Tauck Grand New England

TAUCK EXCLUSIVE – Insider stories about New England during filmed narratives by documentary filmmakers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan

Private Tauck schooner cruise on the waters off Bar Harbor in Maine

• A private tour and lunch at Edith Wharton’s Berkshire home, The Mount
•  A New England farm-to-table cooking demonstration and dinner in Vermont
•  An exclusive hands-on lobstering experience in Portland with a local lobsterman
•  Visits to Hildene, the historic estate of Robert Todd Lincoln, and the Shelburne Museum in Vermont
•  A docent-led tour of the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown
•  A visit with the resident meteorologists of the Mount Washington Observatory
•  Exploration of America’s “Cradle of Liberty” sites and more in Boston
•  Touring enhanced by audio listening devices in many locations
• Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted
• 26 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage

Day 1: Arrive Boston

Tour begins: The Langham, Boston at 5:30 PM. A transfer is included from Logan International Airport to The Langham, Boston, a historic luxury hotel (and former Federal Reserve Bank) in the heart of the financial district, in easy reach of Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, the North End, the harbor waterfront, and many of downtown’s most exclusive shops and restaurants. Join us at the hotel this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.

Day 2: Boston

History is alive and around every corner of the exciting city of Boston on an orientation tour this morning that includes Boston Common, Beacon Hill with its elegant townhouses and narrow cobblestone streets, the ethnic flavors of the North End and a visit to the USS Constitution Museum.

Day 3: Lexington, Concord & on to Williamstown

The “shot heard ‘round the world” still resonates at tranquil Lexington Green, where British troops and American militiamen had their first violent encounter in 1775; experience the place where “the world turned upside down.”  Stand at the site of the “rude bridge” in Concord, where British and colonials fought a pitched battle immortalized in Emerson’s hymn and where the iconic Minuteman sculpted by Daniel Chester French stands on a pedestal with musket in hand, stepping forward into history… quiet settings charged with emotion and poetry.

Day 4: Stockbridge & Lenox

The Berkshires of western Massachusetts glow with autumn colours on a fall foliage tour that shows you why this area has long been a retreat for artists and writers. Begin today’s discoveries in Stockbridge at the Norman Rockwell Museum, dedicated to the beloved illustrator whose hundreds of covers for the Saturday Evening Post depicting scenes from small-town America – including here in Stockbridge, where he spent the last 25 years of his life – illuminated the lives of ordinary people with humour and pathos; view many original works by Rockwell, and visit his preserved studio

Day 5: Americana & art in Vermont

Depart for Vermont, where your fall foliage tour includes sites rich with Americana. A towering stone obelisk in Bennington commemorates a little-known battle in 1777 that led to the British surrender at Saratoga, a turning point in the War for Independence. Arrive in Shelburne for a visit to the Shelburne Museum of Art and Americana.

Day 6: The Green Mountains to the White Mountains

Head out from the Green Mountains of Vermont via the state capital, Montpelier, and the elegant gold-domed State House. Just outside the city, Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks offers you a taste of pure maple syrup and an education in how it’s made, from the tapping of trees to the distillation of sap and the subtle shades and grades that result from an art they’ve perfected over eight generations in the family business. Continue on out of Vermont and into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, arriving in Bretton Woods for a two-night stay at the historic Omni Mount Washington Resort, one of New England’s last grand resort hotels.

Day 7: Mount Washington

The harshest winter weather on the planet can be found at the summit of Mount Washington, where a wind speed of 231 mph was once recorded in 1932, and the stone houses are anchored to the ground with chains. But at this time of year, you’ll meet only temperate temperatures and magnificent views, as well as the scientists at the meteorological observatory who will brief you on their work in this unique environment.

Day 8: Portland, Maine

Arrive this morning in Portland, Maine where a local lobsterman takes you out into the harbor aboard his working boat for an authentic, hands-on experience in the lobstering trade. Back on land, enjoy time on your own along the waterfront, rich with restored 19th-century architecture and cobblestone streets, and settle in at your hotel before joining us for dinner tonight at – where else? – a Bailey Island lobster house overlooking Casco Bay, a favourite of local residents.

