Vermont & New Hampshire & Boston including the Cog Railroad Photo Blog

BNT Group Tour: Vermont & New Hampshire & Boston including the Cog Railroad

Dates: September 24-29, 2018

Tour Director: Patti Olson

Tour Highlights: Rockwell Museum, Boston, Concord, Castle in the Couds, Kancamagus Highway, Cog Railroad, and Lake Champlain. Lastly Burlington, the Shelburne Museum, and Lake George…WOW!!!

: Norman Rockwell’s beautiful home on the grounds of the Rockwell Museum.

: The Norman Rockwell Museum afforded our passengers a look into the art and life of this famous artist.

: The Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA, with our Executive Coach in the distance.

: Norman Rockwell’s estate was perfect for relaxing on the lawn and enjoying the view that was so inspirational to him.

: The Old North Church in Boston.

: Learning the history of Boston and the Revolutionary War on the Freedom Trail with our local guide.

: This coffee shop’s “tavern sign” has a teakettle that emits real steam!

: Historic Quincy Marketplace (1826) in Boston where we had lunch and time to shop.

: Despite the pouring rain, several of us walked out to the Minuteman Monument and North Bridge in Concord, MA.

: The famous North Bridge where the “shot heard round the world” was fired.

: Monument to the Minutemen in Concord, MA.

: A trolley transported us from the base of the mountain up to the home on top.

: Quite a view from the bedroom windows of the New Hampshire countryside.

: These are the original wood floors and historic furnishings with glass windows imported from England and then hand-painted in the two upper circles. The mansion has 16 rooms and is on 5,500 acres.

: True to its name, the Castle in the Clouds was enshrined in clouds when we arrived.

: Wishful residents of this lovely home atop a mountain in New Hampshire.

: Look over there! What a view!

: After a delicious turkey lunch at Hart’s Turkey Farm, this passenger wanted to get a close-up shot of the next tourist’s dinner!

: Viewing the falls and rocky creek.

: Who can resist climbing on the huge boulders by New England rivers?

: Evidence of the coming fall graced our nature walk on the Kancamagus Highway, NH.

: The hike and climb to the top of Sabbaday Falls along the scenic Kancamagus Highway in New Hampshire was worth the effort.

: Our hotels always make us feel welcome!

: Waiting to board our diesel locomotive as the coal-fired steam train departs for the summit.

: All aboard!

: All the cog railroad engines and cars are built locally. The craftsmanship was impressive.

: A close-up of the cog system, which differs in design from the one in Colorado.

: The summit of Mt. Washington was rockier than anticipated, but the views were endless.

: It’s always fun to travel with friends!

: High atop Mount Washington where this Tour Director last visited when she was about six years old.

: A rare view looking at the Atlantic Ocean (see the bright line along the horizon – that is the ocean) near Portland, Maine. Park rangers told us that this is an extremely rare sight.

: One of the frequent cog railroad trains headed back down the mountain.

: Local docents are great at sharing the history of the places we visit. This is one of the public lounges in the Mt. Washington Hotel in New Hampshire.

: The elegance of the Gilded Age remains at the Mt. Washington Hotel!

: The Mt. Washington Hotel near the Cog Railroad in New Hampshire. Here the rich would escape the cities each summer and take in the fresh mountain air.

: Waiting on the dock for our morning cruise of Lake Champlain in Burlington, VT.

: God bless America, land of the Free — New Hampshire’s motto is Live Free or Die.

: The sun on the deck made sitting outside during our cruise on Lake Champlain possible.

: The blue sky reflected on the water, making it a beautiful deep blue, and the green mountains of Vermont graced the distance.

: Burlington, VT, from the water.

: We had a perfectly sunny, but windy, day on the water at Lake Champlain.

: Burlington has a large pedestrian shopping district with restaurants and shops in preserved buildings.

: Downtown Burlington, VT, has many historic, iconic New England buildings.

: A land-locked, paddlewheel boat. The Toconderoga is preserved for all the enjoy.

: And to go with a land-locked ship! How about a lighthouse nowhere near the coastline.

: Shelburne Museum is a living history museum, and the articles inside this general store are authentic to its era.

: One of the few round barns in the country was moved to the grounds of the Shelburne Museum.

: Hand-carved and painted circus miniatures, one of the many eclectic collections at the Shelburne Museum in Burlington, VT. Each person is dressed uniquely!