A New England Summer Family Vacation June, July, August and September 10 Days/9 Nights

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1 A New England Summer Family Vacation June, July, August and September 10 Days/9 Nights This summer vacation has something for everyone! Hoist the sails on a schooner, ride in a DUCK around historic Boston, explore the mansions of Newport and visit the beautiful Martha s Vineyard. Search for Vermont s elusive Lake Monster, Champ and enjoy the fresh mountain air of Vermont! Day One: Arrive at the Boston Logan Airport early afternoon. Pick up your rental car and travel a short distance to your hotel located on the historic Long Wharf pier. An early check in will be requested, however if your rooms are not ready the hotel will hold your luggage while you explore the surrounding area. You may park your car at the hotel for the afternoon and evening. With its sophisticated design and intuitive service you will have a truly memorable experience. (Boston Marriott Long Wharf or similar) Walk across the street to the Quincy Marketplace and historic Faneuil Hall. Have lunch on your own in one of the many eateries and explore the shops, street vendors carts and historic architecture. After lunch, travel back in time on an incredible journey, when you visit the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. Next, tour Boston like never before aboard a DUCK, a World War II-style amphibious landing vehicle. See places by land and water that make Boston the birthplace of freedom and a city of firsts. Walk back to the hotel to refresh before dinner. Enjoy a swim in the indoor pool.

2 Have dinner at the hotel s waterfront restaurant or venture out to some of Boston s renown restaurants such as Durgin Park, Cheer s, Union Oyster House, The Chart Room or McCormick s. Day Two: After an included breakfast in the hotel, pack your bags and begin your travels to Cape Cod. Along the way, stop in Plymouth, America s home town, where the Pilgrims landed in Stop at Plymouth Rock for a photo op. Next, board a reproduction of the Mayflower II, the 102-passenger ship used by the Pilgrims for the 65-day journey from England. Experience 17 th -century life at Plimoth Plantation. Wander through timber-frame houses, grain fields and garden plots. Talk with Pilgrims as they go about their daily chores of planting, tending their animals and cooking. Have lunch on your own at the onsite café. Check into your Falmouth, MA Inn late afternoon. This Cape Cod, Colonial-style inn is within walking distance of Falmouth s quaint downtown and bike path and is a short drive to the beach. (Inn on the Square or similar) This afternoon you may go on a bike ride, visit the beach or visit the renowned Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. This is the world s leading, independent, non-profit organization dedicated to ocean research, exploration, and education. Savor the flavors of New England cuisine at a restaurant of your choosing in downtown Falmouth. Day Three: After breakfast, travel a short distance to the ferry dock. Board the 9:30 am ferry and embark on a 45-minute scenic cruise to Martha s Vineyard. A longtime New England summer colony, the island encompasses harbor towns and lighthouses, sandy beaches and farmland. Upon arrival, board the island bus and enjoy a narrated guided tour of the six island towns.

3 After the tour, there will be time at your leisure on the island and to have lunch on your own. Board the ferry late afternoon and travel back to the mainland. Upon arrival, return to your hotel. Have dinner on your own in Falmouth. Day Four: After breakfast, pack your bags and check out of the Inn. Today, your travels will bring you to the Green Mountain State, Vermont. Along the way, stop at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. This 110-year old institution is now the world's largest and most comprehensive museum devoted to the global story of whales, whaling and the history of Massachusetts' south coast region. Arrive in Newport, RI late morning. Begin your visit at the Marble House, built between 1888 and 1892 for Mr. and Mrs. William K. Vanderbilt. The marble house is a social and architectural landmark that set the pace for Newport s subsequent transformation from a quiet summer colony of wooden houses to the legendary resort of opulent stone palaces. Enjoy lunch on your own in Newport. Next, visit The Breakers, the grandest of Newport s summer cottages and a symbol of the Vanderbilt family s social and financial preeminence in turn of the century America. Before you depart Newport, drive along Ocean Avenue where you will witness scenic ocean views and gilded-era mansions galore. Depart Newport late afternoon and travel to Vermont. Arrive early evening at The Lake Morey Resort, nestled in the Vermont hills above the Connecticut River. Enjoy the natural beauty and genuine hospitality of this 100-year old resort that combines classic Vermont style with modern day amenities. The activities are boundless! (Lake Morey Resort or similar) Have dinner on your own at the resort s restaurant. Day Five:

4 Enjoy breakfast at the resort before you set out for a day of discovery. Arrive in Quechee Gorge, Vermont s Little Grand Canyon. Enjoy beautiful vistas from 168 feet above the river. Stop at Quechee Gorge Village where you will find locally made crafts, classic antiques and samples of Vermont food products. Explore Woodstock, considered to be one of New England's most beautiful villages. Woodstock has been coined the prettiest small town in America. Walk among the opulent mid-19th-century homes and structures built around the Village Green and along broad streets. Walk across a covered bridge and visit the boutiques and galleries. Have lunch on your own at the stately Woodstock Inn, owned by the Rockefeller family. After lunch, arrive at the Marsh-Billing-Rockefeller Mansion and embark on a guided tour of this magnificent home and vibrant gardens. Originally built in 1805, this Federal-style brick house remains an excellent example of the Queen Ann Style. After your tour, take a short walk across the street to Billings Farm and Museum and explore one of the finest operating dairy farms in America. Billings Farm and Museum is a place where the belief in conservation and sustainable land use was born. Enjoy an included hands-on seasonal activity. (Schedule pending) Arrive back at your Vermont resort late afternoon and enjoy the many amenities that it has to offer. Take a complimentary scenic pontoon boat ride, hike the gentle trails that surround the resort, paddle out on the lake in a canoe or kayak or simply relax by the indoor pool. There is something for everyone in the family! Enjoy dinner on your own this evening at the resort. (Lake Morey Resort or similar) Day Six: After breakfast, pack your bags and begin your travels to the quaint town of Stowe, the ski capitol of the east. Arrive in Barre, the Granite Capital of the World. Barre is the center of the largest granite industry in the nation. Visit the world s largest and most modern granite manufacturing plant. See workers in the quarry and learn how granite is processed and used. Travel to Morse Farm Sugarworks and watch how real maple sugar is made on a traditional Vermont maple sugar farm. Tour the sugarhouse, sample fresh-made maple

