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New England Autumn Foliage Express

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You are viewing the 2025 itinerary. Select your departure year
20252026
8 days From $3,495 $3,195 per person
4.3 stars(114 reviews)
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Uncover the magic that surrounds New England in the autumn on this daylight-only rail journey.

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager
Save up to $500

Worldwide Travel Event: Save up to $500 Per Person on Select Tours for 2025. Offer ends February 28th.

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Mobility Rating 3

2025 Tour code: NFE25

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.

Unforgettable Experiences

View the Foliage Aboard Three Scenic Rail Journeys
View the Foliage Aboard Three Scenic Rail Journeys
Get a new perspective on the fall colors aboard three scenic rail journeys: Conway Scenic Railroad, Mt. Washington Cog Railway, and Cape Cod Central Railroad
Ride aboard Amtrak's Vermonter
Ride aboard Amtrak's Vermonter
Soak in the fall scenery aboard Amerak's Vermonter from Burlington to Brattleboro.
America's Top Fall Foliage Drive
America's Top Fall Foliage Drive
Ride along Kancamagus Highway and admire the brilliant fall colors
Uncover Boston's Historic Sites
Uncover Boston's Historic Sites
Enjoy a city tour through Boston visiting historic sites and visit the famous Freedom Trail.
Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic Seaport Museum
This seaside museum offers a glimpse at the modern and historic elements of the Maritimes.

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.

Please Note - For departures Oct 08 we will stay at the Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain Hotel.

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

Hilton Boston Park Plaza

Hilton Boston Park Plaza

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Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

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North Conway Grand Hotel, North Conway

North Conway Grand Hotel, North Conway

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Hotel Vermont, Burlington

Hotel Vermont, Burlington

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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

4.3 stars4.3 / 5 · 114 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (58)
  2. 4 stars
    (37)
  3. 3 stars
    (13)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (4)

Melvin Mullet

5 stars

Submitted 05 Nov 2024

A great time. Great tour guide. Great bus driver.

from Vacations By Rail
Hi Melvin - thank you so much for leaving such a great review! We really appreciate the kind words and can't wait for a chance to travel with you again.
1 comment

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Jay

5 stars

Submitted 27 Oct 2024

Great trip. Didn’t care for the train rides that duplicated where the bus had just taken us. But that is the only negative. Great tour director and great bus driver.

from Vacations By Rail
Greetings Jay - Thank you very much for the glowing review! We're delighted to know that you enjoyed traveling with Tour Manager Beth and will be sure to pass along these kind words. If you'd care to share more, please drop us a line at XXX@XXX. We hope to help plan your next vacation with you!
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Elizabeth Hanson

4 stars

Submitted 27 Oct 2024

Great trip! Beth Mohan , our tour guide, was informative, professional and fun! Our driver, Alexj was excellent - a skilled driver! The scenery,( even the snow surprise) was lovely, hotels and different places of interest also great! All in all an experience I would recommend to anyone wishing to experience the spectacular fall foliage!

from Vacations By Rail
Hi Elizabeth - It's wonderful to hear that you enjoyed your Autumn Foliage Express vacation. The photos you captured are very impressive! Thank you for such a glowing review - we hope to help plan your next vacation with you!
1 comment

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James Harrelson

5 stars

Submitted 27 Oct 2024

Very well organized. Views in New Hampshire and Vermont were stunning. Historical sites were definitely worth the stops.

from Vacations By Rail
Hi James - your review made our day! It's great to know you enjoyed the experience and we hope to travel with you again soon. Thank you!
1 comment

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Susan Takasugi

4 stars

Submitted 25 Oct 2024

Well organized with a great, experienced tour manager. Hotel in downtown Boston was not the best due to hotel strike so services were very impacted as well as night construction across the street. Unfortunately, we had to leave the tour early due to illness but so glad we bought trip cancellation/interruption insurance. Our 3rd party person continued on and really enjoyed the entire trip. It was crowded given peak time for New England and 3-day weekend of Columbus Day. But the tour manager, bus driver did great to accommodate.

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CMAC

5 stars

Submitted 25 Oct 2024

great friendships were made!!

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