Oh say can you see the nation’s birthplace, capital, and significant battlefields from your easy chair? Of course not! Pack up your patriotism and head east for Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the notable settlements, landmarks, and presidential estates of the historic East. America’s greatest chapters in history come to life as you stroll down the quaint streets of colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, march in the steps of American Revolution and Civil War soldiers, and stand inside the remarkable Palladian walls of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Prepare to be moved as this East Coast vacation leads you to the marbled memorials of D.C., the sacred site of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and the symbolic Liberty Bell in the City of Brotherly Love. Combining national treasures with small town gems – plus a visit to see the wonder and wildlife of Shenandoah National Park – this vacation through America’s historic East promises discovery and wonder for all.
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Welcome to Washington DC! At 6 pm, meet with your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
This morning’s sightseeing features many of Washington DC’s famous landmarks, including the LINCOLN MEMORIAL, and the VIETNAM and KOREAN WAR VETERANS MEMORIALS, with stops for photos at the White House and Capitol Hill. This afternoon, we visit MOUNT VERNON, the restored home of George Washington. Tour the house and gardens, and visit the museums. Try our optional dinner tonight at one of Washington’s favorite restaurants, followed by an illumination tour of the monuments.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, travel south to Fredericksburg, known for its role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Here, enjoy an orientation tour and free time to explore the historic artifacts. Next, continue to YORKTOWN HISTORICAL BATTLEFIELD PARK, where the British surrendered to Washington’s troops in 1781, bringing an end to the American Revolution. Continue to Williamsburg for a 2-night stay.
Meals included: Breakfast
This morning, enjoy an exclusive PERFORMANCE from Sylvia Tabb-Lee, a professional historian. Visit the nearby JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT for a guided tour to learn about the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Then, enter COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG’S HISTORIC AREA, where costumed villagers add to the authenticity. Stroll down its quaint streets, browse through the historic trade shops, and see the Public Gaol. Also, be sure to stop at Raleigh Tavern, the meeting place for Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and other patriots. This evening, enjoy a Colonial-style dinner at a famous local TAVERN for the chance to engage in a recreated supper experience savored by 18th-century patriots.
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
First stop is Richmond, Virginia’s capital and once the capital of the Confederacy. Visit ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, where Patrick Henry proclaimed, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Next, MONTICELLO, Thomas Jefferson’s estate with its beautiful gardens and imposing mansion designed by Jefferson himself. Spend the evening in Staunton, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Meals included: Breakfast
Today, journey to beautiful SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK, home to spectacular vistas and a haven to wildlife. Enjoy photo stops and panoramic vistas from Skyline Drive. During your free time today, why not stroll one of the many hiking trails or just sit back and enjoy the scenery?
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Today, follow the same route as Lee’s army during its invasion of Pennsylvania. In West Virginia, visit HARPERS FERRY NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK, where John Brown and his “army of liberation” staged their fateful raid on a U.S. Arsenal. Continue across Maryland to GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK. Then, tour Gettysburg and hear your Local Guide vividly recount the Battle of 1863. This evening, enjoy a Colonial-style candlelight dinner at the elegant DOBBIN HOUSE TAVERN, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Stay overnight at the historic Hotel Gettysburg, established in 1797. President Lincoln honed the immortal words of his Gettysburg Address just steps away from the hotel, and nearly a century later, the hotel served as President Dwight Eisenhower’s National Operations Center.
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
This morning, enjoy an exclusive PRESENTATION by one of America’s heroes of the 19th century—Ulysses S. Grant. Next, travel through Lancaster County past Amish farmlands to VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK for a tour to see the camp where Washington and his troops endured the harsh winter of 1777–1778. See the Memorial Arch, the Grand Parade, and the Washington Memorial Chapel. Continue to Philadelphia, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner on the historic Moshulu ship. Launched in 1904, she has had a long and exciting career on the seas and is now considered one of Philadelphia’s best restaurants.
Meals included: Breakfast Dinner
Morning sightseeing focuses on the important buildings of the “Birthplace of the Nation.” Major attractions at INDEPENDENCE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK include the LIBERTY BELL and INDEPENDENCE HALL. Your tour will end in the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast