Sun, Oct 6: Fly from Indianapolis to Boston, Massachusetts. Head north to Fairlee, Vermont and check in for five nights at Lake Morey Resort, where the spirit of Vermont greets you! Enjoy the amenities at the resort and get settled before a Welcome Dinner with the group this evening. (Meals: Dinner)

Mon, Oct 7: Enjoy a full breakfast at your leisure each morning in the hotel dining room. Today, depart for a day of train rides! Cross over into New Hampshire and start with the Mount Washington Cog Railway excursion, the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway train to the Northeast’s highest peak, for spectacular fall foliage views. Explore and have lunch on your own in Littleton, home to “Pollyanna” and the World’s Longest Candy Counter. This afternoon, head for Franconia Notch State Park to ride the Cannon Mountain Aerial Tramway. Ascend to the mountain summit in a large, enclosed tramcar and be rewarded with breathtaking views at the top. The day culminates with five-course gourmet meal aboard the elegant Café Lafayette Dinner Train. Ride the rails along the river and through the woods with beautiful countryside views as you travel in style. (B,D)

Tue, Oct 8: Following breakfast this morning, the day’s adventures begin in Montpelier, Vermont, the largest producer of maple syrup in the U.S., where you’ll enjoy a sweet tour of the Morse Maple Farm, complete with a Vermont specialty treat. The Morses, Vermont’s oldest maple family, have been serving up delicious maple syrup for friends and neighbors for eight generations. A stop is included for lunch on your own before an afternoon at the Rock of Ages Museum. Take a shuttle tour to the world’s largest active granite quarry, offering breathtaking views of a 600-foot-deep quarry. Get a personalized tour of how the granite becomes product as you learn more about this fascinating process. Return to the resort for an included dinner. The resort offers an evening activities program, check the roster if you are not ready to turn in! (B,D)

Wed, Oct 9: Travel to beautiful Burlington this morning and spend some time enjoying Church Street Marketplace in the heart of downtown. Recognized as one of the “Great Places in America”, this pedestrian-only section of town features 80 stores, including well-known chain shops, locally owned specialty boutiques, and galleries. Even in the morning, you may have the opportunity to watch the skills of animated street performers or hear the tunes of local musicians while you shop. Next, relax on a laidback cruise around Lake Champlain, complete with scenic narration and the chef’s buffet lunch. Mirrored images of fall brilliance dance on the water as you glide along. After the cruise, step aboard an eight-passenger gondola for an exhilarating ride up magnificent Mount Mansfield, the highest mountain in Vermont! From the summit, enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding Green Mountains of Vermont and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Stop into a local cider mill for a tour and samples of world-famous apple cider and cider doughnuts as well as handmade New England crafts. Cap off the day with dinner included at a local favorite restaurant in Stowe before returning to the resort.  (B,L,D)

Thu, Oct 10: Have a free morning at the resort and have an opportunity for a pontoon ride. Then, depart for Rockingham to shop at the famed Vermont Country Store—a barn filled with bargain items from years gone by such as “Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo®.”  Explore the grist mill, water wheel, covered bridge, or just relax on a four-seat garden glider. Lunch is included before this afternoon’s attraction—Friesians of Majesty—a unique Vermont experience! Learn about the history of the farm and the special relationship that the owner has with his horses. See beautiful Friesian horses and witness their wonderful temperaments. Meet the spectacular stallions, Othello & Gerhart and have the opportunity to interact with their babies in the mare & foal barn. Return to the resort for dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

Fri, Oct 11: Check out of the hotel after breakfast and head to Quechee Gorge, known as “Vermont’s Little Grand Canyon”, for a photo stop to view the glacier-created gorge and falls from a scenic point on the way to Woodstock. Visit the Billings Farm & Museum, a premier living museum of Vermont’s rural past. Tour the working dairy farm and the restored 1890 farmhouse. This will be the “cheesiest” part of your tour, where the delicious, award-winning smoked cheddar is hand-crafted in small batches. Be sure to take some home with you!  Following the fun visit, head to Boston with colorful memories in tow, and fly home to Indianapolis. (B,L)