Day
1
Today we will
begin our American Heritage Tour as we fly to the "City of Brotherly
Love." Upon arrival in Philadelphia, we will transfer to our
hotel.
Day 2
Today we will visit the
historic and cultural landmarks of Philadelphia. We will visit the
restored buildings and sites of America's birthplace of Liberty and
Freedom. Stops will be made at Independence Hall (shrine of
the Liberty Bell), Christ Church and Burial ground (where 7 signers
of the Declaration of Independence rest). You will also see
and learn about Antique Row, Betsy Ross' House (home of the Stars
and Stripes), Ben Franklin's Grave, charming Elfreth's Alley, the
Port of Philadelphia, and Society Hill, with its colonial
reconstruction.
This Afternoon, we will travel
on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the grand boulevard leading from
City Hall to the Art Museum, past Logan Circle, the Academy of
Natural Sciences, the Franklin Institute, and the Rodin
Museum.
Later, we will return to
Valley Forge, where Washington and his troops spent the long, hard
winter of 1777-1778. We will see Washington's Headquarters and his
Memorial Chapel, before we return to our hotel.
Day 3
This morning, we will travel
to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The rest of the day is devoted to
a tour of the town and the Battlefield where, in July 1863, the
Union Army under General George C. Meade defeated General Robert E.
Lee's Confederate forces. The commentary of the Tour Guides
will help us understand clearly the story of the largest battle ever
fought on US soil. We'll also view Cemetery Ridge, where
Abraham Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address, and the
farm of President Eisenhower.
Then, it's on to Amish Country
and the Lancaster area. During our travel in this beautiful
area, we will see the Amish folk and their traditional farmhouses
and a one room school, stopping along the way to observe these
peaceful, simply dressed devout folk working in the fields unaided
by modern conviences. We will even view a quaint covered
bridge today!
Day 4
-
Continental
Breakfast, Dinner
-
Tour to
Longwood Gardens & Baltimore
-
Fairfield
Inn by Marriott
This morning, we will take a
short ride to beautiful Longwood Gardens, the former home of Pierre
Du Pont. Our tour is a delightful experience in viewing the endless
variety of flowers, shrubs, plants, and trees from all parts of the
world, set in the fantastic and beautiful grounds of Longwood
Gardens.
Next, we'll continue south to
one of our nation's greatest cities, Baltimore. Highlights will
include the Fort McHenry area where Francis Scott Key wrote "The
Star Spangled Banner," Harbor Place with its 140 shops and
restaurants and Camden Yards.
Day 5
Today's tour is
planned to give you an overall view of the many sights and
attractions in our nation's capital. This tour incorporates,
in one spectacular day, a treasure of historic information and
sights beginning with the stately U.S. Capitol Building, the Lincoln
Memorial and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing
Arts.
After a luncheon (on
your own) we'll journey along the Potomac River to learn about
George Washington, the man. We will first see his town,
Alexandria, once a great seaport, and then travel down river to
his beloved home, Mount Vernon. The gardens and home is a
vivid reminder of our nation's early history.
Later, we return to
Arlington National Cemetery, where we board a special sightseeing
tram. We will stop to view the Kennedy Gravesites, marked by
the Eternal Flame, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers where you
might see the Changing of the Guard. You will then continue
riding through the hallowed grounds where seemingly endless white
headstones stretch out in ordered lines, providing sharp contrast to
the ornate monuments depicting significant battles and events in our
country's history. You will view the final resting places of
such notables as General of the Armies, "Black Jack" Pershing, Abner
Doubleday, and President and Mrs. Howard Taft. At the
conclusion of the ride you will see the famous Iwo Jima
Memorial. During this sight and sound filled day, the tour proceeds
past the magnificent Supreme Court Building, Art Galleries, the
National Archives, and the home of Robert E.
Lee.
Day
6
This morning, your
tour includes a drive down Pennsylvania Avenue, passing the F.B.I.
and the Federal Triangle, center for many of this country's
Governmental agencies. You will see historic Ford's Theater,
where Lincoln was assassinated. Time permitting, the tour will visit
the Peterson House and the Lincoln Museum. You will pass the
Treasury Building and view Blair House, Renwick Gallery and the
White House. We will circle the Ellipse, the National
Christmas tree and continue around the Tidal Basin. Our next
stop will be the Jefferson Memorial, dedicated to the third
president of the United States and author of the Declaration of
Independence. Our last stop will take us to the Smithsonian
Institute Museum of American History*.
*Those desiring to spend the
entire day at the Smithsonian will be dropped off at the beginning
of our tour.
Day
7
-
Continental Breakfast,
Dinner
-
Visit Bull Run & Monticello
-
Best Western -
Charlottesville
This morning we will visit Bull Run, sight of two of
the Civil War's bloodiest battles.
We will complete our touring today in
Charlottesville, where Thomas Jefferson left the imprint of his
genius amid the pleasant Virginia hills when he founded the
University of Virginia, laid out its grounds and designed the first
buildings. Nearby is his home, Monticello, an architectural
masterpiece which he designed himself, and within sight is Ash Lawn,
the home that he planned for his friend James Madison. Both
Presidents were frequent guests at Michie Tavern, which we will see
on our way to Monticello.
Day
8
-
Continental Breakfast, Dinner
-
Tour
to Appomattox Courthouse, Richmond &
Williamsburg
-
Hampton Inn -
Williamsburg
We will tour the
Appomattox Courthouse enroute to Richmond this morning. The
Appomattox Courthouse was the sight of the end of the Civil War when
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S Grant.
In Virginia's Capitol city, which was also the capital of the
Confederate States of America, we'll see the Stat Capitol, St.
John's Church, where Patrick Henry gave his impassioned "Give me
liberty of give me death" speech. We will also see the home of
Edgar Allen Poe.
Day
9
Today you will enjoy
an intimate glimpse of 18th Century life. Your sightseeing
tour of Colonial Williamsburg allows you to step back in history for
one full day and recapture the spirit and the character of such
great men as Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry. Your will
view some of the finest examples of Georgian Architecture, 18th
Century furnishings and gardens landscaped with plants only known to
colonial horticulturists. You will stop at the information
center to view the Film "The Patriot" and can take time for a
relaxing lunch (on your own). Then we will proceed on to
the restored area to visit the Capitol, the Palace, the Gaol, the
Raleigh Tavern, and the home of George Wythe.
We will see the Bruton Parish Church, the Courthouse, Powder
Magazine, the Bruch-Evard House and the College of William and Mary.
Day
10
-
Continental Breakfast
-
Jamestown/Yorktown Tour
-
Fly
home
This morning, we'll
visit Yorktown, sight of the Battle of Yorktown, which effectively
ended the Revolutionary War. The we will stop
at Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in
America, where we'll see Festival Park, with it's reconstructed
Indian Lodge, replicas of the three ships that brought the settlers
across the Atlantic and a reproduction of the original triangular
log fort.
Latter, we will head home with
many fond memories of our tour of American
Heritage.
