Compare Classic New England by Cosmos vs Hawaii: Ocean and Islands Adventure by Discover Corps
Compare details and see what other travelers are saying.
Trip |
4 | Great
|
5 | Excellent
|
Duration | 9 days | 7 days |
Price From | $ 2,199 | $ 4,595 |
Price Per Day | $ 244 | $ 656 |
Highlights |
|
|
Trip Style | Group tour | Group tour |
Lodging Level | Standard | Standard |
Physical Level |
|
|
Travel Themes |
|
|
Countries Visited | ||
Cities and Attractions |
|
|
Flights & Transport | No | Ground transport included |
Activities |
|
|
Meals Included | N/A |
6 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 3 Dinners |
Description | Known for its historic sites and stunning fall foliage, New England in the fall delights all of the senses. On this fall foliage tour, experience the spectacular beauty of autumn displays in Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Your colorful tour of New England begins in the historic city of Boston. You’ll head north into Maine, for a visit to the charming cobblestoned streets of the maritime city of Portland—complete with lighthouses and lobster fisherman. Head to Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island—gateway to the woodlands and rocky seashores of Acadia National Park. Keep an eye out for local residents, including beaver, whales, and seabirds on your drive through the park. Your guided tour of New England continues inland through the Longfellow Mountains to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Step back in time through classic covered bridges, quaint towns, and forests bursting with seasonal colors. Next, you’ll drive along New Hampshire’s Kancamagus Scenic Byway through the fragrant pine and colorful deciduous woodlands of Franconia Notch and White Mountain National Forest. You’ll be enthralled with the kaleidoscope of fall colors presented by birch, beech, and maple trees on your way to Vermont where you’ll visit a sugarhouse that’s been producing maple syrup for eight generations! From Burlington—a thriving New England college town—you’ll visit Woodstock, Billings Farm & Museum, and Quechee Gorge State Park. Enjoy an overnight stay in Brattleboro on the shores of the Connecticut River. Spend two nights in Hyannis on Cape Cod including a day trip to the tip of the Cape to explore the small community of Provincetown. You’ll return to Boston for a sightseeing adventure to trace the steps of Paul Revere near the Old North Church; see the Boston Common; the old State House; and other locations that are significant to U.S. history along Boston’s Freedom Trail. From colorful American history to colorful fall scenes beyond compare, your escorted vacation in New England is a trip to create memories for all seasons! |
From towering volcanoes to some of the world’s best beaches, Hawaii is defined by its stunning natural beauty. On these islands, everything is more extreme - the ocean is bluer, the rainforests are greener and the warmth of the locals is exemplified by the Aloha state of mind. But if you dig deeper below the surface, you’ll quickly see that the ancient Hawaiian people have left a legacy of indigenous wisdom and sustainability that can serve as a model for many of today’s pressing issues. From tackling climate change to protecting biodiversity, innovative practices are being pioneered on these remote Pacific Islands. |
Day 1: BOSTON AREA
Welcome to New England! Your Tour Director is on hand late this afternoon to answer any questions.
Day 2: BOSTON–PORTLAND–BAR HARBOR
Head north into Maine, famous for its beautiful coastal region, including lighthouses and lobster fishermen. Stop in the historic Maritime city of Portland where an included city sightseeing tour upon arrival shows you the cobblestone streets of the famous Old Port waterfront, lined with working fishing wharves and converted warehouses with restaurants and shops. Continue northeast via Bangor, to Bar Harbor, a popular seaside resort and gateway to Acadia National Park. (Breakfast)
Day 3: BAR HARBOR. EXCURSION TO ACADIA NATIONAL PARK
Bar Harbor is situated on Mount Desert Island, home of the ruggedly beautiful Acadia National Park. Drive through woodlands, past beaver lodges, rocky beaches, and rounded mountains ascending the glacier-scoured granite peak to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast and one of the first to see the sunrise. Your afternoon is free to explore the quaint village of Bar Harbor on your own. You may decide to walk the Shore Path, take a nature cruise, or visit the shops, galleries, and boutiques that line the streets. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing and dining. (CBreakfast)
Day 4: BAR HARBOR–FARMINGTON–NORTH CONWAY
Explore the roads less travelled of inland Maine, past pristine farmland, blueberry barrens and forests noted for their vivid colors during the autumn. Stop to enjoy the small-town hospitality in Farmington, settled by veterans of the American Revolution. Overnight in North Conway. (CBreakfast)
Day 5: NORTH CONWAY–MONTPELIER–BURLINGTON
Today, you are greeted with picture postcard views of New Hampshire’s charming rivers as you drive along Kancamagus Scenic Byway, renowned for its fall leaf viewing. The “Kanc,” as the locals call it, remains unspoiled by homes or service stations for its entire length. A drive through White Mountain National Forest brings you to Franconia Notch. In Montpelier, visit an eighth-generation sugarhouse and learn about traditional maple sugaring before ending the day in Burlington, Vermont’s largest city on the shores of Lake Champlain. (Breakfast)
Day 6: BURLINGTON–WOODSTOCK–BRATTLEBORO
This morning visit Woodstock, its village green reminiscent of 19th-century England. Next, explore Vermont’s rural heritage at Billings Farm & Museum, a living museum and working dairy farm, home to a famous herd of dairy cows. Marvel at the views in Quechee Gorge State Park, Vermont’s little Grand Canyon, and return to simpler times with a visit to the charming Vermont Country Store in Rockingham. End today with an overnight in Brattleboro. (CBreakfast)
Day 7: BRATTLEBORO–PLYMOUTH–HYANNIS
Drive across Massachusetts today to Plymouth, the first landing place of the Mayflower Pilgrims in 1620, and see Plymouth Rock. Then cross the Cape Cod Canal, the widest sea-level canal in the world, on your way to the town of Hyannis, on the Cape Cod peninsula. Hyannis is known internationally as the “All-American City” and where you will find the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum, award-winning restaurants, and quaint storefronts. (CBreakfast)
Day 8: HYANNIS. DAY EXCURSION TO PROVINCETOWN
Today, drive the arm of the Cape, to the old whaling port of Provincetown. This eclectic seaside town is a tiny haven often referred to as “Land’s End.” Stroll MacMillan Pier with its fishing boats and craft shacks, browse the colorful shops of Commercial Street, or dig into a lobster roll, Portuguese pastry, or some creamy clam chowder. Return to Hyannis, where the remainder of your time on the Cape is free for independent activities.
