9 Day Heritage Of America

Celebrate America’s rich and varied heritage on an in-depth tour of the eastern United States featuring essential landmarks and incredible vistas. First stop, Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. Enjoy your day at leisure before your welcome reception at the hotel.

This morning, embark on a tour of “the Birthplace of a New Nation.” See the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, the location of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution. We’ll stop in Amish country on our way to Gettysburg, site of the Union victory and a turning point in the Civil War.

Tonight, enjoy dinner at a historic Gettysburg tavern.

Visit the Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum. Begin your tour with the film A New Birth of Freedom. Then lose yourself in Paul Philippoteaux’s Cyclorama from 1884, a breathtaking 360° cylindrical painting depicting Pickett’s Charge. Explore the Museum of the American Civil War and its galleries. Step onto the battlefield with a guided tour of the site illuminating those three historic days in 1863 and the decisive battle that changed the course of American history forever.

This afternoon it’s your choice! Visit President Eisenhower’s home and farm (a National Historic Site); this site served as the President’s weekend retreat and a meeting place for world leaders during the Cold War-era tensions -OR- embark on a guided walking tour of historic downtown Gettysburg with a local expert dressed in period clothing.

Tonight, enjoy a home-cooked family-style meal in a historic barn (dating back to 1764) and experience life on a third generation family-owned farm.

Stop in West Virginia to visit the quaint, historic community of Harpers Ferry, where the Potomac and Shenandoah rivers meet. Then we pass through Shenandoah National Park via Skyline Drive. Travel along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where the scenic wilderness extends in all directions.

This evening, enjoy dinner on your own in downtown Charlottesville.

Visit Monticello, the beautiful home and gardens of Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States and author of the Declaration of Independence. Learn about him during a tour of the main house before exploring on your own or choosing between a guided tour focusing on the experiences of the enslaved people of Monticello or a guided tour of the gardens and grounds.

This afternoon we arrive in historic Williamsburg.

Tonight, dine in a Colonial Williamsburg lodge specializing in revolutionary-era fare.

Step back in time. The short film, “Story of a Patriot,” is your introduction to Colonial Williamsburg where costumed re-enactors populate the streets and buildings, bringing 1770 to life. Tour the Governor’s Palace and Gardens; then feel free to wander the cobblestone streets and explore some of the 88 historic buildings during an afternoon at leisure.

Depart for Arlington National Cemetery to view the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Kennedy gravesites. Then travel to Washington, D.C. Explore the world-famous Smithsonian Institution’s countless treasures where it’s your choice! Visit the National Air and Space Museum -OR- the National Museum of American History. Among the National Air and Space Museum’s collection are the Wright 1903 Flyer, the Spirit of St. Louis, and the Apollo 11 command module. The National Museum of American History features the flag that inspired Francis Scott Key to compose the national anthem, the First Ladies Hall containing many ball gowns worn by America's First Ladies, and more.

The evening is free to explore on your own.

Take a guided tour of America's capital featuring wonderful views of the Capitol building, the White House, monuments and museums. Our first stop is the White House Visitor Center where you retrace the story of the historic residence. Continue with a stop at the moving World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Finally, make a photo stop at the U.S. Capitol building.

This afternoon, visit Mount Vernon, the beloved home of George Washington. Wander the lush plantation grounds and tour the home filled with 18th-century artifacts. Toast the end of a wonderful trip this evening at a farewell dinner.

Bid farewell to Washington, D.C. this morning.