Duration: 9 Days
Known for its historic sites and stunning fall foliage, New England in the fall delights all of the senses. On this fall foliage tour, experience the spectacular beauty of autumn displays in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Your colourful tour of New England begins in the historic city of Boston. You’ll head north into Maine, for a visit to the charming cobblestoned streets of the maritime city of Portland—complete with lighthouses and lobster fisherman. Head to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island—gateway to the woodlands and rocky seashores of Acadia National Park. Keep an eye out for local residents, including beaver, whales, and seabirds on your drive through the park. Your guided tour of New England continues inland through the Longfellow Mountains to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Step back in time through classic covered bridges, quaint towns, and forests bursting with seasonal colours. Next, you’ll drive along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway through the fragrant pine and colorful deciduous woodlands of Franconia Notch and White Mountain National Forest. You’ll be enthralled with the kaleidoscope of fall colours presented by birch, beech, and maple trees on your way to Vermont where you’ll visit a sugarhouse that’s been producing maple syrup for eight generations! From Burlington—a thriving New England college town—you’ll visit Woodstock, Billings Farm & Museum, and Quechee Gorge State Park. Enjoy an overnight stay in Brattleboro on the shores of the Connecticut River. Spend two nights in Hyannis on Cape Cod including a day trip to the tip of the Cape to explore the small community of Provincetown. You’ll return to Boston for a sightseeing adventure to trace the steps of Paul Revere near the Old North Church; see the Boston Common; the old State House; and other locations that are significant to U.S. history along Boston’s Freedom Trail. From colourful American history to colourful fall scenes beyond compare, your escorted vacation in New England is a trip to create memories for all seasons!
Traveller Notes
- Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi. Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
- Enjoy the fall colours of New England (if Mother Nature permits).
Please note: Itinerary is based on 2024, and is subject to change. Full details will be confirmed in 2024.
Welcome to New England! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Head north into Maine, famous for its beautiful coastal region, including lighthouses and lobster fishermen. Stop in the historic Maritime city of Portland where an included city sightseeing tour upon arrival shows you the cobblestone streets of the 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. (B)
Bar Harbor is situated on Mount Desert Island, home of the ruggedly beautiful Acadia National Park. Drive through woodlands, past beaver lodges, rocky beaches, and rounded mountains ascending the glacier-scoured granite peak to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast and one of the first to see the sunrise. Your afternoon is free to explore the quaint village of Bar Harbor on your own. You may decide to walk the Shore Path, take a nature cruise, or visit the shops, galleries, and boutiques that line the streets. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and dining. (CB)
Explore the roads less travelled of inland Maine, past pristine farmland, blueberry barrens and forests noted for their vivid colours during the autumn. Stop to enjoy the small-town hospitality in Farmington, settled by veterans of the American Revolution. Overnight in North Conway. (CB)
Today, you are greeted with picture postcard views of New Hampshire's charming rivers as you drive along Kancamagus Scenic Byway, renowned for its fall leaf viewing. The "Kanc," as the locals call it, remains unspoiled by homes or service stations for its entire length. A drive through White Mountain National Forest brings you to Franconia Notch. In Montpelier, visit an eighth-generation sugarhouse and learn about traditional maple sugaring before ending the day in Burlington, Vermont's largest city on the shores of Lake Champlain.
This morning visit Woodstock, its village green reminiscent of 19th-century England. Next, explore Vermont's rural heritage at Billings Farm & Museum, a living museum and working dairy farm, home to a famous herd of dairy cows. Marvel at the views in Quechee Gorge State Park, Vermont's little Grand Canyon, and return to simpler times with a visit to the charming Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. End today with an overnight in Brattleboro. (CB)
Drive across Massachusetts today to Plymouth, the first landing place of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620, and see Plymouth Rock. Then cross the Cape Cod Canal, the widest sea-level canal in the world, on your way to the town of Hyannis, 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, and quaint storefronts. (CB)
Today, drive the arm of the Cape, to the old whaling port of Provincetown. This eclectic seaside town is a tiny haven often referred to as "Land's End." Stroll MacMillan Pier with its fishing boats and craft shacks, browse the colourful shops of Commercial Street, or dig into a lobster roll, Portuguese pastry, or some creamy clam chowder. 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 historic sights of the Freedom Trail; Boston Common; Old State House; Old North Church, where two lanterns were hung on the night of Paul Revere's famous ride; 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.
