The Empire State - Wine, Water and Wonder
Upstate New York & Niagara Falls
October 2-16, 2023
Natural Wonders, Fall Foliage, Historic Waterways, Wine and Fantastic Memories.
From Niagara Falls to the Hudson River, through the Grand Canyon of the East, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains, you will enjoy thrilling moments and moments of awe. So, what do you think of when it comes to New York State? Of course, New York City is one of the first place one’s mind tends to wander. However, Happy Trails is leaving the immense urban metropolis behind and focusing on “Wine, Water and Wonder! The Empire State has vast flowing hills, roaring rivers, breathtaking mountains, quaint little towns and rushing waterfalls. Beneath all its natural beauty also lies stories, history and most importantly, it’s people.
Autumn is our most favorite time to travel. Join us. We’ll save a seat for you.
From Niagara Falls to the Hudson River, through the Grand Canyon of the East, the Finger Lakes, the Adirondacks and Catskill Mountains, you will enjoy thrilling moments and moments of awe. So, what do you think of when it comes to New York State? Of course, New York City is one of the first place one’s mind tends to wander. However, Happy Trails is leaving the immense urban metropolis behind and focusing on “Wine, Water and Wonder! The Empire State has vast flowing hills, roaring rivers, breathtaking mountains, quaint little towns and rushing waterfalls. Beneath all its natural beauty also lies stories, history and most importantly, it’s people.
Autumn is our most favorite time to travel. Join us. We’ll save a seat for you.
$ 5199 Per Person DOUBLE . $ 4849 PP TRIPLE . $ 6569 SINGLE Occupancy
Your 14 Night/ 15 Day Tour Includes:
Round Trip Motorcoach Transportation with Convenient Boarding Locations throughout NE & Central MN
14 Nights Accommodations- Romeoville, IL (1); Frankenmuth, MI (1); Niagara Falls, Ontario (2); Ithaca,NY (3); Fishkill, NY (2); Utica, NY (2); Buffalo, NY (2): Cleveland, OH (1); Romeoville, IL (1)
Attractions Included in your tour….
Hornblowers Niagara Falls Cruise; Niagara Region & Finger Lakes Region and Guided Area Tour
Peller Estate Winery, Winery on the Cayuga Wine Trail, Winery in Watkins Glen Seneca Lake Area
Drive through Letchworth State Park; Harriett Tubman House; Willard Chapel & Organ Recital;
It’s a Wonderful Life Museum (Seneca Falls); Woman’s Rights Museum; Taughannock Falls;
Corning Glass Museum; Seneca Lake Luncheon Cruise; Hudson Valley Area & River Cruise;
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (Site of 1969 Woodstock Concert); US Military West Point Academy;
FDR Presidential Museum & Library; Cruise on the Hudson River, Cooperstown –Nat’l Baseball Hall of Fame;Catskill Mountain Area to include an Erie Canal Cruise on the Lil’ Diamond on Lock 18;
Adirondack Railroad Excursion from Utica to Thendara in through the Adirondak Mountains;
Lunch at Great Camp Segamore; Sweet Expressions Candy Shop; World’s Largest Vidler’s Five and Dime
Lunch at the New York Kitchen on the shores of Canandaigua Lake
28 Meals: 14 Breakfasts; 5 Lunches; 8 Dinners; 1 Cocktail with a Light Dinner plus 3 Wineries
Payment/Deadline/Cancellation Policy
$ 250 per person due with Registration Form – Becomes Non-Refundable after June 15, 2023.
*Final payment is due July 10, 2023 and becomes non-refundable at this point.
Save $75 per person discount when paying with personal check or money order (Preferred). MC, Visa & Discover are accepted.
Deadline date is July 30th to register for this tour unless there is still availability. Once tour is full, names go on a waitlist.
Hotel rooms and tickets not utilized will be released by July 30th. We have only a limited number of tickets and rooms reserved. Quad accommodations are not offered. Travel Protection Insurance is highly recommended. No reservations is considered solid without a deposit received in our office. Once a deposit is received, an invoice will be sent. Contact us if you don’t receive one.
A Few Things to Know: This tour is entirely casual and comfortable. It is considered a level 1 -2 for difficulty. There is some walking but may be done at your personal level of comfort. The motorcoach requires you to be able to climb at least 6 steps. All hotels have elevators and porters. At this time, there are no mask mandates in place nor are you required to have any special vaccines. We do ask that you keep in mind that places along our journey may have updated mask mandates since this flyer was created. If so, Happy Trails Tours follows all mandates required while visiting those attractions. Thank you for your understanding.
