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Maine/New Brunswick/Prince Edward Island/Nova Scotia

On the Road: New England and the Canadian Maritimes

Program No. 19585RJ
From Portland, Maine, to Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, explore unique ecosystems, maritime history, idyllic villages and world-famous cuisine with local experts.
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National ParksOn the Road
Length
15 days
Rating (4.81)
Activity Level
Starts at
5,899
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Itinerary
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. Read More.
While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
Duration
15 days
14 nights
What's Included
35 meals ( 14B, 13L, 8D )
2 expert-led lectures
24 expert-led field trips
1 performance
An experienced Group Leader
14 nights of accommodations
Taxes and customary gratuity
Road Scholar Assurance Plan
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Afternoon:
Program Registration: After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table to meet the Group Leader and confirm orientation time and place. Your program materials will be sent to you a few days before the program, digitally, through your roadscholar.org account. This includes your program itinerary, any related handouts, and restaurant/free time suggestions. Please plan to print them out and bring along to the program, utilize the hotel's business center to access them, or view them on your own personal electronic device. Orientation: 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. Periods in the 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. On the Road programs are journeys that take participants to multiple study sites in a region with a number of overnight stays. Lectures, talks, discussions, field trips, and on-board commentary amplify the program theme. Some journeys involve great distances and may take hours, others are much shorter. Long or short, On the Road journeys are learning experiences that make the most of our time together. “America the Beautiful” passes cover entrance fees at national parks and wildlife refuges for up to 4 adults. If you have one of these national park passes, please bring it with you to the program and on our field trips to benefit other members of the group.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
At leisure. Get acquainted with fellow Road Scholars!
Activity Note
Walking on cobblestone and paved streets and standing on a guided visit, beginning at the hotel, through the Old Port district, with listening devices, for 1.5 hours over a total of approximately one mile.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
At the hotel, we’ll be joined by a local expert who will provide an overview of Portland's history. Originally called Machigonne (Great Neck) by the Native Americans who first inhabited it, the Portland peninsula was established by the British in 1632 as a trading and fishing settlement. Industry grew and Portland's waterfront became a mecca for shipping and trading companies. The Phoenix, the mythical bird that rises from the ashes, aptly symbolizes Portland's legendary rebirth after the Great Fire of 1866 leveled the city for the fourth time. Almost completely rebuilt during the Victorian era, Portland has maintained much of its 19th century architecture and flavor. We’ll then depart the hotel via motorcoach for a walking field trip to the historic waterfront known as Old Port and learn why this is one of the most successful revitalized warehouse districts in the country.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant in the Old Port district along Portland Harbor.
Afternoon:
Free time to explore Portland independently.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure. Explore more of this charming small city at your own pace. Stroll along the water and watch the boats venture in and out of the harbor or simply relax.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Bucksport with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 120 miles. Walking and standing on unpaved terrain for 1 hour at the Maine Maritime Museum. Check-in to hotel in Bucksport with time to freshen up before dinner.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
Depart Portland to view the oldest lighthouse in Maine, the Portland Headlight in Cape Elizabeth. We'll then continue up Maine’s scenic coastline to Bath, renowned for shipbuilding since 1743. More than 5,000 vessels have been launched in the area, which at one time had more than 200 shipbuilding firms. At the Maine Maritime Museum, learn how Bath became the nation's fifth largest seaport by the mid-19th century, producing clipper ships that sailed to ports around the world.
Lunch:
At the Maine Maritime Museum.
Afternoon:
Continue to “Downeast Maine” where you will stop en route to visit the Penobscot Narrows Bridge & Observatory at historic Fort Knox. Experience the thrill of the tallest bridge observatory in the world!
Dinner:
At a local restaurant
Evening:
Enjoy the water views from the inn or stroll along the river at your leisure.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Roosevelt Campobello Island International Park. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 105 miles. Cross the border into Canada at Lubec, Maine. Time moves ahead 1 hour to Atlantic Time. Standing and walking on paved terrain with some small inclines, up to 1 mile over 1.5 hours.
Breakfast:
In a local restaurant across the street from the hotel.
Morning:
Depart to Roosevelt Campobello Island International Park. The park preserves the house and surrounding landscape of the summer retreat of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Today, Roosevelt Campobello International Park serves as a memorial to FDR and a symbol of cooperation between the U.S. and Canada.
Lunch:
At Adam's Lodge
Afternoon:
After settling into our rooms we will walk over to the notable Wells-Shober summer cottage for Eleanor's Tea. We'll enjoy tea and cookies while listening to experts explore the story of Eleanor Roosevelt. Next we'll take a guided walk around the historic core, followed by a tour of the Roosevelt and Hubbard cottages.
