Itinerary Highlights
    • Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Washington: East Coast Cities by train


    • Pre-booked walking tour with a local in Boston and New York, sail in NYC Bay and bike in Washington


    • Barnes Foundation in Philly, Museum of African American History and Culture in DC are two museums to discover


    • Private transfers, clued-up local Concierge and our usual additional services

Contact one of our specialists + 44 (0) 20 3958 6120

EAST AMERICA BY TRAIN



The crowded train station, the smell on the platforms, the sticky air, the hurried passengers, the whistle of the conductor. Welcome to Boston's South Station for the start of your epic train journey along the East Coast and through American history. The journey begins in Boston, founded in 1630 by English puritans who were fleeing religious discrimination and where, in the narrow and tortuous streets of Beacon Hill, the distant descendants of these first emigrants reside in large red brick houses – dolls houses hidden from view. It continues to New York, on Manhattan, purchased in 1624 for a handful of dollars and glassware – a New World home to Italians,
Irish, European Jews, Germans, Dutch, Chinese and Asians from Korea to Malaysia, Poles and Ukrainians, Hispanics and African-Americans. It is known for its prominent place in American history, the Declaration of Independence and the signing of the Constitution. Philadelphia boasts of having the first cinema, the first university and the first zoo in the country. It has another decidedly contemporary heritage: The City of Brotherly Love is the world's mural capital, with 3,000 murals on its facades, parking lots and other blind walls. Finally, arrive in Washington DC: after the White House and the Capitol, stroll through the American capital, where the government headquarters, the FBI and several Smithsonians coexist alongside gentrified neighbourhoods, farmer's markets and gourmet restaurants.



ON YOUR ITINERARY



In Boston, an expert guide takes you for a walk from the grid of avenues in chic Back Bay to the cobblestone streets of Beacon Hill. In New York, as well, have a stroll with an expert guide based in Manhattan, through Greenwich Village, one of the most popular residential areas; Soho and its cast-iron buildings that are home to luxury shops; Little Italy, whose name recalls the Italians who crossed the Atlantic in search of their American dream; and Chinatown, the largest Chinese community in the West, in the shadow of City Hall. In New York, embark on a night cruise aboard an old rig , with unique views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and Manhattan's Skyline.

We have booked tickets for you to the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, which was recently established in a central district and houses the world's largest private collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist works. Finally, we have scheduled a bike ride in Washington and reserved tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture , which Barack Obama himself opened in September 2016. He gave this opening a political dimension by reaffirming the central role of African Americans in the history of the United States: 'We are America'. The city's most recent museum features several thousand artefacts documenting slavery, segregation and the contribution of African Americans to the artistic and cultural life of the United States.

Route

Everything is 100% tailored to you
DAY 1

International flight to Boston

Arrival in Boston. Private transfer and accommodation for two nights in a centrally located hotel with clean lines, warm atmosphere and stylish decor.
The capital of Massachusetts, founded by the English in the 17th century, is one of the continent's oldest cities – and the cradle of American history: the Theatre of the Revolutionary War in the late 18th century, America's first port and a major industrial centre in the late 19th century. It feels like a city that is part Europe, part USA.
Things to see and experience - Have drinks on the terrace on Newbury Street. Visit the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, which houses major works by Botticelli, Rubens, Delacroix and Matisse. Visit the campuses of Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in nearby Cambridge.

DAY 2

Boston - New York (four-and-a-half-hours)

Train to New York. Spend three nights in the heart of Manhattan in a comfortable hotel in a beautiful 1920s building between Central Park and the East River. This is a privileged location to approach New York and see everything, from MoMA to Ellis Island, SoHo to Nolta, TriBeCa art galleries to Williamsburg hipster chocolatiers.

DAY 3

New York

In your itinerary - Go on a walk with an expert guide based in Manhattan, through Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy and Chinatown.

DAY 4

New York

Evening - A cruise aboard the Shearwater. Gain perspectives of New York from the sea, aboard a sailboat, the Shearwater, built in 1929 in Maine, with unique views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and the illuminated Skyline of Manhattan.

