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Save $100 per person on  select Fall Foliage vacations.*

From the blazing glow of the golden Aspens to the varying shades of orange, red and purple in New England, fall colors shuffle in the beginning of the fall season. You can choose from one of two Cosmos New England tours that allow you to experience this beautiful time of the year in full color. And if you book your Cosmos Fall Foliage vacation before October 31, you will save $100 per person on select departures.*

New England Traditions

10 days from New York City to New York City

Charming New England comes to life on this scenic and historic vacation. Start your trip in New York City, then travel to Newport, Rhode Island, home to magnificent mansions, skilled sailing, and fresh seafood. Continue to Plymouth, Massachusetts, for two overnights and plenty of time to sightsee. Visit Plimoth Plantation, where costumed interpreters portray the early 17th-century lifestyle of the Pilgrims, and see Plymouth Rock, the spot where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. A major highlight in Plymouth is a whale-watching expedition for dolphins as well as finback and humpback whales.

New England Traditions with Extended Stay in New York City

12 days from New York City to New York City

Enjoy a harbor cruise in Hyannis, the "Homeport of Cape Cod." Then travel to historic Boston for a sightseeing tour of Boston's major sights and free time, before spending an overnight in the oceanfront village of Ogunquit, Maine. Marvel at New England's glorious fall foliage as you travel to Lake Winnipesaukee for a scenic cruise and an overnight in Shelburne, New Hampshire. In Vermont, taste local maple syrup and sip fresh apple cider before boarding a ferry across Lake Champlain into New York. While in New York, visit Lake Placid, Saratoga, and Albany before traveling back to New York City for two nights and an orientation tour of New York City's most famous sights. From the historic sights to the scenic beauty, this vacation through New England is sure to delight.

Tours often begin with sightseeing in Boston, the "cradle of American liberty," before continuing on to Lexington and Concard, where travelers have the opportunity to follow the path of Paul Revere's legendary ride.

Architecture reminiscent of Norman Rockwells, a native to the area, abounds.  For an in-depth look at the area's impact on his work, visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Mass.

Calm Lake Placid in upstate New York, site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, offers a peacfeul escape from the big city, while the trip into Vermont instantly calls into minds of ice cream lovers, the sweet richness of New & Jerry's.

In New Hampshire, venture onboard a ship for a cruise of the island-speckled Lake Winnipesaukee, the sixth-largest natural lake in America, at the foothills of the glorious White Mountains.

While some land tours don't get as far north as Bar Harbour in Main, the same fresh lobster and brillian autumnal foliage can be found in Kennebunkport.  Here, secluded Goose Rocks Beach sprawls for three miles. 

Many cruises kick off amid the bright lights of New York City, but the rest of the journey proces to be a stark contrast - quaint port cities, cobblestone streets, even horse-drawn carriages.

Elite Newport, a seasode town straddling wo Rhode Island bays, is known for its extravagant 19th century summer homes, especially those lining the grand Ten-Mile Drive.

Indule in fresh lobster in pictureqsue Bar Harbor, Main, before venturing to the nearby Acadian National Park, where mountains, trees, ocean shoreline, ponds and lakes offer prime fall foliage viewing spots.

Southwest Halifoz, Nova Scotia, lies Peggy's Cove, a charming village known for the Sou'Wester Restaurant and its seafood chowder.  Driving tours near Halifox promise to be package with sweeping vistas, rich farmlands and decadent vineyards. Stop in at the Grand Pre Winery for tasting.

These are just some of the beautiful ports you will visit on a New England cruise.

From the top of the Empire State Building to the foot of the Statue of Liberty to the bright lights of Times Square, New York City provides thrills 24 hours a day. There, the best and brightest are front and center – in the museums, on Broadway, at the United Nations and at historic Yankee Stadium. Take a tour out of New York to visit Boston and New England during the fall and enjoying the changing of the leaves and amazing scenery. You can also cruise through New England and Canada.

There’s more than one reason why Florida is called the Sunshine State.  It’s also a description of how you feel wherever – and whenever – you travel Florida.  With endless coastline, Florida’s beaches are always a glorious welcome. Popular areas to visit are Key West, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton, Orlando, Ft. Meyers and Daytona Beach.  Take the family to Walt Disney World, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Universal Studios for a memorable vacation.

