Eastern Discovery Tour

Upon your arrival into New York City, make your own way to your hotel before heading outside to explore the ‘city that never sleeps’. Depending on your arrival time into the city, take a ride up to the 70th floor of the Rockefeller Plaza and enjoy the uninterrupted views of both Central Park and Midtown Manhattan. You will find plenty on offer in the city, with countless art museums, theatre shows and of course, shopping opportunities.

Head back to your hotel in the evening ready for your Welcome Reception, a perfect chance for you to get to know not just your ATI Tour Director but also the rest of your tour group who you will be spending the next 10 days with.

The adventure begins today as you make the journey out of New York and up towards Boston. Learn about the American Revolution by enjoying a walking tour of Boston’s Freedom Trail.  Beginning at the edge of Boston Common, the Freedom Trail will take you past the State House, the old South Meeting House - known for being the organisation point of the Boston Tea Party in 1973, the site of the Boston Massacre and the many bars and taverns which served as the locations where the “Founding Fathers” celebrated. If time allows, make sure to visit Faneuil Hall Marketplace and delight in one (or numerous) of the many restaurants and pubs on offer beneath the beautiful glass canopies.

This morning your journey will continue to take you north as you head towards Quebec City. Today will be at a different pace as you travel through the rural states of New Hampshire and Vermont. After spending the last two days in cities, today will be a little slower as you relax on the motorcoach and watch the picturesque villages pass you by. You will cross the international border into the Canadian province of Quebec. Continuing with the slower pace of the day, the afternoon and evening has numerous optional extras (all payable locally) for you to choose from. The opportunities include visiting a traditional Canadian Maple Sugar Farm as well as spending the evening sampling the renowned French Canadian cuisine.

Your day will begin with a tour of Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Highlights of the tour include the Quebec Provincial Parliament Building as well as the Citadelle. You can then partake in a walking tour of the walled city where you will see the grand hotel of Chateau de Frontenac as well as unrivalled views of the Saint Lawrence River. Make sure to grab a delicious pastry before the motorcoach departs for Montreal. Upon your arrival in Montreal, go on a tour of Old Montreal, known as the Vieux Port, with stops at both Place Jacques Cartier and Notre Dame Basilica.

Depart this morning for Ottawa, the capital of Canada. Standing on the bank of the Ottawa River, the city is renowned for its parks as well as having one of the most impressive parliament buildings. In the afternoon, continue along the 1000 Islands Parkway to Toronto, located on the shore of Lake Ontario. With the afternoon to do as you wish, join a relaxing cruise along the Saint Lawrence River and take in the beautiful scenery (payable locally).

With the morning to spend in Toronto, prepare for a drive through the city. Take note of the world’s tallest free-standing structure, CN Tower. Take in the cityscape at the top of the Tower (payable locally). Continuing along the shore of Lake Ontario, you will shortly arrive at Niagara Falls, the amazing natural wonder comprised of three waterfalls bordering both Canada and USA. Take a relaxing walk along Table Rock where you can experience the magnificent wonder. On the walk you will have the chance to see the Floral Clock, one of the largest in the world at 12.2 metres (40 feet) in diameter. We would recommend taking a tour on the Hornblower Cruises (payable locally), allowing you to get up close to the falls.

Today, you will cross the border back into the United States as your motorcoach travels through the rolling farmland of upstate New York as you south into Pennsylvania. This afternoon you will be able to visit the historic Gettysburg Civil War National Battleground, site of the Battle of Gettysburg fought from July 1st to July 3rd 1863. The site was also the location where President Lincoln gave his famous address shortly after the war. You will spend the night in South Pennsylvania.

Travel through the rural countryside as you are driven to Pennsylvania Dutch Country. One of the stops of the day will be to traditional farmhouse museum where you will be able to learn about their 300 year old tradition of simple living. Compared to the today’s way of life, it is an eye-opening insight into a culture which does not use electricity, mechanical devices or modern equipment. In the afternoon, your journey will continue on to the capital of the United States, Washington, D.C.

With a full day ahead of you in Washington, D.C, you are treated to a tour of the Capitol. Highlights of this tour include the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and of course the White House. The remainder of the day is yours to explore as you wish. It is worth checking out the Smithsonian Institution, a collection of eleven museums and galleries. Make sure to check out their website before you travel in case there are any special exhibitions which are taking place as you are there. If you prefer to take a slower paced afternoon, enjoy a stroll along the Potomac River.

Coming towards the end of the trip, you will begin the journey back today towards New York City. On the way, you will get to visit Philadelphia, the sixth most populated city in America. Here you will have the chance to visit Independence Hall, the location where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and introduced. Another place that you will get to visit is the Liberty Bell Center, home of the Liberty Bell. The bell was originally used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings.

The time has come to say goodbye to everyone from the tour. Depending on your travel plans, you may choose to fly home or on to explore another destination, you will need to transfer independently to your next destination.