New England in the Fall

We fly to Boston, where we check into our downtown hotel in the theatre district for the night. Boston is not only the capital of Massachusetts and New England's largest city, it's also one of the USA's oldest cities and played a key role in American Independence. Today, the city is the cultural and financial centre of New England - a delightful mix of contemporary cool, wonderful parklands and fascinating historic buildings such as the Public Library, Harvard and the Romanesque Trinity Church.

Today we enjoy a guided tour of this New England city known for its 'old world' charm, history and character. Our tour takes in parts of the famed Freedom Trail. We drive through the Back Bay area, past the historic US Constitution to Copley Square and Beacon Hill. This afternoon we join Amtrak's Downeaster service for the trip north through lovely New England to Portland, Maine. We continue by coach into the White Mountains, one of North America's most beautiful landscapes. Our journey takes us through Maine and New Hampshire during their golden season, when the trees are burnished shades of red and orange. We arrive in North Conway, where we spend three nights.

We board the steam-hauled Mount Washington Cog Railway - the world's first cog railway, which opened in 1869. The train climbs up Mount Washington, and we have a short stop at the summit to enjoy panoramic views of the White Mountain Range. We make our return journey by coach, taking a scenic drive through the White Mountains. We see Crawford Notch and call into Fadden's Maple Sugarhouse in North Woodstock for lunch. Our journey continues along the Kancamagus Scenic Highway, one of the best spots to admire the fall foliage. Here, a breathtaking tapestry of colour - from rich burgundy and russet to pale yellow - brightens up our route.

*Please note that the journey is steam-hauled where possible. On occasion the 3-mile trip is made by bio-diesel locomotive.

This morning we experience another great heritage railway, travelling on the fabulous Mountaineer route - in 1950s-era streamlined passenger cars - on the North Conway Scenic Railroad. Our journey begins in North Conway, the Victorian station established in 1874. From here, we relive the legend that lives on in railroad history as we follow a route first taken by train almost 150 years ago. Our relaxing journey takes us through the Saco River Valley to Bartlett, admiring New Hampshire's colour scheme of red, gold and brown. We return to the hotel by coach.

We head towards the Cape Cod peninsula today. On the way, we stop in Plymouth to discover the highlights of this historical town. We see Plymouth Rock, the spot where early Pilgrims first set foot on land in 1620 after their ship, the Mayflower, brought them to the New World. We also see the Founding Father's Monument, which celebrates the Mayflower Pilgrims. We continue to our beach hotel in Falmouth, on the Cape Cod peninsula, where we spend two nights.

Today we take a day trip to Martha's Vineyard explore Cape Cod and the surrounding region. Named for its peculiar shape, Cape Cod offers scenic beauty year-round. We take a short ferry ride across to Martha's Vineyard, a summer resort for New England's wealthy population. 'Vineyarders', as the island's residents are known, are fiercely protective of the island's traditions and heritage; the usual chain stores have yet to make an impression here, so Martha's Vineyard has the look and feel of a bygone age, making it fascinating to discover. There's free time here to find a place for lunch, before we catch the ferry back to Falmouth in the afternoon.

We discover Rhode Island, a place known for its sandy beaches and Colonial-era seaside towns. We head to fashionable Newport, long since a destination for affluent visitors. Newport is home to some marvellous mansions, and we tour one of its most famous. The Breakers was built in 1895 as a summer home for Cornelius Vanderbilt II, a member of the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Today, the Italian Renaissance-style home is a National Historic Landmark. We continue to the Mystic Seaport Museum, an outdoor museum that recreates a 19th century New England whaling village. Strolling along the re-imagined waterfront, we enjoy a unique glimpse back in time.  We then head to the Rhode Island capital, Providence, a quirky place with a string of awards including 'Number 3 favourite US city', and 'Best city for foodies' where we spend the next two nights.

Today you're free to explore the charming city of Providence at your own pace. Once a major New World seaport, with local craftspeople exporting their wares abroad, the city is compact and easy to discover on foot. There's a neo-Gothic cathedral, the Rhode Island School of Design Museum, and a city zoo. Restaurant options here are enticing, besides New England classics - lobster rolls or clam chowder - you'll find Italian, Chinese and Mexican eateries. From April to November, Providence attracts visitors to its WaterFire art installation, a series of bonfires held several times a month, creating an atmosphere of aromatic woodsmoke, firelight and music. Alternatively, a train to Newhaven, Connecticut or Boston, takes around an hour.

We return to the city of Boston, where you have free time for some final exploring. We arrive at the lively Quincy Market - a fabulous complex of market stalls, shops and cafés - where your luggage is held until we leave for the airport. Here you'll find plenty to see including musicians and performance artists. You could also stroll through the city's tranquil central Public Garden, the oldest in the USA. There's an excellent choice of eateries in downtown Boston - you'll find plenty of seafood and Mediterranean options, Japanese, Italian, as well as contemporary American grills and Chinatown.

This evening, we board our flight home.

Please note that outside of the main fall season (mid September - mid October), the fall foliage is unlikely to be as visible, however the attractions of the area are delightful at any time.

We arrive back in the UK today and your holiday comes to an end.