Rail Travel Adventures by Gateway Travel Grand Fall Tour: Empire State Autumn October 4-13 2016 Tour From $3699.00 GRAND FALL TOUR: Empire State Autumn by Rail Everyone has heard of the beauty of fall in New England. Fewer people know of the grandeur and autumn colors of upstate New York: the Adirondack, Catskill and Shawangunk Mountains and the beautiful Hudson River Valley. Our Grand Fall Tour visits all these areas, combining five train rides, two cruises and travel on our private motorcoach through the fall color. Railroad travel features two routes on Amtrak, two routes on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad, and a charter on the Delaware & Ulster RR through the heart of the Catskills in a vista-dome streamliner. We will ride the Saratoga and North Creek RR along the Hudson River, deep in the Adirondacks. We also cruise on Raquette Lake in the Adirondacks and on the Hudson River past the mansions of Hyde Park. Additional attractions and many included meals make this a truly special tour. Ride the "Rip Van Winkle Flyer" Sightseeing includes the wonderful Adirondack Museum (with a collection including lake boats, Adirondack furniture and art); historic Camp Sagamore (an original Adirondack great camp). Multi-night hotel stays include two nights at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid using lakefront rooms on Mirror Lake, three nights at the Minnowbrook Inn and Conference Center (built in the Adirondack great camp style) on the shores of Blue Mountain Lake in the Adirondack Mountains, and three nights at the fabulous Mohonk Mountain House in the Shawangunk Mountains above the Hudson River valley. NOTE: This is a moderately active tour. To fully enjoy this program, participants should be able to climb a flight of stairs and walk at least a half-mile on uneven ground during several of the sightseeing trips. Please join us for fall color and scenery you may not have expected to find in this not quite New England state. Complete details follow. All aboard!
Day One, Tuesday, October 4. Independent arrivals. Tour participants arrive independently in Albany NY by rail or air. Our included hotel for this evening is the downtown Hilton Albany. The airport is about 7 miles northwest of Albany; the Amtrak station is at Albany-Rensselaer just a couple of miles from downtown. The hotel provides free transfers on-call from both the airport and Amtrak. No tour activities are planned for today. Day Two, Wednesday, October 5 (B,D) Amtrak s ADIRONDACK; to Lake Placid. In mid-morning we transfer to the grand Albany- Rensselaer Amtrak station and board the ADIRONDACK for the scenic ride to Plattsburgh NY on America s oldest continuously incorporated railway, the Delaware and Hudson (D&H). As it winds north deep into the Adirondacks, our route takes us along the shores of Lake Champlain and on cliffs above the water. From here we can see autumn color in New York and Vermont as well as historic Fort Ticonderoga on the New York shore. Optional lunches can be purchased on board. The ADIRONDACK route was proclaimed one of the ten most scenic train trips in the world by National Geographic Traveler magazine. Upon arrival in Plattsburgh, we reboard our chartered motorcoach and drive into the High Peaks region of the Adirondack Mountains to famous Lake Placid. Here we stay two nights at the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort, located on the shores of Mirror Lake. Our Welcome Dinner is here tonight, and breakfast is included each morning we are at the hotel. The hotel includes a fullservice health club, racquetball court, indoor pool, sauna, whirlpool, and steam bath. Also included are a restaurant, deli, internet café and coffee bar, and a nightclub with dancing. Day Three, Thursday, October 6 (B,L) High Falls Gorge; Adirondack Scenic Railroad. This morning we visit High Falls Gorge, where the Ausable River plunges more than 200 feet over a series of waterfalls which can be photographed from the walkways. We then return to Lake Placid for free time and an included luncheon at The Great Adirondack Steak & Seafood Company. After lunch we ride the Adirondack Scenic RR round-trip to Saranac Lake on a route originally served by the Delaware and Hudson and the New York Central Railroads. Until the late 1960s, direct service with sleepers ran to Lake Placid from Grand Central Terminal in New York. The line served both the 1932 and 1980 Olympics, then lay dormant for 20
years before restoration by the volunteers of the Adirondack Scenic RR. Lovely views of the peaks mark the route. We return to Lake Placid later in the afternoon. High Falls Gorge by Carl Fowler Day Four, Friday, October 7 (B,D) Lake Placid to Blue Mountain Lake. Scenic drive south on the Adirondack Northway to the Saratoga Springs joint Amtrak/Saratoga and North Creek Railway station. We will ride the Saratoga and North Creek RR to North Creek NY. This line was operated for most of the 20th century by the D&H. Its most famous operating day came on September 14, 1901, when Teddy Roosevelt rode a special train from North Creek to Buffalo enroute to being sworn-in as the President of the United States following the assassination of President McKinley. Next we will drive to Blue Mountain Lake. Our hotel for the next three nights is the Minnowbrook Resort and Conference Center. Built in the style of an Adirondack Great Camp, this facility is now owned and operated by Syracuse University. It is located on the shore of Blue Mountain Lake. Breakfast and dinner are included each day we are here. We enjoy a three-night stay here. Minnowbrook (which is operated by Syracuse University) is a hidden treasure of the Adirondacks. Built on the model of an historic Adirondack great camp, this 28-acre retreat is a multiple building complex with an enormous variety of activities including boating, canoeing, an exercise room, a health and fitness center, hiking, and swimming. Less strenuous activities include badminton, board games, cards, horseshoes or just relaxing in front of the fireplace. Breakfast and dinner are served here daily (family style). Rooms are contained in several two-story buildings with all the conveniences (but no elevators).