Day 8: Bar Harbor

Make your way up to historic Bar Harbor today – and your luxury cliffside inn featuring lush gardens and panoramic waterfront views – in time for lunch. This afternoon, cruise the harbor aboard a traditional wooden schooner, experiencing the picturesque coves, islands, lighthouses, and seaside cottages with the romance of a windjammer under sail. Spend the rest of the day and evening as you please in Bar Harbor.

Day 9: Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park

Luminist painters like Thomas Cole and Fitz Hugh Lane were among the first to document the awesome beauty of Bar Harbor, attracting Gilded Age high society who created an exclusive summer resort community to rival Newport. Discover exquisite examples of Victorian architecture that adorn the area en route to exploring the natural wonders of nearby Acadia National Park (color-drenched in autumn, the highlight of any fall foliage tour). You’ll love today, from the coves, pristine forests, beaches, plunging cliffs and rocky islands to the stunning view from the summit of Cadillac Mountain… plus a horse-drawn carriage ride along historic roadways within the park.

Day 10: Maine Coastline

Journey southward this morning from Bar Harbor along the beautiful, rugged Maine coast; following lunch and some free time in Camden, continue on to Freeport. Classically New England, the region boasts tranquil coves and beaches and was once a fishing and shipbuilding center.

Day 11: Journey home

After breakfast, travel from the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport to Boston (approx. 80 miles). Tour ends: 11:30 AM at Logan International Airport, Boston or 12:30 PM at The Langham, Boston. Airport transfers are included.

Omni Mount Washington Resort
BRETTON WOODS, NEW HAMPSHIRE

A National Historic Landmark and a favorite retreat for presidents and celebrities since 1902, the Spanish Renaissance-style Omni Mount Washington Resort sits regally in the midst of New Hampshire’s beautiful White Mountains. The large, comfortable guest rooms have a distinctly Victorian ambiance. From the crystal chandeliers to the Tiffany stained-glass windows, the plush interior of the hotel is as impressive as the outside. The indoor swimming pools and Jacuzzis are just the place to work out the kinks after a busy day or you might enjoy just sitting on the 900-foot-long veranda and drinking in the spectacular view. Enjoy an aperitif or a nightcap in The Cave, the hotel’s speakeasy lounge; the Rosebrook Bar; the elegant Princess Room, or the all-new Stickney’s pub and steakhouse.

Bar Harbor Inn & Spa
BAR HARBOR, MAINE

Directly on the waterfront at Frenchman Bay near the heart of beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine, what eventually became the Bar Harbor Inn & Spa began as the Oasis Club in 1874, was reincorporated as the Mount Desert Reading Room in 1887 and was very popular with the likes of the Morgans, Pulitzers and Vanderbilts. Today’s guests enjoy high-quality accommodations, attentive personal service and the unmatched tranquility of the Maine coast. World-class service, state-of-the-art facilities and a wide variety of spa treatments are offered by The Spa and a heated outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi and a fitness room are available during leisure time. The Reading Room Restaurant, looking out over the sea, offers a menu including fresh seafood, choice cuts of meat and memorable desserts, complemented by the soothing sounds of the grand piano. Or, choose to dine al fresco at the Terrace Grill, overlooking Frenchman Bay, with light fare or selections from the Reading Room Restaurant full menu.

Cliff House
CAPE NEDDICK, MAINE

Perched on the craggy cliffs of the Maine coast, Cliff House (newly renovated in 2016) is everything you have ever imagined that a Maine oceanfront resort would be. Generations of the Weare family have been welcoming guests here since 1872, including illustrious guests such as the Philadelphia Biddles, and the Cabots and Lodges of Boston. Guest rooms boast private terraces and incomparable coast and ocean views, custom-designed with graceful coastal style and handcrafted elements, richly textured yet comfortably refined. The traditions and natural environment serve as the inspiration behind the 9,000-square-foot luxury spa at Cliff House, combining time-honored techniques and an array of treatments featuring four lavish product lines: Elemental Herbology, Sciote, Red Flower and Zents, which provide unparalleled renewal. Embracing “wild and free” elements of coastal Maine, the spa channels the transformative interplay of water, stone, sky and sand. It serves as an oasis for guests to rejuvenate and recharge through a circuit of saunas, steam rooms and aroma showers, as well as services. Guests unwind before a treatment in the luminous cliff-side sun lounge sanctuary surrounded by sweeping views of the cliff and cove.

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.