This is truly the All-American holiday, complete with the heritage of the nation’s capital and the historic charm of Williamsburg. Tonight, gather with your travel companions at 6:00 p.m. and enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by your Tour Manager. Meal: D
History is being made every day in Washington, DC. You will see the Capitol Building where laws are created and Capitol Hill home to the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. See the stirring Jefferson, Lincoln, Vietnam and FDR Memorials. Later, visit the first memorial dedicated to all who served during World War II, the National WW II Memorial. The memorial honors all military veterans of the war, the citizens on the home front, the nation at large, and the high moral purpose and idealism that motivated the nation’s call to arms. Lunch today is at Gadsby’s Tavern. Offering meals since 1770, Gadsby’s offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience in elegant Colonial dining rooms. Then, visit the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration and discover how their explorers made groundbreaking discoveries through museum exhibits and immersive experiences. Meals: B, L
Sightseeing of the nation’s capital continues with a visit to Arlington National Cemetery* and the John F. Kennedy Memorial. View the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and the Women in Military Service Memorial. Then visit the day at Ford’s Theatre where on April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Visit Petersen House, the boarding house where Lincoln died. This afternoon enjoy time to visit the Smithsonian Institution, the world’s largest museum complex and research organization. Composed of numerous museums in Washington, D.C. the Smithsonian’s exhibitions offer visitors a glimpse into its vast collection numbering over 142 million objects and includes the Air & Space Museum and the National Museum of American History. After dinner, an evening Illumination tour of Washington tops off this exciting day as you will see the memorials and monuments flooded in lights including the U.S. Capitol, The White House and much more. Meals: B, D
Depart Washington, DC, this morning for a visit to Mount Vernon, the estate of George and Martha Washington. A walking tour of the home and grounds provides a step back in time. Continuing south, travel along a portion of scenic Skyline Drive through picturesque Shenandoah National Park (weather permitting) while en route to Charlottesville and your lodgings for the evening. Meals: B, L
Today, begin with a visit to Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence. You will tour the home and see the Parlor, the Library, greenhouse and Jefferson’s bedroom. Experience a “Day in the Life” of Jefferson through the artifacts, personal possessions and “mechanical inventions” found throughout the house. Then, step out onto the grounds, which are alive with a flower garden, orchard and vegetable garden. Stop for lunch at the historic Michie Tavern who has welcomed travelers for more than 200 years. As you cross the threshold you enter another time as the costumed hostess welcomes you into the past as “Stranger,” an early 18th-century term for a traveler. Later, continue to Williamsburg. Meals: B, L
Today features a journey of historic proportions. At Jamestown Settlement, the site of America’s first permanent English colony, explore life at the dawn of the 17th-century inside the palisade of a re-created colonial fort. Also discover the world of Pocahontas in the Powhatan Indian Village. Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the country and one of America’s most popular attractions. Stroll streets dating back to the 1700s. Converse with residents playing the roles of their ancestors as they go about their daily activities exactly as they did more than 200 years ago. It’s an exciting glimpse into the early days of the nation. A traditional tavern dinner sets the mood for your stay in historic Williamsburg. Meals: B, D
We travel back to Washington, DC today as your tour ends with a group transfer to Washington Reagan National Airport for flights out after 2:00 p.m. Meal: B
