Canadian East & Maritime Provinces
Ontario . Quebec . New Brunswick . Prince Edward Island . Nova Scotia
Eastern United States
Maine . Vermont . New Hampshire . Pennsylvania . New York
October 4-21, 2018
$ 3999 PP Double . $ 3569 PP Triple . $ 3359 PP Quad . $ 5499 Single Occupancy
U.S. Passport / Passport Cards Required ~ We highly recommend full United States Passports
Discover the natural beauty and rich history on this Canadian East & Maritime Provinces Tour. Begin your fall foliage scenic tour by traveling through upper Michigan into southern Ontario to Niagara Falls, Ontario. We’ll continue our journey northeast into the Canadian province of Quebec and visit Montreal and Quebec City. Traveling northeastward we’ll enter Atlantic Canada to the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Our tour will wind its way homeward through the northeast of United States through Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. This 18 day journey will take us through breathtaking countryside where we’ll learn about its rich history as well a travel east to the North Atlantic Coast. Read on to see all the inclusions in this scenic fall foliage adventure with your friends from Happy Trails Tours.
This 18 Day Canadian East Tour Includes
U.S. Passport / Passport Cards Required ~ We highly recommend full United States Passports
Discover the natural beauty and rich history on this Canadian East & Maritime Provinces Tour. Begin your fall foliage scenic tour by traveling through upper Michigan into southern Ontario to Niagara Falls, Ontario. We’ll continue our journey northeast into the Canadian province of Quebec and visit Montreal and Quebec City. Traveling northeastward we’ll enter Atlantic Canada to the provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Our tour will wind its way homeward through the northeast of United States through Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. This 18 day journey will take us through breathtaking countryside where we’ll learn about its rich history as well a travel east to the North Atlantic Coast. Read on to see all the inclusions in this scenic fall foliage adventure with your friends from Happy Trails Tours.
This 18 Day Canadian East Tour Includes
- Round-trip Smoke-free TROBEC Motor Coach Transportation- Northeast MN and Central MN
- 17 Nights of Accommodations - Eastern Canada: Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, Eastern U.S. -Mackinaw City, Michigan; Conway, New Hampshire; Stowe, Vermont; Erie, Pennsylvania; Elgin, Illinois
- Niagara Falls, Ontario-One Night (Imax Theater, Hornblowers Cruise, Niagara Falls Imax & Museum, City Tour, Lazer Light Show)
- Montreal, Quebec-One Night (Notre Dame Church, and St Josephs Oratory and Area City Tour)
- Quebec City, Quebec -Two nights; (St Anne DeBeaurpre Shrine, Parliament Buildings, Citadel Wall & Historic Old Quebec.)
- Charlottetown, Prince Edwards Island- One Night; (Confederation Bridge, Anne of Green Gables Area Tour & Cavendish Beach)
- Halifax, Nova Scotia -Two Nights; (Peggy’s Cove, Citadel Fort, Grand Pre Memorial Park Titanic History & Cemetery)
- Saint John, New Brunswick- One Night (Ferry from Digby to Saint John, New Brunswick –Bay of Fundy)
- Conway, New Hampshire -Two Nights: (Train Excursion on the Conway Scenic RR - Hatch Train - 1st Class, Luncheon)
- Stowe, Vermont- Two Nights (Free Day in Stowe or visit New England Arts & Craft Festival & Von Trapp Family "Sound of Music" )
- White Mountains of New Hampshire, Kancamagus Scenic Hwy, and Green Mountains of Vermont
- Frankenmuth, Michigan (Lunch at Zhender's), Cross the Mackininaw Bridge (Straits of Mackinac) and Tidal Bore Park
- 23 Meals- 17 Breakfasts and 3 Lunches and 3 Dinners (We've included a Lobster Dinner in Charlottetown, PEI )
- Luggage Handling, Taxes, Most Tips for the Porters and Included Meals
- Fully Guided with a Happy Trials Tour Representative.
- Deposits of $250 per person is due when registering. It becomes non-refundable with cancelations after May 1, 2018.
- Final balance is due July 15, 2018. Refunds with cancellations made between May 1 - August 15, 2018 are contingent to what Happy Trails Tours receives from hotels, restaurants, attractions, charters, etc. No refunds with cancellations after August 15, 2018.
- Final documents will arrive in early to mid- September to include specifics on hotels, times & sites of boarding and luggage tags.
- Cancellation insurance is available at an additional charge and can offer peace of mind & financial security. We highly recommend insuring your tour.
Day 1- Thursday, October 4: Travel Day – Elgin, Illinois 445 Miles from Duluth; 450 Miles from Sartell
The list below is just a preliminary boarding schedule that we used in previous years. The actual boarding schedule will be announced
about 4-6 weeks prior to departure once everyone is registered.
____5:30 am-Gr Rapids Sawmill Inn- (2301 S Hwy 169 (218-326-8501) ___6:15 am- Hibbing Hampton Inn (4225 9th Ave W - 218-262-0000)
____6:30 am-Chisholm Iron Man Statue (Hwy 169 / Next to McDonalds) __7:00 am-Eveleth Super Eight (1080 Industrial Park Dr-744-1661)
8:00 am- 9:00 am - Duluth Perkins (Miller Hill Mall)– Breakfast break, paying on own.
