Grand New England

Days  1-2  Boston    
Arrive in Boston and transfer to your hotel for a welcome reception and dinner. Take an orientation tour of Boston Common and Beacon Hill on day two.

Day 3  Boston to Manchester      
Begin today's travels at The Mount, the hilltop Georgian mansion of Edith Wharton. Continue on to Williamstown for a docent-led tour of the internationally renowned Clark Art Institute, one of the few institutions in the US combining a public art museum with research and academic programs. Arrive late afternoon at your historic resort in Manchester, Vermont. Note: On Mondays and holidays when The Clark is closed, enjoy an alternate visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge.

Day 4  Manchester                
Spend the morning as you wish before a self-guided visit to Hildene, the former summer estate of Robert Todd Lincoln. This evening, enjoy a locally sourced farm-to-table dinner at the Manchester Country Club.

Day 5  Manchester to Stowe      
Depart Manchester this morning for Fort Ticonderoga; built by the French in the 18th century, near the southern end of Lake Champlain, the site entered history books as the first American victory in the Revolutionary War. This afternoon, you're off for a scenic cruise along Lake Champlain, before settling in for dinner and a good night's rest at your hotel.

Day 6  Stowe to Bretton Woods        
Continue exploring Vermont's classic New England landscapes as you make your way to Shelburne for a visit to the Shelburne Museum of Art and Americana. Spread over 45 acres, this unique museum holds a vast collection of prints, paintings, folk art and quilts reflecting 19th-century American life, in historic buildings – including barns, a meeting house, a jail, a lighthouse, and a railroad station – in a village-like setting around the Ticonderoga, a 220-ft. steamboat that once ferried passengers and livestock on Lake Champlain. This afternoon, a special visit – to Lake Champlain Chocolates. Proud to be a second-generation, family-owned Vermont company, they "dare to do better, driven by our passion to change the world one delicious chocolate at a time." The believe in using business as a force for good; 100% of their chocolate is fair trade, grown with sustainable farming practices, while helping to build stronger cacao-growing communities. Return to the hotel late afternoon, where the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please in Burlington.

Day 7  Bretton Woods              
Head out from the Green Mountains of Vermont via the state capital, Montpelier, and the elegant gold-domed State House. Just outside the city, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks offers you a taste of pure maple syrup and an education in how it's made, from the tapping of trees to the distillation of sap and the subtle shades and grades that result from an art they've perfected over eight generations in the family business. Explore Vermont's granite history – then continue on out of Vermont and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire. arriving in Bretton Woods for a two-night stay at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort, one of New England's last grand resort hotels. Since its opening in 1902, this palatial hotel has been a magnet for presidents, robber barons and celebrities; Babe Ruth and Thomas Edison loved to golf here. In 1944, the World Bank was established here in the Gold Room; the stunning mountain landscapes outside glow with the same colour.

Day 8  Bretton Woods to Brunswick        
Begin your morning with a drive to The Glen House, basecamp for adventurers trekking up Mt. Washington. Next, embark on your trek to the summit of Mt Washington in vans with a local company. The harshest winter weather on the planet can be found at the summit, where a wind speed of 231 mph was once recorded in 1932, and the stone houses are anchored to the ground with chains. Run by the state of New Hampshire, Mount Washington Observatory is a special organization that is usually only visited by members – as a Tauck guest, you'll have special access and a talk by one of the experts (pending availability) who will brief you on their work in this unique environment.

Day 9  Brunswick to Bar Harbor      
Your journey continues this morning as you make your way toward the final leg of your New England adventure, Maine, but starting with an old-fashioned scenic rail experience aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad. This afternoon, visit the Maine Maritime Museum for a closer look into Maine's seafaring history. Tonight, you're off to dinner at a Maine staple - Cook's Lobster & Ale House.

Day 10  Portland            
Arrive this morning in Portland, Maine where a local lobsterman takes you out into the harbour aboard his working boat for an authentic, hands-on experience in the lobstering trade. Back on land, enjoy time on your own along the waterfront, rich with restored 19th Century architecture and cobblestone streets, and settle in at your hotel before dinner.

Day 11  Portland to Kennebunkport              
Say farewell to Portland with a visit this morning to Portland Head Light, the oldest lighthouse in Maine (dating back to 1791). Journey south along the beautiful, rugged Maine coast to coastal Kennebunkport, best known for its long, sandy beaches, abundance of lighthouses and fresh seafood delights. Return early this afternoon back to Portland for an afternoon at leisure, exploring this city however you wish. Tonight, join us for a farewell reception and dinner back at your hotel.

Day 12  Kennebunkport to Boston          
Transfer back to Boston for your onward flight.