Day 9: HYANNIS–BOSTON
Depart this morning for Boston. Upon arrival, your guided tour focuses on the city’s most prominent landmarks. See historic sights of the Freedom Trail; Boston Common; Old State House; Old North Church, where two lanterns were hung on the night of Paul Revere’s famous ride; and Faneuil Hall, with the chance to browse in Quincy Market. A stop at Boston Logan International Airport for those with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm.
Day 1: Arrive in Honolulu and Meet the Group
Meals: Dinner
Upon arrival in Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu, you’ll be be met at the airport and taken to your hotel just steps from the world famous Waikiki beaches. After a relaxing welcome dinner together, we’ll get to know one another and discuss the schedule for the week ahead.
Day 2: Journey to Oahu’s North Shore & Experience the Aloha Spirit
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll set out for Hawaii’s iconic North Shore, famous for its big waves and stunning landscapes. Spend the morning in the historic Waimea Valley with a local organization helping to preserve the valley’s cultural heritage and rainforests. Assist with a reforestation initiative, swim in waterfalls, and see why the ancient Hawaiians deemed the valley sacred centuries ago. In the afternoon, we’ll continue to Na Mea Kupono, an eco-farm that is home to Hawaii’s staple crop, taro. We’ll be hosted by this local family for a Hawaiin-style paina, or gathering, for our dinner as we learn more about their role in farming on the island.
Day 3: Climb Diamond Head & Sail out to Sea on a Catamaran
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Hawaii’s South Shore is crowned by the now extinct Diamond Head volcano. We’ll take a hike this morning to the top of the rim to get a panoramic view of Waikiki from above. For those who opt not to hike, we’ll have the option to visit the Bishop Museum, home of the royal Kamehameha family and now housing an array of artifacts covering Hawaii’s vast Polynesian heritage. After lunch in Waikiki, we’ll hit the sea on a catamaran ride over the turquoise Pacific waters.
Day 4: Fly to Maui & Explore the Tropical‘Iao Valley State Park
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Enjoy a free morning to explore Waikiki. Head to the beach for a surf lesson with the Waikiki beach boys, check out the area’s cafes and shops or simply relax on white sand beaches only steps from your hotel. We’ll take a short mid-day flight across the Hawaiian archipelago to the Valley Isle of Maui. After landing, we’ll head over to the towering emerald peaks of the ‘Iao Valley on Central Maui for a guided hike of the state park. A location revered by the ancient Hawaiians, the valley also served as the site of one of Hawaii’s most important battles as King Kamehameha I tried to unite the islands in the 1700’s. Later in the evening, unwind at our Kaanapali beachfront hotel.
Day 5: Snorkel off Lana’i & Lend a Hand Protecting Sea Turtles
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
We’ll have an early breakfast before cruising to the scenic coastline of Lana'i island with the Pacific Whale Foundation. Spend the morning with breakfast on the boat (expect large boat with other travelers) and then 1.5 hours of snorkeling. Scout for wild dolphins, including acrobatic spinner dolphins, friendly bottlenose dolphins, and curious spotted dolphins. Conservationists from the Foundation will narrate your journey and take about everything from whale migration to plastics in the ocean to reef health.
We’ll return to Maui and, after lunch, spend our first afternoon volunteering alongside the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. Home to one of Hawaii’s largest sea turtle rescues and land based coral nurseries, we’ll join their staff on beach and marine debris cleanu , specifically collecting coral fragments. Take these pieces of coral back to the research center and aid in cutting them into smaller pieces to be grown at the center for a period of 8 months - something that would take the reef 20 years to regenerate! This coral is eventually placed back into the reef to bring back areas that are dead or dying.
Day 6: Maui Ocean Center Volunteering & Farewell Luau
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
After breakfast, we’ll spend another morning helping the conservation team at the Maui Ocean Center Marine Institute. On Maui and other Hawaiian islands, sea turtles are being threatened as their habitat is increasingly depleted. Green turtle populations are being impacted by events such as the 2018 hurricane that washed out the most important nesting beach for this species in the entire archipelago. We’ll continue to lend a hand on our projects while learning about some of the initiatives in place to preserve the fragile ecosystem both on land and underwater, including going out with the team to find turtles and tag them for research purposes.
Later in the afternoon, we’ll head back to the hotel where you’ll have some free time to enjoy the beach, swim in the ocean or venture into the coastal town of Lahaina. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a special farewell dinner together along with a traditional island luau.
Day 7: Depart Maui or Continue on for the Post-Trip Extension
Meals: Breakfast
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and check-out of your rooms. The rest of the day is free to relax at the beach or explore nearby Lahaina until your flight home, or continue on to our optional post-trip extension along the gorgeous road to Hana.