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7-Nights Hidden Gems of New England - Land Journey from $5,990
Tauck
OFFER ID 1548969
Hidden Gems of New England
Explore the best of New England on a journey through its picturesque heart, discovering new insights into landmark sites and historic homes, where country farms and nature's dramatically contrasting vistas evoke the spirit of a place whose ideas shaped America.
Classic New England lives in Boston Common, in the White Mountains aglow with autumn colors, in the general store and the diamond at Fenway Park... the drama of the rugged Maine coast... in Augustus Saint-Gaudens' studio where images of American heroes were forged, in millwheels, covered bridges, and white-steepled churches, and the rocky soil that has long been fertile ground for thinkers, artists, writers, inventors, entrepreneurs and Revolutionaries. This is, as Dayton Duncan observes, Ken Burns' backyard: "New England has always had a special place in American history and American thought. And New England has become Ken Burns' backyard - not just the place where he's raised his family and made his documentaries in the classic New England town of Walpole, New Hampshire, but also a place intertwined with many of the stories he's told: Mark Twain, Baseball, The Civil War and The National Parks: America's Best Idea. It's a distinct region with its own beauty and its own secret treasures - and who better to share them but one of its proudest residents."
7 nights from $5,990 per person
Tauck World Discovery: Hidden Gems of New England
Day 1 Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Welcome to Boston
Tour begins: 5:30 PM, The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. A transfer is included from Logan International Airport to The Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at the hotel.
Meals: D
Day 2 Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Fenway Park, historic Boston
In his films Baseball and The Tenth Inning, Ken Burns offers a glimpse into the soul of our "national pastime"; for many, it lives at Fenway Park, America's oldest ballpark and home of the Boston Red Sox since 1912. Past glories come alive on a walking tour of the stadium that may include some its most famous landmarks, such as the Triangle, Pesky's Pole, the former location of Duffy's Cliff, and the legendary Green Monster of left field. Next, an orientation tour of the city follows the historic Freedom Trail from the Back Bay's Copley Square to Augustus Saint-Gaudens' memorial to Col. Robert Gould Shaw in Boston Common, the State House, the Old North Church, the Old State House and the South Meeting House. The remainder of the day is free to explore Boston as you please.
Meals: B
Day 3 Pittsfield
Lexington & Concord and on to the Berkshires
Depart the city of Boston for the nearby flashpoint of the American Revolution, the Massachusetts towns of Lexington and Concord, where 2025 marks the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. First, travel to the Lexington Battle Green, where the "shot heard 'round the world" that signaled the beginning of hostilities was fired; and Concord's Old North Bridge and iconic Minuteman statue, cast from the bronze of Civil War cannons, in Minute Man National Historic Park. Head west across the center of Massachusetts, stopping for lunch en route to the Berkshires for a late afternoon arrival at your historic hotel in Stockbridge.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 4 Manchester, Vermont, USA
Legacies of Rockwell & the Shakers in the Berkshires
Aglow with blazing foliage in autumn, the Berkshires of western Massachusetts have long been a retreat for artists and writers. Begin today's discoveries in Stockbridge at the Norman Rockwell Museum, dedicated to the beloved illustrator whose hundreds of covers for the Saturday Evening Post depicting scenes from small-town America - including here in Stockbridge, where he spent the last 25 years of his life - illuminated the lives of ordinary people with humor and pathos; view many original works by Rockwell, and visit his preserved studio. Next, head to Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield for a private tour of this former Shaker settlement, founded in 1783 and active through 1960. Today it's a living-history museum featuring 20 authentic Shaker buildings, costumed interpreters, rich collections of Shaker furniture and artifacts, a working farm with extensive gardens and heritage-breed livestock and more. Continue on to Manchester, Vermont, for an overnight at the Kimpton Taconic Hotel.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 5 Bretton Woods
Ken Burns's Backyard
Depart your Vermont resort and drive into the New Hampshire countryside for an exclusive insider look at Ken Burns' private film studio in Walpole, where his Florentine Films was founded. Have lunch in town and enjoy some free time; in fall, indulge in autumnal panoramas of New Hampshire's White Mountains, arriving for a two-night stay at a true New England classic since 1902 - the spectacular Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods, a National Historic Landmark.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 6 Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, USA
Discovering the White Mountains
Your day in the beautiful White Mountains begins with a visit to The Rocks in Bethlehem, New Hampshire - a 1,400-acre forest reservation owned and managed by the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests - and enjoy a maple sugaring experience. For centuries, maple sugaring has remained a cherished tradition in New Hampshire, where the sight of smoke billowing from sugar houses nestled in the woods heralds the onset of spring. With the warming days, sap courses through sugar maple trees, awaiting harvest to produce delectable maple syrup, sugar, and confections. At The Rocks' New Hampshire Maple Experience, visitors delve into this rich maple heritage, tracing its roots from the methods employed by Native Americans and early European settlers to the contemporary practices of today's sugar makers. This afternoon, you have a choice; one option takes you to the 6288' summit of Mount Washington, the highest mountain peak in the Northeast - aboard a custom-built diesel locomotive! The approximately three-hour round trip is an exhilarating journey through history, technology, and nature, including about an hour to explore the State Park at the summit (seasonal and weather-related restrictions apply). Your other option is a free afternoon at your hotel. If you wish, take a hotel history tour of your famous Bretton Woods resort, where you'll have dinner at your leisure tonight.
Meals: B, L, D
Day 7 Ogunquit, Maine, USA
Charms of Coastal Maine
A wildlife talk at your White Mountains resort this morning offers an appreciation of the ecology of the glorious landscapes, summer and autumn, that you'll journey through today as you wind your way to Maine. You'll arrive midday at Perkins Cove in Ogunquit, named by the Abenaki tribe, because the word means "beautiful place by the sea." The area is known for its stunning walking trails - you'll have an opportunity to explore this quintessential coastal Maine region with a walk along the famed Marginal Way trail that hugs the sea. Originally developed in 1925, the trail is only 1.25 miles - with spectacular breathtaking vistas and iconic scenery. Arrive for an overnight stay at your oceanfront hotel; join us for a farewell reception and dinner.
Meals: B, D
Day 8 Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Journey Home
Tour ends: Boston. Drive directly to Boston's Logan International Airport from Stage Neck Inn after breakfast. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in; flights should not be booked before 2:00 PM. The group transport will drop guests off at the airport and then drive 3.5 miles to drop off at Boston South Station (for trains).
Meals: B
Vacation Details
* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.
All fares are quoted in US Dollars.
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Merced Travel
(209) 383-1511 Alternate (209) 658-6518