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New England Autumn Foliage Express

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4.4 stars(45 reviews)
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Uncover the magic that surrounds New England in the autumn on this daylight-only rail journey.

You are viewing the 2023 itinerary. Select your departure year
202320242025
8 days From $2,595 per person
Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

2023 Tour code: EC-NFEA-23

About the tour

Watch as the warm hues of autumn overtake the landscape on this 8-day guided journey through New England. The tour begins as the group discovers the Colonial history of Boston. From Boston, we travel out of the city and into some of the best places for fall foliage viewing in all of the United States. The first stop is North Conway, where we will travel down the Kancamagus Highway and take a mid-day journey on the Conway Scenic Railroad. Next, it is a ride on the Mt. Washington Cog Railway. From there we head to Vermont where we board Amtrak's Vermonter. In Mystic, we will visit the nation's most impressive maritime museum, Mystic Seaport. Moving on, a Newport Mansion and all of the sites of Hyannis lie ahead. The group will enjoy one final train ride aboard the Cape Cod Central Railway before the journey concludes in Boston. With dinners that immerse us in the culture of New England, amazing sightseeing opportunities and ample time to explore on your own, as well as with the group, this fall foliage adventure is second to none.

Highlights

Activity level Natural Explorer

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You don’t mind spending the day on your feet. You enjoy sightseeing that includes walking, standing or stair climbing. You’re okay with longer days that are more active, such as multiple sightseeing stops, longer motorcoach journeys and getting on and off ships and trains.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Boston

Arrive in Boston and make your way to your downtown hotel on your own. You will have some time to settle into your accommodations or to begin your explorations of this historic city. This evening meet your Tour Manager and fellow travelers in the lobby of the hotel for an introductory meeting. Dinner is at leisure at one of the many fantastic eateries that call Boston home. Overnight Boston, MA.

Day 2 - Boston/North Conway

Follow the same pathways as our forefathers with a guided tour through Boston this morning. We will see where Paul Revere set out on his iconic ride, and see the sites along the Freedom Trail. The tour concludes as we arrive at Quincy Market, where you will have time to peruse the food stalls and grab a bite to eat. Later this afternoon, the group will transfer to North Conway, NH. Our day of adventure concludes as we all sit down to dinner. We will feast on seasonal New England cuisine and enjoy each other's company before retiring to our hotel for the night.  Overnight North Conway, NH.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - Kancamagus Highway/Conway Scenic Railroad

As you board the motorcoach this morning; you are in for a true treat along the Kancamagus Highway. Fiery colors explode in all directions as the coach moves down this famed tree lined highway. This afternoon, more foliage lies ahead as we board the Conway Scenic Railroad. We will board at Crawford Notch and enjoy a one-way ride that ends in North Conway. As the train arrives at the historic station in downtown North Conway, you will have the remainder of the day at your leisure. There are a variety of boutiques and shops in town, as well as restaurants that offer cuisine ranging from bar food and pizza to upscale offerings. Overnight North Conway, NH. 

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 – Mt. Washington Cog Railway

Take a ride to the summit of Mt. Washington aboard the world's first mountain-climbing cog train, which dates back to 1869. Not only will you see nature's brilliant colors, you will also soak in views over five states and possibly even Canada from the top. The group enjoys lunch at the base of the mountain at the onsite restaurant before boarding a motorcoach bound for Burlington, VT on the shores of Lake Champlain. As we arrive, old New England charm surrounds. There are charming shops, chapels, museums, and restaurants lining the streets. Your evening is at leisure to enjoy the amenities of this small town. Overnight Burlington, VT.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 5 - Amtrak’s Vermonter/Mystic, CT

As you wake this morning, take in the mountain views as we make our way to the Amtrak station. Our next train ride beckons, this time taking us from Burlington to Brattleboro aboard the Vermonter. Colorful trees surround the tracks, and the New England panoramas are sure to impress. As we arrive in Brattleboro, we will transfer to Mystic by deluxe motorcoach. We will arrive at our hotel to check in and freshen up, then the group will meet for dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Mystic, CT. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Mystic Seaport Museum/Newport Mansion/Hyannis

