ago when the continent’s largest steel plant was located here (that era is evoked in Fall on Your Knees, an Oprah Book Club pick penned by Cape Bretoner Anne-Marie MacDonald). However, Sydney has a revitalized waterfront and smattering of Loyalist-era buildings that appeal to visitors. Moreover, it offers convenient access to popular attractions in the region—like the Miner’s Museum in nearby Glace Bay (named for the glace, or ice, that filled its harbor in winter), the Fortress at Louisbourg, and beautiful Bras d'Or Lake.

Designated as the Island capital in 1765, Charlottetown is both PEI’s oldest and largest urban center. However, since the whole "metropolitan" area only has a population of about 65,000, a pleasing small-town atmosphere remains. The city is a winner appearance-wise as well. Peppered with gingerbread-clad homes, converted warehouses, striking churches, and monumental government buildings, Charlottetown’s core seems relatively unchanged from its 19th-century heyday when it hosted the conference that led to the formation of Canada. The city is understandably proud of its role as the "Birthplace of Confederation" and, in summer, downtown streets are dotted with people dressed as personages from the past who’ll regale you with tales about the Confederation debate.

Newfoundland's fourth-largest city, Corner Brook is the hub of the island's west coast. Hills fringe three sides of the city, which has dramatic views of the harbor and the Bay of Islands. The town is also home to a large paper mill and a branch of Memorial University. Captain James Cook, the British explorer, charted the coast in the 1760s, and a memorial to him overlooks the bay.The town enjoys more clearly defined seasons than most of the rest of the island, and in summer it has many pretty gardens. The nearby Humber River is the best-known salmon river in the province, and there are many kilometers of well-maintained walking trails in the community.

There’s history and culture around every bend in Boston—skyscrapers nestle next to historic hotels while modern marketplaces line the antique cobblestone streets. But to Bostonians, living in a city that blends yesterday and today is just another day in beloved Beantown.

This evening, meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception to start your New England tour.

Unlock the best of Boston walking along parts of the Freedom Trail. Stroll through Boston Common, Massachusetts State House, Granary Burying Ground established in 1660 by some of America’s most notable citizens, Old State House -- the site of the Boston Massacre and the oldest surviving public house in Boston and Faneuil Hall -- America's first Town Meeting and vital location in revolutionary politics). You'll love following the brick and cobblestone streets to historic sites that reveal the history of the American Revolution. Stop at Lexington and Concord, the site where "the shot heard round the world" was fired, marking the beginning of the American Revolutionary War. In the afternoon make your way to Vermont, driving past picturesque New England farmlands and old-world towns.

Get a taste of delectable East Coast cuisine among some of the country’s most beautiful landscapes on your New England tour. In Northfield, Vermont, try local products over a Be My Guest Experience including lunch at Green Mountain Girls Farm. Learn about regenerative and sustainable farming and how they raise healthy and free-range animals including pigs, chicken, turkey and goat as well as vegetables in Central Vermont before a farmhouse lunch. Bellies full and ready for more exploration, take in the Burlington waterfront with a scenic cruise around Lake Champlain. Aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen, enjoy your host’s storytelling as you enjoy the tranquil scenery from the indoor and outdoor decks surrounded by beautiful foliage.

Get ready for more local flavours and tempting treats as you make a stop at Lake Champlain Chocolates for local artisan ice cream and chocolates including sea salt caramels, dark chocolate truffles and peanut butter cups. Then head to Stowe, Vermont, a popular ski destination, that is equally vibrant in the fall decorated in the quintessential red and orange hues. Learn from your Travel Director how the von Trapp family, made famous in “The Sound of Music” settled here after fleeing Austria. Take a stroll through the charming and walkable downtown, popping into the shops, before a memorable evening. Through Raven Wildlife Program’s MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, a Local Specialist gives you all the fascinating intel into the local ecology, wildlife, and even the science behind the famous colours of the fall foliage found here.

See how the foliage of New England is in a league of its own journeying along "The Kanc", an American Scenic Byway that cuts through the White Mountain National Forest. Admire the glowing fall colours on this untouched stretch of road and snap postcard-worthy pics at the many overlooks to remember your New England tour. This afternoon, join a gentle guided hike to Diana's Baths, a series of small waterfalls within the White Mountain National Forest. It’s the perfect escape to nature, finding peace in many picturesque spots along the rocks, ledges, falls and pools in the brook. Or, explore the shops and restaurants of the ski town of North Conway.

From the mountains of New Hampshire to the pine forests, highlands and river valleys of Maine, New England is a classic. Descending "Downeast", the looming Atlantic swells of Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island are our destination for the day. Join a Local Specialist and naturalist for insights into the lobster fishing industry, marine ecology and local ecosystems. Further your lobster “education” with a classic lobster dinner complete with traditional sides.

Acadia National Park promises sweeping coastal vistas. Visit the park's Cadillac Mountain, the highest point along the Atlantic Seaboard and the first spot in the United States where the sun rises. Take in a 360-degree panoramic view of the park and the surrounding coastal landscapes. Admire the magnificent pink granite cliffs and ancient maple forests – their leaves glowing fiery red, burnt orange and mustard yellow in the crisp autumn air. Return to Bar Harbor for a free afternoon or consider joining an optional nature cruise on Frenchman Bay. This afternoon on your New England tour, visit the Bar Harbor Historical Society’s charming waterfront building to meet a local Wabanaki storyteller.

Maine. A state where rocky beaches and cliffs make up a coastline like nowhere else. The intense hues of New England’s forests and mountains linger as you journey south to make a stop at the iconic Nubble Lighthouse. Snap a photo of this classic lighthouse built in 1879 before journeying past fisheries and seaside dwellings that have sheltered everyone from local lobstermen to holidaying presidents. In historic Rockport, a seaside town full of charm, try local food, enjoy shopping and admire talented artists. This evening, join your fellow travellers for a memorable Farewell Dinner reminiscing over your fall foliage experience.