Disclaimer: Happy Trails Tours acts only as an agent for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, theater, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Happy Trails Tours, INC and their respective employees, agents, representatives accept no liability what-so-ever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws, government shutdowns or other causes beyond our control. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of country in which they are provided. Happy Trails Tours INC is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours/trips arranged by Happy Trails Tours. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.
Oct 2-16, 2023 - The Empire State - Wine, Water and Wonder - Upstate New York & Niagara Falls
Monday, October 2nd
We’ll begin in the early morning throughout the Northeast and Central Minnesota traveling eastward to Romeoville, Illinois with two motorcoach / shuttle vehicles. Our lunch stop will be in Eau Clair, Wisconsin where both groups will be blended together on one full size motorcoach. We’ll continue eastward while you put your seats back, relax and get acquainted with fellow travelers. We’ll check into the lovely Holiday Inn with a 6:30 pm arrival. Your evening meal and entertainment is yours to enjoy as per your own interests. We will bring you out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Tuesday, October 3rd
Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to checking out and making our way to the German community of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Known as “Little Bavaria”, Frankenmuth is filled with Old World charm from shops, a unique covered bridge and delicious German cuisines. A favorite you cannot miss is their Glockenspiel Tower. It houses a magnificent 35-bell carillon, a beautiful figurine movement and an illuminated clock, all imported from Germany. The sound of the Glockenspiel can be heard for miles around Frankenmuth with lively German and American tunes and hymns. It plays at 12, 3, 6 and 9 pm. Our overnight lodging in Frankenmuth will be the Bavarian Inn Lodge, located in the heart of the historic district. A delicious dinner is included this evening. (We will opportunity to see the carillon at one of the times listed). (B, D)
Wednesday, October 4th
A full German Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to checking out at 8 am. We’ll say goodbye to Frankenmuth and travel to Niagara Falls, Canada with an estimated arrival of 3 pm. Cruise to the Falls! Niagara City Cruise takes you up close to one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Hear the thundering roar of the water and feel the mighty rush of the mist on your face. It’s the only way to experience one of the world’s most amazing Natural wonders! (Everyone will have a poncho and be able to decide just how wet they want to get). Check into the Embassy Suites Hotel, Ontario Canada (All rooms are Falls View Rooms). Dinner tonight at the Table Rock Restaurant with amazing Falls Views in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (B, D)
Thursday, October 5th
Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at the Embassy (included), then meet our local guide. Today you will visit key viewing sites like Table Rock. Here you will experience the thunder of Horseshoe Falls. You will see this unique floral clock is the largest of its kind in North America. The intricate designs on the face of the Floral Clock are created with up to 16,000 carpet bedding plants and are changed twice each year. The tower at the back of the clock houses Westminster chimes that greet each quarter hour. Continue to one of Canada's prettiest towns, Niagara-on-the-Lake, nestled where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. Explore the sites that echo with stories of the past, heroes and revolution, arts, architecture and culture. Their main street is full of pretty shops and restaurants, rich with history and filled with beautiful public gardens. Lunch is on your own in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Peller Estate Winery one of Canada’s premier wineries set in the heart of Niagara wine country. Your wine consultant-led tour begins in their Celebration Lounge with one of their most awarded wines, Ice Cuvée, as you hear the legacy of the Peller family and history of the winery and the region. After you’ve surveyed the vines, move from their premium cellar into Niagara's only igloo-like lounge as you don a Peller Estates parka and step into the winery ice bar. Dinner will be at Skylon Tower back in Niagara Falls overlooking the falls. Delicious food, amazing views, and the colorful illumination of the falls at night – no better way to say farewell! Overnight at the Embassy Suites – 2nd night. (B, D)
Day, October 6th
Enjoy a full breakfast at the Embassy (included), then check out of the hotel and depart for Ithaca. Upon arrival to Letchworth State Park, meet a local guide. (About a 2-hour drive from Niagara Falls). Letchworth State Park - Renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East," this is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs--as high as 600 feet in some places--surrounded by lush forests. Also, it was voted the Best State Park in the nation by USA Today readers in 2015! You will enjoy a tour with stops for picture taking and strolling. Lunch this afternoon will be at the beautiful Glen Iris Inn -nestled in the heart of Letchworth State Park, with spectacular views of the park and the falls.
Travel to Ithaca (about 2 hours) In the Finger Lakes Region. Made up of 11 finger-like lakes left from when the glaciers melted, this region is known for its gorges and the waterfalls left from those very glaciers. The unique climate created by the lakes makes this the largest grape growing region in NY, and helping NY to be the second largest grape growing state. And that can only mean one thing – many award-winning wineries! By late afternoon, we’ll check into Hotel Ithaca. This 4-star hotel is located downtown Ithaca at the base of Cayuga Lake, next to The Commons (Pedestrian mall in the center of town). Dinner, near our hotel will be included.
