|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
U.S. & Canada East Coast 7 Day
Day 1 New York City (Full Day)
We start off our tour in New York City by heading to Ground Zero, site of the tragic events of September 11th, to pay our respects and to witness the massive rebuilding efforts. From there we head to Wall Street at the heart of the financial district, home to America’s wealth and business interests. The tour proceeds to Chinatown, the largest Asian community in the United States. We will take in a Waterway cruise of the New York City harbor, where you can view the city’s magnificent skyline and sights, including the busy South Street Seaport, the Statute of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge from the Hudson and East River. An entertaining and informative tour guide will provide interesting facts about all of the sights that make this city special. We will visit Rockefeller Center, NBC Studios, and the surrounding shopping district along Fifth Avenue, where cutting edge fashion and luxury brands reside. No tour of New York City would be complete without a tour atop the Empire State Building, where on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet above the city's bustling streets, the Observatory offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion. We will also see the newly transformed USS Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum. The tour continues to the bright lights of Time Square and the Broadway Theatre District, where there is an opportunity to see celebrities up close and personal at Madame Tussaud’s. We will visit the United Nations, a gathering place for 192 countries to meet and discuss important issues of the world such as peace and human rights. We will also spend time in the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, which contains more than two million works of art.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza or similar
Day 2 New York–Philadelphia–Washington D.C.
Depart from NYC in the morning to walk along the historical cobblestone streets along Independence Mall State Park. See the Liberty Bell in its newly renovated home at the Liberty Bell Center and stroll through the centuries old Independence Hall and Congress Hall, birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. From Philadelphia, we continue to explore America’s proud past by sightseeing at America’s seat of governing power – the Capitol Hill and the White House. These two magnificent buildings are home to the Senate and the House of Representatives as well as the President of the United States. The tour then proceeds to the National Air and Space Museum, featuring the original 1903 Flyer plane designed by the Wright brothers, the Spirit of St. Louis flown by Lindbergh, and actual spacecraft such as the Apollo 11 command module. We then head to the Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Jefferson Memorials, where we can honor these notable past presidents. All of these memorials are lined with stunning decorations and the stirring words of these great American heroes. We will then pay tribute to our modern heroes in the armed forces by touring the Vietnam and Korean War Veterans Memorial. The Vietnam Memorial, designed by Maya Lin, is a simple yet touching site containing a monument inscribed with the names of lost and fallen soldiers. The Korean War Veterans Memorial is equally inspiring, capturing the tension and uncertainty of war on faces of the fighting forces.
Hotel: Westin or similar
Day 3 Washington D.C.–Hershey Chocolate Center–Corning Glass Center–Niagara Falls
From Washington D.C., for Hershey, PA - the sweetest place on Earth! Visitors will have the opportunity to learn how chocolate is made, see the Hershey's characters in person, and even try the delicious food and desserts. We then head to the Corning Glass Center, featuring over 30,000 objects from every era of glass-making, including real glass-making on-site. Visitors can see the fragile art of glass-making. You will witness firsthand craftsman and artisans handily working superheated glass into delicate decorative pieces. At the conclusion of the tour, you will have the opportunity to purchase an artistic piece for yourself. Afterwards, we depart for American portion of Niagara Falls, to see the majestic views of nature up close. It is important to note that Niagara Falls, consisting of the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls, and the Bridal Veil Falls, features spectacular views in the nighttime, and cameras are a must!
Hotel: Adam's Mark or similar
Day 4 Niagara Falls–Toronto (Canada)
We continue out tour of Niagara Falls with a boat-ride on the Maid of the Mist (seasonal) where you can “soak” in the excitement and power of the Falls, and a visit to the IMAX Theatre Niagara Falls where you can experience Niagara Falls' incredible stories. From the American side of Niagara Falls, we proceed across the Canadian border to witness the Falls from another perspective. We will ascend the Skylon Tower offering visitors the very best views of Niagara Falls. The tour then departs for Toronto, one of Canada’s largest cities. There we will visit Toronto’s very old Chinatown, as well as Toronto’s City Hall and Parliament Buildings – both unique in architecture and important in purpose. We will also tour the CN Tower, Toronto's most recognizable landmark and the tallest building in Canada. At the top of the tower, enjoy panoramic views through glass floor observation decks and see why this structure was recently nominated one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.
Hotel: Crowne Plaza or similar
Day 5 Toronto–Thousand Islands–Ottawa–Montreal
Leaving Toronto in the morning, we head for Thousand Islands. Situated between Canada and the United States along the St. Lawrence River, there are actually 1,864 individual islands that dot the region. The tour will board a cruise in the Canadian Thousand Island region (seasonal), which features the more famous sights and views of Thousand Islands, including the renowned and romantic Boldt Castle. The castle was built in the 1890's by millionaire George Boldt for his beloved wife Louise. We will also see “Shortest International Bridge in the World,” a small footbridge across two islands located between Canada and the United States. Afterwards, the tour heads for Ottawa, the Canadian Capital. There we will visit the magnificent Parliament Building, as well as the stately Clock Tower nearby. The tour then proceeds to Montreal, unofficial capital for French Canadians. We will tour the Olympic Tower, part of the Olympic Park built for the 1976 Games, featuring a 30 degree incline as the tower rises! We will also pay a visit to two major churches in the area. The Notre-Dame Basilica, similar to its counterpart in Paris, has a wealth of exquisite detail, most of it carved from rare woods that have been delicately gilded and painted. It also houses le Gros Bourdon, is the largest bell on the continent. The second church on our itinerary is St. Joseph's Oratory, a major site of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and worship. The dome is the world's second largest, after St. Peter's in Rome, and religious pilgrims sometimes climb the steps in the middle, praying at every step.
Hotel: Gouverneur or similar
Day 6 Montreal – Quebec – Boston
The tour departs for Quebec in the morning. We will visit Historic District of Old Québec, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There you will have the opportunity to stroll through the beautiful downtown district, in particular the European styled St. Louis Gate, and see the massive Château Frontenac perched nearby the Saint Lawrence River. From there, we will cross the American border into Boston. The tour arrives in Boston in the evening, where we will have the opportunity to visit downtown Boston and Quincy Market. Situated between Boston’s financial district, the waterfront, North End, Government Center and Haymarket, the vibrant Quincy Market is one of America’s oldest gathering place. There will also be an opportunity to partake in Boston’s most famous export – the lobster – during dinner.
Hotel: Sheraton or similar
Day 7 Boston–Home or Boston–New York–Home
We continue our tour of Boston in the morning by visiting the pristine campuses of Harvard and MIT, both world-class educational institutions. We will also visit prominent sites in Boston such as the State House, built between 1795 and 1797 on Beacon Hill overlooking the Boston Common, and recently featured in the major Hollywood film “The Departed.” There will also be an opportunity for a harbor cruise , where you can view Boston’s magnificent skyline and Charles River. The tour then concludes in Boston. Guests can schedule flights to depart from Boston after 1:30pm or return to New York via bus and board flights there after 7 p.m.
Please note that the timing and sequence of events in this itinerary is subject to change so that we can best tailor the tour to meet your expectations. Also, as this tour travels into Canada, it is necessary that you bring proper travel documents.
Maid of the Mist: Available from April to Oct 24 (Opening date depends on ice condition in the River)
Visitors to Canada:
- Passport required. Some nationalities may need multiple entry visa's to the U.S.A. and a Canadian visa. Please check the following link for updates on entry requirements:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp
- United States citizens, please check the following link for updates on entry requirements: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
- United States alien residents require a valid alien resident card and please also check the following link for other entry requirements:http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html