Day 1: Start of tour in New York City
New York, New York! Welcome to the Big Apple! Today is the first day in New York City and it's yours to explore as you wish. Check into the accommodation for the next three nights which is located just outside of Times Square, in the heart of the city, making exploring very convenient! Start planning the many adventures to experience over the next two full free days in this exciting city!
*Please note: Day 1-3 is unescorted with free time to explore New York City. You will meet up with your tour leader on the morning of Day 4.
Day 2: New York City: Free Day
Enjoy the entire day to explore New York, one of the world’s major commercial and financial centres! Make time for main attractions like Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building and the breathtaking Statue of Liberty. Take a ferry from the New York harbour and see one of the most iconic skylines in all of America. Top attractions like Central Park and the Natural History Museum await! The choice is yours. Be sure to taste classic New York dishes like New York pizza, corn dogs or a bagel with cream cheese. Fun fact: the cost of a single subway ride will be the same as a slice of pizza, it’s been nearly equal for 50 years!
Day 3: New York City: Free Day
Day three in New York and still so much to see! New York is one of the world’s most famous filming locations. Make a stop at Grand Central Terminal where movies like Superman, The Avengers and TV series like Gossip Girl were filmed. Want to go shopping? Head to Madison Avenue for luxurious designer shops or Union Square, one of the hottest shopping and eating areas. Stroll just a few blocks north to Broadway to experience the musical mecca of America. New York truly never sleeps and the bars are open till the small hours of the morning! Your visit to the Big Apple will be a memorable one no matter how you spend it!
Day 4: New York City - Newport - Boston
As the New York vacation comes to an end, meet up with your Expat Explore tour leader and fellow travellers this morning. Wave goodbye to the Big Apple and travel to Boston. En route to the next leg of this Eastern US & Canada tour, stop in Newport in the state of Rhode Island. This oceanside town has a fascinating history. It started out as a vital port in the 1600s and became a haven for artists. Since then it has become a popular US holiday destination and is now home to the US Naval War College. After some free time for lunch, drive through the state of Connecticut towards Boston. Enjoy a welcome dinner with the group tonight.
Day 5: Boston: Free Day
This full day in Boston begins with a driving tour accompanied by your tour leader. Look forward to seeing a few famous landmarks, like Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market. Afterwards, enjoy the option of visiting the famous, and very prestigious, Harvard University. The rest of the day is free to explore the capital of Massachusetts! A good way to get around the city is by taking the hop-on hop-off bus tour, which is very convenient and visits major sights including Beacon Hill, Boston’s most historic and affluent neighbourhoods and the 221-feet high Bunker Hill monument that commemorates the first major battle of the American Revolution.
Day 6: Boston - Flume Gorge - Quebec City
Cheers Boston! Today, this USA tour crosses over into Canada. On the way, drive through the spectacular White Mountain National Forest to visit Flume Gorge in New Hampshire. This natural gorge extends for 800 feet at the base of Mount Liberty and the sheer walls narrow to 12 feet apart in places. Take a memorable photo on the boardwalk which takes you deep into the gorge. Enjoy some free time for lunch in the town of Littleton before crossing into Canada! Head into the country's only walled town - Quebec City. Settle into the hotel for the evening or set out on foot to explore the city.
Day 7: Quebec City: Free Day
This morning, set off on a walking tour to discover Quebec City. See Old Quebec, an important UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other historical places of interest include Chateau Frontenac and the Quebec fortifications. After the tour, the rest of the day is free. A Canadian tour isn’t complete without lots of opportunities for personal exploration! There are plenty of outdoor activities and cultural destinations to discover. Feel like taking a day trip? Choose to join an excursion to Montmorency Falls, a breathtaking waterfall. Or, simply follow your nose and see where you end up!
Day 8: Quebec City - Montreal - Ottawa
Bid adieu to Quebec this morning. The next stop on this Canada holiday is Ottawa, the country's capital. Along the way, make a stop in Old Montreal, with some free time for lunch. Now is a good time to try a local delicacy. Trying some piping hot poutine - French fries topped with gravy and cheese curd (yum!) is highly recommended. Arriving in Ottawa, make a quick check-in at the hotel and head to Parliament Hill for a walking tour. See a few of Ottawa’s top attractions. The tour concludes in ByWard Market. Here, take a picture by the OTTAWA sign and get some dinner before heading back to the hotel for the evening.
