Daily Itinerary:
Sunday, September 14: Terre Haute to Wells, Maine
Depart Terre Haute traveling to Indianapolis International Airport for our flight to Boston, Massachusetts. You are responsible for your baggage check in and fees. Arrive at the Logan International Airport where we will meet our local motorcoach and make our way into Maine. We will pass through York and Ogunquit on the way to Wells, Maine for the night. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (Dinner)
Monday, September 15: Wells, Maine to Portland, Maine
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. We will travel to Kennebunkport to for a Trolley Tour. This is a 60-minute narrated sightseeing tour which provides an interesting and informative orientation to the Kennebunkport area. Enjoy this unique form of transportation along the village streets as you see President Bush’s Estate, Franciscan Monastery, the Beaches, Spouting Rock, Blowing Cave, and much more. Lunch and shopping in dock square and walk to docks for a boat excursion to learn about lobstering! On this 90-minute lobster fishing excursion, not only will you see lobster traps hauled from the sea, but you will learn about the challenging life of a lobster fisherman, and have the opportunity to see the rocky Maine Coastline. Next, we are off to Portland to meet our guide and take a city tour to learn the history of this seafaring town with a stop at the Portland Headlight, commissioned by George Washington. Dinner and our overnight in Portland. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Tuesday, September 16: Portland, Maine to Bar Harbor, Maine
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. We will travel to Freeport for an hour of retail therapy at the LL Bean Flagship Store. Continue on to Bath for a visit to the Maine Maritime Museum which features a one hour cruise on the Kennebec River where shipbuilding began more than 400 years ago and continues today. Cruise down river to enjoy a water view of the museum’s historic shipyard and two of the Kennebec’s famed lighthouses: Doubling Point Light and the Kennebec Range Lights. Cruise past Bath Iron Works and see spectacular views of the Navy’s most advanced ships taking shape. Experience Maine's rich seafaring history on the banks of the Kennebec River. Back at the museum explore the seven permanent exhibits as well as changing exhibits that tell the history of shipbuilding and shipbuilders in Maine, and illustrate the multi-faceted relationship between Maine and the sea; including a collection of more than 140 historic watercraft. After a box lunch at the museum, sit back and enjoy a picturesque three hour-drive to Bar Harbor arriving to check-in to our hotel for two nights. This evening, we will have dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner)
Wednesday, September 17: Acadia National Park
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. Today is Acadia National Park for a park tour with our local guide. Explore the area, from the terrain to the diverse wildlife to the beauty of Acadia National Park! View historic mansions of the rich and famous on the way in and out of Acadia National Park. Learn about the area’s rich history, from discovery in 1604 to the great fire of 1947. Enjoy spectacular scenery, including Paradise Hill, Frenchman Bay, and the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Experience the biggest attractions of Acadia National Park, including Cadillac Mountain, the Jordan Pond Area, Wild Gardens of Acadia, the Nature Center of Acadia, Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, Sand Beach, and Otter Cliffs. The tour includes four stops for walks and photos: Cadillac Mountain Summit, Thunder Hole on Ocean Drive, the Sieur D’ Mont Spring Area (Acadia Nature Center and the Wild Gardens of Acadia) and the Jordan Pond Area. Bid farewell to your Acadia guide. Enjoy a relaxed lunch on your own at Jordan Pond. Late afternoon will be free time and dinner on your own (with included Meal $) in Bar Harbor before returning to the hotel. (Breakfast, Meal $)
Thursday, September 18: Bar Harbor, Maine to Bethlehem, New Hampshire
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. Travel to Fort Knox State Historic Site, the home of the Maine's largest historic fort. Fort Knox has a full and rich history even though it has never actually been involved in any battles. It features amazing architecture and unparalleled master craftsmanship. Its construction took place between 1844 and 1864, however, it was never fully completed, even though over $1 million was spent. It stands alone as the New England area's most impressive unmodified example of military architecture of that particular period. It is located along the narrows of Penobscot Bay to protect the area from pending British naval attacks. Its initial goal was to defend Bangor, Maine during the