Quebec to the Maritimes featuring VIA's Ocean

Bonjour! Arrive in Quebec City today, and transfer on your own to your hotel in Old Quebec, where your tour manager will greet you. Check in and unpack, then you will meet your tour manager and fellow travelers in the lobby between 3 and 6 pm. The evening is yours to explore the unbelievable culinary scene or to take in the beauty of the city as evening falls. Overnight Quebec City, QC.

Today begins with a group breakfast at the hotel, at which time you will learn about all the excitement in the days to come. Following, we will set out on our guided tour of Quebec City. Along the way we will see sites such as Montmorency Falls, the Isle of Orleans, Place d'Armes, Plaines d'Abraham, Place Royale and even some of the beauty just outside the city in the countryside. The remainder of the afternoon and evening is yours to see the sites independently. Perhaps you will wind your way through the narrow, cobbled streets of Old Quebec in search of shops, eateries and centuries-old architecture, or maybe you will embark on a ferry ride out onto the St. Lawrence River to see the city vistas in a new way. Overnight Quebec City, QC.

• Breakfast

This morning and afternoon, you are free to say goodbye to this magical city however you see fit. Revisit favorite sites from yesterday's tour, visit a museum or ascend to the top of the Observatoire de la Capitale for a glimpse of the city from above. This evening, we will make our way just outside the city to Érablière le Chemin du Roy for a traditional sugar shack experience. While it will not be maple sugaring season, it will feel like it during our immersive visit, where we will learn how tapped maple sap is transformed into delicious maple syrup. Our festive sugar shack visit includes a traditional dinner and maple taffy treats on the snow (yes, even in the summer). Live traditional Quebecois music and dancing make our time at the sugar shack unforgettable. After dinner, we will be transferred to Sainte-Foy rail station where VIA Rail's Ocean waits for our overnight journey to Moncton. You will enjoy comfortable, Sleeper Plus Class accommodations on the train, including a private cabin for up to two guests. Overnight train.

• Dinner

As you awake this morning, the Ocean is crossing through rural Quebec and New Brunswick. Take in the passing scenery from your cabin, or watch the vistas unfold from the domed windows of the lounge car. You will be treated to multi-course meals in the dining car for breakfast and lunch, and later this afternoon, the train will arrive at Moncton Station. Upon arrival, we will transfer to Hopewell Rock Park to gaze upon the most famous geological feature in New Brunswick, the Flowerpot Rocks at Hopewell Cape. After, we move closer to the water to watch as the tides change. You are in for a treat, as the Fundy Tides are the highest and most dramatic on Earth, changing 6 to 8 feet every hour, for a total of approximately 50 feet. When evening falls, we depart for our hotel in Saint John. Overnight Saint John, NB.

• Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast at the hotel this morning, we will set out on the day's adventure: traveling down the coastline to our next destination, St. Andrews-by-the-Sea. This coastal town is located right on the Bay of Fundy and offers maritime history and all the charm of yesteryear. In St. Andrews, we will embark on a guided walking tour through the town's historic district featuring landmark sites. Some of the homes and buildings date back over 200 years and offer a glimpse at the town's past. We will reboard our motorcoach and return to Saint John by late afternoon, and at that time, you are free to explore the city's sites and attractions on your own. Make time to visit the town's City Market, located in a historic building downtown, for a taste of local fare and a look at the work of local artisans. Overnight Saint John, NB.

• Breakfast

Rise and shine for a day filled with new destinations. We make our way to the water this morning where our ferry awaits. We will be crossing the Bay of Fundy today, making a journey of nearly 3 hours to the town of Digby in Nova Scotia. In the summer, the Bay of Fundy is home to up to 12 species of whales, including Humpback, Finback and Minke. Keep an eye out for aquatic life during your ferry crossing. In Digby, we make our way through the lush countryside of the Annapolis Valley. Marvel over the orchards, farmland and quaint towns that dot the landscape. We stop for an included lunch at a local riverfront restaurant and enjoy a glass of wine produced by one of the 11 wineries that call this up-and-coming wine region home. We continue to Grand Pre National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, we will learn more about the Acadian people, see a beautiful stone church that stands in memorial to those Acadians that were deported and lost their lives and look upon the famed Evangeline Statue. Gardens, cascading willow trees and duck ponds complement the vast meadows that make this site so special. Following our visit, we are transferred to Halifax for an evening of leisure. Overnight Halifax, NS.

