Trip Itinerary
Day 1: Depart Chicago
West and Midwest travelers will meet in Chicago Union Station this afternoon. At 8:30 p.m. we’ll board the eastbound Lake Shore Limited. Departure is scheduled for 9:30 p.m. Relax in your comfortable coach seat with leg rest. Roomettes and Bedrooms are available for an additional cost.
Eastern and Mid-Atlantic tour members will travel independently to Depew, New York, a Buffalo suburb near the Amtrak station. They will spend the night at the Fairfield Inn. Arrangements will be made by America by Rail.
Day 2: Toronto / Montréal
Midwestern members will arrive in Buffalo this morning where a deluxe motorcoach will meet them prior to picking up the east group at the hotel. The combined group will then transfer to Toronto where we’ll enjoy a sightseeing tour of the Queen City. Following the tour we’ll transfer to the VIA Rail train station and depart at 5:00 p.m. on Train #68. We will enjoy a delicious multi-course dinner en route. Our arrival in Montréal is scheduled for 9:32 p.m.
Located above the train station, at the center of Montréal’s vibrant cultural and commercial district sits the city’s grandest and most gracious hotel, The Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, our home for the night. We’ll take an elevator to the reception area. Montréal is the world’s second-largest French-speaking city. But, most people you encounter speak English.
Meal(s): B* & D
Day 3: Montréal / Quebec City
This morning we’ll depart on a sightseeing tour of this world class city, taking in over 200 points of interest including Notre Dame de Montréal (the most magnificent of French-Canadian churches), Old Montréal, the French Quarter, McGill University and a view of this great city from an observation point atop Mount Royale. Following the tour we’ll have time to shop and explore. Should weather be inclement, Montréal is probably the most weatherproof metropolis in the world. The ever-expanding underground city soars upward, downward, and sideways around our hotel and beyond. You’ll have access underground to more than a thousand boutiques, major department stores, and more than 125 restaurants and bars, movie theaters, art galleries, and more.
Late this afternoon, we’ll transfer by deluxe motorcoach to Quebec City. Founded in 1608, Quebec City is one of the oldest European settlements in North America.
We’ll spend the night at the stately, historic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Standing high on a bluff overlooking the mighty St. Lawrence River, Le Château Frontenac is not merely a hotel located in the heart of Old Québec, it is the heart of it! For more than a century this luxurious hotel has been treating guests to one of the most beautiful cities in the world. All of the wonderful sites and experiences that Old Québec has to offer are within easy walking distance.
Day 4: Quebec City / Pointe-au-Pic
This morning you’re free to wander through the narrow cobblestone streets and visit many interesting museums, art galleries and shops. This afternoon, we’ll embark on the “Rendezvous with History” tour including all points of interest in Quebec City: the Old Quebec section, the fortifications, Battlefields Park, Place Royale, the narrow streets, the Basilica and much more.
We’ll enjoy an early dinner at Côtes-à-Côtes and then travel 84 miles along the magnificent St Lawrence River to the port city of Pointe-au-Pic. Our home for the night is the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu. Nestled majestically between the sea and the mountains, the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu is a vision of historical splendor blending the quiet charm of the countryside with the sophistication of a world-class resort.
Meal(s): D
Day 5: St. Lawrence River / Saguenay Fjord
A full breakfast is included this morning. At 7:30 a.m. we’ll board the MS Jacques-Cartier for a spectacular day cruise! We’ll head down the St. Lawrence River to Tadoussac (you’ll want to watch for whales) where we’ll enter the Saguenay River/Fjord. This immense glacial valley stretches for 80 miles with gigantic rock walls reaching heights of more than 1000 feet. We’ll pass picturesque riverside locations such as: Sainte-Rose-du-Nord, Le Tableau, Cap-Trinité, Cap-Éternité and the imposing statue of the Virgin Mary. Enjoy snacks, lunch (hot buffet), dinner (cold buffet), music, dancing and entertainment!
Our arrival into Chicoutimi is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. Our home for the evening is the Holiday Inn Saguenay in Jonquière.
Meal(s): B, L & D
Day 6: Jonquière / Montréal
This morning we’ll transfer to the Jonquière VIA Rail station where we’ll board train #601 for the 11:10 departure. We’ll roll southwest through the heart of the rugged Quebec wilderness. The train covers over 200 miles as it crosses the regions of Lac-Saint-Jean and Saguenay, Haute-Mauricie, Portneuf and La Mauricie to Lanaudière and on to the St. Lawrence River Valley before arriving in Montréal. For many years this was a night train, making it difficult to appreciate the scenery. Since the renovation in 1996, it has been on a daytime schedule, providing year-round comfort and excellent service.
Light meals, snacks, hot and cold drinks are available for purchase.
Our arrival into Montréal, the end of the line, is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. We’ll once again enjoy the beautiful Fairmont Queen Elizabeth.
Day 7: En Route / Albany
This morning we’ll descend into the VIA Rail Station and prepare to board Amtrak’s Adirondack for our 9:30 a.m. departure for the 240-mile run along Lake Champlain and the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. The Adirondack has been nominated by National Geographic Traveler Magazine as one of the world’s ten best rail trips. Lake Champlain, America’s sixth largest lake will begin to dominate the scenery to the east with the famed Green Mountains of Vermont providing a scenic backdrop. As we pass Fort Ticonderoga; we may get a glimpse of a battle reenactment. Relax in your comfortable reclining coach seat. Further south we’ll pass through Saratoga Springs, onetime retreat for the rich and famous.
Feel free to explore the train. You’ll find sandwiches, snacks and beverages in the Cafe Car.
All tour participants will disembark in Albany, New York.
Midwest participants will board the Lake Shore Limited and enjoy the same accommodations and amenities as on their eastbound trip. Dinner is included on the Lake Shore Limited.
Eastern and Mid Atlantic tour members will spend the night at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Meal(s): D*
Day 8: En Route
Eastern and Mid-Atlantic travelers will transfer to the Albany train station in time for the 9:00 a.m. departure of the train for New York’s Penn Station where they’ll board trains to their home destinations.
Midwesterners will arrive into Chicago at 9:45 a.m. on the Lake Shore Limited. They’ll continue on to home destinations throughout the morning and afternoon.
Meal(s): B*
*Midwest tour members only.