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Day 1
ARRIVE WASHINGTON, D.C. (2 NIGHTS)
Welcome to the nation's capital! Check into your hotel and spend your afternoon relaxing or set out on your own to take in some highlights of the nation's capital city. At 6 p.m., gather at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Reception.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 2
WASHINGTON, D.C. MONUMENTS & MEMORIALS - FREE TIME
Immerse yourself in the proud heritage of a nation, joining a Local Guide to view the White House, the striking Washington Monument and the National Mall, stretching from the Lincoln Memorial to the Capitol building. Reflect on the country's most turbulent days at the Lincoln Memorial and the somber World War II memorial. Visit Arlington National Cemetery where many of America's heroes rest. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to chart your own course through America's capital city.
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Day 3
WASHINGTON, D.C. - MOUNT VERNON - YORKTOWN - WILLIAMSBURG (2 NIGHTS)
From the nation's capital, travel to the home of its first president, George Washington, on the banks of the Potomac River in Mount Vernon. Visit the Yorktown Victory Center and watch Revolutionary War history come alive. Delve even further into America's past upon arriving in Williamsburg—settled in 1638 as Middle Plantation—where you'll discover the flavours of a traditional colonial menu with a delicious dinner.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 4
JAMESTOWN - COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Captain John Smith and his hardy band of 104 settlers established the first permanent English settlement in the New World—Jamestown. With the insight of your guide, you'll find out how rough life was for the early colonists when they came to America in 1607. Walk through the life-size re-creations of the colonists' crude fort, explore the mock-up Native American Powhatan village and climb aboard a replica of one of the three ships that sailed from England to Virginia. Then, fast forward to the 18th century to spend the rest of the day in Colonial Williamsburg, Britain's largest colony in the New World from 1699 to 1780. Chat with blacksmiths, take in a fife and drum parade, even engage in some politicking with a costumed Federalist in the town square.
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Day 5
WILLIAMSBURG - MONTICELLO - SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
Visit the very spot where George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were inspired by Patrick Henry's fiery "Give me liberty or give me death" speech when you visit St. John's Church in Richmond, Virginia. For a more genteel window into Jefferson's life, explore Monticello (translating to "little mountain"), his neoclassical Italian estate perched atop a hill. Nearby, as the shadows lengthen over the Blue Ridge Mountains, take famed Skyline Drive into Shenandoah National Park to be inspired by the vistas that shaped the imaginations of early American settlers. With luck, you might even spot black bears, white-tailed deer or a peregrine falcon. Upon arrival at the hotel you will receive a Local Expert presentation about the ecology of the area.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 6
SHENANDOAH - HARPERS FERRY - GETTYSBURG
A small town with a big story, Harpers Ferry was home to the federal arsenal captured briefly by abolitionist John Brown's small army. Brown and his men were soon defeated by a contingent of Marines led by Robert E. Lee, but the incident gave the West Virginia town a permanent place on the map of American history. Explore the quaint village on your own before travelling on to Gettysburg. Here you'll immerse yourself in the narrative of the Civil War. Visit the incredible $135 million Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, home to the breathtaking Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama painting.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 7
GETTYSBURG - LANCASTER COUNTY - PHILADELPHIA
Cannons blazing, trumpets sounding, the blue and the gray—join your Local Guide at the site of one of the Civil War's most pivotal battles. The events at Gettysburg—where General George Meade's Army of the Potomac defeated Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia—turned the tide in the Civil War. Just four months after the historic struggle, the battlefield was also the backdrop for Abraham Lincoln's call for "a new birth of freedom" in his famed Gettysburg Address. A short drive takes you from war to the peace of Lancaster's traditional Amish agricultural community. Spend some time among their verdant fields and clapboard farmhouses before arriving in Philadelphia, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. You'll stay in the heart of the city's historic district, within walking distance of dozens of landmark buildings. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow American history enthusiasts for a festive Farewell Dinner.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 8
PHILADELPHIA - DEPART WASHINGTON, D.C.
Walk in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin in one of the foremost cities of American history. Begin with a visit to the National Constitution Center—an interactive museum tracing the history of the U.S. Constitution and the effects it has had around the world. Then explore Independence National Historic Park, home of the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Return to Washington, D.C., where a complimentary transfer connects you to Dulles International Airport or Ronald Reagan National Airport, or to the hotel in Washington, D.C., for guests extending their stay. Please do not schedule flights before 5:30 p.m. from Dulles International Airport or 6:30 p.m. from Ronald Reagan National Airport.