Fall Foliage on the St. Lawrence: Québec to the Canadian Maritimes

Arrive in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and a mecca of art and culture. Board the ship in the afternoon and set sail this evening. (D)

Spend a leisurely day on the water, enjoying the ship’s many amenities, attending lectures by your Smithsonian Journeys Experts, and taking in the scenery as you cross Lake Ontario and enter the Saint Lawrence River. (B,L,D)

Awaken in the island-city of Montréal, an effervescent hub of culture and cuisine with a distinctly French character. On a walking tour of Old Montréal, admire the ornate interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica or take in sweeping city views from Parc du Mont-Royal, the hill that gave the city its name. Alternatively, visit some of the city’s world-class museums, or set out on street art tour on Saint Laurent Boulevard, where the lively Mural Festival takes place every summer. (B,L,D)

Further along the Saint Lawrence River lies elegant Québec City, a walled city founded in the 16th century where French is the primary language. Stroll cobbled lanes steeped in Old World charm on a guided tour of the historic center. Explore Battlefields Park, where the British defeated the French during the Battle of Québec 1759, changing the course of history. Alternatively, see the impressive Montmorency Falls and then travel to Ile d’Orleans for a scenic drive through the picturesque villages of Quebec. Stop to sample local delicacies made from the fresh fruit of the region. (B,L,D)

The town of Tadoussac, considered one of the first European settlements in Canada, is perched at the junction of the Saint Lawrence River and the Saguenay fjord. The salty, rich waters here draw 13 cetacean species that come to feed from May to October, including minkes, belugas, humpbacks, and blue whales. Visit the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center for a closer look at the marine life of the North Shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Then set out in Zodiacs to spot some of these impressive creatures on a whale-watching excursion. (B,L,D)

As you cruise toward the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, enjoy a relaxing day on the water. Read a book in the lounge or indulge in a spa treatment. Watch for marine and birdlife on deck, and join your experts for engaging presentations and informal discussions. (B,L,D)

Savor the bucolic beauty of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. See the Prince Edward Island Regiment Museum with its chronicles of the history of the regiment through displays of artifacts dating back to the early 19th century. Or meet a Mi’kmaw Knowledge Keeper—an elder or designated individual entrusted with preserving and sharing the First Nation’s cultural traditions.  Alternatively, tour the Green Gables Heritage Place, which inspired the setting for L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables stories. Learn about the author’s life—and that of her heroine, Anne Shirley—on a tour of the original house and a walk on the property’s trails. (B,L,D)

Stop at Cap-aux-Meules for a day on the Îles de la Madeleine, an archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence linked by sandy spits and edged by vermillion sandstone cliffs. Visit a family-owned apple orchard and farm for a cider tasting, discover the islands’ Acadian roots at the Musée de la Mer, and take in extraordinary views of the jagged red coast from Cap Hérissé Lighthouse. Or experience the beauty of the islands during a guided hike. (B,L,D)

Founded in 1785, Sydney is located in the province of Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island. Sydney was very much shaped by the steel industry, since in the early 20th century it became home to the world’s largest steel plants. The city contributed to the allied war effort by becoming a base for the supply convoys bound for Great Britain during the Second World War. Today, tourism has supplanted mining and the Sydney Mines Heritage Museum & Fossil Centre makes for an interesting visit. Walkers will enjoy hiking along the lighthouse coastal trail through the wild nature of Cape Breton, with stunning views over the ocean. (B,L,D)

Spend today in the delightful fishing village of Lunenburg, where 18th-century wooden houses and original British urban planning have earned the Old Town a World Heritage designation. Meander through the quaint lanes on a walking tour, admiring the architecture and the timeless scenes of maritime life. At the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, set within a historic waterfront mansion and on several boats, get a closer look at local fishing and shipbuillding traditions. (B,L,D)

Shelburne, a picturesque harbor town steeped in Loyalist history, dotted with 18th-century buildings and a strong seafaring heritage. (B,L,D)

Across the border in Eastport, Maine—the easternmost city in the U.S.—enjoy a historic walking tour through this quaint coastal town, a hands-on lobster boat experience, or a scenic excursion to nearby Shackford Head State Park. (B,L,D)

Cross the Bay of Fundy during a relaxing day at sea before arriving in Provincetown, a New England village situated at the far end of Cape Cod. For a bit of shopping, you can explore Commercial Street and the many art galleries and coffee shops there. At the end of the street, you will come across the Pilgrim Monument and its 116 steps. This tower was built at the beginning of the century to celebrate the first pilgrims who arrived a few hundred years earlier. The Provincetown museum commemorates the history and way of life of the Mayflower Pilgrims. Enjoy a farewell dinner on board, and disembark in Boston. (B,L,D)