(B, L, D)
Saturday, October 7th
Breakfast at our hotel (included). Meet your local guide for a full day of touring throughout the region. We have so many wonderful places to visit…. Here’s how this day will unfold…. Harriet Tubman House - A part of the indomitable legacy of Harriet Tubman was that no matter the odds you face, "keep going”. Truly, one of the most endearing legacies of Harriet Tubman was her ability to forge alliances between whites and blacks at a time of incomprehensible opposition. Enjoy the telling of her amazing story while visiting her home in Auburn. Willard Memorial Chapel- This is an extremely rare example of the work of Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany Glass and Decoration Co. in that it is the only complete and unaltered Tiffany chapel known to exist. You will also be treated to an organ recital!
Continue to Seneca Falls for a visit to the “It’s a Wonderful Life Museum”. Frank Capra used Seneca Falls as the inspiration for Bedford Falls, from It’s a Wonderful Life. Seneca Falls also played an important role in the Women’s Rights movement – enough to place the Women’s Right’s Hall of Fame in this quaint town. You’ll enjoy a visit here as well. Stop along the The Cayuga Wine Trail – This afternoon travel along the westside of Lake Cayuga. The soil and the proximity to the lake make this an ideal grape growing region. Today you will tour and enjoy a tasting at 1 award-winning winery. Taughannock Falls - On your way back into Ithaca stop at the Taughannock Falls Overlook to see the grandest of falls. At 215 feet it is higher than Niagara Falls! Dinner at Coltivare - This the downtown Ithaca culinary center, and the farm-to-table restaurant of Tompkins Cortland Community College. Enjoy a special meal tonight with a wine presentation by an experienced Sommelier! Lodging tonight will bring us back to Hotel Ithaca for 2nd night. (B, D)
Sunday, October 8th
Breakfast at our Hotel Ithaca (included). Meet our local guide and travel towards Seneca Lake.
We have another amazing day planned. Read on to see where we are off to on this day…. Corning Museum of Glass. This iconic museum not only gives you a glimpse at the amazing history of glass but shows of a fantastic art collection of glass. The things you can do with glass! There will be a live demonstration and a special treat – you will get to make your own piece of glass and bring it home during a Make Your Own Glass workshop! Lunch Cruise on Seneca Lake. Watkins Glen is at the bottom of Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. This afternoon you will enjoy a narrated cruise passing pastoral landscape, wineries and quaint villages – and excellent food!
Your 14 Night/ 15 Day Tour Includes:
Round Trip Motorcoach Transportation with Convenient Boarding Locations throughout NE & Central MN
14 Nights Accommodations- Romeoville, IL (1); Frankenmuth, MI (1); Niagara Falls, Ontario (2); Ithaca,NY (3); Fishkill, NY (2); Utica, NY (2); Buffalo, NY (2): Cleveland, OH (1); Romeoville, IL (1)
Attractions Included in your tour….
Hornblowers Niagara Falls Cruise; Niagara Region & Finger Lakes Region and Guided Area Tour
Peller Estate Winery, Winery on the Cayuga Wine Trail, Winery in Watkins Glen Seneca Lake Area
Drive through Letchworth State Park; Harriett Tubman House; Willard Chapel & Organ Recital;
It’s a Wonderful Life Museum (Seneca Falls); Woman’s Rights Museum; Taughannock Falls;
Corning Glass Museum; Seneca Lake Luncheon Cruise; Hudson Valley Area & River Cruise;
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts (Site of 1969 Woodstock Concert); US Military West Point Academy;
FDR Presidential Museum & Library; Cruise on the Hudson River, Cooperstown –Nat’l Baseball Hall of Fame;Catskill Mountain Area to include an Erie Canal Cruise on the Lil’ Diamond on Lock 18;
Adirondack Railroad Excursion from Utica to Thendara in through the Adirondak Mountains;
Lunch at Great Camp Segamore; Sweet Expressions Candy Shop; World’s Largest Vidler’s Five and Dime
Lunch at the New York Kitchen on the shores of Canandaigua Lake
28 Meals: 14 Breakfasts; 5 Lunches; 8 Dinners; 1 Cocktail with a Light Dinner plus 3 Wineries
Payment/Deadline/Cancellation Policy
$ 250 per person due with Registration Form – Becomes Non-Refundable after June 15, 2023.
*Final payment is due July 10, 2023 and becomes non-refundable at this point.
Save $75 per person discount when paying with personal check or money order (Preferred). MC, Visa & Discover are accepted.
Deadline date is July 30th to register for this tour unless there is still availability. Once tour is full, names go on a waitlist.
