Highlights of America's East Coast

We fly to Washington D.C., the capital city and political powerhouse of the United States, for a three-night stay. There are iconic sights around every street corner here, from the poignant Lincoln Memorial, where Martin Luther King Junior delivered his famous 'I Have a Dream' speech, to the instantly recognisable White House, home to each serving president since John Adams in 1800.

We begin our explorations of Washing D.C on a guided tour of its most famous sights. We take in highlights such as Capitol Hill, the largest historical residential district in Washington and home to the distinctive Capitol Building. We also see the Pentagon, the Washington Memorial and its reflecting pool, containing a tribute to President Abraham Lincoln in the form of a marble statue that stands 19-feet tall. Lastly, we stop at the grandiose White House, home of the President of the United States.

Enjoy a free day to continue sightseeing at your own pace. The centrepiece of this fascinating city is the National Mall, stretching over 1.9 miles, a national park that's home to a number of different museums based on American history, as well as several iconic monuments and memorials. Another option is to visit Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of JFK.

We board our Amtrak train to New York, where we spend two nights. Arguably the most famous American city, New York is an eruption of sounds, sights, and smells, rooted in all the diverse cultures that call this megalopolis home. We take a guided tour, visiting 'Big Apple' icons such as Fifth Avenue, famous for its high-end shops and regal buildings, and Central Park, a tranquil haven away from the 'city that never sleeps'. Afterwards, we relax with a cup of coffee and a bagel. Your evening is free; perhaps catch a Broadway show in the Theatre District for a slice of typical New York entertainment.

You have a free day to immerse yourself in the excitement of New York. You could enrich your mind at one of the many museums, such as the Guggenheim, American Museum of Natural History, or the Museum of Modern Art, or simply take a break in a pizza parlour or coffee shop. There's plenty of iconic landmarks left to visit, such as the Empire State Building, reaching an enormous height of 1,250 feet, and the Chrysler Building, an Art Deco-style skyscraper first opened in 1930.

We leave the buzz of New York behind, boarding Amtrak's Empire service to Buffalo. We transfer by coach to Niagara Falls, crossing the border into Canada before checking into our hotel for the night. Straddling the US-Canadian border, Niagara Falls is split into three separate sections: the American Falls, the small Bridal Veil Falls and the Canadian/Horseshoe Falls. Dating back around 12,000 years, the Horseshoe Falls are the second largest in the world, after Victoria Falls in southern Africa.

We explore the falls themselves today, taking a Hornblower cruise for a close encounter with the cascading waters. The falls are a magnificent sight; as the water crashes into the river below, the constant rush produces a thundering cacophony of sound, and our cruise means we get as close as possible from the stunning vantage point of the waters. Later, we begin our journey to Toronto for a two-night stay, pausing at the quaint town of Niagara-on-the-Lake along the way.

Explore Toronto at your own pace. The city is a multicultural melting pot and has an inviting atmosphere. You could visit the historic distillery district, home to a plethora of art galleries, restaurants, bars and music venues. It's such an iconic destination that the brick-paved streets are UNESCO-listed. For something a different, you could take a 10-minute ferry journey from the harbour to Toronto's collection of tiny islands. The journey offers great views of the city skyline, while Ward's Island is an ideal spot for taking a stroll among the leafy streets and quaint cottage-like houses.

Enjoy a free morning in Toronto, perhaps for one final stroll through the vibrant streets, before we transfer to the airport for our flight home.

After our overnight flight, we arrive back in the UK today and your holiday comes to an end.