Bus Tours and Air Vacations | Travac Tours

Chicago

June 8, 2010/in Tours /by travac

Chicago moves too fast to be summed up in a few words. In its short history, this boomtown has been home to the skyscraper, jazz music, architectural excellence and an abundance of cultural attractions.

This year, join Travac Tours for a six-day, five-night escorted tour to the jewel of the Great Lakes. Lose yourself in its unparalleled shopping, dining and cultural experiences… Marvel at its spectacular displays of arts and architecture.

You’ll experience Chicago from all angles. You will start your visit with an architectural tour aboard a Chicago River cruise boat. On your second day in Chicago you will be treated to a gangster tour that will take you to some of the famous haunts of Al Capone, John Dillinger and Bugs Moran. The next day you will be off to a visit of Frank Lloyd Wright’s home and studio in Oak Park. Your afternoons will always be free to explore this marvelous city on your own terms.

Chicago’s many museums play host to some of the world’s most prestigious exhibitions. You will have the option of visiting the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum Campus, home to the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium.

The sights, sounds and tastes of the city are all within easy reach from your home in Chicago the stately Palmer House Hilton so bring your camera and enjoy one of America’s great cities- Chicago.

Informational Video on Chicago

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

This morning you will depart Westgate Shopping Centre on your journey to Chicago. Lunch stop will be made en-route. This evening you arrive at your hotel in Dearborn, the Comfort Inn. Your Travac Tours Manager can assist you in making dinner plans for this evening.

Day 2

At 8:00AM (after your included breakfast) depart your hotel for Chicago. We will arrive in the “windy city” at about lunch time. At 2:00PM and after lunch you will prepare for a cruise along the Chicago River that will inspire you with the city’s spectacular architecture from a unique perspective. At 3:00PM after your cruise you will depart for your hotel, the Palmer House Hilton. (B)

Day 3

This morning you will experience Chicago as it was in the 1920s and 1930s. You will have a chance to see old hoodlum haunts, brothels, gambling dens and sites of gangland shootouts. Your local guide will give you accurate accounts of the exploits of Capone, Moran, Dillinger and many more figures that dominated the Chicago scene during the roaring 20s. You will be free in the afternoon to explore your surroundings. Outdoors enthusiasts may wish to visit the new Millennium Park, home to sculptural pieces by world-renowned architects and artists. Shoppers might want to explore the Magnificent Mile. This is a world-renown shopping quarter. Shoppers can enjoy magnificent department stores and boutiques comprising a diverse mix of American and international style. This evening we suggest a visit to the Sears Tower Skydeck, where you can view the sights of the city from atop what was once the world’s tallest building. The Hancock Observatory also offers spectacular views of the city. (L)

Day 4

Your visit this morning will be to the Frank Lloyd Wright home and studio in Oak Park. The Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio served as Wright’s private residence and workplace from 1889 to 1909—the first 20 years of his career. Wright used his home as an architectural laboratory, experimenting with design concepts that contain the seeds of his architectural philosophy. Your afternoon will be free. We suggest a visit to the Museum Campus, home to three of North America’s finest educational attractions: the Field Museum, famous for its collections of Egyptian artifacts and dinosaur fossils; the Shedd Aquarium, the world’s largest indoor aquarium; and the Adler Planetarium, with fascinating presentations of astronomy.

Day 5

You will have this morning free to catch up on things you may have missed. At 12:30PM you will depart Chicago for Dearborn, MI. You will arrive at your hotel in Dearborn in the early evening.

Day 6

At 8:00AM (after your included breakfast), depart Dearborn for Ottawa. A lunch stop will be made en-route. At around 6:00pm you will arrive at Westgate Shopping Centre. (B)

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Hotel Information

Comfort Inn at Greenfield Village

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

20061 Michigan Avenue
Dearborn, Michigan
48124
(313) 436-9600

Palmer House

Hotel Website

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

17 East Monroe St.
Chicago, Illinois
60603
(312) 726-7500

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Important Information

Itinerary subject to change.

