Washington D.C. & Philadelphia,
Gettysburg / Amish Country - 6 days
Day 1 - Arrive late afternoon in Philadelphia.
Afternoon:
Art Museum (run up the “Rocky” steps).
Evening:
Lights of Liberty program around Independence Park.
Check into hotel, 1 night.
Day 2 - Focus: Initiators of Independence
Morning:
Independence Park area – Visitor’s Center, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell. The Constitution Center (new).
Afternoon:
Franklin Court, Betsy Ross house, Elfreth Alley. Valley Forge.
Evening:
Proceed to Lancaster, PA (Amish Country). Driving tour of Amish farms. Shop at Intercourse, PA. Dine at family-style restaurant. Proceed to Gettysburg.Check into Gettysburg Hotel, 1 night.
Day 3 - Focus: Initiators of Independence
Morning:
Gettysburg Visitor’s Center & Exhibits, Gettysburg National Cemetery. Driving tour of Gettysburg Battlefield. Lunch at Boyd’s Bear Country.
Afternoon:
Proceed to Washington DC. Ford’s Theater, Peterson House, and gift shops. Orientation to National Mall.
Evening:
Kennedy Center, Canadian Embassy, Iwo Jima Memorial.
Day 4 - Focus: Branches of Government and Balance of Powers
Morning:
Capitol Hill Area - Capitol Building, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, House of Representatives / Senate Chambers and Offices*. Eat lunch in Capitol Hill area.
Afternoon:
Finish Capitol Hill. White House* area – Lafayette Park, Ellipse and Visitor’s Center. Washington Monument.
Evening:
Presidential Memorials - FDR, Jefferson, National Archives.
Day 5 - Focus: “Freedom is not Free”
Morning:
Arlington Cemetery – JFK / RFK gravesite, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier changing of the guard, Space Shuttle Memorials, Lee Mansion. Metro Ride.
Afternoon:
Smithsonian Museums: Air & Space, American Indian (new), American History, Natural History.
Evening:
War Memorials: WWII, Vietnam, Korea, Lincoln Memorial, Einstein statue.
Day 6 - Focus: Role of the Citizen
Morning:
Mt. Vernon, home of George Washington, Lunch in Old Town Alexandria.
Afternoon:
National Cathedral and Embassy Row.
Alternative Sites: (to do these would require sacrificing some of the above or adding an extra day) Udvar Hazy Air & Space Museum (new), More Smithsonian time, Bureau of Engraving and Printing, National Zoo (Panda stop), Georgetown – C&O Canal, Pentagon.
Evening:
Return home.
*Internal tours of the White House and Meetings with Congressmen may be arranged by writing your Congressperson’s office well in advance.