• Breakfast, Lunch

Begin your day with some of the most impressive sightseeing Nova Scotia has to offer by setting out on the Lighthouse Route. Featuring quaint fishing villages and historic lighthouses, this drive is a coastal delight. We follow the South Shore of the peninsula until we arrive at our first stop, Peggy's Cove, for breakfast. You will see the waves crashing against the rocks as you enjoy a traditional fisherman's meal. Following the meal, we will have a chance to see the Peggy's Cove lighthouse, the most photographed lighthouse in Canada, before continuing our drive to Mahone Bay for a photo opportunity and the UNESCO World Heritage Town of Lunenburg. Lunenburg is the best-preserved example of a British Colonial settlement in all of North America. You will fall in love with the coastal scenery - a picture-perfect mixture of colorful historic buildings abutting the blue waters of the harbor. Here, we will visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic and enjoy free time to explore the local shops on Main Street. When we arrive back in Halifax this afternoon, the rest of the day is yours to do with as you please. The Halifax Public Gardens are a wonderful place to get lost, the 18th century Citadel offers abundant history, and there a number of museums, historical sites and even a beautiful, modern library to explore. Halifax's dining scene is highly impressive, as well, with an abundance of Michelin Star restaurants and eateries offering fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Overnight Halifax, NS.

• Breakfast

A day of travel lies ahead, as we make our way from Halifax to Baddeck in the heart of Cape Breton Island. This charming lakeside village is located at the beginning of the Cabot Trail and offers a fantastic mixture of natural beauty and historic sites. On arrival, we visit the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site. Here, visitors get a look at the man behind some of the modern world's most important inventions. You will learn about his accomplishments, his ideas and his family life while in Nova Scotia. This evening is at leisure to enjoy the serenity of the area. Overnight Baddeck, NS.

• Breakfast

Grab your sunglasses and your camera; today we will experience some of the breathtaking scenery of Cape Breton Island as we wind our way through the colorful landscape of the island on the Cabot Trail, passing through Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Gaze upon unbelievable North Atlantic Ocean vistas, breathtaking sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs and forests. By lunchtime, we arrive at the Keltic Lodge, where we are treated to spectacular views and lunch. Our day concludes at the Gaelic College for an authentic Acadian Cultural Dinner. In addition to delicious local fare, the history of the Cape Breton Highlands and its settlers will come to life with a Gaelic lesson and demonstration of the Gaelic Milling Frolic and an informative discussion about the Kilt. Overnight Baddeck, NS.

• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Soak in the coastal scenery of Baddeck one last time as you board the motorcoach this morning bound for more seaside beauty in Prince Edward Island.  En route we pass over the Abegweit Passage of Northumberland Strait on the Confederation Bridge. Upon crossing the bridge, we have reached our destination, Prince Edward Island. Enjoy a traditional lobster dinner before arriving the hotel in downtown Charlottetown.  The rest of the evening is free to explore the rich maritime heritage of the harbor city. Overnight Charlottetown, PE. 

• Breakfast, Dinner

We will set off for Prince Edward Island National Park this morning. Here, visions of sand dunes, red sandstone cliffs and sandy beaches meet the beautiful blue of the ocean waters. We will take a scenic shoreline drive through the park en route to North Rustico Beach. The deep red sands of this beach make it a stunning sight to behold. Next, we will visit Anne of Green Gables Museum to learn the history that inspired Lucy Maud Montgomery to write "Anne of Green Gables."  We will have tea with the Campbells and learn of their connection author.  As lunchtime rolls around, we are treated to yet another incredible experience, a traditional Ceilidh Experience lunch. Not only will the cuisine fill you with warmth, you will also enjoy the fiddling and storytelling that comes with this Acadian folk party. We transfer back to Charlottetown, where a panoramic sightseeing tour gives us a look at all the best sites, such as historic Victoria Row and Charlottetown City Hall, amongst others. Overnight Charlottetown, PE. 

• Lunch

Reminisce about your grand adventures through Canada's Maritime region this morning over breakfast. A group transfer to Halifax VIA Rail Station or Halifax International Airport will accommodate trains and planes departing after 2:00 p.m.

• Breakfast