Hotel rooms and tickets not utilized will be released by July 30th. We have only a limited number of tickets and rooms reserved. Quad accommodations are not offered. Travel Protection Insurance is highly recommended. No reservations is considered solid without a deposit received in our office. Once a deposit is received, an invoice will be sent. Contact us if you don’t receive one.
A Few Things to Know: This tour is entirely casual and comfortable. It is considered a level 1 -2 for difficulty. There is some walking but may be done at your personal level of comfort. The motorcoach requires you to be able to climb at least 6 steps. All hotels have elevators and porters. At this time, there are no mask mandates in place nor are you required to have any special vaccines. We do ask that you keep in mind that places along our journey may have updated mask mandates since this flyer was created. If so, Happy Trails Tours follows all mandates required while visiting those attractions. Thank you for your understanding.
Disclaimer: Happy Trails Tours acts only as an agent for the various independent suppliers that provide hotel accommodations, transportation, theater, or other services connected with this tour. Such services are subject to the terms and conditions of those suppliers. Happy Trails Tours, INC and their respective employees, agents, representatives accept no liability what-so-ever for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or any other default of any company or person in performing these services. Responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages, or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature, local laws, government shutdowns or other causes beyond our control. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws and regulations of country in which they are provided. Happy Trails Tours INC is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the tours/trips arranged by Happy Trails Tours. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy, if desired, that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.
Oct 2-16, 2023 - The Empire State - Wine, Water and Wonder - Upstate New York & Niagara Falls
Monday, October 2nd
We’ll begin in the early morning throughout the Northeast and Central Minnesota traveling eastward to Romeoville, Illinois with two motorcoach / shuttle vehicles. Our lunch stop will be in Eau Clair, Wisconsin where both groups will be blended together on one full size motorcoach. We’ll continue eastward while you put your seats back, relax and get acquainted with fellow travelers. We’ll check into the lovely Holiday Inn with a 6:30 pm arrival. Your evening meal and entertainment is yours to enjoy as per your own interests. We will bring you out to dinner at a nearby restaurant.
Tuesday, October 3rd
Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to checking out and making our way to the German community of Frankenmuth, Michigan. Known as “Little Bavaria”, Frankenmuth is filled with Old World charm from shops, a unique covered bridge and delicious German cuisines. A favorite you cannot miss is their Glockenspiel Tower. It houses a magnificent 35-bell carillon, a beautiful figurine movement and an illuminated clock, all imported from Germany. The sound of the Glockenspiel can be heard for miles around Frankenmuth with lively German and American tunes and hymns. It plays at 12, 3, 6 and 9 pm. Our overnight lodging in Frankenmuth will be the Bavarian Inn Lodge, located in the heart of the historic district. A delicious dinner is included this evening. (We will opportunity to see the carillon at one of the times listed). (B, D)
Wednesday, October 4th
A full German Breakfast is served at the hotel prior to checking out at 8 am. We’ll say goodbye to Frankenmuth and travel to Niagara Falls, Canada with an estimated arrival of 3 pm. Cruise to the Falls! Niagara City Cruise takes you up close to one of the world’s most powerful waterfalls. Hear the thundering roar of the water and feel the mighty rush of the mist on your face. It’s the only way to experience one of the world’s most amazing Natural wonders! (Everyone will have a poncho and be able to decide just how wet they want to get). Check into the Embassy Suites Hotel, Ontario Canada (All rooms are Falls View Rooms). Dinner tonight at the Table Rock Restaurant with amazing Falls Views in Niagara Falls, Ontario. (B, D)
Thursday, October 5th
Enjoy a full buffet breakfast at the Embassy (included), then meet our local guide. Today you will visit key viewing sites like Table Rock. Here you will experience the thunder of Horseshoe Falls. You will see this unique floral clock is the largest of its kind in North America. The intricate designs on the face of the Floral Clock are created with up to 16,000 carpet bedding plants and are changed twice each year. The tower at the back of the clock houses Westminster chimes that greet each quarter hour. Continue to one of Canada's prettiest towns, Niagara-on-the-Lake, nestled where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. Explore the sites that echo with stories of the past, heroes and revolution, arts, architecture and culture. Their main street is full of pretty shops and restaurants, rich with history and filled with beautiful public gardens. Lunch is on your own in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Peller Estate Winery one of Canada’s premier wineries set in the heart of Niagara wine country. Your wine consultant-led tour begins in their Celebration Lounge with one of their most awarded wines, Ice Cuvée, as you hear the legacy of the Peller family and history of the winery and the region. After you’ve surveyed the vines, move from their premium cellar into Niagara's only igloo-like lounge as you don a Peller Estates parka and step into the winery ice bar. Dinner will be at Skylon Tower back in Niagara Falls overlooking the falls. Delicious food, amazing views, and the colorful illumination of the falls at night – no better way to say farewell! Overnight at the Embassy Suites – 2nd night. (B, D)
Day, October 6th
Enjoy a full breakfast at the Embassy (included), then check out of the hotel and depart for Ithaca. Upon arrival to Letchworth State Park, meet a local guide. (About a 2-hour drive from Niagara Falls). Letchworth State Park - Renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East," this is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs--as high as 600 feet in some places--surrounded by lush forests. Also, it was voted the Best State Park in the nation by USA Today readers in 2015! You will enjoy a tour with stops for picture taking and strolling. Lunch this afternoon will be at the beautiful Glen Iris Inn -nestled in the heart of Letchworth State Park, with spectacular views of the park and the falls.