Please note that you are required to have a valid Canadian passport with you. Non-Canadians may require a visa to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have such a document if required. Any other nationality other than Canadian persons must identify themselves to the booking agent for verification of documents required.

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Boston

June 4, 2010/in Tours /by travac

August 9-12, 2023

Boston is a city that preserves the historical tradition of colonial times while maintaining a lively and modern ambience. For almost four hundred years Boston has stood as the cultural hub of New England welcoming visitors from around the world with its distinctive architecture, elegant parks and legendary attractions.

While in Boston, you will experience the elegance of the Sheraton Boston, optimally located close to shopping, restaurants and nightlife. The Sheraton is also within a comfortable walking distance to many popular landmarks.

A knowledgeable, local tour guide will accompany you on a narrated tour of the city where you will receive little-known facts about John F. Kennedy. You’ll travel down the old-world Freedom Trail with stops at Boston’s favourite historical landmarks. You’ll continue your tour with visits to Back Bay, the Public Gardens, Beacon Hill and old Ironsides, the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy. Unlike most tours of Boston Travac will take you to Cambridge, Boston’s sister city across the Charles River, where you will visit the notable Harvard University.

As an option you may wish to visit Boston Harbor and embark on a whale watching cruise. Art lovers will love the Museum of Fine Arts which houses incredible permanent exhibits as well as a long list of travelling exhibits. Shopping in Boston is on par with any major city in the U.S. and its dining is second to none. We would highly recommend a visit to the North end, famous for some of the finest Italian eateries in the United States.

Travac’s Boston holiday includes round trip transportation via a comfortable chartered coach, accommodation in downtown Boston, a four-hour narrated city tour highlighting JFK, a visit to the John F. Kennedy Museum and the services of a knowledgeable Travac Tours Director.

Don’t miss the opportunity to join Travac’s exciting Boston tour.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

This morning you will depart the Westgate Shopping Centre for your journey to Boston. A lunch stop will be made en-route. Expect to arrive at your hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 2

Depart for a city tour of Boston. Your tour will include stops at the Freedom Trail, including a visit to the Old North Church. You will continue your Boston tour with visits to Back Bay, the Public Gardens, Beacon Hill and Old Ironsides, the oldest ship in the U.S. Navy. The tour will also stop in Cambridge, Boston’s sister city across the Charles River. Cambridge is a pre-eminent centre of learning. Cambridge was also the home of Longfellow, and we will pass his home as we drive along Brattle Street, known during the revolution as Tory Row for its mansions belonging to loyalists.

Following your tour we will head to the John F. Kennedy Museum.

Day 3

This morning you have the option of taking a Boston Harbor and whale watching cruise (optional – approximate cost adults $53US, seniors $45US). After your cruise, the balance of your day will be completely free. You may wish to go to the Museum of Fine Art which is one of the nation’s great museums. Alternately you can visit Newbury Street, dubbed Boston’s “Rodeo Drive”. The Quincy Market is also an attraction unto itself. Shopper’s will enjoy the fact that The Sheraton Boston is just a few minutes’ walk from Boston’s largest downtown shopping centre.

Later this afternoon a shuttle service will be available to Quincy Market and Boston’s North End, famous for its Italian restaurants.

Day 4

Your morning will be free to enjoy Boston’s sites. Your return journey will begin at noon. Expect to arrive in Ottawa by mid evening.

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Hotel Information

Sheraton Boston Hotel

Hotel website

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

39 Dalton St
Boston, MA
02199
+1 617-236-2000

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Important Information

Itinerary subject to change.

Please note that you are required to have a valid Canadian passport with you. Non-Canadians may require a visa to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have such a document if required. Any other nationality other than Canadian persons must identify themselves to the booking agent for verification of documents required.

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Washington, Williamsburg and Gettysburg

June 3, 2010/in Tours /by travac

Every year more than 16 million people travel to Washington D.C. to experience the city’s inspiring memorials and landmarks, its amazing collection of museums, its award winning theatres and its world class shopping and dining.

Join Travac Tours for a 6 day 5 night holiday to Washington, Colonial Williamsburg and Gettysburg.