Day 9: Ottawa - McDonalds Corners - Toronto
Today this Eastern US & Canada tour travels to Toronto via McDonalds Corner. Enjoy a stop here for a delicious included breakfast of French toast, pancakes and more, followed by a tasting and demo of one of the country's biggest exports - maple syrup! Tour the maple syrup farm and museum and learn all about this sweet treat. Later, arrive in Toronto. Your tour leader will take the group on a city centre orientation tour. Get your bearings and set off on your own to explore this evening. Opt to take the excursion up to the CN Tower for some unmissable views of the city!
Day 10: Toronto - Niagara-on-the-Lake - Niagara Falls
A Canada holiday is not complete without a Niagara Falls experience. Today, leave the shores of Great Lake Ontario to travel to these famous falls. Along the way, enjoy a stop at Niagara-on-the-Lake. This quaint town is known for its wineries. Visit a local winery and sample some local wines, including Canadian ice wine. Next up - the majestic Horseshoe Falls! Join an optional boat tour to witness the falls up close, or experience them from above with an optional helicopter ride! The evening is free to explore. Stroll along Clifton Hill, visit a casino or go see the falls at night.
Day 11: Niagara Falls - Detroit
Today, head back to the States to explore more of the USA! After waving Canada goodbye, travel onwards to Detroit. This tough, gritty city is known for American Motown music and muscle cars. Although Detroit was heavily affected by the recession, it didn't take the beating lying down. This is a city that has reinvented itself. Enjoy an introduction to Detroit on a driving tour with your tour leader and learn more about the city’s history and resurgence. Choose to explore further on an optional Detroit walking tour or spend the rest of the evening exploring at your own pace.
Day 12: Detroit - Pittsburgh
Next up on this US holiday, travel to Pittsburgh via Cleveland. Stop over in the Rock 'n Roll capital of the world! Enjoy some free time to visit the iconic House of Blues or grab some lunch. This is the perfect time to try some American roadside cuisine such as a Polish Boy. This famous sandwich is a delicious combination of bun, grilled kielbasa sausage, chips and coleslaw. Alternatively, take this opportunity to visit the amazing Rock & Roll Hall of Fame! Then, continue onwards to Pittsburgh. Here, take a ride on the century-old Duquesne Incline that travels all the way up Mount Washington. From the observation deck at the top, admire the city and its three rivers!
Day 13: Pittsburgh - Washington D.C.
After breakfast, leave Pittsburgh behind and head onwards to America's proud capital city. Travel east to Washington D.C. and, upon arrival, start touring the city straight away! Look forward to exploring this must-see American city and its important monuments and landmarks. First up is a visit to Arlington Cemetery and the resting place of the late JFK. See some of Washington’s renowned attractions on the way to tonight’s hotel. Snap a photo in front of the White House and honour history at the WW2 memorial. Check into the hotel later this afternoon and enjoy a free evening.
Day 14: Washington D.C.: Free Day
Washington is a city like no other and today, you have the full day to explore it! The morning begins with an orientation driving tour of the National Mall and Smithsonian Museums. Afterwards, why join the optional Extended Washington D.C. Sightseeing Tour? Discover more of the city’s highlights and gain a fascinating insight into the city’s important history. See the Korean War and Vietnam Veterans memorials, the Jefferson and Lincoln memorials and much more! Alternatively, hop on the Old Town trolley to visit all the major sights or visit one of the Smithsonian Museums. The National Museum of Natural History is a must-visit!
Day 15: Washington, D.C. - Philadelphia - New York City
This may be the final day of this Eastern US & Canada Tour but there are still plenty of experiences to be had today! Wave D.C. goodbye and travel to New York via Philadelphia. Enjoy some free time to grab some tasty street food (a Philly cheesesteak is a must! and to explore the city. Or, join your tour leader for a walking tour to see top sights including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Ben Franklin Grave, Betsy Ross House and more! Hop back on the coach in the afternoon and head back to the Big Apple. The tour concludes upon arrival in New York City. Expat Explore hopes you had an amazing experience and made memories to last you a lifetime!