Home to more colleges and universities than any other city in the United States, Boston has been the intellectual capital of America for more than 350 years. Step into the past along Boston's Freedom Trail, leading you through some of the most interesting chapters in U. S. history: the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old South Meeting House, Faneuil Hall, and Beacon Hill. You will discover 16 of America's major colonial and revolutionary sites in all, and all within a 1.5-mile walk.

Tall ships unfurl their sails and head for the open sea, while harbor seals, porpoises, and whales play in the blue bay. From the mid-1800s until the 1947 fire, Bar Harbor was a haven for wealthy summer visitors, who built shingled 60-room "summer cottages" on rocky promontories and islands. Today, the main draw is Acadia National Park: towering coastal mountains, coves, lakes, hundreds of streams and ponds, and Somes Sound, a splendid glacial-carved fjord.

Explore the sophisticated urban delights of Canada's oldest incorporated city and its extraordinary natural wonders in Saint John and the Bay of Fundy. Discover the area's Loyalist heritage and shipbuilding industry with a visit to the New Brunswick Museum. Enjoy the Victorian Architecture as you stroll to the Old City Market. Look for maple syrup, local handicrafts, hard cider and other food items and souvenirs. Witness the Bay of Fundy's incredible tides - the highest in the world.

Halifax, Nova Scotia, blends history, maritime charm, and great dining. Visit Halifax Citadel, the historic waterfront, or the Public Gardens, Canada's oldest Victorian gardens. Enjoy local lobster and seafood. Known to the Mi'kmaq as "Chebuctook" ("Great Long Harbor"), Halifax's natural harbor made it a key convoy base in both world wars. Across the water, scenic Dartmouth is reached by Canada's oldest saltwater ferry.

Sydney on Cape Breton Island is the gateway to the Cape Breton Highlands and Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site, Canada's largest historical reconstruction. Once called the "Gibraltar of the New World," the fortress was the scene of major 18th-century battles between France and Great Britain and has been restored to its 1740 appearance. Sydney also offers harbor views along The Boardwalk and at Alexander Graham Bell's summer home, now a museum.

Charming Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island, is regarded as the 'Birthplace of Canada'. In 1864, delegates gathered here to establish a new nation, resulting in the 1867 founding of the Dominion of Canada. Tour the Province House National Historic Site and Founders' Hall, old mansions and museums along with scenic parks and gardens. Outside of town, discover awe-inspiring Fundy Bay, storybook fishing villages and the home of Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of the Green Gables.

National Geographic ranks Gaspé among the world's Top 50 must-see places. On the Upper Saint Lawrence River, it offers some of the region's oldest and most intriguing sights: lush forests, 350-million-year-old mountains, and clear rivers full of salmon and trout. Sweeping land-and-sea views reveal pristine habitats, while its blend of French history and diverse cultures defines the distinct Gaspésien community.

Surrounded by verdant mountains and high plateaus, Saguenay with its breathtaking scenery, is Canada's only navigable fjord, and its rich eco-system draws pods of visiting whales, seals and seabirds. Nestled among the flowering hills discover some of the most picturesque villages in Québec. Saquenay is the travelers portal to a host of activities including: kayaking, power boating, whale watching and hiking amid simply gorgeous surroundings.

Be charmed by Québec City, North America's only walled metropolis and a taste of authentic French culture. Stroll Basse-Ville's cobbled streets, admire its 17th- and 18th-century architecture, parks, and cafés, browse local art on Rue du Trésor, visit Place Royale, and see Château Frontenac. End at Dufferin Terrace for views of the St. Lawrence River, Île d'Orléans, and the Laurentians.

The diversity and rich cultural heritage of Montréal never ceases to captivate the traveler. Take a horse-drawn carriage through the Vieux-Montréal, the largest collection of historic buildings in North America. Browse the shops and boutiques along the 19-miles of neon-lit corridors of the Underground City. Explore the exquisite works on display at the Musée des Beaux Artes or walk part of the Jardin Botanique, the largest Chinese garden in North America.