Setting off from Ottawa, you will travel aboard a deluxe motorcoach to Washington with a friendly Travac Tour Director to assist you along the way. The following day, an experienced local guide will show you the ins and outs of America’s Capital and take you to see all of its renowned sites-the White House, the Capitol Building, The Mall, and many more of Washington’s memorials and monuments.You’ll then have the next two days to explore the city at your leisure- but if you are lost for ideas, your reliable Tour Director will be there to help you.

On day 4 you’ll depart for Colonial Williamsburg, the first and still the most famous of the historically rebuilt American towns. Here you will have a full day sightseeing pass and free time to explore the workings of the site and get an idea of its real history. Traveling home, you will make a stop for a tour of Gettysburg, the famous civil war battlefield.

Travac’s Washington tour includes roundtrip deluxe motorcoach transportation from Ottawa, 5 nights accommodation, 5 breakfasts, 1 dinner, guided tours of Washington and Gettysburg, a full day sightseeing pass in Williamsburg and the helpful services of a Travac Tour Director.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

This morning you will depart Westgate Shopping Centre for Washington. A lunch stop will be made enroute. Expect to arrive at your hotel at approximately 6:30pm. Your downtown hotel for the next 3 nights is the The Hamilton Crowne Plaza- 14th and K Street. The hotel is close to restaurants and many of the attractions that will be part of your visit.

Day 2

Buffet breakfast included at hotel.

At 8:30am a professionally trained local guide will take you on a half-day tour of this great city. You will have a chance to see all of the capital’s famous attractions, including Capitol Hill, The White House, the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and other monuments and memorials. This tour will also familiarize you with the city, its shopping areas and its neighbourhood to make your stay more enjoyable. At 12:30pm the tour ends at Smithsonian Castle; you will have the opportunity to explore on your own or take the bus back to the hotel. (B)

Day 3

Buffet breakfast included at the hotel

9:30am: Shuttle from hotel to Smithsonian Castle.

No visit to Washington is complete without a visit to the prestigious Smithsonian Institution. This collection of Museums and galleries, scattered along the beautiful National Mall, is home to some of the world’s most intriguing exhibits and impressive collections. You can choose to visit the American History Museum, the National Air and Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery and many more institutions along the one mile stretch of the Mall. Best of all admission is free.

5pm: Shuttle from Smithsonian Castle back to hotel. (B)

Day 4

Buffet breakfast included at the hotel

This morning you will depart Washington and head the enchanting village of Colonial Williamsburg (approx. 3 hour drive). Here you will have free time to experience life as it was in 18th century America. Using your included sightseeing pass you will be able to explore the homes and buildings where men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington and Patrick Henry lived and inspired the fight for independence. In its 300 acres Colonial Williamsburg features scores of original buildings and reconstructed homes, most on their original foundations. At 5:30pm you will head to your hotel, just minutes away. Your hotel is the Hampton Inn and Suites Richmond Road – 1880 Richmond Rd, Williamsburg, VA. (B)

Day 5

Buffet breakfast included at the hotel

This morning you will head to Jamestown. Founded in 1607, 13 years before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, this village earned the distinction of becoming America’s first permanent English colony. You will arrive in Jamestown at 9:30 and your tour guide will escort you on a 2.5 hour walking tour of Jamestown. After your visit you will make your way to Gettysburg for an overnight stay at the Country Inn & Suites by Carlson 1857 Gettysburg Village Drive, Gettysburg, PA.

At 6:45pm you will be transferred from your hotel for your included dinner. (B, D)

Day 6

Buffet breakfast included at the hotel

After departing your hotel this morning, you will arrive at the Gettysburg Battlefield for a 2 hour motorcoach tour of this historic site. After your tour and time for lunch you will begin your journey back to Ottawa. A dinner stop will be made enroute. Expect to arrive at the Westgate Shopping Centre at approximately 10:00pm. (B)

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Hotel Information

The Hamilton Crowne Plaza

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

14th and K Street
NW Washington, DC
20005
(202) 737-1234

Hampton Inn

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

1880 Richmond Rd
Williamsburg, VA

Country Inn & Suites by Carlson

Hotel Rating

Hotel Address

1857 Gettysburg Village Drive
Gettysburg, PA
17325
(717) 337-9518

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Important Information

Itinerary subject to change.

