Motown, Rock 'n' Roll & Niagara Falls
9days from
£2,147*per person
Overview
THE MUSICAL HERITAGE OF THE GREAT LAKES
Itinerary
- Kick your North American escape off with a flight to metropolitan Toronto, Canada’s largest city. Upon arrival, you’ll meet your tour manager before checking into your hotel for the first of two nights.
- For a closer look at Toronto’s historic waterfront, join an optional guided tour, starting with a drive around the area's most impressive sights. After some time on the road, head to the docks for a cruise across Lake Ontario and through the city's inner harbour. Across this two-hour tour, you’ll enjoy panoramic views of famous city landmarks, including the imposing CN Tower, Sugar Beach, named after the neighbouring Redpath Sugar Refinery, and the Rogers Centre, home to the Toronto Blue Jays. Back onshore, you’ll be free to head for the CN Tower, explore the city’s museums and galleries or take in the neo-Gothic opulence of Casa Loma, one of Toronto's most recognisable landmarks, or do some shopping at the Eaton Centre.
- Board the coach, following the banks of Lake Ontario and crossing the US border into Detroit, the home of Motown. Known for its automotive industry, and as the birthplace of the Ford Motor Company, Detroit is commonly referred to as Motor City, and you’ll have the evening at leisure to familiarise yourself with its lively riverside district.
- Today, enjoy the birthplace of Motown. Feel the soulful rhythm of the city with a visit to the world-renowned Hitsville USA, which propelled musical legends, from Diana Ross and the Supremes, Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, to Marvin Gaye, to stardom. This building, previously the record label’s original headquarters, now houses the Motown Museum, celebrating the ‘Sound of Young America’ from the 1960s. You’ll be escorted by a local guide who will reveal the stories behind the wide collection of artefacts, memorabilia, and original sheet music. You’ll also see Studio One, where some of the greatest jazz and blues performers of all time recorded. This afternoon, embrace Detroit’s historic automotive industry on an optional tour. Nicknamed ‘Motor City’ largely due to the work of Henry Ford, Detroit was once considered the automobile capital of the world. You can celebrate inventive America with a visit to the Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation. Officially the largest indoor-outdoor museum complex in the United States, the museum showcases the technological feats of America through the centuries. Marvel at its collection of culturally significant prototypes and memorabilia, from the presidential limousine of John F. Kennedy, and the Rosa Parks bus, to Thomas Edison’s laboratory.
- Your musical pilgrimage will take you to Cleveland for a tour of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Set in an impressive glass pyramid and offering an insight into the development of one of the world’s most celebrated genres throughout the ages, this museum showcases the illustrious lives of the world’s most iconic rockers. Start by discovering the trailblazers that propelled the genre to global popularity, like Robert Johnson, the world’s first rockstar. You can then perhaps catch a live performance on the Klipsch Stage before continuing to The Garage, which emulates a rock studio and the Hall of Fame where rockstars, from Bob Dylan and AC-DC to Johnny Cash and The Beatles, are displayed. The museum also pays ode to one of the best rock albums of all time, Pink Floyd’s The Wall, and the ‘Legends of Rock’ exhibit celebrates the genre’s far-reaching impact on wider modern culture.
- Spend a few final hours in Cleveland with the morning at leisure in the city. Only a short walk from your hotel is Cleveland’s Museum of Illusions, which promises mind-bending exhibits, while the nearby House of Blues offers traditional American fare with regular rock ‘n’ roll and blues-themed live music performances. The Tower City Centre, a shopping mall housed in a 1920s building, is another worthwhile stop for some retail therapy and you can find breakfast at the delightful West Side Market with its diverse food vendors and grand vaulted ceilings. After lunch, reboard your coach for the drive back across the border into Canada to Niagara Falls, where you’ll check into your next hotel.
- Niagara Falls will be yours to explore, and you’ll have the entire day to make the most of its dramatic natural beauty. For the very best views of Niagara Falls, witness its majestic landscapes from above with an optional 10-minute helicopter ride over the white-water rapids below – the only way to fully appreciate Niagara’s stunning scenery! Every minute, 45,000,000 gallons of water crash over the knife-like lip of Niagara Falls, into the foaming waters below. Your 10-minute flight includes an excellent audio commentary and will take you up above the roaring Falls for an unforgettable view. Back on land, consider soaking up unobstructed views of the falls with a ride on the Niagara SkyWheel or enjoy lunch from the vantage point of an overlooking restaurant. Be sure not to miss a walk along the Falls’ nearby walking trails or perhaps step aboard a Hornblower cruise for a sailing into the mist. For a unique perspective of the Falls, from behind the cascading waters, the Journey Behind the Falls offers two panoramic viewpoints – make sure to bring a raincoat, though! If you prefer an up-close view from ground level, a visit to the ever-popular Table Rock, a rocky promontory overlooking the Canadian Horseshoe Falls, is also an option.