Travel to Ithaca (about 2 hours) In the Finger Lakes Region. Made up of 11 finger-like lakes left from when the glaciers melted, this region is known for its gorges and the waterfalls left from those very glaciers. The unique climate created by the lakes makes this the largest grape growing region in NY, and helping NY to be the second largest grape growing state. And that can only mean one thing – many award-winning wineries! By late afternoon, we’ll check into Hotel Ithaca. This 4-star hotel is located downtown Ithaca at the base of Cayuga Lake, next to The Commons (Pedestrian mall in the center of town). Dinner, near our hotel will be included.
(B, L, D)
Saturday, October 7th
Breakfast at our hotel (included). Meet your local guide for a full day of touring throughout the region. We have so many wonderful places to visit…. Here’s how this day will unfold…. Harriet Tubman House - A part of the indomitable legacy of Harriet Tubman was that no matter the odds you face, "keep going”. Truly, one of the most endearing legacies of Harriet Tubman was her ability to forge alliances between whites and blacks at a time of incomprehensible opposition. Enjoy the telling of her amazing story while visiting her home in Auburn. Willard Memorial Chapel- This is an extremely rare example of the work of Louis C. Tiffany and Tiffany Glass and Decoration Co. in that it is the only complete and unaltered Tiffany chapel known to exist. You will also be treated to an organ recital!
Continue to Seneca Falls for a visit to the “It’s a Wonderful Life Museum”. Frank Capra used Seneca Falls as the inspiration for Bedford Falls, from It’s a Wonderful Life. Seneca Falls also played an important role in the Women’s Rights movement – enough to place the Women’s Right’s Hall of Fame in this quaint town. You’ll enjoy a visit here as well. Stop along the The Cayuga Wine Trail – This afternoon travel along the westside of Lake Cayuga. The soil and the proximity to the lake make this an ideal grape growing region. Today you will tour and enjoy a tasting at 1 award-winning winery. Taughannock Falls - On your way back into Ithaca stop at the Taughannock Falls Overlook to see the grandest of falls. At 215 feet it is higher than Niagara Falls! Dinner at Coltivare - This the downtown Ithaca culinary center, and the farm-to-table restaurant of Tompkins Cortland Community College. Enjoy a special meal tonight with a wine presentation by an experienced Sommelier! Lodging tonight will bring us back to Hotel Ithaca for 2nd night. (B, D)
Sunday, October 8th
Breakfast at our Hotel Ithaca (included). Meet our local guide and travel towards Seneca Lake.
We have another amazing day planned. Read on to see where we are off to on this day…. Corning Museum of Glass. This iconic museum not only gives you a glimpse at the amazing history of glass but shows of a fantastic art collection of glass. The things you can do with glass! There will be a live demonstration and a special treat – you will get to make your own piece of glass and bring it home during a Make Your Own Glass workshop! Lunch Cruise on Seneca Lake. Watkins Glen is at the bottom of Seneca Lake, the longest of the Finger Lakes. This afternoon you will enjoy a narrated cruise passing pastoral landscape, wineries and quaint villages – and excellent food!