Please note that you are required to have a valid Canadian passport with you. Non-Canadians may require a visa to enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have such a document if required. Any other nationality other than Canadian persons must identify themselves to the booking agent for verification of documents required.

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Grand Tour of Newfoundland

June 3, 2010/in Tours, Upcoming Tours /by travac

Grand Tour of Newfoundland

June 16-26, 2026

July 17-27, 2026

August 15-25, 2026

September date coming soon

Travac would like to take you to the most easterly edge of North America……Newfoundland!

This summer join Travac as we travel to the province where the Vikings first landed over 1000 years ago leaving their indelible mark. You’ll have a chance to visit the oldest settlement and the oldest city in North America. At the same time you will traverse this vast land with its relatively small population and meet some of its friendly inhabitants. Here you can immerse yourself in the solitude of the provinces wilderness one day and embrace its vibrant culture the next.

Your tour covers over 3300 kilometers of beautiful scenery and will take you from Newfoundland’s vibrant towns to its quaint villages and outports. You will follow stunning coastlines and take in some of the most incredible sky-scapes that you will ever see. You will visit Gros Morne National Park, UNESCO National Historic Site L’Anse aux Meadows, Trinity and Bonavista as well as many quaint and picturesque villages as you head into St. John’s.

Your first step to secure your space on this exciting adventure is to simply call Travac Tours and have one of our helpful agents reserve your spot.

When should I go?

Looking to see icebergs? June is your best bet.

July is the best month for whale and puffin sightings!

August and September offer great weather and many festivals.

Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Today you will depart Ottawa Airport for your flights to Deer Lake. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel near Gros Morne National Park. This world heritage site takes its name from Newfoundland’s second-highest mountain peak.

Overnight in Rocky Harbour – Ocean View Hotel or similar (B)

Day 2

After breakfast we will depart for Gros Morne Park. The Park is famous for its spectacular scenery. Apart from enjoying this incredible landscape by land, you will also venture off on a boat tour within the park on Bonne Bay (weather permitting). This will allow you an entirely different perspective on the millennia-old striking landscapes. It will also allow you to enjoy the natural beauty of the region.

Overnight in Rocky Harbour – Ocean View Hotel or similar (B, L)

Day 3

Moving north we will visit the Port au Choix National Historic Site. Here you’ll find the crossroads of 6000 years of human history. The sea’s bounty drew Maritime Archaic Indian, Dorset and Groswater Paleoeskimo, and Recent Indian’s here long before Europeans arrived. Seals on passing ice flows were hunted by the Dorset and used for food, shelter and clothing.

Overnight in St. Anthony’s – Grenfell Heritage Hotel (or similar) (B, L)

Day 4

This morning you will make your way to the UNESCO National Historic Site, L’Anse aux Meadows. It was here in 1960 that a group of archeologists discovered the remains of what was an ancient Norse encampment that would have housed as many as 100 Vikings. While here, you will have a chance to view some of the recovered artifacts. Your guide will also go over how the encampment was discovered. Near the original encampment are several re-created sod and timber buildings depicting how life was lived 1,000 years ago.

In the afternoon, we will take a guided tour of Sir Wilfred Grenfell Mission. The Grenfell Mission provided some of the earliest permanent medical services in Labrador and northern Newfoundland. Before the mission opened its first hospital at Battle Harbour in 1893, almost no healthcare resources existed in the area.

Overnight in St. Anthony’s – Grenfell Heritage Hotel (or similar) (B, D)

Day 5

This morning, we will leave the northern peninsula. There will still be many opportunities to enjoy its natural beauty, and your driver will make stops along our route to allow time for picture-taking.

Overnight in Cow Head (June and July) – Shallow Bay Motel or similar (B)

Overnight in Rocky Harbour (August) – Mountain Range Cottages or similar (B)

Day 6

After breakfast, we will make our way to Gander. Gander is most famous for the role that it has played in Canadian aviation history. This role extends back the 1930’s and was most prominent in World War II when over 10,000 airmen were stationed in Gander. Most of the streets in Gander are named after famous aviators, such as Amelia Earhart, Alcock and Brown, Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, Marc Garneau and Chuck Yeager.