____8:45 am- Duluth Perkins Miller Hill Mall (Bus departs from Duluth at 9:00 am and continues our journey southeast)
Trobec Bus Company will provide a shuttle transfer for our folks from Central Minnesota to Eau Clair, Wisconsin to meet the rest of the
group for lunch. You'll arrive around 12 pm, where you will meet the rest of Happy Trails travelers, have lunch, then continue your journey to Nashville. Again, this is just a preliminary boarding schedule that was used in the previous year. Other stops such as; Rice and Blaine
may be added in if needed.
____7:00 am- Baxter Kohl's Department Store (7565 Excelsior Rd- 218-828-4740) ___7:30 am- Little Falls Walmart Super Center
____8:30 am- Sartell AmericInn – (119 Lesaulk Drive - #320-259-0877) Please let any of the above properties know in advance if you need to leave a car.
12:00 pm- All will meet in Eau Clair at the Oakwood Mall – This is a great venue to grab a quick lunch before we continue on.
1:00 pm- Re-board the coach. Other stops will be made as the day goes along ~ Enjoy your day getting acquainted with each other.
A comfort stop will be made in the mid-day in Portage, Wisconsin - Willow Brook Rest Area
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to our hotel to Elgin, Illinois.
Day 2- Friday, October 5: Travel to Erie, Pennsylvania 487 Miles
We’ll travel to Erie, PA. This day dedicated to traveling east along I-90. Stops every 2 ½ - 3 hours are made. Our drive throughIllinois, Indiana, Ohio to Pennsylvania is sure to offer picturesque scenery this time of year. We'll move into the Eastern Time
Zone once we get near South Bend, Indiana. Just set your seats back. Enjoy the view.
7:00 am- Depart Elgin for Erie, PA. (Set luggage outside your doors at 6:00 am / Breakfast is served in the breakfast room at 6 am)
A mid-morning comfort stop will be made this morning.
12:00 pm- (Eastern Time) Arrive to Wauseon, Ohio - where we'll have our lunch at the Blue Ribbon Diner.
1:30 pm- We'll re-board the coach and continue our journey east.
Continue another 240 miles to Erie (about 3 3/4 hours) - An afternoon comfort stop will be made.
6:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Erie, PA.
Day 3- Saturday, October 6: Travel to Stowe, Vermont 489 Miles
6:30 am- Board our coach after breakfast, included.
Today's journey takes along Lake Erie - I-90 East through northern and central New York. We'll travel along beautiful countryside though cities such as Syracuse, Utica and Albany. We'll make Bennington, Vermont our lunch stop. Once we leave Bennington, we'll begin our journey through the Green Mountains of Vermont along the Ethan Allen Scenic Byway. Don't worry about the time... today's journey is dedicated to the autumn fall foliage that we'll see out our windows. This is a Saturday and sure to be bumper to bumper traffic.
7:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Stowe, Vermont.
In the Fall, the air is crisp and the Vermont hillsides burst into a brilliant kaleidoscope of color. Leaf peepers from around the world travel to Stowe every year to witness the spectacular display. We are right in the midst of peak fall season!
Day 4-Sunday, October 7th Stowe's 36th Annual Fall Foliage Arts Festival
7:00 am- Beginning at 7 am, the Inn serves a nice breakfast until 10 am. (The restaurant does not open again until 5:30 pm.)
10:00 am-Today.... hop on board the coach and we'll bring you to the Top Notch Field on Mountain Road where we'll attend the
Stowe Foliage Arts Festival. This is the place to experience the classic New England Autumn, and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is the perfect destination. Surround yourself with Autumnal perfection – the Festival takes place at the height of the fall foliage season – and enjoy exquisite Art and fine Craftwork from over 150 juried Fine Artists and Artisans. There will be live music and other entertainment, great food, draft beer, wine, and demonstrations of traditional craftwork. Sample and purchase specialty food products such as maple syrup, gourmet chocolate, craft distilled spirits, and more!
3:00 pm- We'll return to the hotel for a nice relaxing evening. Dinner is included tonight.
Day 5- Monday, October 8th Travel to North Conway, New Hampshire Miles: 120
10:00 am- Board our coach after breakfast, included.
Before we go too far today... we'll make the Von Trapp Family Lodge a special treat where we'll enjoy a tour of the Lodge and learn about that famous family from the "Sound of Music". Lunch, included, will follow our tour prior to continuing our journey.
When we depart, we'll take 89 to 302 east to New Hampshire. That'll take us to Hwy 112 that runs right into the beautiful Kancamagus Scenic Byway over the Kancamagus Pass over the White Mountains. This lovely drive brings us to North Conway, where we'll spend the next two nights.
3:00 pm- Estimated arrival to North Conway, New Hampshire.
Day 6- Tuesday, October 9th Conway Scenic RR - Notch Train 1st Class
7:00 -9:30 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel. The early morning is at your leisure until 9 am.
We'll board the coach and travel about 20 minutes to the train station. Get ready for an amazing fall foliage train excursion!
11:00 - The Conway Scenic Train departs from the station~ (First Class /Luncheon Fall Foliage five hour train trip)
ON THE NOTCH TRAIN, you’ll travel on what was once the Maine Central Railroad’s famed Mountain Division line, on tracks that were laid in the 1870s. Enjoy some of the most dramatic natural scenery in the East as you travel through spectacular Crawford Notch – past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas, across Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge – en- route to Crawford and Fabyan stations. As you travel through this rugged terrain, you can begin to appreciate what a remarkable engineering achievement constructing this railroad was over 140 years ago. Live commentary onboard includes history and folklore of the railroad and area, as well as points of interest. Included in the excursion is a layover at Crawford Station, across from Saco Lake (a small pond from which the mighty Saco River originates), and adjacent to the AMC’s Highland Center. Passengers will disembark the train, stretch their legs, and explore their beautiful surroundings. This train will also include a delicious 3-course lunch - excursion lasts about 5 hours. Afterwards, we'll return to the Green Granite Inn.
