Sun, Oct 4: Fly from Indianapolis to Boston, Massachusetts and begin your journey in one of America’s most storied cities. Explore Boston’s historic waterfront and Faneuil Hall pedestrian-only area, and have lunch on your own at Quincy Marketplace, with many eateries from which to choose. Then, head north to Stowe, Vermont and check in for two nights at The Essex Resort & Spa, a culinary resort surrounded by Vermont’s natural beauty! Enjoy the amenities at the resort and get settled before a Welcome Dinner shared with fellow travelers. (Meals: Dinner) 

Mon, Oct 5: Venture into the rolling landscapes of the Green Mountains as you journey to charming Woodstock, Vermont. Step back in time at the Billings Farm & Museum where a working dairy farm and restored 1890 farmhouse offers a vivid look into Vermont’s rural heritage. Enjoy leisure time along Woodstock’s quaint main street, filled with cozy cafés, artisan shops, and small-town charm. Then, ascend the breathtaking slopes of Mount Mansfield—Vermont’s highest peak—aboard an eight-passenger gondola. From the summit, take in sweeping panoramas of the Green Mountains and neighboring New Hampshire’s White Mountains. Return to the resort for a relaxing evening and savor dinner in one of the resort restaurants at leisure, featuring many ingredients sourced directly from the on-site gardens or local purveyors. (B)

Tue, Oct 6: After breakfast, the day’s adventures begin in Barre, Vermont, the city that calls itself the “Granite Capital of the World.” Explore the Vermont Granite Museum, set in a beautifully restored 1895 granite plant, where exhibits illuminate the craftsmanship and history of the states granite industry. Continue to the historic Hope Cemetery, opened in 1899, and showcases the skills of the area’s stone carvers through stunning monuments created to honor and represent the unique personalities and history of the people buried here. Learn some of these fascinating stories on a guided walking tour, and get an up-close look at the intricately designed works of art.  Next, visit Montpelier, the nation’s smallest state capital and the country’s leading producer of maple syrup. Enjoy a sweet visit to a local Maple Farm, complete with a Vermont specialty treat. Tour one of the nation’s oldest and best-preserved state capitals, the Vermont State House, and refuel with lunch on your own at the cafeteria. Relax and take in the fabulous foliage views as you travel across the Top of New England to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where vibrant red, gold and amber foliage blanket the mountain slopes. Check into your hotel for the next three nights. Savor dinner with seasonal offerings in the resort’s award-winning restaurant. (B,D)

Wed, Oct 7: Enjoy a full breakfast each morning at the hotel. Set out for a full day celebrating New Hampshire’s rich railroad heritage. Begin with a ride on the legendary Mount Washington Cog Railway, the world’s first mountain-climbing cog railway train, to the Northeast’s highest peak, for spectacular fall foliage views. Continue to Littleton, New Hampshire—affectionately known as “Glad Town”—home to cheerful main street, nods to “Pollyanna” and the World’s Longest Candy Counter. This afternoon glide up the mountain aboard a 4-person gondola. At the summit, take in sweeping vistas of the surrounding mountains and shimmering Loon Pond. The day culminates with a 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,L,D) 

Thu, Oct 8: Today travel along the Kancamagus Highway, one of America’s scenic byways. This 34.5-mile stretch, surrounded by over 700,000 acres of protected White Mountain National Forest, is renowned for its dazzling fall color and unspoiled natural beauty. Arrive in North Conway and enjoy time to stroll its charming historic downtown, browse inviting shops and enjoy lunch on your own. North Conway is the gateway to an old-fashioned railroading experience on the Conway Scenic Railroad. Travel on a diesel-powered vintage train past sheer bluffs, steep ravines, cascading brooks and streams, panoramic mountain vistas and across the famed Frankenstein Trestle and Willey Brook Bridge. Return to the resort this evening and celebrate with a special farewell dinner. (B,D)

Fri, Oct 9: Savor a final morning enjoying the resorts amenities before checking out. Transfer to Boston and fly home to Indianapolis, carrying vibrant memories of New England’s unforgettable autumn landscapes. (B)