Minnowbrook by Carl Fowler Day Five, Saturday, October 8 (B,D)Adirondack Museum; Adirondack Scenic RR. After breakfast we make a very short drive to the location of one of the best small museums in the U.S. The Adirondack Museum has something for everyone: a history of logging and mining in the area; a wonderful exhibit of guide boats, canoes and sailing craft; art, photography and folk art; a private railroad car; and unique Adirondack furniture (including wonderful rocking chairs to try out). This museum has been called the best of its kind in the world by the New York Times! Lunch can be purchased in the cafeteria. We then continue on to Old Forge, where we make another trip on the Adirondack Scenic RR, traveling round-trip to Otter Lake before returning to the Inn. Dinner is included this evening. Day Six, Sunday, October 9 (B, L, D) Camp Sagamore; W.W. Durant brunch cruise. Following breakfast, we travel to Raquette Lake and tour Great Camp Sagamore, an 1897 great camp built by W.W. Durant and owned by the Vanderbilts. Buildings toured here include the bowling alley! We then drive to Raquette Lake and enjoy a wonderful brunch cruise and narration on the re-created lake steamer W.W. Durant. Our cruise includes viewing the numerous Adirondack Great Camps owned by the rich and famous (including Andrew Carnegie and Collis P. Huntington, builder of the Southern Pacific RR) during the Gilded Age. Dinner is included at Minnowbrook this evening.
Day Seven, Monday, October 10 (B,D) Blue Mountain Lake to Amtrak from Saratoga Springs to Croton-Harmon; Mohonk Mountain House. Saratoga and North Creek RR along the Hudson River Gorge At Saratoga we board Amtrak for the ride south to Albany and then along the Hudson River to Croton-Harmon. The New York Central s Water Level Route was home to such legendary trains as the EMPIRE STATE EXPRESS and the 20th CENTURY LIMITED. This is fast track! Our train will reach speeds approaching 110 mph, yet the scenery overwhelms any realization of the quick pace. Never leaving the shore, the line offers vistas of the Catskill Mountains, West Point, and Storm King and Bear Mountains. En route we pass Bannerman Castle, a partially destroyed armory with a distinctly Gothic appearance; stately mansions; and lighthouses. Lunch can be purchased on-board. At Croton-Harmon we re-board our motorcoach for a drive over the Bear Mountain Bridge. From the heights, we can admire the grand gorge of the Hudson as it courses through the Highlands between the Ramapo and Taconic Mountains. Our motorcoach takes us up the steep grade into the Shawangunk Mountains and our destination for three nights, the incomparable Mohonk Mountain House. We should arrive in time for afternoon tea and an opportunity to get acquainted with the facility before dinner. All meals (and afternoon tea) are included during our stay.