4:00 pm- Estimated return to the Green Granite Inn for our 2nd night.
Enjoy the rest of the day as per your own agenda
The list below is just a preliminary boarding schedule that we used in previous years. The actual boarding schedule will be announced
about 4-6 weeks prior to departure once everyone is registered.
____5:30 am-Gr Rapids Sawmill Inn- (2301 S Hwy 169 (218-326-8501) ___6:15 am- Hibbing Hampton Inn (4225 9th Ave W - 218-262-0000)
____6:30 am-Chisholm Iron Man Statue (Hwy 169 / Next to McDonalds) __7:00 am-Eveleth Super Eight (1080 Industrial Park Dr-744-1661)
8:00 am- 9:00 am - Duluth Perkins (Miller Hill Mall)– Breakfast break, paying on own.
____8:45 am- Duluth Perkins Miller Hill Mall (Bus departs from Duluth at 9:00 am and continues our journey southeast)
Trobec Bus Company will provide a shuttle transfer for our folks from Central Minnesota to Eau Clair, Wisconsin to meet the rest of the
group for lunch. You'll arrive around 12 pm, where you will meet the rest of Happy Trails travelers, have lunch, then continue your journey to Nashville. Again, this is just a preliminary boarding schedule that was used in the previous year. Other stops such as; Rice and Blaine
may be added in if needed.
____7:00 am- Baxter Kohl's Department Store (7565 Excelsior Rd- 218-828-4740) ___7:30 am- Little Falls Walmart Super Center
____8:30 am- Sartell AmericInn – (119 Lesaulk Drive - #320-259-0877) Please let any of the above properties know in advance if you need to leave a car.
12:00 pm- All will meet in Eau Clair at the Oakwood Mall – This is a great venue to grab a quick lunch before we continue on.
1:00 pm- Re-board the coach. Other stops will be made as the day goes along ~ Enjoy your day getting acquainted with each other.
A comfort stop will be made in the mid-day in Portage, Wisconsin - Willow Brook Rest Area
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to our hotel to Elgin, Illinois.
- Hotel: Country Inn by Carlson 2270 Point Blvd, Elgin, Illinois Phone: 847-426-6400
Day 2- Friday, October 5: Travel to Erie, Pennsylvania 487 Miles
We’ll travel to Erie, PA. This day dedicated to traveling east along I-90. Stops every 2 ½ - 3 hours are made. Our drive throughIllinois, Indiana, Ohio to Pennsylvania is sure to offer picturesque scenery this time of year. We'll move into the Eastern Time
Zone once we get near South Bend, Indiana. Just set your seats back. Enjoy the view.
7:00 am- Depart Elgin for Erie, PA. (Set luggage outside your doors at 6:00 am / Breakfast is served in the breakfast room at 6 am)
A mid-morning comfort stop will be made this morning.
12:00 pm- (Eastern Time) Arrive to Wauseon, Ohio - where we'll have our lunch at the Blue Ribbon Diner.
1:30 pm- We'll re-board the coach and continue our journey east.
Continue another 240 miles to Erie (about 3 3/4 hours) - An afternoon comfort stop will be made.
6:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Erie, PA.
- Hotel: Fairfield Inn, 2082 Interchange Road, Erie, Pennsylvania Phone: 814-868-0985
Day 3- Saturday, October 6: Travel to Stowe, Vermont 489 Miles
6:30 am- Board our coach after breakfast, included.
Today's journey takes along Lake Erie - I-90 East through northern and central New York. We'll travel along beautiful countryside though cities such as Syracuse, Utica and Albany. We'll make Bennington, Vermont our lunch stop. Once we leave Bennington, we'll begin our journey through the Green Mountains of Vermont along the Ethan Allen Scenic Byway. Don't worry about the time... today's journey is dedicated to the autumn fall foliage that we'll see out our windows. This is a Saturday and sure to be bumper to bumper traffic.
7:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Stowe, Vermont.
In the Fall, the air is crisp and the Vermont hillsides burst into a brilliant kaleidoscope of color. Leaf peepers from around the world travel to Stowe every year to witness the spectacular display. We are right in the midst of peak fall season!
- Hotel: Commodore's Inn, Stowe, Vermont Phone: 802-253-7131
Day 4-Sunday, October 7th Stowe's 36th Annual Fall Foliage Arts Festival
7:00 am- Beginning at 7 am, the Inn serves a nice breakfast until 10 am. (The restaurant does not open again until 5:30 pm.)
10:00 am-Today.... hop on board the coach and we'll bring you to the Top Notch Field on Mountain Road where we'll attend the
Stowe Foliage Arts Festival. This is the place to experience the classic New England Autumn, and the Stowe Foliage Arts Festival is the perfect destination. Surround yourself with Autumnal perfection – the Festival takes place at the height of the fall foliage season – and enjoy exquisite Art and fine Craftwork from over 150 juried Fine Artists and Artisans. There will be live music and other entertainment, great food, draft beer, wine, and demonstrations of traditional craftwork. Sample and purchase specialty food products such as maple syrup, gourmet chocolate, craft distilled spirits, and more!
