Best of New England

Itinerary 2012

Day 1 – Boston

Arrive in Boston, pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel. Enjoy your evening at leisure exploring this beautiful city.

Accommodation - Midtown Hotel

Day 2 – Boston

Meet your AmericanTours representative at 8am this morning. You'll be given a welcome kit, including driving instructions, vouchers and maps for your tour. The rest of your day is free to explore Boston. Don't miss the Freedom Trail, which tells the tale of the American Revolution.

Accommodation - Midtown Hotel

Day 3 –Boston to Salem, Portsmouth and Kennebunkport (90 miles)

Travel north from Boston to discover almost four centuries of history and some of the coast's best beaches. First stop is Salem, known for its history of witch trials. Then drive along the coast stopping in the harbour towns of Gloucester and Rockport. In Portsmouth, enjoy the traditional seaport feel and see its historic buildings, before crossing into Maine. You'll stay overnight in Kennebunkport, a haven for writers and artists.

Accommodation - Nonantum Resort

Day 4 – Kennebunkport to Wiscasset and Bar Harbour (210 miles)

Drive along Maine's coastline from Brunswick to Wiscasset, claimed to be Maine's prettiest village. Stop off in harbour-side Rockland, then head to Castine, to learn about the 200-year struggle to own this strategic town. Continue on to trendy Bar Harbour, the gateway to Acadia National Park on Mt. Desert Island.

Accommodation - Colonial Inn

Day 5 – Acadia National Park

Enjoy a full day exploring one of America's oldest national parks, with its soaring peaks, glacier-carved valleys and rugged shoreline. Hop on a whale-watching cruise, follow the park's mountain trails and drive to the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the US Atlantic seaboard.

Accommodation - Colonial Inn

Day 6 – Bar Harbour to White Mountains (230 miles)

Head inland to the White Mountains today, where you can climb to the summit of Mount Washington, hop aboard the Conway Scenic Railroad or explore the Lakes Region.

Accommodation - Town and Country Inn

Day 7 – White Mountains to Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom and Stowe (120 miles)

Cross the White and Green Mountains through some of New England's most beautiful scenery. Drive by Lyndonville, stop at Willey's General Store in Greensboro and see the village of Craftsbury, before arriving in Stowe.

Accommodation - Golden Eagle Resort

Day 8 – Stowe to The Berkshires and Massachusetts (160 miles)

Follow Route 100 south, taking in the Green Mountains' amazing scenery, with their forests home to bears, moose, wild turkey and deer. See pretty villages and some of Vermont's famous covered bridges before crossing into the Berkshire Hills. Stay overnight in the college town of Williamstown.

Accommodation - The Williams Inn

Day 9 – The Berkshires to Lenox and Newport (180 miles)

Drive south to Newport today, stopping in Lenox, summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Continue on to Hancock Shaker Village, near Pittsfield, before reaching Newport, Rhode Island.

Accommodation - Best Western Mainstay Inn

Day 10 – Newport to Cape Cod (100 miles)

Spend the morning in Newport, chilling out on the beach, enjoying the Cliff Walk and exploring Ten Mile Drive, with its glamorous summer mansions. Then continue on to the summer resort of Cape Cod.

Accommodation - Heritage House Hotel

Day 11 – Cape Cod

Make the most of your time in Cape Cod today, with its gorgeous sandy beaches. From here, climb aboard a whale-watching cruise, visit Chatham or artistic Provincetown, or take a day trip to the beautiful islands of Nantucket or Martha's Vineyard.

Accommodation - Heritage House Hotel

Day 12 – Cape Cod to Boston (80 miles)

Head back to Boston today and return your hire car before boarding your flight back to the UK.

Day 13 - Morning arrival at your chosen UK airport

times vary.