New England

Arrive in Boston independently and settle in to our hotel next to Boston Harbor. Gather this evening for a welcome reception, orientation, and dinner.

This morning enjoy a walking tour of Beacon Hill with an architectural historian. After lunch together, explore Boston’s superb Museum of Fine Arts on a docent-led tour. With more than 450,000 works in its collection, the museum is renowned for having one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of American art, including works by John Singleton Copley, Frederick Church, Winslow Homer, and Georgia O’Keeffe. Take the evening to discover Boston independently

Experience America’s intercity passenger-rail renaissance aboard Amtrak’s Downeaster, which runs five times daily and links twelve municipalities across three states. Arrive for lunch in town before spending the afternoon exploring the art of Maine at the Portland Museum of Art. Enjoy views of the Portland skyline while we dine together this evening.

This morning, ride the Wiscasset, Waterville, and Farmington Railway on a restored steam locomotive along 2.6 miles of narrow-gauge track, showcasing Maine’s unique rail history. We’ll then visit the Maine Maritime Museum to explore exhibits on the Percy and Small Shipyard, the last intact shipyard that built large wooden sailing vessels, highlighting Maine’s maritime heritage.

Transfer by motor coach this morning from Portland to the charming town of North Conway, located on the edge of New Hampshire’s White Mountains National Forest. From the 1870s through the 1920s, multitudes of eastern city-dwellers traveled by train to summer in the White Mountains. The Boston and Maine Railroad connected the Mount Washington Valley to Boston, and passenger trains ran this route until 1961. Arrive at our luxurious hotel in Bretton Woods and take some time to settle in before dinner.

Ride the Conway Scenic Railroad through the White Mountains traveling in an historic dome car on a scenic, three-hour journey through Crawford Notch. This afternoon take a guided walking tour of our hotel, among the finest of the remaining historic resort hotels in the northeastern United States. Alternatively, embark on a hike to a nearby waterfall, or simply relax on the wrap-around veranda.

This morning ride to the 6,288-foot summit of America’s most topographically prominent peak east of Colorado aboard the Mount Washington Cog Railway. Construction began in 1858 on the cog railway, the first of its kind in the world, and finished in 1869. The train still employs a 19th-century steam locomotive that was built for the railway by the Manchester Locomotive Works. Return to Boston this evening by motor coach and toast the end of our adventure at a festive farewell reception and dinner.

After breakfast, transfer independently to the airport for flights home.