The allure of Arizona packs all of the enchantment you could ask for. Whether exploring the Grand Canyon, relaxing in a Scottsdale spa or playing golf in Phoenix, the only state you’ll be in is one of bliss.
Why not tour the National Parks or river raft in the Grand Canyon?

Perfect weather is the perfect backdrop to your California dreaming. Experience the glitz of Hollywood, the renowned San Diego Zoo, the charm of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf and the beauty of Sonoma’s wine country. 

The amazing Hawaiian Islands, Denali National park in Alaska, historical Boston, you could go on and on at all the amazing places to visit in the U.S.  With hotels varying from the ultra luxurious to the economy variety, there are accommodations that will fit every budget, within every state.

Discover the historic community of Bar Harbor with its beauty, charm and unique character. Nestled between the mountains of Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor has attracted visitors, naturalists and scientists for decades

The town is small and easy to walk the main road full of local shops and restaurants. Well worth a tour, is a trip up to Cadillac Mountain. You will see spectacular coastal, mountain and forest scenery. You can hike, canoe or just talk a walk in the park. For those that have been to Bar Harbor before, consider whale watching.

Today, visitors can experience the history of St. John by visiting The New Brunswick Museum which exhibits the city’s history of shipbuilding. In addition, many visitors stop at the ‘Reversing Falls,’ set at the mouth of the St. John River. Due to strong tidal fluctuations, the flow of the river is reversed and the river’s current flows upstream for several miles.

There are 3 pigments in leaves:

• Chlorophyll gives leaves their green color. Chlorophyll does more than produce color, it catches the sun's ray and converts them to food (photosynthesis.) Chlorophyll dominates carotenoid which is why leaves have a green color.
• Carotenoid gives leaves yellow, orange and brown colors. Carotenoid is also found in fruits and vegetables such as carrots, bananas, squash and sweet potato.
• Anthocyanins gives leaves leaves red, purple and magenta colors. Anthocyanins is also found in fruits and vegetables such as purple tomatoes, acai berries, cherries and strawberries. Not all trees produce anthocyanins, and those that do, it normally only occurs in the fall. It is found with trees that have a sugary sap, such as maple.
  
  When summer ends, the days get shorter, and the nights get longer and colder as well. During winter there is not enough water or light for photosynthesis, so trees live off of the food stored during the summer. Green chlorophyll production is minimal, so the green color fades and allows the carotenoid and anthocyanins to come through.
  
  What happens to the leaves once they have fallen? They break down and provide nutrients for the soil.
  
  As we have mentioned in previous blogs, every fall foliage season is different, with Mother Nature being very unpredictable. For example if there is an early frost, it can turn the leaves brown and cause them to fall early. A lot of rain can lower the brightness of the leave's colors.

One of the most frequently asked questions we are asked that pertains to fall foliage travel, is "When is the Best Time to see the changing of the leaves?"

Choose from various escorted tours and cruise itineraries to gain the full experience of what New England has to offer. As the season nears, there are many "Hotlines" to get up to date information on the changing of the season. Tauck has a foliologist/naturalist that gives updates on their hotline: 800-214-8209 starting in early September.

Other State Hot Lines & Web Site:
Maine:  800-533-959                      Massachusetts:  800-227-MASS    http://www.massvacation.com/scienceNature/foliage-report.php
New Hampshire:   800-262-6660  http://foliage.visitnh.gov.ns1www.silvertech.net/index-flash.html
Vermont:  1-800-VERMONT      http://www.vermontfallfoliage.com/
New York:  800-225-5697             http://www.iloveny.com/home.aspx
Connecticut:  800-CT-BOUND    http://www.ct.gov/dep/search/search.asp?qu=fall+foliage

Another way to spend the day, is to follow the Freedom Trail, a 2.5 mile that takes in much of Boston’s history. The trail begins at Faneuil Hall and goes to Boston Common, America’s oldest park.

Other popular attractions in Boston include Newbury Street, Copley Square, the New England Aquarium or the Boston Duck Tours.  The duck tours combine the best of Boston with a cruise along the Charles river for breathtaking views of Boston and Cambridge.

If you prefer to spend several days in Boston, rather than a cruise, Monograms offers a 4 day package of Boston that includes a Go Boston Card for free admission to over 70 attractions. You can access last minute hotel deals on our web site, or consider a self-driving or escorted tour also that includes Boston in the itinerary.