Welcome to "Bean Town."
At 6 pm, meet your travel companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
New England Traditions
From Massachusetts, head north through New Hampshire into Maine for Portland, one of New England's most famous cities. Stroll down the cobblestone streets of Portland's famous Old Port Exchange, lined with many boutiques, coffee houses, and art galleries. Continue to Bar Harbour, Maine's oldest summer resort. Dinner this evening is a [LF] traditional lobster bake at your waterfront resort. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES Taste the tradition of Maine in the Frenchman Bay town of Bar Harbour. The gateway to spectacular Acadia National Park, Bar Harbour is the perfect spot to indulge in an authentic lobster bake in the Atlantic Ocean tradition loved for generations.
Atlantic Treasures of Acadia
Visit the picturesque rock-bound Acadia National Park, one of America's most visited national parks. Then travel across the Canadian border to the capital of New Brunswick, Fredericton. Tonight, explore this culturally rich community by dining in the Historic Garrison District or strolling the St. John River along the Riverfront Trail and across the Railway Bridge. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Visit picturesque Acadia National Park and see why it is one of America's most visited parks - for good reason! This 47,000-acre Atlantic coast paradise on Maine's Mount Desert Island is blessed with lush woodlands, dramatic rocky beaches, and glacier-carved granite peaks such as Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the America's East Coast. Take the scenic park road and enjoy the spectacular panorama views in the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise. Keep an eye out for fascinating wildlife, including moose, bear, whales, and seabirds.
Tradition, Tastes & Timeless Beauty
This morning, travel to the coast to Saint John and board a ferry to Digby, a popular summer resort. Your hotel tonight is the Digby Pines Resort, a world of casual elegance in the tradition of the grand hotels. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the views, recreation, and internationally renowned cuisine in this Norman-style chateau. Before dinner, enjoy a [LF] presentation to hear about the famous Digby scallop. Later, dinner is included at the resort. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES Visit with a local resident to learn why the scrumptious Digby scallop is an important part of life here in the "Scallop Capital of the World!"
Fish Stories of Nova Scotia
Travel toward Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast and follow the winding shoreline to Lunenburg, one of the continent's major fishing ports and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here, visit the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic for the ultimate waterfront experience. Continue to Halifax, the provincial capital, and your home for the next two nights. The remainder of the day is free where you may wish to visit a craft brewery or local bistro. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Visit the charming and picturesque coastal setting of Old Town Lunenburg - a UNESCO World Heritage site with 70% of its original colonial buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries still standing in vibrant painted hues. Founded in 1753, Lunenburg remains a leading supplier of seafood in Canada.
Lighthouse, Lanes & Legacies
This morning, travel to Peggy's Cove, one of Canada's most charming fishing villages for a [LF] traditional Nova Scotian breakfast followed by time for spectacular shots of the famous lighthouse and picturesque setting. Return to Halifax for a sightseeing tour with a Local Guide. Visit Citadel Hill with its early 19th-century star-shaped fort, the tree-shaded walks of the public gardens, and the harbour area evoking the port's former strategic importance. Also, see Fairview Cemetery, the final resting place for more than 100 people who perished on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. Then, immerse yourself in the area's rich maritime heritage with a visit to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Free time this evening. (B)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
LOCAL TASTES & TRADITIONS Discover the tastes and traditions in the charming fishing village of Peggy's Cove to select from local specialties of fish cakes and a traditional Nova Scotian breakfast. You'll find many magnificent views for taking photos of the famous lighthouse and panoramic sea views.
