We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you a better feel for this experience. The actual program will vary. A confirmed itinerary is distributed no later than two weeks prior to the start of the program.
DAY 1 | DEPARTURE FLIGHT | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Arrive in Boston, Massachusetts, for the start of the program. We’ll break the ice with some fun and engaging activities so that you get to know everyone in the group. To learn more about how we organize travel to and from the program, click here.
Our adventure begins with a walking tour of the Freedom Trail. This 2.5-mile trail connects 16 nationally significant historic sites that led to the birth of the United States in America. We’ll explore Boston a bit more before preparing for our drive north.
DAY 2 | BURLINGTON, VERMONT
Our next stop in New England is Burlington, Vermont. This small, but vibrant city has. A host of landmarks to visit. We’ll see ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain. This science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront aims to inspire and engage visitors in the joy of scientific discovery. It has more than 100 interactive exhibits with 70 species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians.
DAY 3–6 | MONTREAL, QUÉBEC
We’ll wake up and begin our drive into Canada, making our first stop in Montreal—the largest city in Canada’s Québec province. Step back in time as we explore the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal, home to the city’s most historic and newest attractions. We’ll see sites like the Notre-Dame Basilica, Saint Paul Street, Grande Roue de Montreal, Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel, and more!
Dive into science at the Montreal Science Centre—located in the Old Port of the city—and immerse yourself in its many exhibitions and educational programs. After, we’ll board a boat and explore the 150-year-old history of the Lachine Canal on a river tour. Then, the group will prepare for our first Shabbat together. We’ll have time to rest and reflect on our adventure before visiting La Ronde Amusement Park, Québec’s largest and most exciting theme park—with over 40 rides and attractions!
DAY 7–8 | QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC
The group will depart Montreal and head towards Québec City, the capital city of the Canadian province of Québec. You’ll feel like you’ve transported overseas with cobblestone streets, bistros, and boutiques lining the blocks of this mostly French-speaking city. Our first stop here is the Plains of Abraham, also referred to as Québec City’s “Central Park.” Next, we’ll head to Quartier Petit Champlain to see French influence through architecture, culture, and art. The streets of Petit-Champlain will make you feel like you’ve traveled back in time, as there are many historical places to visit here. Teens will see Place Royale—the site of the first French settlement in North America—and walk Petit-Champlain Street, one of the oldest commercial streets in North America.
See the Fortifications of Québec, located on a plateau overlooking the convergence of the St. Lawrence and St. Charles Rivers and designated a national historic site of Canada in 1957. We’ll make our way back to Petit-Champlain District for some time to shop before an evening group workshop.
DAY 9–10 | FREDERICTON, NEW BRUNSWICK
Say au revoir to Québec City, then head east to Fredericton, the capital of New Brunswick on the St. Johns River. The city is an important cultural, artistic, and educational center for the province. We’ll visit Odell Park, the 333-acre park that is known as one of Canada’s best old growth forests with some trees that are more than 400 years old!
We’ll work on a community serviced project with a local organization before packing up to leave for Nova Scotia!
DAY 11–12 | HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
Once we arrive in Halifax, we’ll make our way to the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, the oldest and largest maritime museum in Canada. The museum takes a deeper look at Nova Scotia’s marine history, including the province’s role in the aftermath of the Titanic disaster. Halifax is the capital of Nova Scotia and known for its excellent museums and shopping, fabulous dining, and stunning seascapes. We’ll spend our second Shabbat here to explore and rest before leaving for Prince Edward Island (PEI).
DAY 13–14 | CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Picturesque Charlottetown is famously known as the setting of the novel, Anne of Green Gables, and also considered the birthplace of Canada. There are many historical sites to visit while we’re here. We’ll start by exploring Downtown Charlottetown. After, we’ll enjoy some beach activities at Brackley Beach. Only a 20-minute drive from the city and located within PEI National Park, this protected area has beautiful dunes and beaches to walk down.
Learn how PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation operates and maintains seven provincial museums and heritage sites across Prince Edward Island, providing visitors with an opportunity to discover PEI’s heritage and culture. Then, enjoy another beach day in PEI. We’ll end the evening with a campfire storytelling session.
DAY 15 | SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK
Our time in Canada comes to an end in Saint John, a seaport city on the Bay of Fundy and Canada’s oldest incorporated city. Once we arrive, we’ll make our way to Reversing Falls Rapids. This unique phenomenon is due to the Bay of Fundy tides—the highest on the planet—which collide with the Saint John River and gradually reverse the flow of the river.
DAY 16 | BAR HARBOR, MAINE
The group will cross back into the United States en route to Bar Harbor, where we’ll spend a day at Acadia National Park. Known as the crown jewel of the North Atlantic Coast, it’s one of the top 10 most-visited national parks in the United States. The park contains the tallest mountain on the Atlantic Coast, Cadillac Mountain. It’s also geographically diverse, containing mountains, an ocean coastline, woodlands, lakes, and ponds across its 47,000 acres.
DAY 17–19 | PORTLAND, MAINE
Our second to last stop is Portland, Maine. Stop to see Portland Head Light, the historic lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, that is the oldest lighthouse in the state. We’ll also spend time at Palace Playland Amusement Park, New England’s only beachfront amusement park. This five-acre park has more than 28 rides and attractions with more than 250 games in its arcade.
The group will have time to shop and explore in Portland, then prepare for our final Shabbat together. We’ll rest and relax in Portland before heading back to Boston for our flight home.
DAY 20 | BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS
Our final day in Boston will be spent soaking in all that the city has to offer. Visit the Quincy Market and Faneuil Hall. Quincy Market offers more than 100 stores and restaurants that spill out onto the cobblestone plaza. Shoppers have come here for four centuries since it opened in 1742. The complex has four buildings, three of which are markets. The fourth is Faneuil Hall—nicknamed the “Cradle of Liberty”—because of the pro-freedom speeches that were given here leading up to the American Revolution. The group will have a final closing ceremony.
DAY 21 | RETURN FLIGHT
We’ll make our way to the airport for our flight back home. It’s never goodbye, just see you later. Give your friends one last hug and part ways. While your summer trip with us is over, the memories you’ve made will last a lifetime!