Overnight in Gander – Sinbad’s Hotel or similar (B)

Day 7

Today you will make your way to visit Twillingate, one of the most picturesque outports in all of Newfoundland. Located on the northeastern shore of Newfoundland, Twillingate is affectionately known as the ‘Iceberg Capital of the World’. Twillingate was once an active fishing community and is one of the oldest ports on the island.

Overnight in Clarenville – Clarenville Inn or similar (B, L)

Day 8

Your journey today will take you to Bonavista and Trinity. In Bonavista you will have the chance to view the cliffs and enjoy the wonderful coastal scenery. It was here that John Cabot made landfall in 1497. This is also a major center for the fishing industry in Newfoundland. From Bonavista you will continue on to Trinity. Trinity is one of the oldest communities in North America and is a gem of a village.

Overnight in Clarenville – Clarenville Inn or similar (B, L)

Day 9

Today will take you into St. John’s, the capital of Newfoundland. A stop at Cape Spear with a tour will be made on route.

After time for lunch (on your own) in St. John’s, we will embark on a 3-hour city tour. The city enjoys a long and vibrant history as the oldest English-founded city in North America. While the city owes a great deal to the fishing industry, it has been transformed into a modern city famed for its nightlife and its rich musical culture.

Evening is free.

Overnight St. John’s – Hilton Garden Inn or similar (B)

Day 10

This morning you will travel down the Avalon Peninsula to the town of Bay Bulls. From here you will make your way to Witless Bay where you will embark on a boat tour and have a chance to view thousands of Atlantic Puffins, Murres and other seabirds that make their home here in the summer (weather permitting).

Tonight, there will be a farewell dinner.

Overnight St. John’s – Hilton Garden Inn or similar (B, D)

Day 11

Your Travac Tours Director will advise you of your transfer time to the airport for your return flights back to Ottawa from St. John’s. We are sure that you will have many fond memories of your wonderful Newfoundland experience. (B)

Airline schedules, itinerary, and attractions are subject to change.

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Hotel Information

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Hotel Information

Located in the centre of Boston’s tourist district and with 17 restaurants and pubs to choose from, the Faneuil Hall Marketplace is the most accessible place for visitors to Boston to eat well. Similar to Ottawa’s Byward Market, Faneuil Hall also features a diverse assortment of shops, retail stores, and entertainment venues in one central facility.

Selections: McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant, Rustic Kitchen Bistro, Plaza III Kansas City Steakhouse.

4. Beacon Hill

Beacon Hill’s cobbled sidewalks and brick rowhouses have become iconic in Boston’s colonial heritage. Many of the city’s finest eateries can be found alongside the nations first antique shops on Charles Street. Fine French and Italian cuisine can be found amongst the historic brownstone homes, while further down on Beacon Street, the Bull and Finch Pub, more famously known as ‘Cheers’, entertains a more domestic taste palette.

Selections: The Hungry I, The Beacon Hill Hotel and Bistro, Pigalle.

3. Back Bay

Did you ever want to eat at a café named for the famous clothier Armani? Along Boston’s fashionable Newbury Street, you can do just that. Back Bay has the city’s highest concentrations of fine dining establishments and is easily navigable. From quaint basement-to-sidewalk cafés along Newbury Street to the notorious dining institutions at the Prudential Centre, Back Bay features an endless assortment of restaurants to fit all tastes and budgets.

Selections: Papa Razzi, Sonsie International Café, The Grill 23 & Bar.

2. The Park Plaza

After a long day of wandering the continent’s most walkable city, you’ll want to sit down to a hearty, well-made meal. Dubbed ‘Boston’s Premiere Restaurant Destination’, the Park Plaza features everything from an Argentinean-inspired steakhouse to a dessert-only bar. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and everything in between can be had at a wide variety of different establishments.

See all of the Park Plaza’s dining choices.

1. The North End

Boston Weather