3:00 pm- We'll return to the hotel for a nice relaxing evening. Dinner is included tonight.
Day 5- Monday, October 8th Travel to North Conway, New Hampshire Miles: 120
10:00 am- Board our coach after breakfast, included.
Before we go too far today... we'll make the Von Trapp Family Lodge a special treat where we'll enjoy a tour of the Lodge and learn about that famous family from the "Sound of Music". Lunch, included, will follow our tour prior to continuing our journey.
When we depart, we'll take 89 to 302 east to New Hampshire. That'll take us to Hwy 112 that runs right into the beautiful Kancamagus Scenic Byway over the Kancamagus Pass over the White Mountains. This lovely drive brings us to North Conway, where we'll spend the next two nights.
3:00 pm- Estimated arrival to North Conway, New Hampshire.
- Lodging: Green Granite Inn, 1515 White Mountain Hwy, No. Conway, NH # 603-356-6901 (2 Nights) Great property and location!
Day 6- Tuesday, October 9th Conway Scenic RR - Notch Train 1st Class
7:00 -9:30 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel. The early morning is at your leisure until 9 am.
We'll board the coach and travel about 20 minutes to the train station. Get ready for an amazing fall foliage train excursion!
11:00 - The Conway Scenic Train departs from the station~ (First Class /Luncheon Fall Foliage five hour train trip)
ON THE NOTCH TRAIN, you’ll travel on what was once the Maine Central Railroad’s famed Mountain Division line, on tracks that were laid in the 1870s. Enjoy some of the most dramatic natural scenery in the East as you travel through spectacular Crawford Notch – past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas, across Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge – en- route to Crawford and Fabyan stations. As you travel through this rugged terrain, you can begin to appreciate what a remarkable engineering achievement constructing this railroad was over 140 years ago. Live commentary onboard includes history and folklore of the railroad and area, as well as points of interest. Included in the excursion is a layover at Crawford Station, across from Saco Lake (a small pond from which the mighty Saco River originates), and adjacent to the AMC’s Highland Center. Passengers will disembark the train, stretch their legs, and explore their beautiful surroundings. This train will also include a delicious 3-course lunch - excursion lasts about 5 hours. Afterwards, we'll return to the Green Granite Inn.
4:00 pm- Estimated return to the Green Granite Inn for our 2nd night.
Enjoy the rest of the day as per your own agenda
Day 7- Wednesday, October 10th Travel to Saint Johns, New Brunswick - 335 Miles
6:00-7:30 am - Breakfast is served at the hotel.
This morning, we'll say good-bye to the beautiful state of New Hampshire and continue our journey across the southern portion of from the west to east of the lovely state of Maine. We'll make stops along the way in Portland, Bangor and on to Calais, where we'll cross into New Brunswick, Canada. Welcome to Atlantic Time Zone. We've just lost an hour. Have your full U.S. passports ready as we cross the border. Once we get through the border crossing, we're only about 1.5 hours to Saint John, NB.
Perched on Canada's east coast along the Atlantic Ocean, New Brunswick is the gateway to the Maritimes.
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Saint John. Dinner is included tonight.
Day 8- Thursday Travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia / Bay of Fundy Ferry
6:00-7:00 am - Breakfast is served at the hotel. Set your luggage out your doors at 6 am.
7:00 am- Board the coach ~
We are only a short distance from the British Columbia Ferry Dock where we'll cross the Bay of Fundy to Digby.
Here we’ll take the Bay Ferry across the Bay of Fundy Digby, Nova Scotia The Bay of Fundy is a Marine Wonder of the World and boasts to the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy is a 270 km (170 mile) long ocean bay that stretches between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada's east coast. Our ferry ride lasts a couple of hours and we’ll arrive to Digby in the late morning.
10:30 am- Estimated arrival to Digby. We've allowed a bit of time where you can get lunch and browse the shops before continuing on the Halifax. You really should try the scallops! They are delicious.
1:00 pm - Depart Digby ~ and continue to Halifax.
4:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Halifax.
Day 9- Friday, October 12: Tour Halifax Peggy's Cove / Titanic History
7:00 – 8:30 am- Enjoy breakfast this morning, included, before our Halifax Area City Tour.
8:30 – 4:30 pm- Get ready for a full day of touring Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax is a port of call for ages, starting when the Mi’kmaq would spend the summers camping and fishing from its shoreline. They called the area “Jipugtug”, which would later become Anglicized as Chebucto, meaning “the biggest harbour”. It was that large, ice-free harbour – the second largest in the world – and its military advantages that would attract the British to establish a colony and fort in 1749. Our time here will include visiting Peggy‘s Cove, Citadel Fort, Titanic History, Cemetery, the Maritime Museum and so much more.
4:30 pm- Enjoy another evening at your leisure. Perhaps a walk down to the Halifax waterfront might be a fun place to get your dinner if you are not too tired this evening after a full day of touring. The hotel also offers a nice restaurant in-house, as well.
Day 10-Saturday, October 13: Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables 200 Miles
7:00 - 8:30 am- Enjoy a full breakfast this morning, included before checking out of our hotel.
7:30 am- Set your luggage outside your door. 8:30 am- Depart Halifax.