Dinner:
At Adam's Lodge
Evening:
After dinner we'll gather for an interpretive talk at the FDR cocktail hour.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Moncton with a stop in St. Andrews. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 209 miles. Standing and walking on paved paths in Kingsbrae Botanical Gardens.
Breakfast:
At Adam Lodge
Morning:
After breakfast we will take a nature walk around the grounds of Roosevelt Campobello Island International Park with a local guide.
Lunch:
At Kingsbrae Gardens.
Afternoon:
Upon arriving in St. Andrews we'll start our visit to Kingsbrae Gardens, one of North America’s premier botanical gardens. Here we will enjoy a guided visit of the 27-acre horticultural masterpiece that is home to over 2,500 species of perennials, as well as a wide variety of trees and shrubs. Fauna such as peacocks, pygmy goats, and alpacas may be wandering about. The grounds are also home to Canada's first Jurassic living fossil Wollemi pine!
Dinner:
At a local restaurant in Moncton.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Charlottetown, PEI with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 125 miles. Descend stairs to sea floor. Hopewell Rocks: walk and stand on packed sand for approximately 1 hour on a guided walk of Hopewell Rocks. *Due to the tide schedule we will only see the Rocks at low tide* Walking on unpaved terrain on a guided visit of Green Gables. Stairs are unavoidable to access the second floor of the house.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We’ll check out of the hotel and depart by motorcoach for Hopewell Rocks to experience the Bay of Fundy’s phenomenal tidal changes. At low tide, we will walk on the ocean floor with a naturalist around the towering “flower pots”. We will then continue our journey with a stop at Cape Jourimain for lunch and free time to explore the Cape Jourimain Nature Centre.
Lunch:
At Cape Jourimain we'll have boxed lunches.
Afternoon:
Cross the Confederation Bridge onto Prince Edward Island. Since 1997 the bridge has joined the eastern Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. At eight miles in length, it is the longest bridge in the world to cross ice-covered waters! Once on PEI, we'll make our way across the province to stop at Green Gables Heritage Place. This National Historic Site was an inspiration for Lucy Maud Montgomery’s famous tale, “Anne of Green Gables”. Here we will learn about Canada's most beloved fictional character and relive her youthful adventures and shenanigans within the memory-filled rooms of her Victorian home. Later, we will continue southeast to Charlottetown, the largest city on and the provincial capital of Prince Edward Island.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking up to 0.5 miles and standing on paved side walks, stopping at historic sites during walk of Great George St.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We will visit the Beaconsfield Historic House, built in 1877. This home is the perfect example of the Victorian architecture of the time. Many of its original features are still intact, so we will see what home life was like on PEI in the 19th century. We will continue to explore Charlottetown on a guided walking tour of Great George Street. One of only two national historic streets in Canada, a costumed historical interpreter will lead us through history up to the Province House National Historic Site.*Please note that the Province House is closed for conservation work at this time. We will have the opportunity to visit an exact replica of the Confederation Chamber, found in the Province House.*
Lunch:
Enjoy the products of Prince Edward Island at a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
Experience North Rustico, a small fishing community on the north shore of PEI. Visit Carr's Wildlife Centre to learn about some of the unique species that call these shores home. Sample a freshly shucked oyster from Carr's Seafood. Enjoy free time to explore Rustico on your own. You may want to stroll the picturesque boardwalk in the tiny village of North Rustico before we transfer back to Charlottetown.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Hotel check-out, breakfast and transfer to Baddeck, NS with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 280 miles. 75-minute ferry crossing. Walking and standing at Hector Quay Museum, including walking aboard a docked tall ship for 1 hour. Arrive in Baddeck with time to freshen up before dinner.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
We'll travel across Prince Edward Island to take the ferry to Pictou, Nova Scotia. Keep your eyes peeled for seals, whales or dolphins along the way! Learn the story of the Scottish settlement at Hector Heritage Quay and board the docked replica of the ship Hector. The Hector, a three-masted cargo vessel, was the first ship to directly transport passengers from Scotland to Nova Scotia. This historic voyage marked the beginning of a massive wave of immigration that would shape the future of North America and gave Pictou the honor of being called “the birthplace of New Scotland”.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will travel to Baddeck, on the shores of Bras d’Or Lake on Cape Breton Island, via motorcoach.
Dinner:
At the hotel.
Evening:
Join in on a local favorite the "Baddeck Gathering Ceilidh" performance. Performers from the nearby Gaelic College stop in for this town tradition of song, dance, storytelling, and bagpipes.
Activity Note
The drive along the Cabot Trail is 189 miles, with frequent stops that include short walks and visits.
Breakfast:
At the hotel.
