Compare On the Road: The Best Fall Foliage in New England by Road Scholar vs New England's Fall Foliage 2023 Classic Group by Insight Vacations

Day 1
Check-In, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Boston, Massachusetts D Hyatt Regency Boston
Activity note: Hotel check-in from 3:00 p.m.

Afternoon: Program Registration. After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar table in the hotel lobby to register with the program staff and get your welcome packet containing your up-to-date schedule that reflects any last-minute changes, and other important information. Please remember to bring your name-tag sent with this packet to the program. If your arrival is delayed, please ask for your packet when you check in. Orientation. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. On the Road programs are journeys that take participants to multiple study sites in a region with a number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary amplify the program theme. Some journeys involve great distances and may take hours, others are much shorter. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together.

Dinner: At a local restaurant within walking distance from the hotel, enjoy a welcome dinner including coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 2
Boston, JFK, Old North Church
Boston, Massachusetts B,L,D Hyatt Regency Boston
Activity note: Use of public transportation; not all subway stops have elevators; walking up to 2 miles with frequent stops.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will explore the historic highlights of Boston, as well as city landmarks that played a role in John F. Kennedy’s political path to The White House on a walking field trip with a local expert.

Lunch: At a local restaurant on Boston's Waterfront, we’ll have a plated lunch with soft drinks, iced tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: We will continue our discovery of Boston as we stroll the streets of the North End en route to the Old North Church Historic Site for a behind the scenes docent-led field trip. Listen and learn about the workings of the oldest set of change-ringing bells in North America. We will climb the stairs to the bell ringing chamber where the teenage Paul Revere worked as bell ringer and walk amongst the 37 tombs constructed below the floors of the Old North between 1732 and 1860. We'll learn about the construction of the crypt, view artifacts found in the crypt, and hear the history of those buried there including the Church’s first rector and soldiers killed during the Battle of Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. Outside of the church, visit Captain Jackson’s Historic Chocolate Shop before returning to the hotel by public transportation.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, plated with coffee, tea, water; one glass of house wine or beer included.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 3
New England’s Maritime History, Salem, Gloucester
Ogunquit, Maine B,L,D Colonial Inn
Activity note: Driving about 115 total miles; approximately 2.5 hours total with stops. Walking and standing for up to 1.5 miles, about 2 hours.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel we will board the motorcoach and depart from Boston to Salem, Massachusetts. On a mixed walking and motorcoach field trip led by a lifetime resident and local historian, learn about Salem’s remarkable history including details about its lucrative maritime trade, controversial witch trials, architecture, and culture as one of America’s oldest communities. Continuing up the rocky coast, we will travel through scenic North Shore towns and arrive in Gloucester, Massachusetts, America’s oldest fishing port, founded in 1623.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, enjoy a typical New England fish and chowder (or vegetarian pasta) plated lunch on the Gloucester waterfront. Non-alcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

Afternoon: In a private section of the restaurant in Gloucester, we will learn about the town with emphasis on its maritime history and heritage through an exclusive presentation. We will then continue north to Ogunquit, Maine and check-in to our hotel.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, we will have a traditional plated lobster dinner, a specialty of New England’s Atlantic waters. Non-alcoholic beverages included; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 4
Ogunquit Outdoors, Art Museum, Lobster Boat
Ogunquit, Maine B Colonial Inn
Activity note: Walking up to 1 mile; standing up to 1 hour at a time; getting on/off a lobster boat. Study cruise is weather dependent.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will visit the Ogunquit Museum of American Art housing a permanent collection of important paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs from the late 1800s to the present. Included in the collection is an extensive selection of works by artists associated with Ogunquit’s famous art colony of the early 20th century such as Edward Betts, Charles Woodbury, Hamilton Easter Field, and Robert Laurent. We will next head out on a one-hour boat cruise to learn first-hand from the captain about lobster fishing as well as to appreciate the scenic coastal views from an oceanic perspective.

Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Afternoon: Free Time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may wish to take in the spectacular scenery on a walk along the Marginal Way. Once a dirt trail with difficult terrain, the magnificent Marginal Way is now a paved footpath. Winding along the rocky shoreline for 1.25 miles from Ogunquit’s downtown area to the quaint fishing village of Perkins Cove, the Marginal Way boasts some of most spectacular coastal views in New England.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy what you like.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for our transfer in the morning.

Day 5
From the Rocky Coast to the Granite Mountains
North Conway, New Hampshire B,L,D North Conway Grand Hotel
Activity note: Driving about 120 miles along scenic routes instead of major highways; approximately 2.5 hours. Walking up to 1 mile on cobblestone streets with frequent stops to sit.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: After checking out of the hotel and boarding the motorcoach, we’ll leave Ogunquit and head up the coast to Portland Head Light, one of Maine’s most iconic lighthouses, that has served as a beacon to ships since 1791. With a local expert, we’ll get a “taste of Maine” during a walking field trip in Portland. We’ll through the historic cobblestone streets of the Old Port, in what has been called the "foodiest small town" in America! Sample locally-produced favorites as local producers and restaurateurs explain what makes Portland, Maine so special.

Lunch: As part of our foodie experience, enjoy a lunch of samples and specialties with the group at various locations during our walking field trip.

Afternoon: Free Time in Old Port. We will then rendezvous at a pre-determined time and place to board the motorcoach and say bye to Maine’s rocky coast for the White Mountains of North Conway, New Hampshire where we will check-in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

Dinner: At the hotel, a plated meal will be served including salad or soup, dessert, and one non-alcoholic beverage; additional beverages available for purchase.

Evening: A naturalist will join us at the hotel and give a presentation on the local ecology of autumn in the North Woods with emphasis on native wildlife and the northern environment.

Day 6
Meteorology & Wildlife of the White Mountains, Rocks Estate
North Conway, New Hampshire B,L,D North Conway Grand Hotel
Activity note: Driving approximately 137 miles; 3.5 hours with stops along scenic by-ways.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We’ll go by motorcoach to the Mount Washington Observatory Museum in North Conway, learn about the White Mountains' highest peak and its extreme weather from a docent. (Mount Washington itself is often inaccessible due to weather conditions and is therefore not part of our program.) We’ll then drive along scenic Route 302 stopping for photo opportunities through Crawford Notch, a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Lunch: At the Appalachian Mountain Club Highland Center, choose from assorted sandwiches, salad and dessert, plus non-alcoholic beverages.

Afternoon: We will hear from an expert at the Appalachian Mountain Club to learn about the history of the area with a presentation on Crawford Notch history. Departing from the Appalachian Mountain Club, we'll head to the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, NH to learn from a local expert how maple syrup is produced and how conservation fits into maple sugaring. The site is home to the North Country Conservation & Education Center for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Then, we will take a one-hour walk through the estate's forest trails with our expert discussing wildlife habitat improvement and sustainable forestry practices while enjoying mountain vistas.

Dinner: At the hotel, dinner is included. You will be provided with meal vouchers allowing you to make a reservation when you like.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 7
Kancamagus Highway
Burlington, VT B,L,D Courtyard Burlington Harbor
Activity note: Driving about 144 miles; approximately 4 hours total with intermittent activities. Walking up to 1 mile, approximately 1 hour, on maintained, unpaved trails.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: As we leave North Conway, we’ll travel along the scenic Kancamagus Highway, stopping en route for short walks to scenic overlooks, forest paths, and a covered bridge.

Lunch: At a local restaurant, have a plated lunch with coffee, tea, and water.

Afternoon: Crossing into Vermont, we’ll head to the mountains of the Mad River Valley. Along the way, we’ll learn about what makes Vermont such a special place with an expert led field trip to the Vermont History Museum. We will then check-in to our hotel with some free time before dinner to relax, freshen up, or get acquainted with Burlington with a walk through the welcoming, quaint streets of town.

