Linda Mattingly Christmas in Vermont 2014

A Nostalgic Christmas in Vermont!
Robert Todd Lincoln, Old Montréal and Sugar on Snow!
December 1 - 6, 2014
6 Days and 5 Nights
Middlebury Inn
Bing Crosby first sang White Christmas 70 years ago and since then people around the world have listened, and dreamed, of snow and a quaint
Vermont country inn. There is nothing quite so charming as experiencing the holidays in New England! Pine trees sparkle with lights, Colonialstyle homes have candles in the windows, white steeples point at starry skies and taverns offer welcoming log fires and wassail. Join TRIPS as we
enjoy three nights at the historic Middlebury Inn, welcoming visitors since 1827, and two nights at the Trapp Family Lodge, a mountain resort in the
European tradition. A real treat is in store as you enjoy “sugar on snow” where 100% pure Vermont maple sugar is drizzled over snow resulting in a
delicious candy-like dessert! Be sure and take a bite of a sour pickle which cuts the sweetness of this delightful Vermont treat! During your stay, you
visit the ancestral home of Robert Todd Lincoln, decorated as it might have been in 1912. Dressed in holiday finery, the spirit of the season
abounds with the crisp fragrance of pine boughs and the sounds of the season. As you stroll the charming streets of Montpelier, you’ll find cozy
cafes and boutiques beckoning.Then, discover the traditions of a 19th century Vermont Christmas at Billings Farm & Museum. Tour the
farmhouse decorated with fresh greens draped over mantles and small trees decorated with strands of cranberries or dried apples, painted
pinecones and foil covered chestnuts. Visit the nearby town of Woodstock which has been named the “quintessential New England village” and
which is chock full of charming Americana including a covered bridge smack in the center of town!
Join TRIPS this holiday season and experience the true spirit of Vermont!
Itinerary
December 1, 2014 - Very Merry Middlebury!
You depart today bound for New England and Vermont where you’ll be
met by your guide and assisted with your transfer to the historic
Middlebury Inn. Offering the perfect blend of modern comfort and
classic historic charm, the inn is perfectly located on the village square.
Its impressive brick facade with a long, colonnaded front porch is a
landmark! On arrival, enjoy a welcome eggnog, wine and cheese
reception. Then, be treated to a wonderful holiday dinner! We think
you’ll agree, Vermont hospitality knows no boundaries!
Overnight: Middlebury Inn (or similar)
(D)
December 2, 2014 - Lincoln Ancestral Home!
After enjoying breakfast at the Inn, depart for Hildene, the ancestral
home of Robert Todd Lincoln, the only child of Abraham Lincoln to
survive to adulthood. Furnished almost entirely with Lincoln family
furniture,! it contains artifacts that belonged to him and his parents.
Construction of the Georgian Revival Style home began in 1903 and
includes a working 1,000 pipe Aeolian organ in the entrance hall. You’ll
also find an 1888 Pullman Car that was used by President McKinley.
Next, visit the Vermont Country Store, known as the “Purveyors of the
Practical and Hard to Find”. This old time country store offers quality
merchandise from around the block and around the world! When you’re
finished browsing, enjoy lunch here on your own. Later this afternoon
you’ll take a nostalgic look back to the 1980’s as you visit Waybury Inn,
made famous by the Bob Newhart Show! You’ll enjoy afternoon tea
here and of course have time for a photo of the fictitious “Stratford Inn”!
You’ll return to Middlebury with time to freshen up before having dinner
at the Inn. Afterwards, enjoy caroling with a keepsake song book to
remember your time at this historic Inn!
Overnight: Middlebury Inn (or similar)
(B/Afternoon Tea/D)
December 3, 2014 -A Montréal Christmas!
This morning after breakfast, you’ll depart for the cosmopolitan city of
Montréal which pulls out every bell and whistle for the holidays!
French Canadians string lights, festoon shop windows and eat with
abandon throughout the month and you’ll find the atmosphere to be
infectious! Wander along old cobblestoned streets lined with buildings
that date from the 17th century. Enjoy lunch on your own in quaint Old
Montréal where bistros and classic French restaurants abound. What
makes Montréal so irresistible is it’s blend of French-inspired joie de vivre
and cosmopolitan dynamism! The Parisian vibe pervades the city and it’s
easy to imagine you’ve been transported to a distant continent! You’ll
enjoy a tour of this vibrant city and see the Old Port of Montréal, McGill
one of the world’s finest universities and Chinatown. Tour the beautiful
Notre-Dame Basilica whose Gothic Revival architecture is among
the most dramatic in the world and see Montréal’s Underground City or
RÉSO. With nearly 14 miles of passages, you’ll find boutiques and
restaurants as well as museums and theaters. After an afternoon of
touring, you’ll truly begin to feel as though you’re in France! Your time
here will wrap up as we stroll along the cobblestone streets of Old
Montréal where we’ll enjoy dinner at a local French Restaurant before
returning to the Middlebury Inn.
