Classic New England (8100)

9 days from Boston to Boston

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Known for its historic sites and stunning fall foliage, New England in the fall delights all of the senses. On this fall foliage tour, experience the spectacular beauty of autumn displays in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Your colorful tour of New England begins in the historic city of Boston. You’ll head north into Maine, for a visit to the charming cobblestoned streets of the maritime city of Portland—complete with lighthouses and lobstermen. Head to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island—gateway to the woodlands and rocky seashores of Acadia National Park. Keep an eye out for local residents, including beaver, whales, and seabirds on your drive through the park. Your guided tour of New England continues inland through the Longfellow Mountains to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Step back in time through classic covered bridges, quaint towns, and forests bursting with seasonal colors. You’ll drive along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway through the fragrant pine and colorful deciduous woodlands of Franconia Notch and White Mountain National Forest. Be enthralled with the kaleidoscope of fall colors of birch, beech, and maple trees on your way to Vermont where you’ll visit a sugarhouse in Montpelier that’s been producing maple syrup for eight generations. Travel to Woodstock where you’ll visit Billings Farm & Museum, an outdoor museum and dairy farm. Continue on to Quechee Gorge State Park, Vermont’s ‘Little Grand Canyon’, to take in views of breathtaking Quechee Gorge. Then see historic Plymouth Rock where the pilgrims on the Mayflower landed in 1620. Spend two nights in Hyannis on Cape Cod including a day trip to the tip of the Cape to explore the small community of Provincetown. You’ll return to Boston for a sightseeing adventure to trace the steps of Paul Revere near the Old North Church; see the Boston Common; the old State House; and other locations that are significant to U.S. history along Boston’s Freedom Trail. From colorful American history to colorful fall scenes beyond compare, your escorted vacation in New England is a trip to create memories for all seasons!

The world is within reach with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!

Dates & Prices Book Online

800.646.5374

Photo Highlights

Meals

Meals & Itinerary

5 Breakfasts

Notes:

Enjoy the spectacular fall colors of New England (Mother Nature permitting.)

Itinerary

Day 1 BOSTON AREA

Welcome to New England! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.

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Day 2 BOSTON–PORTLAND–BAR HARBOR

Head north into Maine, famous for its beautiful coastal region, including its legendary lighthouses and lobster industry. Stop in the historic Maritime city of Portland where an included city sightseeing tour upon arrival shows you the cobblestone streets of the famous Old Port waterfront, lined with working fishing wharves and converted warehouses with restaurants and shops. Continue northeast via Bangor, to Bar Harbor, a popular seaside resort and gateway to Acadia National Park.

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Breakfast

Day 3 BAR HARBOR. EXCURSION TO ACADIA NATIONAL PARK

Bar Harbor is situated on Mount Desert Island, home of the ruggedly beautiful Acadia National Park. Drive through woodlands, past beaver lodges, rocky beaches, and rounded mountains ascending the glacier-scoured granite peak to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast and one of the first to see the sunrise. Your afternoon is free to explore the quaint village of Bar Harbor on your own. You may decide to walk the Shore Path, take a nature cruise, or visit the shops, galleries, and boutiques that line the streets. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and dining.

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Continental Breakfast

Day 4 BAR HARBOR–FARMINGTON–NORTH CONWAY

Explore the roads less travelled of inland Maine, past pristine farmland, blueberry barrens and forests noted for their vivid colors during the autumn. Stop to enjoy the small-town hospitality in Farmington, settled by veterans of the American Revolution. Overnight in North Conway.

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Continental Breakfast

Day 5 NORTH CONWAY–MONTPELIER

Today, you are greeted with picture postcard views of New Hampshire’s charming rivers as you drive along Kancamagus Scenic Byway, renowned for its fall leaf viewing. The “Kanc,” as the locals call it, remains unspoiled by homes or service stations for its entire length. A drive through White Mountain National Forest brings you to Franconia Notch. Then visit an eighth-generation sugarhouse and learn about traditional maple sugaring before ending the day in Montpelier, the capital city of Vermont.

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Breakfast

Day 6 MONTPELIER–WOODSTOCK–NORTH ADAMS

This morning visit Woodstock, its village green reminiscent of 19th-century England. Next, explore Vermont’s rural heritage at Billings Farm & Museum, a living museum and working dairy farm, home to a famous herd of dairy cows. Marvel at the views in Quechee Gorge State Park, Vermont’s little Grand Canyon, and return to simpler times with a visit to the charming Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. End today with an overnight in the town of North Adams.

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Breakfast

Day 7 NORTH ADAMS–PLYMOUTH–HYANNIS

Drive across Massachusetts today to Plymouth, the first landing place of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620, and see Plymouth Rock. Then cross the Cape Cod Canal, the widest sea-level canal in the world, on your way to the town of Hyannis, on the Cape Cod peninsula. Hyannis is known internationally as the “All-American City” and where you will find the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, award-winning restaurants, and quaint storefronts.

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Day 8 HYANNIS. DAY EXCURSION TO PROVINCETOWN

Today, drive the arm of the Cape, to the old whaling port of Provincetown. This eclectic seaside town is a tiny haven often referred to as “Land’s End.” Stroll MacMillan Pier with its fishing boats and craft shacks, browse the colorful shops of Commercial Street, or dig into a lobster roll, Portuguese pastry, or some fried clams. There’s also time to kick up your wheels on an optional Sand Dune tour in National Seashore Park. Return to Hyannis, where the remainder of your time on the Cape is free for independent activities.

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Day 9 HYANNIS–BOSTON

Depart this morning for Boston. Upon arrival, your guided tour focuses on the city’s most prominent landmarks. See historic sights of the Freedom Trail; Boston Common; Old State House; Old North Church, where two lanterns were hung on the night of Paul Revere’s famous ride; and Faneuil Hall, with the chance to browse in Quincy Market or dig into a bowl of famous New England Clam Chowder before a stop at Boston Logan International Airport for those with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm.

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Tour Director

With COSMOS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

HILLARY JOHNSON

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“During a summer in Ireland when I was 12, I was bitten by the "travel bug." I lived in Europe and became a Tour Director after graduating with a degree in European Languages. I am never as alive as when I am on the road. The haunting echo of a saxophone on a New Orleans street, the heady evening perfume of Jasmine in bloom, the sweet taste of a beignet, and the joyous "AA-eeeee!" of a Cajun dancer all need to be experienced... observing them from afar is not enough.”

Accommodations

Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyCosmos site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 USD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 USD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 USD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No excursions were found

The "Starting at" or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per passenger based on double occupancy and does not include International airfare; additional fees/charges are not included. If a price is crossed out, the new price includes a limited time promotional offer(s) – please review current promotions or deals for additional information. Some tours require intra-vacation flights (and in some cases intra-vacation segments must be purchased from Cosmos).