Dinner: At the hotel, enjoy a 3 course plated dinner plus coffee, tea, water; other beverages available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 8
Shelburne Museum
Burlington, VT B,L Courtyard Burlington Harbor
Activity note: Driving about 25 miles; approximately 1 hour total. The Shelburne Museum encompasses 45 acres and there is a shuttle bus that circles the property.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Today we will explore America’s history through folk art as we investigate three centuries of life in the collections of the Shelburne Museum led by a docent. Home crafts, folk arts, trade tools, transportation, fine arts, furnishings and architecture are displayed in the museum’s 35 historic buildings.

Lunch: At the museum cafeteria, meal vouchers will be provided.

Afternoon: Continue exploring the museum on your own. The remainder of the afternoon is free. If you would like to explore Burlington on your own, walk through the quaint shops and restaurants of Church Street or stroll the waterfront for some scenic views. Or simply relax at the hotel.

Dinner: On your own to enjoy local fare.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for our transfer in the morning.

Day 9
Back Roads & Villages of Vermont
Grafton, VT B,L,D Grafton Inn
Activity note: Driving about 137 miles along scenic routes, not major highways; approximately 2.5 hours total with stops. Walking for an hour, up to 1 mile on paved roadways.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: We will travel south through the stunning center of Vermont, taking in the rural autumn landscapes and tiny villages along Route 100 with stops for photos.

Lunch: In a quaint Vermont village. Stroll historic streets among iconic white houses before enjoying a plated meal and a non alcoholic beverage.

Afternoon: Soak in the scenery from the coach as we continue to Grafton, Vermont. Upon arrival, we will check-in at the Inn with time to freshen up before taking an educational walk through the town of Grafton. We’ll be joined by a town local for a discussion on life in this quintessential New England town.

Dinner: At the inn. We will have a plated 3 course meal with coffee, tea, water; other beverages will be available for purchase.

Evening: At leisure.

Day 10
Vermont Artisanal Products, Organic Farm, Stone Trust
Grafton, VT B,L,D Grafton Inn
Activity note: Walking up to 1.5 miles on a farm with uneven ground; wear comfortable shoes that can handle the terrain.

Breakfast: At the inn.

Morning: We will learn from a local expert at Grafton Cheese in Brattleboro how cheese, one of Vermont's prize artisanal products, is made. Next, we will learn - as we taste - about organic heirloom apple varieties at Scott Farm in Dummerston, VT.

Lunch: At the farm, we will have sandwiches, soft drinks, and dessert.

Afternoon: New England roads are lined with stone walls. Learn about the art and craft of dry stone walling during a demonstration by The Stone Trust, an organization specializing in this regional iconic skill.

Dinner: At a local restaurant, celebrate our journey through New England with a special farewell dinner among your new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: At leisure. Prepare for departure in the morning.

Day 11
Program Concludes
Boston, Massachusetts B
Activity note: A motorcoach transfer is provided to Boston Logan International Airport with additional stops at South Station and the first hotel. Departure from Grafton at approximately 8:00 a.m.; estimated travel time is about 3 hours non-stop; expected arrival at Logan Airport by approximately 11:00 a.m. We recommend scheduling onward flights and travel no earlier than 1:30 p.m.

Breakfast: At the Inn.

Morning: Transfer to Boston, MA. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Day 1: Welcome to Boston

Affectionately known as Beantown, this revolutionary city is one of the oldest in the United States. On arrival at Boston Logan International Airport, a transfer will take you to your centrally located hotel, which is situated next to Boston Common, the city's largest park. After settling in, perhaps take a stroll to Downtown Crossing or historic Faneuil Hall. For those looking to shop, Quincy Market offers big brands and local products, set indoors and surrounding the columns of a regal 19th century building. At 18:00, join your Travel Director for a Welcome Dinner with wine and an opportunity to mingle with fellow guests at your hotel.