DAY 5

New York - Philadelphia (two hours)

Train to Philadelphia. Philadelphia, the Cradle of Independence, is more central to American history than any other city. Every neighbourhood in Philly contributes its own idiosyncracies, between cobblestone streets and iconic monuments.
We love - the funky side of South Street, brick houses of Society Hill, the galleries of the old town and the charm of the gardens of Rittenhouse Square. The Pennsylvania Balle and the Musee Rodin and the 3,000 contemporary murals.
Do's - Visit the Reading Terminal Market for produce from bacon to cheddar, and apples to beer. Smallholding farmers thrive on the fertile lands of Pennsylvania. The market, opened 120 years ago, is a living picture of America, with its gardeners', butchers' and grocers' market stalls.
Accommodation in a comfortable hotel downtown, located in an Art Deco building from the 1920s. Its location, a short distance from Rittenhouse Park and Avenue des Arts, is very convenient for venturing out into the city.

DAY 6

Philadelphia

Included in the itinerary - Entry tickets to the Barnes Foundation . Discover the world's largest private collection of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modern works by Renoir, Braque, Picasso, Matisse, Soutine, Modigliani, Van Gogh, Cezanne, Seurat and Klee, as well as many tribal art objects. The museum, a jealously kept secret in Lower Merion, a suburb of Philadelphia, was relocated downtown to a beautiful glass building.

DAY 7

Philadelphia - Washington DC (two hours)

Train to Washington. Accommodation for two nights in the heart of the city, in the Dupont Circle district, staying in a charming hotel with architecture that embraces the elegant Beaux-Arts style. It has all the necessary facilities for the comfort of the modern visitor: a cocktail bar, swimming pool and gym.
Among the highlights: the White House, the Capitol, home of the US Congress and the National Mall, and a memorial to Abraham Lincoln, whose famous statue faces the sunrise.
Other things to do - Visit the Contemporary Art Wing of the National Gallery. Have a hot dog or burger for lunch at Ben's Chili Bowl, one of Barack Obama's favourite places, or explore Little Ethiopia; Washington is home to the largest Ethiopian community in exile.

DAY 8

Washington

In the itinerary - From the banks of the Potomac to Capitol Hill, with its cosy houses and perfect lawns, cycling is DC residents' preferred mode of transport. That's why we have reserved bikes for you, so that you can discover the city in a different way. We have also booked you tickets to the National Museum of African American History and Culture, which Barack Obama himself inaugurated in September 2016. The largest museum in the country devoted to African-American history, on nearly 350,000 square feet, houses several thousand objects that document African American slavery, segregation and contributions to the artistic and cultural life of the United States.

DAY 9

Boston

In your itinerary - A meet-up with an expert guide, who is based here and takes you on a stroll in their city: grids of avenues in the chic Back Bay district, cobblestone alleyways, brown brick buildings and carefully trimmed Beacon Hill gardens which would be at home in any English city, via Little Italy to North End.

DAY 10

Washington - Return international flight

Overnight. Next-day arrival.

A la carte

NEW YORK FROM ABOVE



The best way to experience New York is from above. The city's magnitude and the size of its skyscrapers and legendary bridges can be appreciated when you gain height. Enjoy an unforgettable helicopter ride over Central Park, Greenwich Village, the Hudson River, the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building for 13 to 15 minutes of thrills and spills.

Optional

A Rough Idea of Price

Dependent on season, accommodation and activities
The cost for this trip starts from £3,940 per person. The final cost of the trip depends on the way we tailor it especially for you. The final cost varies according to several factors, which include the level of service, length of trip and advance booking time. The exact price will be provided on your personalised quote. The average starting price for this trip is £4,730 per person.
  • International flights with a scheduled airline


  • Airline taxes and fuel surcharge


  • Rail transport between cities


  • Private transfers on arrival in Boston and departure from Washington


  • Two-night stay in Boston in a double room (accommodation only)


  • Three-night stay in New York in a double room (accommodation only)


  • Two-night stay in Philadelphia in a double room (accommodation only


  • Two-night stay in Washington in a double room (accommodation only)


  • Boston visit in the company of an expert guide


  • New York visit in the company of an expert guide


  • Sailing in New York


  • Entry tickets for the Barnes Foundation visit in Philadelphia


  • Bike ride in Washington


  • EXPRESS PASSES for the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington


  • Our local Concierge service


A few of the benefits of travelling with us
Get in touch
Our experts have the inside track on the destinations they sell and will tailor-make a holiday to your unique requirements.
Contact one of our USA specialists