Eastern US & Canada Grand Vacation with Extended Stay in New York City

Welcome to the “Big Apple!” Your Tour Director is on hand from 3pm-6:00 p.m. this afternoon to answer any questions.

This morning, enjoy an included sightseeing tour with a local guide. You will see Broadway, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, and more. This afternoon, head for Boston—the “Cradle of American Liberty.”

On your morning guided tour of Boston, visit the historic landmarks that have played an important part in the history of the United States. See Faneuil Hall, the Old North Church (where Paul Revere was signaled for the departure of British troops to Lexington), the Freedom Trail, and Boston Common. The afternoon is free to explore on your own. Get a true taste of Italian Cuisine this evening at an optional dinner in Boston's North End, also known as Little Italy. (B)

Journey through New Hampshire and on to the scenic White Mountains. Continue to the Canadian border, where you'll notice a change in language and tradition as you enter the French-Canadian province of Québec and historic Québec City on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. (B)

This morning, join your traveling companions on a unique optional excursion to the Érablière le Chemin du Roy Sugar Shack. Visitors to the sugar cabin will enjoy a typical Québec breakfast, along with a guided visit and presentation to explain the process of maple extraction.

Afterward, return to Québec City for a guided tour of Canada's only walled city, crowned by the turrets of Château Frontenac. Until the British victory of 1759, Old Québec was the center of New France; today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the walls reside the Place d'Armes, Laval Seminary, the star-plan Citadelle with grand vistas from its bastions, and ancient Place Royale. See the Old-World houses crowding narrow streets in Lower Town and the historic Plains of Abraham, where General Wolfe stormed the slopes.

The afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps join an optional guided tour of the iconic Chateau Frontenac to learn more about the famous people and historical events that have been a part of this majestic landmark hotel. (CB)

Today, drive to cosmopolitan Montréal, one of Canada's largest cities and home of Expo ‘67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics. Included guided sightseeing includes St. Joseph's Oratory, the lookout atop Mount Royal, once-walled Old Montréal, Notre Dame Church, the Seminary of St. Sulpice (built by the first missionary settlers), and modern Montréal. (CB)

Drive west to Ottawa, Canada's beautiful capital. Guided city sightseeing includes Parliament Hill with its Gothic buildings, the Canadian Mint, the Rideau Canal, the National Gallery of Canada, and stately residences and embassies. With a free afternoon, you could visit ByWard Market with its artisan shops and culinary treats. Consider an optional excursion to the Canadian Museum of History, Canada's oldest and most popular museums for its exceptional exhibitions and extraordinary views of Parliament Hill across the Ottawa River.

Trace the Rideau Canal south to the amazing Thousand Islands National Park. Then enjoy a scenic cruise around the many wooded islands along the St. Lawrence River sprinkled with beautifully simple to opulent summer homes.

Setting Toronto's exciting architectural tone are City Hall; the downtown banking district; Roger's Center; and stunning CN Tower, more than a third of a mile high. See all this and more on your morning city sightseeing tour. Then, spend the rest of the day exploring city sights such as Harbourfront, Ontario Place, and Chinatown on your own or get a view of Toronto from Lake Ontario on a scenic Harbour Cruise. This evening, consider an optional dinner atop the CN Tower where, with clear skies, you can see for miles!

Travel south along the lakeshore and through the rich farmlands and vineyards of Ontario to Niagara Falls. Stop at Table Rock and hear the raging waters. Then, board your Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise for amazing close-ups at the base of the thundering falls and an experience you won't soon forget! Then reach for the sky on an optional flightseeing tour aboard a helicopter for breathtaking views high above the falls.

Please Note: Operation of the Niagara Falls sightseeing cruise is subject to favorable weather and/or river conditions. Favorable conditions usually exist from May to October. When weather is unfavorable, a visit to Journey Behind the Falls will be substituted.

Leave Canada and head southeast through the Appalachian Mountains and along a portion of the Susquehanna River into Pennsylvania Dutch farm country. Tonight, join the optional excursion and experience authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cooking at an Amish Homestead. After dinner, have time to ask questions to learn more about the Amish way of life.

This morning, stop at the Amish Farm & House where a Local Guide explains the faith, culture, and way of life of these people for whom tradition forbids the use of electricity or telephones in the home. On to Washington DC for an afternoon arrival. Consider an optional evening dinner and Monuments by Night Illumination tour that shines a new light on this historic capital.

The nation's capital is a sightseeing treasure trove. Your half-day tour with a Local Guide visits the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and has photo stops at Capitol Hill, the White House, and other well-known sights. The remainder of the day is free. Perhaps visit the National Museum of American History to see Dorothy's ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz or the National Museum of Natural History to see dinosaur bones and the Hope Diamond! Your Tour Director will also have suggestions for exploring this historical and culturally rich city. (B)

Travel north this morning to Philadelphia. Visit Independence National Historical Park, home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Have time to explore these and other places in what is referred to as “America's Most Historic Square Mile” on your own. (B)

This morning, enjoy additional sightseeing in the “City of Brotherly Love” before saying goodbye to your Tour Director and leaving for New York City. Check into the New Yorker, a Wyndham Hotel, for the next two nights. Your Local Host will be available for any questions you may have and can offer suggestions for sightseeing, shopping, and dining.

The “Big Apple” beckons. New York has it all, from Broadway shows to museums, shopping, and great restaurants.

Your vacation ends this morning.