Overview

1. Day 1: Arrive Washington, D.C. (2 Nights)

   Welcome to Washington, D.C. Check in to your hotel and spend the 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 travelers for a Welcome Reception.

   meal(s):WR

   hotel:Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown

2. Day 2: Washington, D.C. Monuments and Memorials

   Immerse yourself in the proud heritage of a nation and 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. This afternoon, enjoy some free time to chart your own course through America's capital city.

   meal(s):FB

3. 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 to life. Delve even further into America's past upon arriving in Williamsburg—settled in 1638 as Middle Plantation. This evening, head to a local tavern for a Regional Meal.

   meal(s):FB, RM

   hotel:Hilton Garden Inn Williamsburg

4. Day 4: Jamestown – Colonial Williamsburg

   Before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock, Captain John Smith and his hardy band of settlers established the first permanent English settlement in the New World, Jamestown. With the insight of your guide, you'll find out how difficult life was for the early colonists when they came to America in 1607. Walk through the life-sized re-creations of the colonists' crude fort, explore the mock-up of the 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 18^th century and 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. This afternoon, meet Sylvia Tabb-Lee who will bring history to life with her presentation, a Cultural Insight.

   meal(s):FB

5. Day 5: Williamsburg – Richmond – Monticello – Charlottesville

   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. Continue to Charlottesville where you'll enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. For a more genteel window into Jefferson's life, explore Monticello (translating to "little mountain"), his neoclassical Italian estate perched atop a hill. The rest of your day is free.

   meal(s):FB, L

   hotel:Omni Charlottesville

6. Day 6: Charlottesville – Shenandoah National Park – Gettysburg

   Bid farewell to Charlottesville and travel through Shenandoah National Park on the way to Gettysburg. Here you'll immerse yourself in the narrative of the U.S. Civil War. Visit the incredible Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center, home to the breathtaking Battle of Gettysburg Cyclorama painting. Get settled in to your hotel before meeting your newfound friends for a festive Regional Meal at the "most haunted" 19^th century Dobbins House with a special guest.

   meal(s):FB, RM

   hotel:Wyndham Gettysburg

7. Day 7: Gettysburg – Philadelphia

   Cannons blazing, trumpets sounding, the blue and the gray—join your Local Specialist 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. Travel on to Philadelphia, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Stay in the heart of the city's historic district, within walking distance to dozens of landmark buildings. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow American history enthusiasts for a Farewell Dinner.

   meal(s):FB, FD

   hotel:Sheraton Society Hill

8. 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 effect it has had around the world. Explore Independence National Historic Park, home of the renowned Liberty Bell and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Washington, D.C. for a transfer to either Dulles International Airport, Ronald Reagan National Airport or to the Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown for guests extending their stay.

   meal(s):FB