Day Eight, Tuesday, October 11 (B,L,D) Free day at Mohonk. We try to personalize our tours, and the Mohonk Mountain House is one of our very favorite places. For those of you who have been here with us before, no description of the property is necessary. For the rest, we will attempt to describe what awaits. The hotel estate was purchased by the Smiley brothers in 1869 and remains in their descendants hands today. This Quaker family has created a resort that is in tune with the environment and one of the most peaceful places imaginable. The National Historic Landmark Victorian-era hotel is set on a lake surrounded by thousands of acres of forest on top of a mountain ridge. All bedrooms have either a lake or mountain view. In addition to the Victorian gardens, 128 gazebos dot the property, allowing walkers to sit and enjoy lovely views. Except for arrival and departure, no motorized travel is allowed. Movement is on foot, by boat, by horseback or by carriage. Activities include tennis, golf, boating and fishing, horseback riding, carriage rides, and hiking or walking on miles of roads and trails running throughout the property. Trails vary from level paths to strenuous hiking. There are programs or movies each evening. Other activities include visits to the garden, greenhouse, barn museum, stables and blacksmith shop. A fabulous spa and indoor swimming pool were constructed in 2005, and there is a quiet lounge serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The hotel itself is filled with lovely Victorian, Edwardian and Craftsman furniture, with many quiet alcoves and fireplaces available for conversation, reading or napping! It also includes a library, ice cream parlor, TV rooms, and a long covered porch lined with rocking chairs overlooking the lake a great place to enjoy afternoon tea and cookies. Limousine service down the mountain is available for a fee to enjoy attractions in the Hudson River Valley such as the Huguenot Houses in New Paltz or Hyde Park, home of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. Mohonk from Eagle Cliffs by Carl Fowler
Day Nine, Wednesday, October 12 (B,L,D) Catskill Mountains; luncheon in the diner on the Delaware & Ulster RR. We temporarily depart our mountaintop retreat, travel along the Hudson, and drive into the famous Catskill Mountains. We have a very special treat to start our day: a chartered ride and luncheon on the RIP VAN WINKLE FLYER on the Delaware & Ulster RR. Originally this was the mainline of the Ulster and Delaware RR, which brought Victorian tourists to the mountains. Direct parlor car services operated on the original RIP VAN WINKLE FLYER from as far south as Philadelphia. The U&D merged in the 1930s with the New York Central. Passenger service ended in 1953 and freight service in 1976, but the heart of the line is revived for us on a route that starts at tiny Arkville and includes a lovely run along the headwaters of the Delaware River into Roxbury. Lovely foliage should be on display during this ride. This afternoon, Mr. Fowler shows us some of his favorite places in these ancient mountains, which were the setting both for the first resort hotel in America (the Catskill Mountain House) and the story of Rip Van Winkle. This area also was a favorite of the Hudson River School painters. The Catskills reveal some of the wildest and most grand mountain vistas east of the Rockies! Alternatively, participants can opt out of today s activities and spend another day at leisure at Mohonk. Day Ten, Thursday, October 13 (B,L) Hudson River scenic cruise. Our leisure time at Mohonk continues through lunchtime today. We then make a short drive to Kingston, the capital of New York State at the time of the American Revolution. When Kingston was burned by the British during the war, the capital was moved elsewhere; but its importance as a steamboat and railroad center grew. This afternoon we enjoy a Hudson River cruise on the M/V Rip Van Winkle, sailing south past the mansions of Hyde Park. Distant vistas reach from the Catskill Mountains to the Litchfield and Taconic Hills on our beautiful voyage. Late this afternoon we will offer drops at the Amtrak station in time for participants to make same-day connections to the LAKESHORE LIMITED for the west and to the MAPLE LEAF for New York City. We also will make a drop at the Albany Airport. If your flight schedule requires, we can reserve an airport hotel tonight for you. TOUR PRICES include all hotels, meals and attractions noted as included above; chartered motorcoach, rail and boat transportation during the tour; baggage handling; and the services of a full-time escort. Other meals, independent sightseeing, and items of a personal nature are not included. Please note most of the hotels on this tour are entirely non-smoking. $3699.00 per person, double occupancy $4199.00 single occupancy TO BOOK: Call Jessica Green (800) 639-3706 USA (603) 336-5444 RAIL TRAVEL ADVENTURES BY GATEWAY TRAVEL Booking Conditions and Cancellation Policies TOUR SIZE: These tours will operate with a minimum of 15 passengers. DEPOSIT: A deposit of 25% of the per person tour price is required to secure a booking. When you call us you will be tentatively confirmed, with fourteen days to send us your deposit payment to be fully confirmed. This deposit is fully refundable, except for a $75 per person service charge, for cancellations received up to 90 days prior to the departure of a tour. Visa, Master Card and Discover Card are accepted, or you may send a check. FINAL PAYMENT: Full and final payment is due 60 days prior to departure for all tours, unless noted otherwise. Bookings made within 60 days of departure are payable in full upon confirmation. CANCELLATION CHARGES: No penalty other than a $75 per person service charge will be assessed for a tour canceled 90 days or more before departure. Cancellations received within 60 to 90 days prior to departure are subject to a 25% cancellation penalty, based on the full tour cost.
Legal Liability: JNJ LLC, (dba: Rail Travel Adventures by Gateway Travel) acts only as a booking agent for the various travel suppliers used in these tours. All travel suppliers are independent contractors and are not employers of JNJ LLC, (dba: Rail Travel Adventures by Gateway Travel) are not responsible for any accident, personal injury, pilferage, sickness, delays, non-delivery, misfortune, inconvenience, or other irregularity on these tours. Names and addresses of the principals of the travel suppliers used on these tours may be obtained from JNJ LLC, (dba: Rail Travel Adventures by Gateway Travel) PO Box 255, Hinsdale, NH 03451. We do not anticipate any changes or revisions to these itineraries, but the right is reserved to make changes as required, even enroute, and any additional costs will be borne by the participant. We reserve the right to substitute carriers and attractions. The right is expressly reserved to decline to accept or retain any participant in these tours. Any passenger requiring boarding assistance must give notice at the time of booking and in no case less than 48 hours prior to departure.