Maine-New Brunswick border dispute. This dispute was to resolve the border conflict that lingered after the Aroostook War. It stands as a pillar representing Maine's first struggles for freedom. Our visit to Penobscot Narrows Observatory (part of Ft Knox State site) caps of one the most impressive engineering structures in the world. It was built in conjunction with the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. If you are looking to really see the Mid-coast region of Maine and even Mount Desert Island, then the Penobscot Narrows Observatory has everything that you want and more. The top of the tower is 42 stories above the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. Lunch stop enroute to Bethel, Maine for mineral sleuthing This afternoon you will experience sluicing for your own special, rare mineral. This region is so very rich in minerals such as tourmaline and rose quartz. You never know what you’ll find! The best part is … anything you find, you get to keep! A local expert will be on hand to help you identify your treasures and let you know the value of your panning efforts. Continue onto Bethlehem, New Hampshire for dinner and our overnight. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Friday, September 19: Bethlehem, New Hampshire to Waterbury, Vermont
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. Our morning starts with a ride on the Mount Washington Cog Railway bio-diesel train. “The Second Greatest Show on Earth!” That’s what showman P.T. Barnum proclaimed in 1869 as he stepped down off the train and marveled at the view from Mount Washington’s rocky summit. High praise indeed from the man whose grand circus occupied the primary spot.Today, more than 150 years later, the Mount Washington Cog Railway continues to thrill passengers from all over the world with its dramatic ascent to the summit of the highest peak in the Northeast. The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world. With an average grade of 25% (some sections approach nearly 38%), it’s also the second steepest! Motive power is primarily provided by a fleet of seven powerful biodiesel locomotives, each custom designed, built and maintained on site. After a quick lunch, get ready because you are about to take the Cannon Mountain Tramway ride. An 80-passenger cable car brings visitors to the 4,080-foot summit of Cannon Mountain in under ten minutes. On a clear day, you can see the mountains of four states and Canada. Time to depart for Waterbury Vermont and dinner and our overnight stay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Saturday, September 20: Waterbury, Vermont
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. Our day starts in Stowe, Vermont at the Trapp Family Lodge for a History Tour. The hills are alive...you know the rest...! Visit the famed lodge where the Von Trapp family made their home after leaving their beloved Austria during World War II. The tour begins with an overview of the von Trapp family history – actual vs. the movie version, then a discussion of the property’s history and the family’s early years in America. View a documentary film of Maria von Trapp’s memories during her final visit to her former home in Salzburg, Austria. Whenever possible a Von Trapp family member either leads the tour or hosts a Q and A session Enjoy a stroll and lunch in this quintessential Vermont town of Stowe, which has a little bit of everything from a general store to local boutiques to a variety of restaurants. Tour Ben & Jerrys Factory and enjoy samples of ice cream. No visit to Vermont is complete without a stop at the factory to learn how two high school friends became entrepreneurs in the ice cream industry. Late afternoon has us at Morse Farms, an 8th generation maple syrup producer. They will regale us with stories and explain the sugaring process, which they still make the old-fashioned way. Time to visit a wonderful maple “country store” gift shop that truly has something for everyone. Did you know it takes forty gallons of maple sap to produce just ONE gallon of pure Vermont maple syrup? You will thoroughly enjoy learning this and many other tasty facts about maple sugarin’ and partake in a sugar on snow tasting - a true tradition of our area! We will have a quick stop at the Vermont State Capital before dinner and returning to the hotel. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Sunday, September 21: Waterbury, Vermont to Terre Haute
Enjoy an included breakfast at the hotel before our day starts. Return to Boston, Massachusetts and arrive at Logan International Airport to board our plane for our flight to Indianapolis International Airport. You are responsible for your baggage check in and fees. Upon arrival in Indianapolis, we board our TURNER coach for our ride back to Terre Haute. Meal money included for meal enroute home. (Breakfast, Meal $)