- Board the coach for the scenic final leg of your North American journey. You’ll travel along the magnificent Niagara Parkway, commonly known as the ‘prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world’, which follows its namesake river from Fort Erie to the rural town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. Famed for its original Victorian-era buildings and a wide variety of world-famous wineries, this delightful lakeside town promises a memorable final stop to your North American adventure. Explore at your own pace or perhaps find lunch one of the town’s traditional pubs or cafes. Later this afternoon, continue to Toronto for your overnight flight back to the UK.
- Arrive back in the UK this morning at the end of truly memorable musical journey.
What's Included
Holiday Highlights
- Explore cosmopolitan Toronto, Canada’s largest city, and view its iconic skyline and lakeside landmarks from an optional harbour cruise and city tour
- Head to Detroit, the birthplace of Motown, and embrace the soulful rhythms of Hitsville USA
- Join an optional tour of the Henry Ford Museum of Innovation for a glimpse into the wonders of American creativity
- Learn about the lives of modern music’s biggest stars with a visit to Cleveland’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame
- Take in artistic Cleveland, with its museums, galleries and live music venues, at your own pace
- Marvel at Niagara Falls, one of North America’s most recognisable natural wonders on foot or from above during an optional helicopter ride
- Travel along the Niagara Parkway and visit the beautiful town of Niagara-on-the-Lake
Our Price Includes
- Seven nights’ room-only accommodation in Toronto (2 nights), Detroit (2), Cleveland (1) and Niagara Falls (2), plus one night on the aircraft
- Trip to the Motown Museum in Detroit
- Tour of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
- Visit to Niagara Falls
- Drive along the Niagara Parkway to pretty Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Return flights to Toronto
- Comfortable, air-conditioned coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
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Dates and Prices
Other Information
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 1 hour.
Passports and visas
British citizens require machine-readable passports with an integrated chip (shown on the front by a small rectangular symbol beneath the word PASSPORT), valid beyond the return date of your tour when travelling to Canada and the USA.Visitors to Canada must apply for an eTA online with Canadian Immigration at least 72 hours before departure at www.canada.ca/eta. The current charge is seven Canadian dollars for British Citizens. You must apply for an ESTA online with US Immigration at least 72 hours before departure at www.cbp.gov/esta. The current charge is $21 for British Citizens.British subjects, and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested, should consult both the US and Canadian Embassies as a visa may be required. If you have visited North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011, or Cuba since 12 January 2021, or have dual nationality with any of these countries, you do require a US visa and cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Program.
Foreign Office travel advice
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
Tipping
Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. The customary gratuity for a coach driver is about $8 per person per fay, and for a Tour Manager is about $10 per person per day.
It is normal to tip 15-20 per cent of the bill for a taxi or in a restaurant, and to leave a dollar or so per drink in a bar.
On your flight
All outbound flights depart and arrive on the same day. All return flights leave in the evening and land in the UK the next day. On-board meals will usually include lunch and a snack on outward flights, and dinner and breakfast on flight home. Soft drinks are complimentary, but some airlines will charge for alcoholic drinks.
Luggage allowance
You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.
Special requirements
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
Disabled access
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Itinerary changes
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
Changes to your hotels
Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents.
Hotel rooms
Standard hotel rooms in North America will contain one or two double- or queen-sized beds, and it is not possible to add extra beds to the room. Parties consisting of more than two travellers, but who have only booked one room, will be expected to make use of the two beds provided. If this is a concern, you may wish to consider booking more than one room for your group.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on any coach forming part of your holiday; regular stops will be made though for your comfort en route. The majority of hotels in North America are non-smoking throughout including in all bedrooms. In general smoking outside is acceptable, but do look out for signs prohibiting this close to public entrances or bus stops.
Holiday code
N2823Holiday provided by Newmarket Holidays
BOOK WITH CONFIDENCE: This holiday is sold and operated by Newmarket Holidays (ABTOT 5509, ATOL 2325, ABTA V7812), you can be 100% sure that your money is safe.