Highlights of America's East Coast

We fly from London Heathrow to Washington D.C., the capital of the United States, for a three-night stay. There are iconic sights around every corner, from the poignant Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Junior delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, to the instantly recognisable White House, home to each serving president since John Adams in 1800.

We begin our explorations of Washington D.C on a guided tour seeing highlights such as Capitol Hill, the largest historical residential district in Washington and home to the distinctive Capitol Building. We also see the Pentagon, the Washington Memorial and its reflecting pool, with a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln in the form of a 19ft marble statue. Lastly, we stop at the elegant White House, residence of the President of the United States.

Enjoy a free day to continue sightseeing at your own pace. The centrepiece of this fascinating city is the Nation-al Mall, stretching over 1.9 miles, a national park where you'll find a number of different museums based on American history, several iconic monuments and memorials. You may also choose to visit Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of JFK.

We board our Amtrak train to New York for two nights. Arguably the most famous American city, New York is an eruption of sounds, sights, and smells, rooted in all the diverse cultures of this electrifying metropolis. On arrival, we take a guided sightseeing tour, visiting 'Big Apple' icons such as dazzling Fifth Avenue, famous for its high-end shops and regal buildings, and Central Park - a tranquil haven of peaceful parkland to complement the hustle and speed of the city. Afterwards, we relax with a traditional cup of coffee and a bagel before returning to our hotel. Your evening is free; maybe catch a Broadway show, or see some dance, music or comedy in the nearby Theatre District.

Today is free to immerse yourself in the excitement of New York. You may like to visit one of the many museums, such as the Guggenheim, American Museum of Natural History, or the Muse-um of Modern Art, or enjoy people watching and experiencing American portions at a pizza parlour or coffee shop. Other iconic landmarks to explore include the Empire State Building, and the Chrysler Building, an Art Deco skyscraper.

We leave the buzz of New York behind today, boarding Amtrak's Empire service to Buffalo. We transfer by coach to Niagara, crossing the border into Canada before e checking into our hotel for the night. Straddling the US-Canadian border, between New York state and Ontario prov-ince, Niagara Falls is split into three separate sections: the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls. Dating back around 12,000 years, when melting glaciers created a passage of water from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, the Horseshoe Falls are the second largest in the world, after Victoria Falls in Southern Africa.

We explore the falls themselves today, taking a Hornblower cruise for a close encounter with the powerful cascading waters, experiencing the mist of spray at the base of the falls. Later we begin our journey to Toronto for a two-night stay, pausing at the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake along the way.

Enjoy free time to explore Toronto at your own pace today. The city is a multicultural melting pot with an inviting, laid-back atmosphere. You could visit the historic distillery district, where you'll find art galleries, restaurants, bars and live music venues. This is such an iconic destination that the brick-paved streets are UNESCO-listed. For something different, you could take a 10-minute ferry journey from the harbour to Toronto's quiet, collection of tiny islands. The journey offers great views of the city skyline, while Ward's Island is an ideal spot for taking a stroll among the leafy streets and quaint cottage-like houses.

Enjoy a free morning in Toronto, perhaps for one final stroll through the vibrant streets, before we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

After our overnight flight, we arrive back in the UK today and your holiday comes to an end.