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Your guide will give you an orientation tour of this historic town. Then stop at a winery for a lovely tasting. Dinner on own on the Commons. Ithaca took a street in the center of town, closed it off to traffic and created The Commons. This pedestrian area covers several blocks and is lined with cafes and restaurants and shops. We’ll return for our 3rd night to the Hotel Ithaca. (B, L)
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Monday, October 9th
Breakfast at our Hotel Ithaca (included). Check out and begin our journey to the Hudson Valley area.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. This is where the past comes alive. Bethel Woods is the spot of the famed 1969 concert Woodstock. Relive the era through a truly wonderful museum and excellent guides. Lunch (included) will be next door at the Dancing Cat Saloon – offering fine pub fare. After lunch you will have a 90-minute tour of West Point featuring History and Tradition. The West Point guide will board the bus for a combined bus and walking tour which tells the story of West Point, its role in the Revolution, its famous history as well as stories about graduates who shaped our nation. The tour makes stops at the Cadet Chapel, and Trophy Point with the million-dollar view overlooking the Hudson River. You will also explore the West Point Cemetery and Old Cadet Chapel built in 1837. Dinner (included) this evening at Blu Pointe Restaurant in Newburgh- this waterfront restaurant offers a farm-to-table menu featuring fresh seafood & prime beef, a raw bar station. Overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Fishkill, NY (2 nights) (B,L,D)
Tuesday, October 10th
Breakfast at your hotel (included), meet our local guide for a great day filled with great attractions in the Hudson Valley! Depart to Hyde Park for a visit to The FDR Home and the FDR Library Museum located in Hyde Park. Franklin D. Roosevelt created the country’s first Presidential Library on the grounds of his childhood home, Springwood – all along the Hudson River. This morning you will tour the home. The FDR Museum tells the story of our country’s only 4-time elected president and captures the incredible events of that time. (3 hours here). After lunch (on your own) at the Eveready Diner, you will enjoy a cruise on the Hudson River! You will have clear views of historic and picturesque Hudson River lighthouses, waterfront millionaire’s mansions, quaint, sleepy villages surrounded by the natural beauty of vineyards, orchards and scenic preservation sites. Walkway over the Hudson-is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge offering magnificent Hudson River valley views. (You won’t be walking the full length). It’s the perfect farewell to the Hudson Valley! Rhinebeck is the quintessential Hudson River town, chock full of unique restaurants, cafes and shops in a very walkable few blocks. A great place to have dinner on your own and with the locals. (B)
Wednesday, October 11th
Breakfast at your hotel (included), Check out of our hotel and travel to Cooperstown.
After your travels through the Catskill Mountains, you’ll arrive in the lovely village of Cooperstown nestled by a lake. National Baseball Hall of Fame is the centerpiece of this village. The museum brings the history of our national pastime to life. Since its opening more than 75 years ago, the museum has been dedicated to preserving history, honoring excellence and connection generations. The quaint Main Street is ideal for strolling and has several restaurants and cafes to enjoy lunch on your own. Travel to Herkimer for an Erie Canal Cruise - Take a journey through history on the calm waters of the Erie Canal while enjoying the spectacular scenery of New York’s beautiful Mohawk Valley. Join your United States Coast Guard licensed captain aboard Lil’ Diamond II and enjoy a few entertaining tales of the canal. Pass through Lock 18, one of the last remaining locks operating with all the original 100+-year-old equipment. Dinner Trackside Restaurant - The Utica train station is listed as one of the most beautiful trains stations in the country and a perfect location for this elegant restaurant. Overnight at the Delta Hotel Utica, NY (B, D)
Thursday, October 12th
Breakfast at your hotel (included)- then meet our local guide. Be prepared for another amazing journey through the Empire State! This adventure would not be complete without a train excursion! Adirondack Railroad trip. The Utica to Thendara train trip is truly unique experience and has several features that set it apart as you travel through forests, over rivers and streams into the Adirondack Mountains. The railroad trip ends in Old Forge, where you will meet your motorcoach. Continue nearby to the Great Camp Sagamore for lunch and a tour. You will experience a masterpiece of Adirondack architecture, a place where America’s most influential people came to take a break from the clamor of modern life. The 27-building Great Camp stands alone on a remote lakeside. Sagamore’s builders gathered the colors, scents, and textures of the wild forest and reassembled them indoors in a style that is now imitated nationwide. Lunch included at Great Camp Sagamore. Your bus meets you here for the return trip to the lovely Delta Hotel Pacifica. Dinner this evening at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse in Utica. (B, L, D)
Friday, October 13th
Breakfast at our hotel. Check out and begin our westward travels to Buffalo.