Day 2: Beantown to Saratoga Springs

Today you’ll discover some of Boston’s most famous sights as you delve into the city’s transformative past. You’ll follow part of the red-brick Freedom Trail that brings the story of the American Revolution to life. Sights include Beacon Hill, Newbury Street, Faneuil Hall Marketplace and the Old South Meeting House. This afternoon, explore Stockbridge with an Insight Choice. Choose to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum, home to the largest and most significant collection of original Rockwell art. Alternatively, choose to take a guided tour of Chesterwood, the former summer home and studio of renowned 20th century sculptor Daniel Chester French. Travel on through the rolling hills of the Berkshires to your boutique hotel. Tucked away in the heart of Williamstown, this beautiful property is a prime example of timeless elegance.

Day 3: The Legends of the Fall and Stowe

Say goodbye to Massachusetts and journey through the bronze fall foliage of Vermont. Visit the Vermont Country Store for a unique shopping experience - you'll step back into history with their nostalgic assortment of products. Explore the Rockefellers' renowned Billings Farm and Museum, a captivating working dairy and farm life museum, followed by a stop in the quintessential Vermont village of Woodstock with its picturesque, covered bridge. End your day in the northern Vermont town of Stowe, home to the breathtaking alpine setting that attracted the real Von Trapp family of "The Sound of Music." Enjoy Austrian-style lagers during your Highlight Dinner at Bierhall Restaurant, followed by a tour of the on-site microbrewery.

Day 4: A Taste of Vermont Relaxed Start

Enjoy Vermont’s beautiful scenery ablaze with fall’s golden red colours. Experience a guided tour of the Ben and Jerry's Factory and get behind the scenes of their iconic flavours. Return to the enchanting town of Stowe where the rest of the day is yours. From wandering its quaint streets to hiking in the woods or relaxing back at your lodge, make the most of your last evening at this mountain resort.

Day 5: North Conway and the White Mountains

Move on to Vermont’s pretty capital, Montpelier. You'll travel to Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, where maple syrup is "tapped" from the trees. Taste a Vermont tradition, the unusually named ‘sugar on snow’, which is maple syrup drizzled over packed snow. This tasty treat is traditionally served with a doughnut and pickle. Journey to New Hampshire’s White Mountains and enter striking Franconia Notch. Take a scenic ride on the Gondola SkyRide at Loon Mountain Resort. On a clear day, you'll have superb panoramic views of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New York and Canada. Later, journey through the dazzling crimson and orange hues of the famed Kancamagus Scenic Byway to North Conway. This spectacular section of Route 112 is unspoiled by industry and boasts 34.5 miles of untouched natural beauty.

Day 6: Sightseeing in the White Mountains Relaxed Start

In the morning, join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you enjoy an insightful talk by a naturalist on the North Woods' wildlife and ecology. Expert Chris Lewey is the Executive Director and Founder of Raven Interpretive Programs. He holds a Master's Degree in Environmental Studies and will be on hand to answer any questions you might have. Then, more spectacular fall foliage awaits as you journey through Crawford Notch, an arresting pass through the White Mountains. Stop for pictures at the Silver Cascade Waterfall and Bretton Woods, which offers stunning views of Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the northeast at 6,288 feet (1,917 metres). Your Travel Director will guide you on a scenic hike to Diana's Baths, which features a series of small cascading waterfalls. Return to your hotel where you can enjoy an evening at leisure.

Day 7: The Rugged Maine Coast Relaxed Start

Cross from New Hampshire into Maine this morning as you visit the jagged coastline and Portland Head Light on the spectacular shores of Fort Williams Park. This popular landmark is one of the most visited lighthouses in the country and is the oldest lighthouse in the state. Explore the historic town of Cape Elizabeth, then spend the rest of your afternoon at leisure. In the evening, enjoy a delicious Celebration Dinner featuring Maine lobster with your fellow travellers.

Day 8: Back to Boston

Known for its sandy beaches, Kennebunkport is a year-round coastal destination that houses the rich and famous, even serving as the summer retreat of former President George H.W. Bush. Travel along Ocean Drive with more stunning views of the Maine coastline, before driving back to Boston. Guests departing Boston will arrive at Boston Logan International Airport at 12:30. Those extending their stay will return to the Hyatt Regency Boston hotel.