Canada's Maritime Provinces and Coastal Maine

During the autumn months, the sylvan hills and bucolic towns of Canada’s Maritime Provinces and coastal Maine are ablaze with orange, crimson, and yellow. Join us as the weather cools and the summer crowds fade for a cruising adventure to the historic communities of Eastern Canada and Maine. Stop at long-settled communities of the Maritimes, villages that still bear witness to the empires that shaped Canada, like historic Louisbourg, Nova Scotia and the old seaport of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Then cruise Maine's scenic coast to the the picturesque town of Bar Harbour for an unforgetable excusion to Acadia National Park. Spend your final day in Portland, exploring the cities lively arts district before heading to Gloucester, Massachusetts

via smithsonianjourneys.org

Tours of a Lifetime

We’re traveling again. Tour operators are reporting big spikes in inquiries and bookings. But an uncertain economy, ongoing wars, and the fragile health of the planet have, perhaps permanently, reordered priorities. Travelers now seek more perspective, meaning, and challenge. They want to see the unvarnished reality of a place, not just the fantasy. Outfitters have responded by dialing down the luxury and refocusing on core offerings. Their itineraries are more innovative and experiential—aimed at developing lasting connections between people. Here are 50 of the world's best guided tours for 2010, as chosen by the editors of National Geographic Traveler magazine.

via travel.nationalgeographic.com