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Massachusetts/Maine/Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia/Québec

Northern Shores: Québec, the Canadian Maritimes and New England

Program No. 21517RJ
Explore the shores of Eastern Canada and New England, learning about the regions’ history, visiting historic sites and discovering Old World charm in modern cosmopolitan cities.

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At a Glance

The rocky shores of what are now Eastern Canada and New England have been landed on and settled by Vikings and explorers sailing from Scotland, England and France through the centuries. Discover this fascinating history plus the timeless charm of colonial cities, the Celtic culture of the Canadian Maritimes and the rugged natural beauty of the Atlantic coast on this voyage from Quebec City to Boston.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
I like to spend much of the day exploring. Whether walking through historic neighborhoods at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I prefer to keep my days full. Stairs don’t bother me, and I love to keep up with the group.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Experience the Old World grandeur of Québec City, the only intact walled city on the continent north of Mexico.
  • Discover Acadia National Park's majesty by trolley.
  • Learn about Halifax’s connection to the Titanic as well as the Great Explosion of 1917 during an expert-led walk of Nova Scotia’s capital city.

General Notes

This voyage combines Road Scholar’s trademark education and camaraderie with access to Holland America Cruise Line’s wide variety of activities and dining and entertainment options. While you’ll spend much of your time with the Road Scholar group, please consider that you’ll be on a large ocean liner with passengers of all ages when deciding if this program is right for you.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Down East, A Maritime History of Maine
by Lincoln Paine
Maine's maritime history, from the coastal travel of Native Americans to the Basque fishing industry to the pleasure boating of today, incorporating ecology, culture and art into its well-researched history.
Acadia National Park Wildlife
by James Kavanagh
A handy, shirt-pocket guide with color illustrations of commonly encountered wildlife in Acadia.
Xenophobe's Guide to the Canadians
by Vaughn Roste
Moon Handbook Acadia National Park
by Kathleen M. Brandes
This compact guide combines an overview of the history, culture and nature of Maine's Acadia National Park and neighboring Bar Harbor, with practical information for travelers. The book also features photographs, maps and illustrations.
Empire Falls
by Richard Russo
A Pulitzer Prize-winning novel lovingly set in a fictitious Maine mill town. Russo has composed an entertaining and poignant portrait of what lies beneath the facade of small-town New England life
One Man's Meat
by E.B. White
By the author of "Charlotte's Web," a collection of observant and often humorous essays about daily life on a Maine saltwater farm. A wonderful portrait of coastal small-town life, originally published in 1938.
People of the Deer
by Farley Mowat
A classic account of the people of Canada's barren grounds. The book both launched Farley Mowat's career and brought attention to the plight of a fast disappearing people.
Acadia, The Complete Guide
by James Kaiser
A full-color informative guide on where to go, what to do and how to get the most out of hikes and other adventures in Maine.
Reading the Forested Landscape, A Natural History of New England
by Tom Wessels, Brian Cohen (Illustrator), Ann Zwinger (Introduction)
In this entertaining, informative book, the history of the New England forest unfolds like a mystery novel. Wessels examines the character of the central New England forest through the clues left behind by fires, logging, storms and economic fads.
National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Mid-Atlantic States
by Peter Alden, Brian Cassie
A compact photographic guide to the wildflowers, trees, mosses, butterflies, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of the Mid-Atlantic States.
Acadia National Park Map
by Trails Illustrated
A hiker's detailed topographic map of Acadia National Park, shown at a scale of 1:50,000, printed on tear-resistant, waterproof paper.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.