Canandaigua is a delightful lakeside village on Lake Canandaigua, one of the 11 Finger Lakes. Sweet Expressions stop – along main street in this quaint village are several shops and cafes. You’ll stop here, have someone tell about this village and then have a Sweet Tasting! After, you’ll enjoy a lunch and cooking demo at the NY Kitchen- Explore the best of NY State Agriculture at this restaurant/school located on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, in the village. You will have a chef-led demonstration preparing your salad and dessert and enjoy a 3-course meal! Continue to East Aurora NY. This small village is home to the Roycroft Campus where the Arts and Craft movement began, AND Millard Fillmore. But is also famous for Vidler’s Five and Dime - the largest 5 & 10 variety store in the world! With over 75,000 items spread through 4 buildings on 2 floors, this is an experience you can only find here. You’ll have time to explore the store and this quaint village. Tonight, you’ll have your dinner and evening entertainment on your own. Overnight is at the Hilton Garden Inn in Buffalo downtown. (B, L)
Saturday, October 14th
Breakfast at our hotel, check out and meet your local guide for a morning tour of Buffalo. We travel west on I-90 headed south along Lake Erie on the west side of New York, then skirting the northwest corner of Pennsylvania crossing into Ohio. We’ll wind our way around some cool attractions before checking into our hotel this evening. Our overnight lodging is the Drury Inn Cleveland. We’ll arrive in the late afternoon just in time for a hot / cold light dinner and cocktails. (B, D)
Sunday, October 15th
Enjoy a full breakfast at our hotel, checkout and travel west along I-90 to Romeoville, Illinois just outside the Chicago area. Set your seats back and relax as we continue homeward. Enjoy the lovely shades of autumn as we meander through the lovely states of Ohio, Indiana, crossing into Illinois. Comfort stops will be made as the day goes along. We’ll get checked into our accommodations – Holiday Inn. Take the evening as per your own agenda Remember as you pack, to leave a little room in your suitcase for all the wonderful memories you made on this trip to Upstate New York. (B)
Saturday, October 16th
Enjoy a full breakfast at our hotel, checkout and travel homeward. Stops will be made along the way. Lunch will be in Eau Clair, Wisconsin at the Oakwood Mall Food Court. Here is also where we will meet the shuttle from Central Minnesota that will bring many of our travelers home to the Twin Cities and St Cloud/St Stephens and Little Falls area. ETA Central MN: 3:30 pm to Twin Cities / 5 pm to St Stephens/St Cloud; 5:30 to Rice / 6 pm Little Falls Iron Range Cities : 4:30 pm to Superior / 5:00 pm to Duluth /6:30 to Eveleth /7:00 pm to Virginia / 7:30 Hibbing (B)
Note: Brainerd and Grand Rapids are not included in the boarding options due to the amount of extra driving the driver travels to Romeoville that first and last night’s mileage limits. Contact us if you need our assistance in setting up lodging accommodations in the nearest town where we stop.
Breakfast at our Hotel Ithaca (included). Check out and begin our journey to the Hudson Valley area.
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. This is where the past comes alive. Bethel Woods is the spot of the famed 1969 concert Woodstock. Relive the era through a truly wonderful museum and excellent guides. Lunch (included) will be next door at the Dancing Cat Saloon – offering fine pub fare. After lunch you will have a 90-minute tour of West Point featuring History and Tradition. The West Point guide will board the bus for a combined bus and walking tour which tells the story of West Point, its role in the Revolution, its famous history as well as stories about graduates who shaped our nation. The tour makes stops at the Cadet Chapel, and Trophy Point with the million-dollar view overlooking the Hudson River. You will also explore the West Point Cemetery and Old Cadet Chapel built in 1837. Dinner (included) this evening at Blu Pointe Restaurant in Newburgh- this waterfront restaurant offers a farm-to-table menu featuring fresh seafood & prime beef, a raw bar station. Overnight at the Hilton Garden Inn Fishkill, NY (2 nights) (B,L,D)
Tuesday, October 10th
Breakfast at your hotel (included), meet our local guide for a great day filled with great attractions in the Hudson Valley! Depart to Hyde Park for a visit to The FDR Home and the FDR Library Museum located in Hyde Park. Franklin D. Roosevelt created the country’s first Presidential Library on the grounds of his childhood home, Springwood – all along the Hudson River. This morning you will tour the home. The FDR Museum tells the story of our country’s only 4-time elected president and captures the incredible events of that time. (3 hours here). After lunch (on your own) at the Eveready Diner, you will enjoy a cruise on the Hudson River! You will have clear views of historic and picturesque Hudson River lighthouses, waterfront millionaire’s mansions, quaint, sleepy villages surrounded by the natural beauty of vineyards, orchards and scenic preservation sites. Walkway over the Hudson-is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge offering magnificent Hudson River valley views. (You won’t be walking the full length). It’s the perfect farewell to the Hudson Valley! Rhinebeck is the quintessential Hudson River town, chock full of unique restaurants, cafes and shops in a very walkable few blocks. A great place to have dinner on your own and with the locals. (B)
Wednesday, October 11th
Breakfast at your hotel (included), Check out of our hotel and travel to Cooperstown.