Board the coach. Today we’ll cross the Confederation Bridge which joins the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, making travel throughout the Maritimes easy and convenient. The curved, 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, and a decade after its construction, it endures as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century. After four years of construction using crews of more than five thousand local workers, the Confederation Bridge opened to traffic in the spring of 1997, at a total construction cost of one billion dollars.
12:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Charlottetown, Prince Edwards Island.
We'll spend time exploring Charlottetown before checking into our hotel.
5:00 pm- Dinner is included tonight at the Lobster's Wharf! Here you'll get to choose from several delicious entrees including lobster.
7:00 pm- Get ready for an amazing show at The Guild Theater. ~ Last year we saw "Anne and Sullivan" - in previous years we've seen "Anne of Green Gables". Whatever they decide is running at this time, will sure to be memorable. Stay tuned as the Guild get their 2018 schedule set.
Day 11- Sunday, October 14: Cavendish Beach, Moncton's Tidal Bore . Fredericton, NB 211 Miles
7:00-8:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 7:00 am- Set your luggage outside your door.
8:00 am- Before we leave the island, we've got a delightful area tour planned!
Get ready for an amazing scenic drive along the PEI Atlantic Coast Tour to include rolling farmlands, stunning seascapes, tiny villages and bustling harbours along the Green Gables Shore (scenic drive) as we get ready to tour the North Shore area. Brief photo stops at quaint little fishing villages, lighthouses and the world class – Cavendish Beach. We'll see the Green Gables House: this old farm site inspired L.M. Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables published in 1908.
2:30 pm- After lunch, we’ll travel Fredericton, New Brunswick – 211 miles away (3.5 hours).
3:45 pm- Along our way, we'll make a stop in Moncton, home to one of the most incredible Marine Wonders of the World. In Moncton, you'll witness the Tidal Bore . Here you can stand along the banks of Petitcodiac River and watch the high tide from the Bay of Funday rush in with just one wave coming in from the Bay. There are only a few places in the world where you can see this natural phenomenon. It's scheduled to arrive sometime in the late afternoon. We'll keep an eye on the 2018 schedule and adjust our schedule today accordingly.
7:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Fredericton.
Indoor pool, lounge, full service restaurant, coffeemaker, hairdryer, iron & ironing boards - property is located downtown.
6:00-7:30 am - Breakfast is served at the hotel.
This morning, we'll say good-bye to the beautiful state of New Hampshire and continue our journey across the southern portion of from the west to east of the lovely state of Maine. We'll make stops along the way in Portland, Bangor and on to Calais, where we'll cross into New Brunswick, Canada. Welcome to Atlantic Time Zone. We've just lost an hour. Have your full U.S. passports ready as we cross the border. Once we get through the border crossing, we're only about 1.5 hours to Saint John, NB.
Perched on Canada's east coast along the Atlantic Ocean, New Brunswick is the gateway to the Maritimes.
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Saint John. Dinner is included tonight.
- Lodging: BW Saint John, 55 Majors Brook Drive, Saint John, NB Phone: 505-657-9966
Day 8- Thursday Travel to Halifax, Nova Scotia / Bay of Fundy Ferry
6:00-7:00 am - Breakfast is served at the hotel. Set your luggage out your doors at 6 am.
7:00 am- Board the coach ~
We are only a short distance from the British Columbia Ferry Dock where we'll cross the Bay of Fundy to Digby.
Here we’ll take the Bay Ferry across the Bay of Fundy Digby, Nova Scotia The Bay of Fundy is a Marine Wonder of the World and boasts to the highest tides in the world, the Bay of Fundy is a 270 km (170 mile) long ocean bay that stretches between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on Canada's east coast. Our ferry ride lasts a couple of hours and we’ll arrive to Digby in the late morning.
10:30 am- Estimated arrival to Digby. We've allowed a bit of time where you can get lunch and browse the shops before continuing on the Halifax. You really should try the scallops! They are delicious.
1:00 pm - Depart Digby ~ and continue to Halifax.
4:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Halifax.
- Lodging: Four Points Sheraton Halifax Hotel, 1496 Hollis Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia Phone: 902-423-4444
Day 9- Friday, October 12: Tour Halifax Peggy's Cove / Titanic History
7:00 – 8:30 am- Enjoy breakfast this morning, included, before our Halifax Area City Tour.
8:30 – 4:30 pm- Get ready for a full day of touring Halifax, Nova Scotia. Halifax is a port of call for ages, starting when the Mi’kmaq would spend the summers camping and fishing from its shoreline. They called the area “Jipugtug”, which would later become Anglicized as Chebucto, meaning “the biggest harbour”. It was that large, ice-free harbour – the second largest in the world – and its military advantages that would attract the British to establish a colony and fort in 1749. Our time here will include visiting Peggy‘s Cove, Citadel Fort, Titanic History, Cemetery, the Maritime Museum and so much more.
4:30 pm- Enjoy another evening at your leisure. Perhaps a walk down to the Halifax waterfront might be a fun place to get your dinner if you are not too tired this evening after a full day of touring. The hotel also offers a nice restaurant in-house, as well.
Day 10-Saturday, October 13: Prince Edward Island and Anne of Green Gables 200 Miles
7:00 - 8:30 am- Enjoy a full breakfast this morning, included before checking out of our hotel.
7:30 am- Set your luggage outside your door. 8:30 am- Depart Halifax.
