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Fall Back For Autumn Foliage Tours from $899

It's rare that Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel magazine puts its imprimatur on a tour operator's brochures, but that's what has happened with the 2002 Cosmos publications, including the one covering that firm's New England Fall Foliage packages, starting at $899, with departures from September 16 through October 12 this year.

The magazine's official recommendation covers all of Cosmos' operations, which cover six continents with visits to more than 60 countries. For New England, the firm is offering seven fall foliage packages, ranging from the 8-day tour mentioned above, to 13-day deals.

The 8-day package visits the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge (MA), cruises Lake Winnipesaukee aboard the historic MS Mount Washington (NH), and takes in fall colors in New Hampshire's White Mountains and Vermont's deciduous forests. Maine is also covered on this itinerary.

Other offers of interest include:

Seven-day Niagara Falls & Washington DC package (Sept. 14-Oct. 13, from $869)
Nine-day Ontario & French Canada tour (Sept. 7-Oct. 12, from $749)
Nine-day Great Lakes & Mackinac Island package (Sept. 6-Sept. 20, from $899)
Ten-day program called New England Traditions (Sept. 7-Oct. 12, from $1,049)
12-day Atlantic Canada Adventure (Sept. 7-Oct. 5, from $999)
13-day Eastern US & Canada Grand Tour (Sept. 9-Oct. 11, from $999)

Cosmos packages include hotels, daily breakfasts, some dinners, sightseeing, professional tour directors, transportation, hotel taxes, service charges and baggage handling. You can book through a local travel agent or directly through Cosmos, which can be reached at www.cosmosvacations.com or by calling 800/272-8482. (Get their brochures by going to the Web site or by phoning them.)

Somewhat pricier are trips offered by Cosmos' big sister, Globus, owned by the same company, Group Voyagers, Inc., in business for more than 70 years and providing tours for over 500,000 people a year.

Prices start at $1,499 for a Globus nine-day Classic New England package, with departures from Sept. 16 to October 12. You'll visit Boston, Bar Harbor, Killington and Lake Placid, as well as tour Acadia National Park (views of the White Mountains). For the same price, you can take their eight-day Autumn Glory tour, visiting Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York, visiting Deerfield (MA), Lake Placid (NY) and a maple syrup farm in Vermont, as well as stopping in Kennebunkport (ME) and historic landmarks in Salem (MA). Departures from Sept. 18 through October 12.

In addition, there are packages from eight to 14 days, including the Eastern US & Canada, Parks & Canyons (Western US), Branson & America's Musical Legacy, Mackinac Island & the Great Lakes, the Historic East, French Canada with Niagara Falls, Canadian Maritimes Explorer, and Nova Scotia & Prince Edward Island. All operate sometime in the period between Sept. 7 and Oct. 19.

Globus vacations include the same provisions as those for Cosmos, except that hotels are in bumped up a grade with deluxe, superior first class or first class lodgings. You can get their brochure by phoning toll free 866/313-2855, visiting www.globusjourneys.com or contacting your local travel agent. A portion of Globus sales is contributed to the Discovery Channel Global Education Fund to help teach children in remote and disadvantaged regions "through the power of technology."


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