After your travels through the Catskill Mountains, you’ll arrive in the lovely village of Cooperstown nestled by a lake. National Baseball Hall of Fame is the centerpiece of this village. The museum brings the history of our national pastime to life. Since its opening more than 75 years ago, the museum has been dedicated to preserving history, honoring excellence and connection generations. The quaint Main Street is ideal for strolling and has several restaurants and cafes to enjoy lunch on your own. Travel to Herkimer for an Erie Canal Cruise - Take a journey through history on the calm waters of the Erie Canal while enjoying the spectacular scenery of New York’s beautiful Mohawk Valley. Join your United States Coast Guard licensed captain aboard Lil’ Diamond II and enjoy a few entertaining tales of the canal. Pass through Lock 18, one of the last remaining locks operating with all the original 100+-year-old equipment. Dinner Trackside Restaurant - The Utica train station is listed as one of the most beautiful trains stations in the country and a perfect location for this elegant restaurant. Overnight at the Delta Hotel Utica, NY (B, D)
Thursday, October 12th
Breakfast at your hotel (included)- then meet our local guide. Be prepared for another amazing journey through the Empire State! This adventure would not be complete without a train excursion! Adirondack Railroad trip. The Utica to Thendara train trip is truly unique experience and has several features that set it apart as you travel through forests, over rivers and streams into the Adirondack Mountains. The railroad trip ends in Old Forge, where you will meet your motorcoach. Continue nearby to the Great Camp Sagamore for lunch and a tour. You will experience a masterpiece of Adirondack architecture, a place where America’s most influential people came to take a break from the clamor of modern life. The 27-building Great Camp stands alone on a remote lakeside. Sagamore’s builders gathered the colors, scents, and textures of the wild forest and reassembled them indoors in a style that is now imitated nationwide. Lunch included at Great Camp Sagamore. Your bus meets you here for the return trip to the lovely Delta Hotel Pacifica. Dinner this evening at Delmonico’s Italian Steakhouse in Utica. (B, L, D)
Friday, October 13th
Breakfast at our hotel. Check out and begin our westward travels to Buffalo.
Canandaigua is a delightful lakeside village on Lake Canandaigua, one of the 11 Finger Lakes. Sweet Expressions stop – along main street in this quaint village are several shops and cafes. You’ll stop here, have someone tell about this village and then have a Sweet Tasting! After, you’ll enjoy a lunch and cooking demo at the NY Kitchen- Explore the best of NY State Agriculture at this restaurant/school located on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, in the village. You will have a chef-led demonstration preparing your salad and dessert and enjoy a 3-course meal! Continue to East Aurora NY. This small village is home to the Roycroft Campus where the Arts and Craft movement began, AND Millard Fillmore. But is also famous for Vidler’s Five and Dime - the largest 5 & 10 variety store in the world! With over 75,000 items spread through 4 buildings on 2 floors, this is an experience you can only find here. You’ll have time to explore the store and this quaint village. Tonight, you’ll have your dinner and evening entertainment on your own. Overnight is at the Hilton Garden Inn in Buffalo downtown. (B, L)
Saturday, October 14th
Breakfast at our hotel, check out and meet your local guide for a morning tour of Buffalo. We travel west on I-90 headed south along Lake Erie on the west side of New York, then skirting the northwest corner of Pennsylvania crossing into Ohio. We’ll wind our way around some cool attractions before checking into our hotel this evening. Our overnight lodging is the Drury Inn Cleveland. We’ll arrive in the late afternoon just in time for a hot / cold light dinner and cocktails. (B, D)
Sunday, October 15th
Enjoy a full breakfast at our hotel, checkout and travel west along I-90 to Romeoville, Illinois just outside the Chicago area. Set your seats back and relax as we continue homeward. Enjoy the lovely shades of autumn as we meander through the lovely states of Ohio, Indiana, crossing into Illinois. Comfort stops will be made as the day goes along. We’ll get checked into our accommodations – Holiday Inn. Take the evening as per your own agenda Remember as you pack, to leave a little room in your suitcase for all the wonderful memories you made on this trip to Upstate New York. (B)
Saturday, October 16th
Enjoy a full breakfast at our hotel, checkout and travel homeward. Stops will be made along the way. Lunch will be in Eau Clair, Wisconsin at the Oakwood Mall Food Court. Here is also where we will meet the shuttle from Central Minnesota that will bring many of our travelers home to the Twin Cities and St Cloud/St Stephens and Little Falls area. ETA Central MN: 3:30 pm to Twin Cities / 5 pm to St Stephens/St Cloud; 5:30 to Rice / 6 pm Little Falls Iron Range Cities : 4:30 pm to Superior / 5:00 pm to Duluth /6:30 to Eveleth /7:00 pm to Virginia / 7:30 Hibbing (B)
Note: Brainerd and Grand Rapids are not included in the boarding options due to the amount of extra driving the driver travels to Romeoville that first and last night’s mileage limits. Contact us if you need our assistance in setting up lodging accommodations in the nearest town where we stop.