New England Autumn Trail by Rail

Let the brilliant hues of autumn and the stunning scenery of the northeastern coastline capture your soul on this Vacations By Rail® trip through New England.

While springtime brings blossoms and summer has its day in the sun, the true culminating event in New England is its fall foliage. Every autumn, the hills, valleys, and coastlines explode into a resplendent kingdom of mellow gold, deep red, and bright orange foliage.

If you’re looking for a spectacular autumn vacation, look no further than a Vacations By Rail tour of the New England countryside. Experience the magnificent fall colors and historic areas as you embark on an incredible journey.

As the air gets crisper and the leaves start to change, New Englanders celebrate their harvest and come together in preparation for winter. Fall is perhaps the most festive time to visit New England and join in the celebration while marveling at the vibrant grand finale displayed by Mother Nature.

To witness the most vibrant fall foliage on the East Coast, it’s essential to travel during the peak leaf-changing season, which spans around six weeks between September and October. Leaves tend to change colors at higher elevations first, and at northern latitudes before southern.

Vacations By Rail’s Autumn Tour in New England is an escorted tour showcasing the best of New England in the fall. You’ll visit quaint New England towns and experience varying landscapes as you travel from the city

of Boston to the shores of Cape Cod, the heart of the shipbuilding past in Mystic, and the picturesque town of Stockbridge, MA, made famous by Norman Rockwell. This journey promises to showcase the best of New England.

What you’ll experience:

• Get a new perspective on the fall colors aboard three scenic rail journeys: Cape Cod Central Railroad’s Dinner Train, Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad, Conway Scenic Railroad.

• Admire brilliant fall colors on a drive along the Kancamagus Highway, America’s top fall foliage drive. In fall, the foliage along the Kancamagus Highway is simply spectacular. Each year, New Hampshire draws millions of visitors to witness the region’s annual display of color, which lasts for only a few select weeks. Travelers can experience the multi-colored mountainsides, the variety of trees undergoing this transformation, and the rugged terrain. The Kancamagus Highway boasts scenic views, including the Hancock, Sugar Hill, and Pemi Overlooks, allowing travelers to enjoy the beauty of the White Mountains, such as the Osceola Range, Sugar Hill, Mt. Tremont, and the Pemigewasset Wilderness. Wildlife sightings are also common along the highway, with the possibility of spotting hawks, moose, falcons, eagles, deer, bear, raccoons, porcupines, and skunks.

• Uncover Boston’s historic sites and important landmarks pivotal to America’s history on a city tour.

• Visit the JFK Hyannis Museum to learn more about one of America’s beloved Presidents. Explore the legacy of President Kennedy and his deep connection to Cape Cod, where he enjoyed special days with family and friends. Hyannis Port was considered the “heart and home” of the Kennedys, and the museum offers insights into the unforgettable Summer White House days of the 1960s when President Kennedy and his family brought joy and hope to a nation.

• Step back in time at Plimoth Patuxet and gain a view of 17th-century Massachusetts. Plimoth Patuxet Museums bring to life the history of Plymouth Colony and the Indigenous homeland. Major exhibits include the Patuxet Homesite, 17th-Century English Village, Mayflower II, and Plimoth Grist Mill.

• Tour one of Newport’s mansions and witness how the elite lived during the Gilded Age. The Newport Mansions offers a unique trip through 250 years of American history, architecture, art, and landscape design.

•Uncover maritime history at the Mystic Seaport Museum. Mystic Seaport Museum, the largest maritime museum in the United States, showcases a collection of sailing ships and boats, as well as a re-creation of an entire 19th-century seafaring village.

•Explore the Norman Rockwell Museum, home to the world’s largest collection of his original art. The museum, founded in 1969, is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell’s work, contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary. It houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of Rockwell’s works, including 998 original paintings and drawings. Rockwell’s Stockbridge studio, located at the museum site, is open to the public from May through October and features original art materials, his library, furnishings, and personal items. The museum also houses the Norman Rockwell Archives, a collection of more than 100,000 items.

•Visit Hildene, the Lincoln Family’s summer home. Explore the Georgian Revival mansion built by Robert Lincoln, the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to adulthood. Hildene became home to Lincoln descendants until 1975, longer than any other Lincoln residence. It offers a glimpse into the Great American Story.

To learn more about tour dates, pricing, and additional information about Vacations By Rail, visit their website at https://www.vacationsbyrail.com/or call 1-877-929-7245.

• What’s included:

•TRAINS: Three scenic rail journeys and transportation by deluxe motorcoach.

•ACCOMMODATION: Hotel accommodations for 7 nights.

•BAGGAGE HANDLING

•EXCURSIONS & ENTERTAINMENT: Boston city tour, JFK Hyannis Museum visit, Plimoth Patuxet excursion, Newport mansion tour, Mystic Seaport Museum visit, Norman Rockwell Museum visit, Hildene excursion, and a visit to Quechee Gorge

•TOUR MANAGER: The services of a professional Tour Manager from start to finish.

•FOOD & DRINK: 10 meals.

Itinerary:

Day 1 – Boston Day 2 – Boston/Hyannis. Day 3 – Plimoth Patuxet/Cape Cod Central Railroad. Day 4 – Newport/Mystic. Day 5 – Stockbridge/Manchester. Day 6 – Chester/Montpelier/Lincoln. Day 7 – Conway/Lincoln. Day 8 – Tour Conclusion. For complete tour itinerary map and printable version of the itinerary, visit Vacations By Rail website at https://www.vacationsbyrail.com/ tours/new-england-in-the-fall/

Hotels:

•Boston Park Plaza

•Holiday Inn Cape Cod - Hyannis

•North Conway Grand Hotel, North Conway

•Grand Summit Resort Hotel Mount Snow, West Dover

Scenic Rail Journeys:

•Cape Cod Central Railroad

•Conway Scenic Railroad

•Winnipesaukee Scenic Railroad