Day Three – Apple Barn Experience, Historic Bennington & Robert Todd Lincoln’s Hildene

This morning, we’ll depart for Bennington VT for a visit to the *Apple Barn for a unique ‘Taste of Vermont’ experience! Enjoy a tour to the top of their 300-acre orchard for spectacular views of southern Vermont followed by a slice of homemade apple pie ala mode! Continue on to the beautiful village of Manchester for a visit to the historic Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home. Hildene was built by Abraham Lincoln’s son, Robert Lincoln in 1905 as his ancestral home.  Enjoy a planned lunch in the pavilion and then tour the restored 24-room Georgian Revival mansion, gardens, and carriage barn. This afternoon, sit back, relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery as we make our way to our Vermont hotel for a two-night stay.  Tonight, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Hotel: The Essex Resort & Spa – Essex, VT ~ or Similar 

* please note: On October 12th, the Apple Barn will be substituted for another experience

Day Four – Rock of Ages Granite Quarry, Montpelier, Maple Sugar Experience

Depart for a day of touring around northern Vermont while enjoying the splendid foliage and countryside.  Begin the day with a visit to the Rock of Ages Granite Quarry – a truly unique place unlike any other! A friendly Quarry guide will greet us for a private tour around the 501 acre, 600-foot-deep quarry of the oldest stone on earth. Mid day, enjoy a visit to Vermont’s State Capital of Montpelier for lunch on own. This afternoon, visit Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, an eighth-generation maple sugar farm! Tour the farm; enjoy a lively maple demonstration, sample syrups and finish with a delicious ‘Sugar on Snow ‘treat!  Later this afternoon, we’ll visit the beautiful village of Stowe VT for free time on own.

Meals: Breakfast
Hotel: The Essex Resort & Spa – Essex, VT ~ or similar

Day Five – Mount Washington Hotel Tour & Luncheon and Cog Railway

This morning, depart for the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Arrive to the historic Mount Washington Hotel. A grand masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture, The Mount Washington Hotel in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, was a two-year labor of love for 250 master craftsmen. Conceived by industrialist Joseph Stickney, this National Historic Landmark opened in 1902 and immediately became a favorite summer haunt for poets, presidents and princes. Enjoy a guided tour of this magnificent hotel followed by a delicious luncheon in the grand dining room. Then, we’ll venture to the Mount Washington Cog Railway for an unforgettable and exciting “once in a lifetime” railing experience. In 1869, the Cog Railway was an engineering marvel, a technology of toothed cog gears, rack rails and tilted boilers. Enjoy a rare glimpse of this world gone by while enjoying spectacular views as we travel up some of the steepest railroad tracks in existence. This afternoon we’ll check into our hotel for a relaxing two-night stay.  Enjoy dinner on our own this evening.

Meals: Breakfast, Luncheon
Hotel:  Residence Inn or Similar – North Conway, NH area

Day Six – Lake Winnipesaukee Cruise & Castle in the Clouds

This morning venture out for another spectacular day of touring through NH’s Lakes Region and White Mountains. This morning, board the M/S Mount Washington for a scenic cruise on Lake Winnipesaukee; the state’s largest and most beautiful lake. Mid-day, enjoy time in the charming lakeside village of Wolfeboro for lunch on own. Then it’s on to Castle in the Clouds; This historic mountaintop mansion and estate was built by over 1200 craftsmen at a cost of over $1 million in 1914 and wonderfully preserved to give a real sense of how country life was lived by the fabulously wealthy at the turn of the century. This afternoon, enjoy magnificent scenery and picture stops along he Kancamagus Highway, one of the country’s most scenic by-way. Tonight, enjoy a savory dinner at one of the area’s great restaurants.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Hotel:  Residence Inn or Similar – North Conway, NH area

Day Seven – Kennebunkport, Ogunquit & Lobster Cruise

This morning we’ll depart for ‘downeast’ Maine touring through the popular summer resort of Kennebunkport.  Enjoy views of Dock Square, the Wedding Cake House and Walker’s Point where the summer home of the Late 41st President of the United States George H. W. Bush is located.  Continue on to the seaside village of Ogunquit – named by the Abenaki Indians meaning, “Beautiful place by the sea” and board Finest Kind Cruises for a fun-filled lobster cruise experience!  Enjoy the scenic beauty of Ogunquit’s shoreline, learn about lobsters and their habitat and see traps hauled and lobsters caught by an authentic Maine lobsterman.  Enjoy the balance of the afternoon on our own to enjoy and explore this charming seaside village.  Check into our accommodations and take some time to freshen up before partaking in a traditional down east Clambake and a chance to try Maine lobster!

Meals: Breakfast, Lobster Dinner
Hotel: Meadowmere Resort or similar – Ogunquit, ME area

Day Eight –  York, Cape Neddick Light & Depart for home

After breakfast this morning, tour through the village of York with a visit to one of the most photographed lighthouses in the country – Cape Neddick Light, popularly known as “the Nubble”.  We arrive to Boston Logan International Airport by approximately 12:30pm for departure home, taking with us treasured memories of our Taste of New England vacation that will last a lifetime! (Please plan your flights for after 2:00 PM)

Meals: Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

• Seven days deluxe motor coach transportation
• Seven night’s superior accommodations
• Welcome Reception
• Seven breakfasts
• Lunch at Hildene
• Mount Washington Grand buffet luncheon
• Five dinners including a traditional lobster dinner
• Tour of historic Boston
• Admission to Norman Rockwell Museum
• Vermont Touring
• Apple Barn ‘Taste of Vermont’ experience
• Admission to Robert Todd Lincoln’s Hildene
• Admission to Rock of Ages
• Vermont Maple Sugar Farm for tour and tasting
• New Hampshire touring
• Tour of Mount Washington Hotel
• Mount Washington Cog Railway
• Cruise on the M/S Mount Washington
• Admission to Castle in the Clouds
• Tour along Kancamagus Highway
• Tour of Kennebunkport & Ogunquit
• Lobster Cruise aboard Finest Kind Cruises
• Tour of York
• Picture stop at Cape Neddick Lighthouse
• Eight days professional tour director service
• Baggage handling (one piece per person)
• Hotel taxes; meal taxes and gratuities
• Excludes tour director and driver gratuities