Transport yourself back in time with a visit to the Mystic Seaport Museum this morning. This seaside museum offers a glimpse at the modern and historic elements of the Maritimes. Visit the shipyard to see the amazing craftsmanship that goes into wooden shipbuilding, visit the 19th-century living village and immerse yourself in the amazing history of New England through fantastic exhibits. As our time at the museum wraps up, our motorcoach once again hits the road - this time bound for Newport, RI. Here, we will tour one of the beautifully appointed mansions that call Newport home. Moving on, we have one final stop for the day: Hyannis. Overnight Hyannis, MA. 

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 7 - Hyannis/Cape Cod Central Railroad

Soak in the unique essence of Hyannis this morning. Stroll along Main Street to experience the charming locally owned stores, the art galleries and the restaurants. There are bookstores and music shops, clothing boutiques and gift shops that offer souvenirs for every taste. This afternoon we will ride aboard the Cape Cod Central Railroad which offers a look at the beauty of coastal New England. We will see cranberry bogs and sand dunes, salt marshes and wildlife. The train travels through the oldest town on the Cape, Sandwich, and learn about the history of the region as you admire the vistas. Following the train ride, the group will convene for a Farewell Dinner. Overnight Hyannis, MA. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 - Tour Conclusion

Our grand fall foliage adventure comes to a close as we are transferred to Boston this morning. A group transfer to Boston South Station or Boston Logan Airport will accommodate planes and trains departing after 1:00 p.m. 

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotels

Boston Park Plaza

Boston Park Plaza

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Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown

Hilton Garden Inn Burlington Downtown

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Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

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Hampton Inn & Suites North Conway, North Conway

Hampton Inn & Suites North Conway, North Conway

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Trains

Amtrak's Vermonter
Cape Cod Central Railroad
Conway Scenic Railroad
The Mount Washington Cog Railway

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Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 45 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (26)
  2. 4 stars
    (15)
  3. 3 stars
    (3)
  4. 2 stars
    (0)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

FRANCIS BANASZEWSKI

5 stars

Submitted 30 Oct 2022

Great Adventure to the northeast USA

Collected by Trustpilot

WILLIAM MARTIN

5 stars

Submitted 19 Oct 2022

It was a great trip with lots of surprise stops by our tour guide Amy and driver Tom. They both went above and beyond to make this a great trip. And the leaves cooperated by giving us some spectacular colors.

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BARBARA WALKER

4 stars

Submitted 19 Oct 2022

This was our first time on a VBR tour. Our tour manager and bus driver were excellent. The hard part was finding food for the meals that were not provided. When dropped off at some of the hotels there were no food options available except McDonalds. Many businesses were closed and the hotels were not equipped to handle a tour bus of customers. One of the trains that we experiences was not very comfortable and it was really too long of a ride in the rail cars. The best was the cog train and the experience at the top of Mt. Washington. The colors were beautiful and we were excited to experience a part of the USA that we had never seen before. Our tour manager was friendly and engaging. She provided a lot of interesting facts and history of the locations that we visited. It was have been very helpful to have had additional information for some of the locations that we toured to be prepared for the weather. We were told to layer which was good advice. But when you are packing in 98 degree weather it is hard to know what damp and 62 degrees feels like. A better list for umbrellas, gloves, moderate weight jacket, and hats would have been helpful.

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CHARLOTTE HARRISON

1 stars

Submitted 18 Oct 2022

Hmmm not my cup of tea. Too tight of schedules to just sit and try to see out windows with brush flying by.

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SCOTT TELLEZ

3 stars

Submitted 17 Oct 2022

It should be listed Vacations by Coach not Vacations by Rail! You spend the majority of your time on a motor coach.

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SHARON STRATTON

5 stars

Submitted 17 Oct 2022

It was great!

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