Morning:
A local guide will join us for our day along the Cabot Trail. Our first stop will be at Les Trois Pignons for an expert-led visit of the Museum of Antiques, which depicts the early life of Acadian ancestors who settled in the village of Cheticamp over 200 years ago. We will also see the Elizabeth LeFort Gallery of Hooked Tapestries at this site.
Lunch:
Box lunches along the Cabot Trail.
Afternoon:
We will behold the gorgeous coastal views and tiny villages of Cape Breton’s Cabot Trail. Since the completion of the initial route in 1932, the Cabot Trail has served as one of Canada's most famous drives and encompasses many cultural heritage sites, scenic overlooks and whale watching hiking trails.
Dinner:
At the hotel
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Halifax, NS with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 218 miles. Walking and standing at the Alexander Graham Bell Historic Site Museum. Ramp is available to access second floor.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will visit a National Historic Site, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum, which contains the largest collection of Bell’s artifacts and inventions. Bell is well remembered for the telephone, but he worked on many different inventions throughout his lifetime. He first came to Baddeck in 1885 and returned a year later to establish a vacation home for his family. When Bell arrived in Baddeck he had plenty of free time due to his success of patenting the first telephone in the United States. In his spare time he was able to delve into other areas of expertise such as marine engineering, medicine, aeronautics and space-frame construction. Discover Bell's significant impact on the Baddeck economy during his residency at Beinn Bhreagh.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will continue on via motorcoach to the hotel in Halifax, NS.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Walking and standing on unpaved terrain and rock at Peggy’s Cove on a self-guided exploration. Walking and standing for short distances during the visit of Halifax. Walking and standing for 1 hour at the Museum.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will be joined by a local expert to lead us on an exploration of the picturesque, rocky coast of Nova Scotia on an excursion to Peggy’s Cove. This small community, known for its iconic light house, brings in hundreds of artists and photographers every year to capture this village's authentic beauty. Next we will continue on with our local guide for a city tour around Halifax.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
After lunch we will depart for the Halifax Citadel to learn about the importance of the National Historic Site to the city’s origins. We'll continue our day in Halifax with a guided visit of the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21. We will learn of the city’s position as the gateway to Canada. The building that now houses the museum was an ocean liner terminal and immigration shed from 1928 to 1971.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to New Brunswick with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 195 miles. Walking and standing on grass for up to 1 hour on a visit of Grand Pré. 2 hour ferry crossing.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will head to the Grand-Pré National Historic Site to learn about the fate of the Acadians. Made famous by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's epic poem "Evangeline," we will explore this vibrant site filled with multimedia presentations to learn more about the life of the 17th & 18th century Acadians.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
En route to the ferry we will stop at the Fort Anne National Historic Site to walk the earthen walls, explore the 1797 Officers’ Quarters Museum, and soak up thousands of years of the region’s history. We'll then cross the Bay of Fundy on the ferry to Saint John, arriving early evening.
Dinner:
On board the ferry.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
After breakfast, hotel check-out and transfer to Bar Harbor, ME with stops along the way. Total mileage traveled by motorcoach is 173 miles. Cross the border from Canada to the U.S. at Calais, Maine. Move back one hour to Eastern Standard Time.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We'll discover Saint John on a guided visit with local author and folklorist David Goss. The only city on the Bay of Fundy, we will discover what's booming from bands on the boardwalk to contemporary fine dining, and, of course, magnificent tides. After, cross the border from Canada to the U.S. at Calais, Maine.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant
Afternoon:
We will continue to picturesque Bar Harbor. Home to the largest parts of Acadia National Park and Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor is internationally known for its natural beauty.
Dinner:
This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
Full-day motorcoach exploration of Acadia National Park with frequent stops and short walks.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
With a local guide we will discover Acadia National Park on a full-day field-trip. The oldest American National Park east of the Mississippi River was established in 1916 in congruence with the National Park Service. Today the park protects more than 47,000 acres of Maine's beauty. View some of the most beautiful mountains, shorelines, and lakes of this over 100 year old national treasure.
Lunch:
At a local restaurant.
Afternoon:
We will further explore Acadia National Park.
Dinner:
At the hotel, we will celebrate our journey together.
Evening:
At leisure.
Activity Note
The transfer from Bar Harbor to Portland International Jetport is 170 miles, and takes approximately 4 hours with one rest stop. Arriving at approximately 12:30 p.m. Please do not schedule flights before 2:30 p.m.
Breakfast:
At the hotel
Morning:
We will transfer to Portland International Jetport, arriving at approximately 12:30 p.m. Please do not schedule flights before 2:30 p.m. The motor coach will also drop off at the Portland Transportation Center and the first hotel of program. 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!
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