On the Road: The Best of Fall in New England

Program Registration: 3:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:00 p.m. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. Our experienced and knowledgeable Group Leader will also serve as our Study Leader, who will provide educational content, along with a series of local experts who will give lectures and lead field trips. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach unless noted otherwise. Meals will feature local cuisine in a variety of settings. This is a Road Scholar On The Road (OTR) program. OTR journeys take participants to multiple study sites in a region with a number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary will amplify the program theme. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together. Periods in the daily schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

At a local restaurant within walking distance from the hotel.

At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel. You will need to wait at the host stand to be seated.

We will explore the historic highlights of Boston, walking the fabled Freedom Trail with a local expert. There are 16 official sites along the 2.5 miles marked with a line of red brick or red paint. We will go part way, from Boston Common to the Old Granary Burying Ground, Old South Meeting House, the Old State House Museum, and Faneuil Hall.

At a restaurant in Boston’s North End.

We will continue our discovery of Boston as we stroll the streets of the North End en route to the Old North Church Historic Site for a behind-the-scenes docent-led field trip. Listen and learn about the workings of the oldest set of change-ringing bells in North America. We will climb the stairs to the bell ringing chamber where the teenage Paul Revere worked as bell ringer and walk amongst the 37 tombs constructed below the floors of the Old North between 1732 and 1860. We'll learn about the construction of the crypt, view artifacts found in the crypt, and hear the history of those buried there including the Church’s first rector and soldiers killed during the Battle of Bunker Hill and Breed’s Hill. Outside of the church, there is time to explore the Clough House, which includes the Printing Office of Edes & Gill and Heritage Goods gift shop. We will return to the hotel by public transportation.

At a local restaurant.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel. You will need to wait at the host stand to be seated.

After checking out of the hotel, we will board the motorcoach and depart from Boston to Salem, Massachusetts. On a mixed walking and motorcoach field trip led by a lifetime resident and local historian, we will learn about Salem’s remarkable history including details about its lucrative maritime trade, controversial witch trials, architecture, and culture as one of America’s oldest communities.

At a local restaurant.

Continuing north into Maine, we visit the town of York - one of the oldest English colonial towns in America. Led by a local expert, we will visit the Old Gaol, learning about its unique and rare status as one of the few English Royal Government Building standing in America. This will be followed by a mixed walking and motorcoach tour of the town, including a stop at the iconic Nubble Lighthouse. We will then continue north to Ogunquit, Maine and check in to our hotel.

At a local restaurant, we will have a traditional lobster dinner, a specialty of New England’s Atlantic waters.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will visit the Ogunquit Museum of American Art where we will get a docent led tour. The museum houses a permanent collection of important paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints, and photographs from the late 1800s to the present. Included in the collection is an extensive selection of works by artists associated with Ogunquit’s famous art colony of the early 20th century such as Edward Betts, Charles Woodbury, Hamilton Easter Field, and Robert Laurent. We will next head out on a one-hour boat cruise to learn first-hand from the captain about lobster fishing as well as to appreciate the scenic coastal views from an oceanic perspective. This is weather dependent, and there will be an alternate activity if necessary.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Free time. Take this opportunity for personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. You may wish to take in the spectacular scenery on a walk along the Marginal Way. Once a dirt trail with difficult terrain, the magnificent Marginal Way is now a paved footpath. Winding along the rocky shoreline for 1.25 miles from Ogunquit’s downtown area to the quaint fishing village of Perkins Cove, the Marginal Way boasts some of most spectacular coastal views in New England.

On your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out of the hotel and boarding the motorcoach, we’ll leave Ogunquit and head up the coast to Portland Head Light, one of Maine’s most iconic lighthouses, which has served as a beacon to ships since 1791.

At a local restaurant.

Free time in Old Port. We will then rendezvous at a predetermined time and place to board the motorcoach and say bye to Maine’s rocky coast for the White Mountains of Bartlett, New Hampshire where we will check in to our hotel with time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At the hotel.

A naturalist will join us at the hotel and give a presentation on the local ecology of autumn in the North Woods with emphasis on native wildlife and the northern environment.

At the hotel.

We’ll head out on the motorcoach to the Marshfield Base Station. Located in the heart of the majestic White Mountains region of northern New Hampshire, it is 6 miles east of Route 302 on the western face of Mount Washington. Even the drive along Base Station Road is beautiful; every twist and turn reveals new perspectives on the Presidential Range. Keep your eyes open for wildlife; moose and bear sightings are not uncommon along the base road! We will arrive to the Mount Washington Cog Railway, where we will take the historic train ride to the summit. The Cog is the first mountain-climbing cog railway in the world. With an average grade of 25 percent, it’s also the second steepest! Wear warm clothes; it can get chilly! We will pop into the Cog Museum, which has exhibits on the history of the world’s first mountain climbing cog railway, and their steam-powered “Steam Garden.” Here, we’ll explore on our own.

At a restaurant en route.

After lunch, we’ll head to the Rocks Estate in Bethlehem, NH to learn from a local expert how maple syrup is produced and how conservation fits into maple sugaring. The site is home to the North Country Conservation & Education Center for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. Then, we will take a one-hour walk through the estate's forest trails with our expert discussing wildlife habitat improvement and sustainable forestry practices while enjoying mountain vistas.

Pizza dinner at hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

As we leave, we’ll travel along the scenic Kancamagus Highway, stopping en route for short walks to scenic overlooks, forest paths, and a covered bridge.

At a local restaurant.

Crossing into Vermont, we’ll head to the mountains of the Mad River Valley. Along the way, we’ll learn about what makes Vermont such a special place with a trip to the Vermont History Museum. We will get a brief introduction from an expert before we have time to explore on our own. We will then check-in to our hotel with some free time before dinner to relax, freshen up, or get acquainted with Burlington with a walk through the welcoming, quaint streets of town.

At a restaurant near the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

Today we will visit the Shelburne Museum - one of the largest art & history museums in northern New England and a foremost public resource for visual art and material culture. We will get an introduction by a museum docent, followed by time for self-exploration.

A sack lunch at the museum.

Free time. If you would like to explore Burlington on your own, walk through the quaint shops and restaurants of Church Street or stroll the waterfront for some scenic views. Additional free time activity suggestions include a cruise on Lake Champlain or a visit to Shelburne Farms to learn about the cheese making process. Or simply relax at the hotel. If needed, we will reschedule an activity in place the Day 4 lobster cruise activity here.

On your own to enjoy local fare.

At leisure. Prepare for our transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out of our hotel, we will travel south through the stunning center of Vermont, taking in the rural autumn landscapes and tiny villages along Route 100 with stops for photos.

At a local restaurant in a quaint Vermont village.

We will soak in the scenery from the motorcoach as we continue to Grafton, Vermont. Upon arrival, we will check in at the inn with some time to relax and explore before dinner. Please note that this is not a traditional hotel, but a unique inn. There are a limited number of rooms with 2 beds and therefore, we cannot guarantee 2-bed room requests, but will give priority to matched roommates. The inn has several buildings and not every room is the same.

At the inn.

At leisure.

At the inn.

We will start our day by taking an educational walk through the town of Grafton. We’ll be joined by a local expert from the town for a discussion on life in this quintessential New England town. Next, we’ll head via motorcoach to Scott Farm in Dummerston, Vermont, where we will learn – as we taste – about organic heirloom apple varieties.

At the farm.

New England roads are lined with stone walls. We will learn about the art and craft of dry stone walling during a demonstration by The Stone Trust, an organization specializing in this regional iconic skill.

At the Inn. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the inn.

We will check out of the hotel and transfer via motorcoach to Boston. This concludes our program. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!