The political heart of America is your gateway to a memorable encounter with the Land of the Free and how it came to be so. After checking in to your hotel, enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore the museums, memorials and monuments of Washington, D.C. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a dinner to kick-start your journey.
This morning, visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture. This is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture and houses over 40,000 fascinating artifacts. Afterwards, tread in the footsteps of America's first president by visiting Mount Vernon, the former home of George Washington. Step back into the 18th century, strolling the estate’s lush gardens, grounds, and fascinating museum galleries before returning back to your hotel for a free evening.
Roam the oak-lined avenues of Washington, D.C. and see tributes to America’s famous sons and daughters as you explore the nation’s proud heritage. View the National Mall, stretching from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol Building, then reflect on the nation’s history at the memorials to World War II and the Vietnam War. Continue to Yorktown to visit the American Revolution Museum, where period artifacts and the dramatic Siege of Yorktown bring the fight for independence to life. Your journey then carries on to Williamsburg, founded in 1638 as Middle Plantation and once the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
This morning, we venture to Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America, where we'll gain insights into the trials that marked the lives of early 17th century colonists. Fast forward a few centuries and spend the rest of the day in Colonial Williamsburg, once Britain's largest colony in the New World. Chat with blacksmiths and soldiers, and perhaps even engage in some politicking with a costumed Federalist in the town square. Partake in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet Sylvia Tabb-Lee who will bring America’s slavery history into the light with storytelling, visual presentations, and song and dance.
Visit St. John’s Church in Richmond, Virginia—the very spot where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were inspired by Patrick Henry's fiery "Give me liberty or give me death" speech. Continue to Charlottesville, where you'll enjoy lunch on your own at one of the many local restaurants in town. Then, visit Monticello, the neoclassical Italian estate where Jefferson once sought a quieter existence. Tonight, settle into your hotel, a Stays with Stories experience.
Journey through the rolling hills of Shenandoah National Park en route to Gettysburg, where you’ll uncover the devastation of the four-year Civil War that divided North and South. Visit the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center to explore powerful exhibits, artifacts and stories from one of the war’s most pivotal battles, while learning how the National Park preserves this solemn battlefield and its legacy. This evening, indulge in a festive dinner at the 19th-century Dobbin House, said to be Gettysburg’s most haunted.
Cast your mind back to the pivotal yet tragic day on which Pickett led his charge at Gettysburg. Join a Local Specialist who will bring to life the events at Gettysburg that turned the tide of the Civil War. Just four months later, the battlefield served as the backdrop for Abraham Lincoln's call for "a new birth of freedom" in his famed Gettysburg Address. Later, you will enjoy a special experience at the Amish home of Samuel and Ruth Lapp, who own a working 25-acre produce farm just outside Lancaster. The Lapp family will introduce our guests to a few Amish traditions and host them for a family-style meal with recipes passed down through generations and ingredients sourced directly from their farm. You’ll journey to the City of Brotherly Love and the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next. Stay in the heart of Philadelphia’s historic district, within walking distance of dozens of landmark buildings. This evening, we’ll join our Travel Director and fellow American history enthusiasts for a dinner.
Discover the story of American democracy this morning in Philadelphia. Explore Independence National Historical Park and see the cracked Liberty Bell, whose inscription inspired generations to proclaim liberty. Continue to the National Constitution Center, where immersive exhibits bring the creation of the U.S. Constitution to life, from the debates of the Constitutional Convention to the rights and freedoms it still shapes today. Walk among the life-size bronze figures in Signers’ Hall and uncover the people and ideas behind this defining document. Your journey then comes to an end in Washington, D.C., where you’ll be transferred to Dulles International Airport or Ronald Reagan National Airport, or to the Washington Marriott Georgetown if you’re extending your stay.
