$100 refundable deposit to hold your space

Highlights Include:

• Round-trip Air & Transfers from Sea-Tac
• Transportation on Company Owned Coach
• 8 Nights 3 and 4 Star Hotels
• Niagara Falls State Park with Famous Maid of Mist Cruise
• Erie Canal Historical Locks Cruise
• George Eastman & Susan B. Anthony Homes
• Antique Boat Museum
• Thousand Islands with Boldt Castle
• Adirondack Mountain Scenic Drive
• Lake Champlain Cruise
• Vermont's Tastiest Road with Stowe & Von Trapp Lodge
• Shelburne Museum & Historical Village
• Vermont Maple Syrup Farm Tour & Tasting
• Cog Rail to Top of Mt. Washington
• Scenic Notch Train
• Covered Bridges of New Hampshire
• Nubble Lighthouse & New England Lobster Bake
• Some Meals
• Exploration Tour Manager
• Additional breakfasts may be added; bookings made 60 days prior or less may require additional air supplement

Day 1 Shuffle off to Buffalo... New York

Take off with the Exploration gang to the East Coast, where our coach will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel for the evening.

Day 2 Niagara Falls & Erie Canal Towns

Visit Niagara Falls State Park, which has the closest access to both the American and Horseshoe Falls. Besides the Falls, there are beautiful walkways, rapids, islands, a film, and photo ops like no other. Plus, cruise to the face of the falls and feel their power. Experience “Life in the Past Lane" when you board your cruise on the historic Erie Canal, a 363-mile waterway connecting the Hudson River with the Niagara River and the Great Lakes. Your fun and informative cruise will take you past five of the original 1800s locks. Three million gallons of water will fill Locks 34 & 35, the only double set on the Erie Canal, and raise the boat 50 feet. You’ll pass under Lockport's "Upside Down Bridge," Lockport's "Big Bridge" (the widest bridge in the U.S. at 299 feet wide), through the "deep rock cut" and under lift bridges. (L)

Day 3 Kodak, Women's Rights & Old Fort

Our half-day tour of Rochester will include a visit to the George Eastman House and Museum (Eastman/Kodak), a National Historic Landmark, and the Susan B. Anthony Home for an education on women's voting rights. Follow Lake Ontario to the historic fort, a massive bulk of stone and earth that has been rebuilt over the years. You will see gun slits in the rock used by the warriors of old to fire through the embattlements. There are beautiful views of the lake, too. Continue into Watertown for a two-night stay. (B)

Day 4 Antique Boat Museum, Boldt Castle

Visit the Antique Boat Museum located on the banks of the majestic St. Lawrence River. The galleries overflow with unique and beautifully preserved examples of great North American watercraft. During your visit, step on the 106' houseboat La Duchesse showcasing the gracious River lifestyle of a century ago. Take a cruise out of Alexandria Bay. Thousands of islands, from just a large rock to one holding a castle, dot the mouth of the river. At the turn of the 20th century, George C. Boldt, the millionaire owner of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City, decided to build a full-sized "Rhineland"-styled castle in the 1000 Islands. Tragedy struck in 1904 when Louise died suddenly. Broken-hearted, Boldt could not imagine his dream castle without her and sent a telegram ordering all work to be stopped immediately. During your cruise, stop and visit this romantic piece of history. Finish the day on the Thousand Island Bridge, one of the highest in the U.S., and get a breathtaking view of the fall colors and the St. Lawrence River. (B)

Day 5 Adirondacks & Lake Champlain Cruise

Spend a half day traveling the scenic route through the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York as fall colors brighten the drive. Arrive at Lake Champlain to board our ferry and cruise to Vermont. This one-hour crossing offers beautiful views of the mountains and lake. Check into our Vermont hotel. (B)

Day 6 Shelburne Museum & Historical Village

Spend a day at Shelburne Museum, a wonderful "restored" New England village with rotating art exhibits and Americana collections tucked into every building. The museum has rescued New England farm buildings and houses and brought them to the site to restore them — including a real covered bridge, a working blacksmith's shop, an 18th-century country store, and a large, beautifully restored Lake Champlain steamship. Great café on-site for lunch on your own. (B)

Day 7 Vermont's Tastiest Road & Von Trapp Lodge, Rock Quarry

Spend some time on Vermont's tastiest road with stops at Ben & Jerry's, the Apple Barn, and Cabot Cheese, each offering samples of their specialties. This hour-and-a-half experience gives you insight into the truth and imagined storylines in The Sound of Music and an in-depth look at how the von Trapps escaped Austria and ended up here in beautiful Stowe. See how real Vermont maple syrup is made. (B,L)

Day 8 Mt. Washington Cog Rail, Covered Bridges

Climb to the top of Mount Washington on the world's first mountain-climbing Cog Railway train. Travel Highway Rte 302 with spectacular views of Crawford Notch and across the famed Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge. One of the premier scenic train rides in the East, the Crawford Notch excursion gives you the chance to relive a legend written in the annals of railroad history. Live commentary includes history and folklore of the railroad, area, and points of interest. (B)

Day 9 Coast of Maine and Farewell Lobster Bake

Travel along the coast of Maine for your return flight home. During this scenic drive, stop for photos at the Nubble Lighthouse and enjoy a traditional New England lobster bake while you say farewell to your fellow Exploration tour members. Return air will be from Boston's Logan Airport. Flights will be after 4:00 pm. Legal first and last name, along with final payment, due at booking. (B,L)

Pricing will be announced in May 2025. Those under deposit will have the first opportunity to confirm or cancel. If you missed this year, book ASAP as interest is very high. No passport required.