Board the coach. Today we’ll cross the Confederation Bridge which joins the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick, making travel throughout the Maritimes easy and convenient. The curved, 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest in the world crossing ice-covered water, and a decade after its construction, it endures as one of Canada’s top engineering achievements of the 20th century. After four years of construction using crews of more than five thousand local workers, the Confederation Bridge opened to traffic in the spring of 1997, at a total construction cost of one billion dollars.
12:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Charlottetown, Prince Edwards Island.
We'll spend time exploring Charlottetown before checking into our hotel.
- Lodging: Hotel- Holiday Inn Express, 200 Capital Drive, Charlottetown, PEI Phone: 902-892-1201
5:00 pm- Dinner is included tonight at the Lobster's Wharf! Here you'll get to choose from several delicious entrees including lobster.
7:00 pm- Get ready for an amazing show at The Guild Theater. ~ Last year we saw "Anne and Sullivan" - in previous years we've seen "Anne of Green Gables". Whatever they decide is running at this time, will sure to be memorable. Stay tuned as the Guild get their 2018 schedule set.
Day 11- Sunday, October 14: Cavendish Beach, Moncton's Tidal Bore . Fredericton, NB 211 Miles
7:00-8:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 7:00 am- Set your luggage outside your door.
8:00 am- Before we leave the island, we've got a delightful area tour planned!
Get ready for an amazing scenic drive along the PEI Atlantic Coast Tour to include rolling farmlands, stunning seascapes, tiny villages and bustling harbours along the Green Gables Shore (scenic drive) as we get ready to tour the North Shore area. Brief photo stops at quaint little fishing villages, lighthouses and the world class – Cavendish Beach. We'll see the Green Gables House: this old farm site inspired L.M. Montgomery’s first novel, Anne of Green Gables published in 1908.
2:30 pm- After lunch, we’ll travel Fredericton, New Brunswick – 211 miles away (3.5 hours).
3:45 pm- Along our way, we'll make a stop in Moncton, home to one of the most incredible Marine Wonders of the World. In Moncton, you'll witness the Tidal Bore . Here you can stand along the banks of Petitcodiac River and watch the high tide from the Bay of Funday rush in with just one wave coming in from the Bay. There are only a few places in the world where you can see this natural phenomenon. It's scheduled to arrive sometime in the late afternoon. We'll keep an eye on the 2018 schedule and adjust our schedule today accordingly.
7:30 pm- Estimated arrival to Fredericton.
- Lodging: Crowne Plaza Lord Beaverbrook Hotel, 659, rue Queen St, Fredericton, NB Phone: 506-455-3371
Indoor pool, lounge, full service restaurant, coffeemaker, hairdryer, iron & ironing boards - property is located downtown.
Day 12- Monday, October 15: Travel to Quebec City, Quebec 368 Miles
7:00-9:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 8:00 am- Set your luggage outside your door.
9:00 am- We'll depart for Quebec City, Quebec ~ About a six hour drive. We'll follow Canadian Hwy #2 all the way northwest to Edmonston, our lunch stop. All the while we travel throughout the province of New Brunswick, we'll stay on Atlantic Time. Once we cross into Quebec, we'll gain an hour and move into Eastern Standard Time. Our lunch stop will be at a wonderful French
Restaurant called, LePirate de la Mer....this is a seafood restaurant and they make delicious lobster rolls! You'll be able to order what you wish off the menu, paying as per your own budget.
5:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Quebec City, Quebec.
- Lodging: BW Plus - Centre-ville Quebec, 300 rue de la Couronne, Quebec Phone: 418-649-1919
This property is about a 15 - 20 minute walk to the historic downtown area.
Day 13- Tuesday, October 16: Exploring Beautiful Quebec City, Quebec
7:00- 9 am- Enjoy breakfast this morning, included, before touring Quebec City with a local city tour guide.
9:00 – 1:00 pm- Enjoy your “Ride-A-Bit, Walk-A-Bit” City Tour of Quebec City.
Quebec is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level. Quebec is also Canada's largest province by area is second in population (Ontario is first). Quebec City’s rich history is a delightful blend of the New World and the old, set against a striking landscape. The historic district is an interesting collection of winding streets, old stone homes, churches, ramparts and graceful architecture. Quebec Cit is also renowned for its gourmet delights…so I’m sure you’ll enjoy the endless choices of restaurants today.
1:00 pm- The rest of the day is yours to enjoy as per your own agenda. Enjoy~
Day 14- Wednesday, October 17: Travel to Montreal - Tour of the City 163 Miles
6:00 – 7:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 6:00 - Set your luggage outside your doors.
Today we’ll travel to beautiful Montreal. It's only about 3 hours away .... so once we arrive, we'll make time for an area city tour before checking into our hotel.
10:45 am- Arrive to Montreal, the second largest French speaking city in the world, with a unique style and culture that is married to Old World charm. Before we get too settled into our tour, we'll begin our visit here with an early lunch. Afterwards, our Area City Tour of Montreal begins. Montreal is noted as Canada’s most lively city filled with over 350 years of history. Montreal is. Along many great attractions, our visit to Notre’ Dame Church just might be the highlight!
5:00 pm- We'll begin checking into the hotel.
- Lodging: Fairfield Inn & Suites Airport , 700 Avenue, Montreal Phone: 514-631-2424
Your evening is wide open to enjoy as you wish. There are restaurants nearby the hotel where you can walk to.
Day 15- Thursday, October 18: Travel to Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada 419 Miles
6:00 – 8:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 7:00 - Set your luggage outside your doors.
