New England: Character and Charm
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Christopher Columbus Park, Boston ©Kyle Klein (Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau)
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Portland, Maine ©VisitMaine.com
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Stowe ©VDTM owned content by Robynn Beams
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Woodstock ©Photographer Sally Miller, VT Department of Tourism & Marketing
New England: a serene, scenic wonderland, where lighthouses line the coast and white steeples dot the landscape.
Full of variety, New England is the perfect place to explore. Visit to Salem, home of the witch trials, for a dash of history and Plymouth for some heritage. Enjoy delicious local foods and feast your eyes on scenery unparalleled in beauty.
In 1620 the Pilgrim Fathers landed at Plymouth Rock, laying the first foundations of the colony of New England. A century and a half later, the American Revolution sparked into life in this part of the continent. Consequently, the region is sprinkled with fascinating historical legacies. Modern New England’s charms extend far beyond its significant past though, and each of its six states has a distinct identity. Read more
Settlements & Cities
Begin your journey around New England in Boston. Walk along one of America’s most famous footpaths – the Freedom Trail. Running through the centre of Boston, this path traces the events surrounding the War of Independence. The Pilgrims landed and settled in Plymouth, and there they founded the America you know today. At Plimouth Plantation, visit the painstakingly detailed recreation of their settlement and discover the lives of these colonists.
Landscapes & Luxurious Living
At Cape Cod, beaches stretch for miles. The untamed coastlines and never-ending expanse of dunes demand exploration. Why not set off on a voyage to see whales in this stunning ocean paradise or join an excursion to Martha’s Vineyard. The rich and famous have been escaping to Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of New England, for years. Enveloped in natural beauty, this is a restful getaway where commercialism and chains have been swapped for cosy inns and boutiques. Visit Newport in Rhode Island, where immaculate Colonial architecture is abundant. During the 1850s, wealthy industrialists built stunning summer residences. Modelled on fine European buildings such as Elizabethan manors and Italianate palaces, this area overflows with opulence. Explore Breakers Mansion and its extravagant curios and antiques.
A Feast for the Eyes and Stomach
Delve into the most picturesque region of the Berkshires, potter around the quaint village of Woodstock and delight your taste buds with local Vermont cheeses. On another delicious excursion, indulge in a world of creative ice cream flavours on the Ben and Jerry’s factory tour. For further spectacular views of this stunning region, ascend to the summit of Cannon Mountain. On board this aerial train in Franconia Notch State Park, you will be treated to glorious views of a tranquil paradise.
Dates
Dates on request
Suggested Itinerary by Air
Day 1
Fly from the UK
Land in Boston and transfer to your hotel. Welcome to the cradle of American Liberty!
Days 2
Boston and Plymouth’s Pilgrims
Start your day exploring the history of Boston on foot, along the Freedom Trail, one of America’s most famous footpaths. Spend time browsing the shops of Quincy Market before heading south to Plymouth, the arrival point of the Pilgrims to the New World. This is where the America of today began. Visit Plimouth Plantation, which has as its primary exhibit an authentic recreation of the Pilgrims’ Settlement. Enjoy either a Grist Mill or Waterfront tour, to delve deeper into the lives of the settlers.
Day 3
Cape Cod
Enjoy a day at leisure in Cape Cod, pottering around quaint fishing villages or relaxing on the beach. If you want to soak up some nature, whale watching is popular in Provincetown. Alternatively, participate in an optional visit to Martha’s Vineyard, the world famous island off the shore of New England where generations of prominent Americans have vacationed.
Day 4
Newport
Today, you will visit the smallest state of the Union, Rhode Island. Downtown Newport is seemingly graced with Colonial heritage on every corner while the clifftop is crowned with luxurious summer residences built by wealthy industrialists. Visit the opulent Breakers Mansion to catch a glimpse of the lavish lifestyle of the privileged of a bygone era. Continue on to the Connecticut River Valley.
Day 5
New England Villages
Continue to the Berkshires, one of Massachusetts’ most picturesque regions and visit the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. Afterwards turn north to discover the lovely small villages of Southern Vermont. Visit the President Calvin Coolidge State Historic Site and sample some of Vermont’s local cheese. Before your day comes to an end, stop in the quintessential New England village of Woodstock.
Day 6
Ice Cream and Mountains
Small villages complete with white church steeples and covered bridges dot the landscape, offering a panorama worthy of a million postcards. This is New England as you imagined it! Travel through the dense hardwood forests of Vermont to Burlington-on-Lake Champlain. Sample Ben & Jerry’s finest ice cream and continue to Stowe, a classic 200-year-old mountain resort village on Mt. Mansfield, Vermont’s highest peak. Afterwards, head towards the White Mountains of New Hampshire.
Day 7
White Mountains and Portland
Visit Franconia Notch State Park, home to the Flume Gorge and ascend on board the aerial tram to the 4,180 foot summit of Cannon Mountain. Stop by Clark’s Trading Post before you embark on the Kancamagus Highway, weaving through the White Mountains with its unparalleled vistas. Continue your journey through the Western Lakes region of Maine to Portland, the state’s largest city. In the evening, enjoy a typical regional speciality, the New England Clambake.
Day 8
Fishermen and Witches
Depart Portland and make a stop in Kennebunkport. Continue to Portsmouth, the oldest community in New Hampshire, known for its thriving fishing community and historic buildings. Wind along the coast and make a stop at Cape Neddick’s Lighthouse. Then travel to Salem, famous for its witchcraft trials of the 17th century.
Day 9 - 10
Boston and Departure
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Boston before transferring to the airport for your return overnight flight to the UK.
Winter in New England is usually cold and snowy, perfect for winter-sports enthusiasts. Mountainous New Hampshire and Vermont are particularly good places for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Without doubt, the most popular times to travel in New England are the summer travel season, from Memorial Day to Labour Day (late May, June, July and August) and Autumn (late September, October and early November).
***Please note: The Mayflower II is currently under repair and cannot be visited at this time. Repairs are scheduled to be completed in 2019.***
Tipping guides and drivers $3-4 per person per day is usual and expected. This price will be added to your tour.