Overnight: Middlebury Inn
(B/D)
December 4, 2014 - An Early American Christmas!
Check out of your Inn after breakfast and continue your tour of
delightful Vermont! Learn about Vermont’s rural heritage as you tour the
Billings Farm and Museum, established in 1871. All dressed up for the
holidays, you’ll enjoy hearing traditional music performed in the parlor as
you tour the 1890 Farm House. You’ll have time for lunch and perhaps
some shopping on your own in the nearby village of Woodstock this
afternoon. The town’s square is bordered by beautifully restored 19th
century houses, gaily decorated for Christmas. It will surely remind you
of a Dickens Fairy Tale! Later this afternoon, you’ll travel to the Trapp
Family Lodge! In the early 1940’s the von Trapp family toured the
United States and eventually settled in Stowe, Vermont on an
enchanted farm with sweeping mountain vistas reminiscent of their
beloved Austria. They began welcoming guests in the summer of 1950 and
Christmas in Vermont!
$2,698.00
Single Supplement is an additional $698.00
Passports are required
for this trip!
Trip cancellation/interruption insurance is
available and is strongly recommended.
(For medical reasons only)
$185.00 p/p double occupancy
$232.00 single occupancy
the entire property continues to be owned and operated by the
von Trapp family. Enjoy afternoon tea and cookies before settling
in to your spacious room. Dinner tonight is at your choice of the
Lodge’s dining options. Afterwards, enjoy a documentary of Maria’s
return visit to Austria, shown only at the Trapp Family Lodge.
Overnight: Trapp Family Lodge
(B/D)
December 5, 2014 - Maple Sugar and More!
Nothing says Vermont quite like maple sugar, and today you visit the
Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks! 200 years of family tradition make
this maple syrup the best you’ve ever tasted. Your tour starts in the sugar
house where you’ll learn that it takes 4 trees to make one gallon of pure
maple syrup. Then it’s time to experience the Vermont tradition of Sugar
on Snow! Who ever dreamed that maple syrup and pickles go together!
You’ll also visit one of the smallest towns in Vermont, Cabot the home of
Cabot Cheese. Enjoy a tour and learn how these award winning cheeses
are made and of course there will be time for tasting and perhaps picking
up a special gift for the folks back home! Your next stop will be
Montpelier, Vermont which is the smallest capital city in the
nation! You’ll have time on your own for lunch and shopping in the city’s
unique business district. Linger at independently owned shops offering
books, clothing, fine crafts and pastries. Your final stop will be at Ben
and Jerry’s, the happiest place on earth! As part of your tour you’ll be
able to indulge in a sample of the flavor of the day! Return to the Trapp
Family Lodge where you might choose to enjoy a variety of optional
activities such as sleigh rides or wine tasting. This evening, enjoy a
farewell dinner at the lodge followed by evening entertainment
featuring a variety of holiday tunes!
Overnight: Trapp Family Lodge
(B/D)
December 6, 2014 - Home for Christmas!
This morning after breakfast you will transfer to the airport for your
flight home. Your memories of “A Nostalgic Christmas in Vermont”
will last a lifetime!
(B)
Inclusions
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Round trip airport transportation
Round trip airfare to/from New England (checked baggage fees not included)
Transfers from airport to Inn to airport
Welcoming Eggnog, Wine and Cheese reception at the Middlebury Inn
5 nights deluxe lodging
Breakfast daily in your inn/lodge
1 afternoon tea at the “Bob Newhart” Inn
Private motor coach for the entire itinerary
5 culinary dinners
Afternoon tea and cookies 2 days while at Trapp Family Lodge
All sightseeing and admissions as listed in the detailed itinerary including
Hildene, Morse Sugar Farm, Billings Farm & Museum, Ben & Jerry’s and more!
Tour of Montreal including sightseeing and dinner
Porterage of 1 suitcase per person
All taxes, government fees, & service charges as of July 1, 2013
TRIPS ticket wallet, and luggage tags
Travel protection available
from Travelguard
Full time escort throughout your tour
Call today to reserve your space!!!
Reservations for “ A Nostalgic Christmas in Vermont” are accepted on a first come/first served basis.
An initial $500.00 deposit is required to hold space on this tour.
This deposit is fully refundable up to August 23, 2014. Final Payment is due on or before August x23, 2014.
50% non-refundable on August 24, 2014. 100% non-refundable as of October 2, 2014.
Contact Linda Mattingly at 877-903-2265 (toll free) extension 6707 or email lmattingly@alliancebank.com.
We accept all major credit cards.
Make checks payable to Alliance Bank c/o Linda Mattingly
PO Box 500 Sulphur Springs, TX 75483-0500
Passport Name: ___________________________________ DOB: ___________________________
Credit Card #: _________________________________________ Expiration Date: __________________________
CST # 2057913-10
The taxes,
! fuel surcharges, and other fees imposed by airlines and cruise lines have been included in the cost of your tour as of printing on July 1, 2013.
Any increases in these fees or baggage fees imposed by any air carriers or cruise lines are the responsibility of the individual passenger.