5 syrup and visit the largest and most unique maple, crafts and mail order shop in the area. Your visit ends with a maple creemee. Enjoy lunch on your own at a restaurant in downtown Montpelier, Vermont s Capital city. Stop for a photo op at Vermont s State House, the smallest in the country. No visit to Vermont is complete without a stop at Ben and Jerry s Ice Cream Factory! Enjoy a tour and taste and discover how $5 and a truck became Vermont s Finest ice cream. Open the door to the mouth-watering aroma of fresh-baked cider donuts. Cold Hollow Cider Mill offers a fine collection of Vermont specialty food products, crafts and gifts. Next, visit Stowe Village. Tucked between the Stowe Community Church with its triumphant steeple and the venerable Green Mountain Inn, you will find shops that have provided the necessities of life for residents and visitors since Check into your luxury, resort hotel situated at the base of Spruce Peak. This Vermont- Alpine style lodge reflects the beauty of the Green Mountains and draws inspiration from the area s covered bridges, sparkling lakes, rambling woodlands and majestic peaks. (Stowe Mountain Lodge or similar) Enjoy dinner on your own at one of the restaurants in the resort. Day Seven: After breakfast at the lodge, travel to the quaint town of Shelburne. Your first stop is at the world-famous Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, home of Vermont s most lovable bears. Enjoy a guided tour, visit the bear hospital and shop the whimsical retail store. Visit Shelburne Farms, a National Historic Landmark on the shores of Lake Champlain. Climb on board a narrated, horse-drawn wagon ride around this beautiful Vermont farm. Discover treasures from America s past at the Shelburne Museum, described as one of the world s great museums of American folk art, artifacts and architecture. Enjoy lunch on your own in the museum café.

6 Explore the historic Church Street Marketplace located in Vermont s largest city, Burlington. Considered an outdoor pedestrian mall with shops, street vendors, boutiques and restaurants, there is something for everyone at the Marketplace! An afternoon narrated, Lake Champlain scenic cruise aboard the Spirit of Ethan Allen III, ends you re your day in Burlington. View the Adirondack Mountains of New York and Vermont s Green Mountains as you learn of the region s rich history. This is a great place to search for Champ, the lake s elusive monster! Travel back to your hotel. Enjoy dinner on your own in Stowe Village. (Stowe Mountain Lodge or similar) Day Eight: After breakfast, begin your travels to the coast of Maine. Stop in Littleton, New Hampshire at Chutter s, home of the world s longest candy counter. Before departing Littleton stop and pick up sandwiches and refreshments to enjoy at your next stop. Visit Franconia Notch State Park located in the heart of the White Mountain National Forest. Franconia Notch is a spectacular mountain pass traversed by a unique parkway. Take in the scenery that includes a beautiful lake situated right at the base of the granite cliffs. There will be time to walk on the gentle paths and to visit the museum in tribute to the Old Man in the Mountain. Enjoy your picnic lunch during your visit. Travel along the Kancamagus Highway, a 34.5-mile scenic drive. The Kancamagus Highway is designated an American Scenic Byway for its rich history, aesthetic beauty and culture. There will be time for photo ops along the way. Arrive at your Kennebunkport, Maine historic hotel that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Kennebunk River. Enjoy a stroll along the hotel s private beach or take a dip in the heated, salt-water outdoor pool. (The Colony Hotel or similar) Have dinner on your own at the hotel or at one of the many eateries on Dock Square.

7 Day Nine: Rise and shine for an included breakfast at the hotel. This morning, visit the Portland Observatory, a historic maritime signal tower. Built in 1807, it is the only known surviving tower of its type in the United States. The views from the lookout are amazing. Arrive in Portland s Old Port District. Explore the shops and galleries and have lunch on your own. After lunch, embark on a narrated cruise of Portland Harbor through the pristine waters of Casco Bay from the deck of a storied wooden schooner. If you feel inspired, join the crew to hoist the sails or take a turn at the ship s wheel! Late afternoon, return to the hotel. Hike on the nature trails, sit on the beach, play croquet or rent a bike and ride into Dock Square to visit the shops. Have a relaxing dinner on your own at the hotel or at a local restaurant. (The Colony Hotel or similar) Day Ten: After an included breakfast, pack your bags and check out of the hotel. Begin your travels back to Boston. Along the way, stop at the Strawbery Banke Museum and step over the threshold of history into the life of one of our country s oldest waterfront neighborhoods. This 10-acre living history museum has preserved the lifestyles and traditions of four centuries of New Englanders. Enjoy lunch on your own at the onsite café. Arrive in Boston late afternoon, return your rental car and begin your travels home. Your Package Includes: 9 Nights accommodations 3 Breakfasts Admission to attractions listed above Round trip ferry to Martha s Vineyard Reservation for a 10-day SUV car rental (client must pay for car rental on their own)

8 Taxes (Note: Gratuity for the local guide on Martha s Vineyard is not included and is left at your discretion based on service.) Pricing Information: Call for custom pricing. 824 West Lakeshore Drive, Suite 3, Colchester, VT Copyright2016NotchAboveTours, Inc.