Fall Colors, Scenic Trains & Martha's Vineyard

Arrive in Boston today, check in to your hotel and take the remainder of the day to explore the city on your own. You may wish to take an Old Town Trolley tour to get acquainted with the city and see all its most impressive sights. Meet your tour manager at the hotel for a brief meeting before heading out to dinner at your choice of local restaurants. Overnight Boston, MA.

This morning, learn about Boston's rich history on a guided city tour including the Freedom Trail. Your sightseeing ends at Quincy Market, where there is time for lunch on your own. This afternoon, board your motorcoach for the journey to Hyannis, where we board the Cape Cod Central Railroad for an evening dinner train excursion. Enjoy your meal as the train crosses the famous Cape Cod Canal railroad bridge into the historic village of Buzzard's Bay. Overnight Hyannis, MA. (B, D)

Today's excursion takes us aboard the M/V Island Home, a passenger and vehicle ferry which crosses from the mainland of Cape Cod to the Island retreat community of Martha's Vineyard. Once on the island, enjoy tales of its fishing and whaling past, shopping and dining opportunities in the charming town of Edgartown and a visit to the colorful Victorian gingerbread cottages of Oak Bluffs. Later, we return by ferry to Woods Hole, MA, and on to Hyannis. Overnight Hyannis, MA. (B)

Marvel at the fiery colors of fall as we travel inland this morning bound for Mystic, CT. Our destination is Mystic Seaport, a maritime museum that was founded in 1929 and tells the nautical history of the Eastern Seaboard through fascinating exhibits and immersive experiences. Learn about different types of boats, lighthouses, art and whaling in the museum; step back in time at Seaport Village, a recreated 19th-century village with authentic buildings from the 1800s and storytellers, craftsmen and historians dressed in period attire; step aboard America’s last remaining whaling ship, the Charles W. Morgan; set out onto the water aboard a historic ship; and discover how sailors from years past used the stars to navigate the seas in the Planetarium. Overnight Mystic, CT. (B)

New England’s autumn landscape is presented from both the rails and the water today. We travel by motorcoach to the Essex Train Station, a historic building that dates to 1892. Our steam train awaits, and we set off through the scenic Connecticut River Valley for a 12-mile journey. The route is fully narrated and provides a majestic look at the changing foliage. The train takes us to Deep River Landing, where we embark on the next phase of our adventure aboard the Becky Thatcher Riverboat to see the Connecticut River’s most beautiful autumn features. We stop for lunch before boarding our motorcoach for a scenic drive north into Massachusetts. Take some time to settle into your room or to begin your explorations as we arrive in Sturbridge, then reconvene with your fellow travelers for a traditional New England dinner at the Salem Cross Inn, an 18th-century farmhouse surrounded by 600 acres of unspoiled scenery. Overnight Sturbridge, MA. (B, L, D)

The charm of years long past awaits at Old Sturbridge Village today. With heritage gardens, farms and even heritage breeds of pigs, sheep and cows onsite, this attraction provides an in-depth look at rural life in the 1800s. During your time at Old Sturbridge, you have a chance to walk through the historic buildings in the village, to see the beautifully restored main house and to explore more than 50,000 period artifacts that were made or used by New Englanders. Further, on-site demonstrations, presentations and employees in full colonial dress make for a fully immersive experience. Following our time at the village, our beautiful route through the colors of the East continues as we drive to the edge of White Mountain National Forest. Overnight Plymouth, NH. (B)

We travel to Weirs Beach this morning to board the MS Mount Washington for a cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee. Step off the vessel and into the charming village of Wolfeboro, NH, for lunch on your own and to browse the quaint shops. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight Plymouth, NH. (B)

Keep your camera within reach this morning as we travel through Franconia North State Park, located in the heart of the White Mountains, via the Kancamagus Scenic Byway. This highway is renowned as one of the best fall foliage viewing areas in America and offers stunning views of colorful trees, soaring mountain peaks, the Swift River, Rocky Gorge and more. We continue to North Conway for lunch on own and time to explore the fabulous little boutiques. The train depot in North Conway is now a National Historic Landmark that contains a museum and roundhouse. Board the Conway Scenic Railroad for an old-fashioned railroading experience on historic rail routes in vintage passenger cars to Bartlett. The day’s travels conclude in Portland, ME, where the remainder of your day is at leisure. Overnight Portland, ME. (B)

Admire the scenic beauty of Maine's coast in the autumn this morning as we travel through quaint seaside villages en route to Bath, Maine. Our sightseeing begins at the Maine Maritime Museum, located on the original site where large four-, five- and six-masted wooden ships were built, including the world's largest wooden ship, the Wyoming. The museum features over 21,000 artifacts and crafts to explore during our visit. A real gem of the Maritime Museum is the Lobstering and the Maine Coast exhibit. We learn lobster biology and ecology, discover different types of boats and engines and marvel over modern trapping and processing methodology.

From the museum, we step aboard a river cruiser for an up-close look at the Kennebec River and the sites along it. The first landmark we pass is the Bath Iron Works, a place where impressive vessels have been built for more than 400 years and where modern Navy ships are still built today. A retired Bath Iron Works employee joins us on board to discuss his experience as a shipbuilder. As we continue down the Kennebec, we pass the 1898 Doubling Point Lighthouse and the Kennebec River Range Light Station before returning to the museum. Enjoy lunch and shopping on your own and take the time to explore some of the beautifully restored 19th-century homes of Bath before we return to Portland. The afternoon is yours to enjoy in the Old Wharf District. This evening is highlighted by a lobster dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Portland, ME. (B, D)

Your fall foliage vacation concludes this morning. A group transfer to Boston South Amtrak Station or Boston Logan Airport will accommodate trains and planes departing after 1:00 pm. (B)