Ancient Traditions
Travel to the Millbrook Mi’kmaw First Nation’s community for a guided tour of the Cultural & Heritage Centre. Later, travel via the Canso Causeway, crossing over to Cape Breton Island, one of the first footholds of European settlement in the New World. Continue to Baddeck. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVOURITE
CULTURE & HERITAGE Hear Mi’kmaw stories and see artifacts dating back 7,500 years including some of the oldest Aboriginal tools found in Canada. Take a deeper dive into these great people on a tour of the Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre with a First Nation’s guide. See an innovative multimedia presentation narrated by Glooscap, known in Mi’kmaw lore as the first human created by a bolt of lightning in the sand. Learn how to say hello and goodbye in Mi’kmaw, hear of their past and present community practices, and see stunning traditional quillwork, beadwork, and clothing.
Cape Breton Calling!
Today, drive along the Cabot Trail, the area explored by John Cabot in the late 15th century, while savouring magnificent vistas of the rocky shoreline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Enjoy a picnic lunch while admiring the scenery. See Cape Breton Highlands National Park at the northern tip of the island, a landscape that strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions. Return to Baddeck for a tasting of delicious Nova Scotian wines. (B,L)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS So green and Gaelic is Cape Breton Island that Scotsman and inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell, spent the last 37 years of his life here. In fact, Cape Breton was principally settled by Highland Scots whose families had come out on the wrong side of rebellions against the Crown. You can still see this heritage in the accents in some remote villages-and in the great popularity of Scottish-style folk music.
Inventions of New Scotland
This morning, visit the Alexander Graham Bell Museum with exhibits tracing the achievements of the great inventor who spent the last years of his life on Cape Breton. Afterwards, head back to the peninsula and continue north to Caribou, where a ferry whisks you across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island. For the next two nights, explore Charlottetown, the provincial capital. Get acquainted with this colonial town on a stroll through colourful Great George Street and along the restored waterfront. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Explore the Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site, where fascinating exhibits trace the life and achievements of the iconic inventor of the telephone who spent his last years on Cape Breton.
Nova Scotia Stories
Enjoy your morning at leisure. Enjoy a guided afternoon tour of the island that includes Prince Edward Island National Park. Also, visit Green Gables Heritage Place, the setting for the famous novel Anne of Green Gables. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Visit the world of a red-headed girl in a straw hat and braids to meet one of Canada's most loved fictional characters, Anne of Green Gables. Relive her mischievous escapades and mishaps within the nostalgic rooms of her home at Green Gables - where local author Lucy Maud Montgomery drew inspiration from the idyllic woodland farmstead.
Tides & Tradition on the Bay
Today, travel across the 8-mile Confederation Bridge returning to New Brunswick. Visit Hopewell Rocks with a Naturalist Guide to see giant formations carved by the Bay of Fundy's dramatic tides that rise and fall more than 50 feet each day. Then enjoy lunch at a 3rd generation ranch. Continue on a scenic drive through Fundy National Park en route to the resort community of St. Andrews By-the-Sea. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner at your hotel. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your holiday. (B,L,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Explore the timeless seaside town of St. Andrews by-the-Sea for a true taste of life on Canada's Eastern Coast of New Brunswick. Here, waves on the Bay of Fundy can reach 30 feet high along the rocky shores where fishing legends and whale tales are high on the list of conversations in St. Andrew's multi-hued facades of its boutiques, sweet shops, and restaurants.
Treats & Treasures of the Sea
This morning, enjoy an orientation tour of St. Andrews, one of New Brunswick's oldest and most distinctive settlements. Then journey through old-growth forest and across sheltered coves to quiet fishing villages along the way to Rockland. Free time this evening. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDS & LORE Rockland, Maine, is a picturesque coastal town known for its rugged natural beauty. Nestled on the shores of Penobscot Bay, Rockland offers breathtaking views of the ocean and stunning sunsets. The town is home to numerous art galleries, museums, and theatres to explore in your free time. With its charming waterfront, vibrant culture, and delicious seafood, Rockland is a quintessential Maine experience.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Morning drive to Boston. Your holiday ends at the Boston Logan International Airport or the Boston tour hotel for those with post-nights. Schedule departing flights from Boston Logan International after 3:30 pm. (B)