Take a bite of the Big Apple and you’ll wish you’d had more, as the vision and passion of this vibrant city inspires you to believe your dreams really will come true. Check in to your New York hotel and spend the afternoon exploring its soaring skyline on your terms. This evening, you’ll meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at 6 p.m.
From the iconic to the unexpected, we embark on an orientation tour of the City that Never Sleeps. View the towering Art Deco façades of the Empire State Building, pulsating Times Square and the tranquil mid-city oasis of Central Park. We’ll journey through the Land of the Free to Philadelphia and visit the Liberty Bell Center to gaze upon the famous cracked bell whose inscription has inspired so many to “proclaim liberty”. View Independence Hall, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, before traveling to Washington, D.C.
Celebrate the proud heritage of a nation as you view the memorials and monuments that have made Washington famous. Pass the White House, the U.S. Capitol Building, the Lincoln Memorial, and the World War II and Vietnam War memorials. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture and houses over 40, 000 fascinating artifacts.
Journey into the rural back roads of Pennsylvania's Lancaster County with a Local Specialist today, immersing yourself in the traditional agricultural lifestyle of the Amish and the Mennonites, who live much the same they did when they first settled here over 200 years ago. This evening enjoy a hearty Regional Dinner, and try your hand at making your own whoopie pies for dessert.
We’ll travel north across Pennsylvania’s rural landscapes to the New York State, stopping en route at the Corning Museum of Glass. Witness first-hand the delicate craft of glassblowing and admire the glass artistry on display in its galleries. Later, we’ll cross the Canadian border bound for Niagara Falls.
Experience the rush of cascading waters as you embark on an exhilarating boat ride to the base of Horseshoe Falls, which plunges dramatically into Lake Ontario. Enjoy some free time to explore on your own, contemplating this tremendous force of nature. This afternoon we'll Connect With Locals at Ravine Winery and sample some of Niagara's regional cuisine paired with their delicious vintages at a Be My Guest Experience. Upon returning to Niagara Falls enjoy the remainder of the day as you please.
Skirt the shores of Lake Ontario and stop in Oakville where you will learn the art of playing hockey like a real Canadian hockey player. Dive Into Culture and embrace Canada's national sport, learning the secrets and superstitions of hockey players as a team staff member walks you through a day in the life of a player. Go inside the players' dressing room and put on the full hockey gear. Grab your stick and it's off onto the ice where you'll soon find out whether you are a lefty or righty, and learn how to score the big goal. Head to Toronto for an introductory tour, the rest of your day is at leisure to explore the city.
Today we stop off in Kingston where you can enjoy lunch on your own before heading to Mādahòkì Farm for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later we stop in Ottawa for an orientation tour of Canada's capital city.
Travel to Madohoki Farm for breakfast followed by a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience with a presentation of the Algonquin People including the Friendship dance. Our love affair with French-speaking Canada continues today as we go on our voyage to Québec City and the UNESCO-listed Old Québec. Immerse yourself in the city’s joie de vivre and romantic 17th-century façades, but not before we have lunch at an authentic Cabane a Sucre (Sugar Shack), a tradition dear to Quebecois.
Explore Québec City's winding streets and historic sites, joining your Local Specialist for an in-depth discovery of a city that exudes all the charm of old Europe. Delve into Québec City’s French and English military past at the fortified Citadel and the Plains of Abraham, the site of a major colonial battle. The afternoon and evening are yours to explore La Vieille Capitale on your terms.
Visit a local farmers market outside of Montréal to experience the flavours of the region during a lunch tasting including wine and cider. Meet your Local Specialist and visit Notre-Dame Basilica, the Old Port of Montréal, and Place Jacques Cartier. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Return to the United States this morning and traverse New Hampshire bound for Boston, one of the oldest cities in America.
Connect with the living history of Boston this morning, touring the city’s red brick Freedom Trail with stops at the Old North Church and Boston Harbor, the site of the famous Tea Party protest. Spend the rest of the day on your terms. Consider a visit to the bar that inspired the TV show Cheers or stroll through the centuries-old Boston Common. This evening, toast your memorable East Coast experiences at a Farewell Dinner.
Return to New York and head to JFK International Airport, arriving at approximately 15:00, or consider extending your stay longer in New York.