Another wonderful day lies ahead as we make our way to Niagara Falls, Ontario... about 6 1/2 hours away. Our journey brings us southwest on Canadian Hwy 401 along the edge of the St Lawrence River to Kingston. It's in Kingston that we'll make time for lunch and a comfort break. From here, we'll continue along the northern edge of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls, Ontario.
5:00 pm- Estimated arrival to the Embassy Suites ~ Where every room overlooks the amazing Niagara Falls! We are here 2 nights.
Day 16- Friday, October 19: Touring Niagara Falls, Hornblowers Cruise & Imax
7:00 am- 10:00 am - Relax this morning and have a leisure full breakfast before beginning your day of activities.
Today holds a great number of wonderful attractions. We'll start our day with an Area City Tour of Niagara Falls. We've included in this day, a ride on the Hornblowers Cruise (takes us right underneath the falls), we'll see the Imax Film & Museum, and visit the Floral Clock. We'll return to our lovely home away from home around 3 pm.
5:30 pm- Dinner at the Keg Restaurant is included this evening. This restaurant offers a spectacular fire works show and view of the falls from the observation deck. You will have several choices for entrees at the time of seating. After dinner, relax and enjoy the fireworks. The rest of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy as per your own agenda.
6:00 – 8:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. 7:00 - Set your luggage outside your doors.
Another wonderful day lies ahead as we make our way to Niagara Falls, Ontario... about 6 1/2 hours away. Our journey brings us southwest on Canadian Hwy 401 along the edge of the St Lawrence River to Kingston. It's in Kingston that we'll make time for lunch and a comfort break. From here, we'll continue along the northern edge of Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls, Ontario.
5:00 pm- Estimated arrival to the Embassy Suites ~ Where every room overlooks the amazing Niagara Falls! We are here 2 nights.
- Lodging: Embassy Suites, 6700 Fallsview Blvd, Niagara Falls, ONT Phone: 905-356-3600
Day 16- Friday, October 19: Touring Niagara Falls, Hornblowers Cruise & Imax
7:00 am- 10:00 am - Relax this morning and have a leisure full breakfast before beginning your day of activities.
Today holds a great number of wonderful attractions. We'll start our day with an Area City Tour of Niagara Falls. We've included in this day, a ride on the Hornblowers Cruise (takes us right underneath the falls), we'll see the Imax Film & Museum, and visit the Floral Clock. We'll return to our lovely home away from home around 3 pm.
5:30 pm- Dinner at the Keg Restaurant is included this evening. This restaurant offers a spectacular fire works show and view of the falls from the observation deck. You will have several choices for entrees at the time of seating. After dinner, relax and enjoy the fireworks. The rest of the evening is yours to relax and enjoy as per your own agenda.
Day 17- Saturday, October 20: Travel to Mackinaw, Michigan 475 Miles
7:00 am- Set your luggage outside your doors.
7:00 am- A Full Breakfast, is included, is served at the hotel prior to check out.
We'll be on the road right after breakfast travel straight west and return to the United States. Have your passports ready as we cross the border at Port Huron, Michigan around 10 am. We'll also make this a comfort stop. Another 1.5 hour down the road willbe our lunch break.
1:00 pm- (Estimated and hinged on how quickly we cross the border)... we'll arrive to Frankenmuth, Michigan!
Zhender's Bavarian Lunch awaits us ~ This is a family tradition chicken dinner. We've even budgeted a bit of time to browse this quaint little community before re-boarding the coach at 3 pm and making the rest of the journey to Mackinaw City.
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
Day 18- Sunday, October 21: Home Sweet Home with Fond Memories Clair
6:00-7:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. Set your luggage outside your doors at 6:00 am.
To begin the morning, we'll cross the Mackinaw Bridge where Lake Michigan is on the left and Lake Huron on the right. The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world and is five miles long. The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957 according to schedule, despite the many hazards of marine construction over the turbulent Straits of Mackinac. Michigan this time of year boasts amazing fall foliage ... so expect to be "wowed"!
10:45 am- We'll take a break in the Ishpeming area. / 12:30 pm- (Back on Central Time); We'll have our lunch in Ironwood, Michigan.
4:30 pm- We'll arrive to Duluth/Superior.
In past tours, we've brought groups from central Minnesota up the day before the tour began so they started the trip fresh. However, by the time you get to the last day on a tour this long, most people are anxious to get home. So.. .we are going to have the Trobec Bus Company bring a shuttle to Superior to meet our folks from Central Minnesota (Baxter, Little Falls, Rice, Sartell, etc) on this last day. It makes for a long day for everyone, but we think in the long run, everyone will appreciate sleeping in their own beds!
Estimated time home to Baxter: 6:30 pm; Little Falls: 7:15 pm; Rice: 7:45 pm; Sartell 8 pm;
Estimated time home to Eveleth: 6:15 pm; Virginia: 6:30 pm; Hibbing: 7:00 pm; Grand Rapids: 7:45 pm
With this being our last day of travel together, I sure hope you left a little room in your suitcases for all the wonderful memories you'll want to pack. Thank you so much for traveling with Happy Trails Tours! We look forward to seeing you on anther future Happy Trails Adventure.
7:00 am- Set your luggage outside your doors.
7:00 am- A Full Breakfast, is included, is served at the hotel prior to check out.
