Imagine a driving holiday which includes superb mountain driving in the morning, a relaxing afternoon at a fabulous ocean beach, a cosy dinner at an historic country inn, and a nightcap before retiring to a luxury hotel suite.
From late summer until around November 1st, Mother Nature paints her pictures in every shade in the spectrum, from the deepest oil colors of the reds and purples to the delicate pastels of the yellows and greens. Starting at the northernmost points in New England, she slowly sweeps her brush across the landscape, from the mountaintops to the city parks, from sea to rural settings in the west. Visitors who travel to see the spectacular foliage are known as ‘Leaf-Peepers’.
New England is well known as a distinctly American region rich in history, culture, and natural beauty. It is particularly known for its brilliant autumns to drive lazily through mountains blanketed with gold-and-red fall foliage. There are also plenty of other things to do such as stopping at country stores, orchards, local restaurants, wandering through antique shops lining a peaceful village green, exploring the museums and shopping of the cities, or to get a head start on some cool day hikes in the mountains and countryside.
Every autumn/fall throughout New England, diminishing length of daylight and falling temperatures induce trees to shed billions of tons of leaves. Preceding this preparation for winter the trees present a spectacular color show. Leaves that have been green all summer turn to brilliant shades of yellow, orange, and red.
This tour is planned for the fall/autumn of 2012 – from 22 September to 13 October.
At this stage we are planning and developing yet another wonderful driving tour, but we would also love to know if this is a trip you’re interested in.
Please contact us to register your interest, and be the first to know when more details are available.
Route
Accommodation
We hope to use character hotels with great charm, in superb locations across New England. In most places we shall be staying two nights, with some one-night stops occasionally.
Proposed Itinerary
Cars from outside North America will be shipped to and from Newark, New Jersey.
We then plan to drive across New York (hopefully on a Sunday) to Long Island. We shall then take the ferry from Orient Point to New London and head for Rhode Island. The tour then continues to Cape Cod and onto Boston for a couple of days. Head north up the coast to Maine and then inland to Mount Washington and onto Stowe. Cross into New York state to Lake Placid and then head south, through Massachusettes back to New Jersey.
The tour will be about three weeks, and there will be an option to have a few extra days at the beginning or end of the tour in New York City.
Day One: Saturday 22 September
Arrive in New York and stay overnight in a stylish hotel in New York City. There will be a welcome dinner for all participants.
Day Two: Sunday 23 September
Take the water taxi to Newark to collect the cars (for those who have shipped cars to the USA). Drive back across NYC to Long Island. Stay overnight in the Hamptons on the coast.
Day Three: Monday 24 September
Head up to Orient Point and take the ferry across to New London. Stay overnight in a gorgeous hotel in Newport, Rhode Island.
Day Four: Tuesday 25 September
Spend the day in Newport.
Day Five: Wednesday 26 September
Drive along the coast to Mystic and into Massachusettes. Take the ferry across to Nantucket and stay overnight in lovely hotel.
Day Six: Thursday 27 September
Cross back to the mainland and drive up Cape Cod and then back into Boston. Stay for two nights at a wonderful hotel right on the harbour.
Day Seven: Friday 28 September
Enjoy exploring the charming city of Boston. A day off from driving.
Day Eight: Saturday 29 September
Drive up the coast to Camden, Maine and stay for two nights in a delightful hotel.
Day Nine: Sunday 30 September
A circular tour to discover Rockport and other seaside towns in Maine.
Day Ten: Monday 1 October
Head inland to Mount Washington and stay for two nights in the sumptuous Mount Washington Hotel.
Day Eleven: Tuesday 2 October
Spend the day exploring the White Mountains. Take the cog railway or drive up the road to the summit of Mount Washington.
Day Twelve: Wednesday 3 October
Drive across to Stowe. Stay for two nights at a glorious hotel in the mountains.
Day Thirteen: Thursday 4 October
Explore the Stowe area, visit Shelburne Farms and the Ben & Jerry’s Ice-Cream Factory!
Day Fourteen: Friday 5 October
Cross Lake Champlain by ferry and into New York State. Stay for the next two nights on the shores of Lake Placid.
Day Fifteen: Saturday 6 October
Spend the the day in the lovely Adirondacks.
Day Sixteen: Sunday 7 October
Head south to Woodstock for two nights.
Day Seventeen: Monday 8 October
Explore the area
Day Eighteen: Tuesday 9 October
Drive south through the Berkshires to Dorset. Stay for two nights in Dorset at a charming inn.
Day Nineteen: Wednesday 10 October
Explore Dorset
Day Twenty: Thursday 11 October
Stay overnight in Lenox
Day Twenty-One: Friday 12 October
Head south for the final night. There will be a final dinner.
Day Twenty-Two: Saturday 13 October
Drop the cars at Newark (for those shipping cars from the USA), and either spend an optional night in New York, or depart for the airport.
Details
Dates: 22 September – 13 October 2012
Duration: 22 days
Mileage: TBC
Price: TBC
The price does not include shipping of vehicles to the United States. However, we can arrange this on your behalf, and full details will be available soon.
Please contact us to pre-register your interest for this tour and be the first to know when full details are available.