Arrive in Toronto, Canada’s largest city and a mecca of art and culture. Board the ship in the afternoon and set sail this evening. (D)

Spend a leisurely day on the water, enjoying the ship’s many amenities, attending lectures by your Smithsonian Journeys Experts, and taking in the scenery as you cross Lake Ontario and enter the Saint Lawrence River. (B,L,D)

Awaken in the island-city of Montréal, an effervescent hub of culture and cuisine with a distinctly French character. On a walking tour of Old Montréal, admire the ornate interior of the Notre-Dame Basilica or take in sweeping city views from Parc du Mont-Royal, the hill that gave the city its name. Alternatively, visit some of the city’s world-class museums, or set out on street art tour on Saint Laurent Boulevard, where the lively Mural Festival takes place every summer. (B,L,D)

Further along the Saint Lawrence River lies elegant Québec City, a walled city founded in the 16th century where French is the primary language. Stroll cobbled lanes steeped in Old World charm on a guided tour of the historic center. Explore Battlefields Park, where the British defeated the French during the Battle of Québec 1759, changing the course of history. Alternatively, see the impressive Montmorency Falls and then travel to Ile d’Orleans for a scenic drive through the picturesque villages of Quebec. Stop to sample local delicacies made from the fresh fruit of the region. (B,L,D)

The town of Tadoussac, considered one of the first European settlements in Canada, is perched at the junction of the Saint Lawrence River and the Saguenay fjord. The salty, rich waters here draw 13 cetacean species that come to feed from May to October, including minkes, belugas, humpbacks, and blue whales. Visit the Marine Mammal Interpretation Center for a closer look at the marine life of the North Shore of the Saint Lawrence River. Then set out in Zodiacs to spot some of these impressive creatures on a whale-watching excursion. (B,L,D)

As you cruise toward the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, enjoy a relaxing day on the water. Read a book in the lounge or indulge in a spa treatment. Watch for marine and birdlife on deck, and join your experts for engaging presentations and informal discussions. (B,L,D)

Savor the bucolic beauty of Prince Edward Island, Canada’s smallest province. See the Prince Edward Island Regiment Museum with its chronicles of the history of the regiment through displays of artifacts dating back to the early 19th century. Or meet a Mi’kmaw Knowledge Keeper—an elder or designated individual entrusted with preserving and sharing the First Nation’s cultural traditions.  Alternatively, tour the Green Gables Heritage Place, which inspired the setting for L. M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables stories. Learn about the author’s life—and that of her heroine, Anne Shirley—on a tour of the original house and a walk on the property’s trails. (B,L,D)

Stop at Cap-aux-Meules for a day on the Îles de la Madeleine, an archipelago in the Gulf of Saint Lawrence linked by sandy spits and edged by vermillion sandstone cliffs. Visit a family-owned apple orchard and farm for a cider tasting, discover the islands’ Acadian roots at the Musée de la Mer, and take in extraordinary views of the jagged red coast from Cap Hérissé Lighthouse. Or experience the beauty of the islands during a guided hike. (B,L,D)

Founded in 1785, Sydney is located in the province of Nova Scotia, on Cape Breton Island. Sydney was very much shaped by the steel industry, since in the early 20th century it became home to the world’s largest steel plants. The city contributed to the allied war effort by becoming a base for the supply convoys bound for Great Britain during the Second World War. Today, tourism has supplanted mining and the Sydney Mines Heritage Museum & Fossil Centre makes for an interesting visit. Walkers will enjoy hiking along the lighthouse coastal trail through the wild nature of Cape Breton, with stunning views over the ocean. (B,L,D)

Spend today in the delightful fishing village of Lunenburg, where 18th-century wooden houses and original British urban planning have earned the Old Town a World Heritage designation. Meander through the quaint lanes on a walking tour, admiring the architecture and the timeless scenes of maritime life. At the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, set within a historic waterfront mansion and on several boats, get a closer look at local fishing and shipbuillding traditions. (B,L,D)

Cross the Bay of Fundy during a relaxing day at sea before arriving in Portland, Maine. Once a bustling seaport, Portland has remade itself as a center of arts and entertainment, where galleries, boutiques and cafés share the limelight with the seafaring traditions of an earlier time. During your visit here, enjoy a panoramic tour of the town and its surroundings, combine a tour with sailing in Casco Bay aboard a wooden schooner, or join a traditional New England lobster bake on nearby Peaks Island. Enjoy a farewell dinner on board, and disembark in Boston. (3B,2L,2D)