We'll be on the road right after breakfast travel straight west and return to the United States. Have your passports ready as we cross the border at Port Huron, Michigan around 10 am. We'll also make this a comfort stop. Another 1.5 hour down the road willbe our lunch break.
1:00 pm- (Estimated and hinged on how quickly we cross the border)... we'll arrive to Frankenmuth, Michigan!
Zhender's Bavarian Lunch awaits us ~ This is a family tradition chicken dinner. We've even budgeted a bit of time to browse this quaint little community before re-boarding the coach at 3 pm and making the rest of the journey to Mackinaw City.
6:00 pm- Estimated arrival to Mackinaw City, Michigan.
- Lodging: Holiday Inn Express - 364 Louvingney, Mackinaw City , MI 49701 Phone: 231-436-7100
Day 18- Sunday, October 21: Home Sweet Home with Fond Memories Clair
6:00-7:00 am- Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to check out. Set your luggage outside your doors at 6:00 am.
To begin the morning, we'll cross the Mackinaw Bridge where Lake Michigan is on the left and Lake Huron on the right. The Mackinac Bridge is currently the third longest suspension bridge in the world and is five miles long. The bridge opened to traffic on November 1, 1957 according to schedule, despite the many hazards of marine construction over the turbulent Straits of Mackinac. Michigan this time of year boasts amazing fall foliage ... so expect to be "wowed"!
10:45 am- We'll take a break in the Ishpeming area. / 12:30 pm- (Back on Central Time); We'll have our lunch in Ironwood, Michigan.
4:30 pm- We'll arrive to Duluth/Superior.
In past tours, we've brought groups from central Minnesota up the day before the tour began so they started the trip fresh. However, by the time you get to the last day on a tour this long, most people are anxious to get home. So.. .we are going to have the Trobec Bus Company bring a shuttle to Superior to meet our folks from Central Minnesota (Baxter, Little Falls, Rice, Sartell, etc) on this last day. It makes for a long day for everyone, but we think in the long run, everyone will appreciate sleeping in their own beds!
Estimated time home to Baxter: 6:30 pm; Little Falls: 7:15 pm; Rice: 7:45 pm; Sartell 8 pm;
Estimated time home to Eveleth: 6:15 pm; Virginia: 6:30 pm; Hibbing: 7:00 pm; Grand Rapids: 7:45 pm
With this being our last day of travel together, I sure hope you left a little room in your suitcases for all the wonderful memories you'll want to pack. Thank you so much for traveling with Happy Trails Tours! We look forward to seeing you on anther future Happy Trails Adventure.
Things to Know Before You Go on the Canadian East / Maritime Provinces Tour
- Identification: Everyone needs to bring a current U.S. passport or passport card. (Note: If you have a passport card, that ONLY allows you cross the border in a vehicle. Though we are in a vehicle when we cross, should something happen to you where you have to leave the tour and fly home, a passport card will be accepted as a form of identification in an international airport.
- Luggage: You may bring one suitcase. There are laundry facilities along the way in many hotel properties. If you decide to take another checked bag, there is an additional fee. You may take a carry-on bag on to the coach. You are responsible for this bag yourself. Please don’t pack them heavier than what you can carry comfortably.
- Refreshments on Board: We often serve refreshements on board. We carry some water on board. We recommend you bring bottled water or a water bottle (and a coffee to-go cup) on board. There are cup holders on the coach.
- Meals / Dietary Concerns: Let us know if you have any dietary concerns or allergies as soon as you get this. Pack snacks along if you are a diabetic. Most meal stops while en-route are family-style restaurants but occasionally we use fast food restaurants.
- How To Dress: The tour is entirely casual. Bring along a light-weight fall jacket, rain-gear, umbrella, sun-screen, swimming suit, and a sweater for inside the coach. (The air-conditioning can get a bit chilly if you happen to be sitting by the window)
- Seat Rotation: We do not rotate seats. If you have a special need, kindly let us know. This is likely to be a full tour and all seats except the very last ones in the back will be used.
- Walking Disabilities: Everyone needs to be able to climb some steps in order to get in to the coach and walk some distances. If you have any special needs you need to tell us right away. We ask that EVERYONE gets out of the coach when we break at rest-stops & meal stops along the way so you are not sitting long periods of time without exercise. We try to stop every 2-3 hours when traveling. Allergies: Please refrain from using colognes and perfumes while on the coach due to allergies. Let us know of any allergies you may have before departing on this tour.
- The Hotels: Just read the day-by-day for specifics on the hotels. Some of the properties are entirely smoke free. If you asked for two beds, or are two ladies traveling together, we made that request. Oftentimes, the hotel gives king size beds for couples. Thank you.
- Motor Coach: The motor coach is chartered through Trobec Bus Company, St Stephens, MN. They offer new coaches with seatbelts, cup holders, window shades, adjustable foot rests, reclining seats, restroom, flat screen TV’s , DVD player, CD and sound system, WI-FI (except in Canada) and electrical outlets. For your comfort, they’ve removed a few seats to make for more leg room.
- On Board Travel Host: Your on board Happy Trails travel host is Lynette Aro. Her cell phone number is 218-290-4118
- Tipping: The tips for porters, packaged meals, licensed city tour guides are included in the package. Tips for your driver and your Happy Trails Tour host are not included. This you may do at the end of tour at your discretion.
- Cancellation insurance: is available at an additional charge and can offer peace of mind & financial security. We highly recommend insuring your tour.