Vermont Country Christmas

Day 1 – Welcome to New England!

Optional transfers from our departure points will have us at the Los Angeles International Airport this morning for a scheduled, nonstop flight arriving in Boston this afternoon. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight arrival time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the hotel. In Boston, we’ll board a deluxe motorcoach and travel north to Burlington, Massachusetts for an overnight stay and an included dinner at a locals’ favorite. (Dinner)

Day 2 – Manchester, Middlebury

This morning we’ll travel west into the Green Mountains of Vermont. This time of year the mountains are typically covered in snow, while the charming small towns and villages are elaborately decorated for the holidays. Enjoy time at leisure for lunch on your own in Manchester, Vermont, the charming town that was featured as a top holiday destination by Country Living. This afternoon we’ll visit Hildene, The Lincoln Family Home, the spectacular 412-acre summer estate built in 1905 by Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest son of Abraham and Mary Lincoln. Tour the 24-room Georgian Revival mansion which is beautifully decorated as it would have been on Christmas Eve 1912 – one of a handful of years that the Lincoln Family spent in residence at their Vermont home. Listen to Christmas music on the pipe organ and visit the restored 1903 wooden Pullman palace car, Sunbeam. This afternoon we’ll continue north to Middlebury, Vermont and begin a memorable two-night stay at the Middlebury Inn. This historic inn overlooking the Middlebury Town Green has been welcoming guests since 1827. Enjoy an included dinner this evening at the Inn. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 3 – Middlebury

This morning we’ll join a local guide for a full day of sightseeing in the Champlain Valley. At the Vermont Teddy Bear Factory, we’ll join a Bear Ambassador for a fun and informative guided tour to see a small group of crafts people creating Vermont Teddy Bears by hand. We’ll visit the Danforth Pewter Flagship Store & Workshop to learn the history and romance of this timeless metal, and see skilled artisans creating ornaments, jewelry and home goods by hand. After time at leisure for browsing and lunch on your own in Middlebury Village, we’ll visit a family-owned and operated alpaca farm for a guided tour to learn about these gentle, intelligent creatures. Enjoy time to browse the farm store which features wonderfully soft sweaters, vests, scarves, socks, mittens, teddy bears and more made from luxurious alpaca fiber. This evening we’ll enjoy a cooking class with an included dinner at a local restaurant. The chef will generously share his knowledge and techniques with us while preparing our dinner, with participation encouraged. (Breakfast, Dinner)

Day 4 – Trapp Family Lodge

This morning, we’ll join a local guide for a full day of sightseeing in rural Vermont, beginning with Ben & Jerry’s. Built in 1985, the factory manufactures upwards of 350,000 pints per day while providing a sneak peek into the humble beginnings of this Vermont original – and yes, they have samples! We’ll continue to a chocolate shop and a cheese shop where we can shop for delicious uniquely Vermont goodies. We’ll tour the Cold Hollow Cider Mill for an engaging rural Vermont experience that includes samples of their apple cider that is still made the old-fashioned way, with a rack-and-cloth press built in the 1920s. This afternoon we’ll arrive at the Trapp Family Lodge to begin a two-night stay. This European-style mountain resort situated on 2,500 acres in Stowe, Vermont features Austrian-inspired architecture and European-style accommodations. The family portrayed in The Sound of Music toured the U.S. in the early 1940s as the Trapp Family Singers and eventually settled here on an enchanted farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their beloved Austria. Offering “A Little of Austria… A Lot of Vermont,” this unique mountain resort celebrates the holidays in style and true Old-World charm. We’ll enjoy an included afternoon tea featuring tea and cookies, followed by an included dinner at the von Trapp Bierhall, serving up a menu with a decidedly Austrian flair. (Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

Day 5 – Stowe

Enjoy a leisurely morning relaxing at the Lodge to take advantage of a variety of optional activities (some activities are included while others such as a horse-drawn sleigh ride, require an additional fee payable on-site). Later, enjoy time at leisure for browsing and lunch on your own in Stowe, Vermont the classic New England town filled with sweets shops, general stores and charming churches that was ranked by U.S. News as one of the ‘Best Mountain Towns to Visit in the U.S.A.’ Back at the Lodge we’ll enjoy a guided ‘von Trapp History Tour’ to learn about the real von Trapp family history and variances from The Sound of Music. Discover how the von Trapps escaped Austria and what life was like in Stowe in the 1940s. Enjoy an included afternoon tea at the Lodge, followed by an included dinner in the dining room that offers live nightly music. (Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner)

Day 6 – Montpelier, Journey Home

This morning we’ll visit a family-owned and operated maple sugar farm that offers a true Vermont experience. Inside the farm’s sugar house we’ll sample different types of Vermont maple syrup, jams, jellies and more. Enjoy an included maple creemee and time to browse the country store. We’ll continue to Montpelier, Vermont to visit the impeccably restored 1859 Vermont State House – one of the oldest and best-preserved state capitols in the country. The gold-domed Greek Revival building is the smallest state capitol building in the U.S. and stands as an icon amongst America’s smallest capital city. Late this afternoon, we’ll arrive at the Boston International Airport for our scheduled nonstop return flight to Los Angeles. Those guests making their own flight arrangements can request the group’s flight schedule to coordinate a flight departure time that would allow them to be included on the complimentary transfer to the airport. Back in Los Angeles, those guests with pre-arranged transfers will be returned to their respective drop-offs. (Breakfast)

While we make every effort to operate our tours as outlined in the itinerary, we ask for your patience, understanding and flexibility and to retain a sense of adventure while traveling with us. Situations may arise that necessitate changes to the itinerary. Should we need to adjust the itinerary either prior to or while on tour, these changes will be communicated to you and only done when absolutely necessary.