Day 1 | Arrive in Washington D.C.

Distance: 0.00 miles / 0.0 km

Arrive at the airport and proceed to the hotel. Welcome to the US capital! Washington, DC attracts nearly twenty million tourists each year making tourism the second biggest industry of the area just after the federal government. Surprisingly, admission to most major attractions is free.

Accommodations: (STD) Comfort Inn Alexandria or similar (2 Nights) (SUP) Omni Shoreham Hotel or similar (2 Nights)

Day 2 | Washington, D.C.

Distance: 0.00 miles / 0.0 km

Explore the city’s most famous sites which are mostly concentrated along the National Mall. Often called the “Nation’s Front Yard”, it expands from the Lincoln Memorial on the Potomac to the Capitol Building and Supreme Court on Capitol Hill. Along the Mall are the majority of the 18 museums that comprise the Smithsonian Institution, the War Memorials, and the Washington Monument which offers rides to the top of the obelisk and lies south of the illustrious White House. Other points of interest are the Arlington National Cemetery, the Library of Congress, the National Cathedral, and the National Zoo. Of course, there is more to Washington than historical site-seeing. Washington has also developed an active nightlife. Besides the world-class restaurants, you can see Broadway shows, Washington-only political satires, and live music of all types.

Day 3 | Washington – Philadelphia, PA

Distance: 142.00 miles / 228.5 km

Leave Washington this morning and journey toward Philadelphia, the most influential city in the process of the American Revolution. Perhaps the most famous attraction is the Liberty Bell Pavilion, which houses the 2,080 lb. bell and is located within the National Historical Park. Just across the street, is Independence Hall which is known for being the place where Thomas Jefferson’s Declaration of Independence was constructed and adopted on July 4, 1776. Another unique piece of history still reserved in Philadelphia is the Betsy Ross House. She is said to have sewn the first United States flag that was presented to George Washington. Philly is not all historical buildings and artifacts. The Philadelphia Zoo was the first National Zoo in the U.S. and is currently home to over 1,300 animals. The Please Touch Museum is the only one of its kind; it caters to younger audiences and offers a chance to explore hand-on exhibits.

Accommodations: (STD) Best Western City Center Hotel or similar (1 Night) (SUP) Independent Hotel or similar (1 Night)

Day 4 | Philadelphia – Bucks County – Lancaster County, PA

Distance: 134.00 miles / 215.6 km

Just about an hour’s drive to Bucks County will transport you to a picturesque town full of historical meaning. Visit the Washington Crossing Historical Park at the edge of the Delaware River. You can experience tubing, kayaking, canoeing, or rafting in America’s most historic river. Continue traveling toward Lancaster County and you will find quaint Amish villages where time stood still. The Amish, also known as “the plain people”, are by far the best farmers of this country. Take an educational guided tour through an authentically furnished 1840s Old Order Amish farmhouse or go on a buggy ride. Enjoy an afternoon of shopping for pottery, hand-made tile works, and arts & crafts objects at Kitchen Kettle Village that are sure to make great souvenirs.

Accommodations: (STD) Amish View Inn & Suites or similar (1 Night) (SUP) Amish View Inn & Suites or similar (1 Night)

Day 5 | Lancaster – Gettysburg, PA

Distance: 65.00 miles / 104.6 km

If you decide to have breakfast at the hotel this morning make sure to sit by a window so you can witness a true Amish spectacle as the children run across the fields toward the one-room school house in the horizon. Except for holidays, vacation or during harvest time, this is a daily occurrence between the hours of 8:00 and 8:30am. Drive away from Lancaster toward Gettysburg near the Maryland border. Visit the Gettysburg National Military Park which renders homage to the Civil War’s bloodiest battle with 51,000 casualties over three days in the summer of 1863 and is the backdrop for President Lincoln’s Gettysburg address. The park features the Eternal Light Peace Memorial, Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center, McMillan Woods Youth Campground, a self-guided auto tour, and the Gettysburg Museum of the Civil War. Walk by candlelight into the realms of the unknown at Farnsworth House Candlelight Walks where you will be escorted by a period-dressed guide down the very streets the soldiers walked. After a day of sight-seeing dine in Gettysburg’s oldest, most historic house, Dobbin House Tavern, built in 1776.

Accommodations: (STD) Best Western Historic Gettysburg or similar (1 Night) (SUP) Wyndham Gettysburg or similar (1 Night)

Day 6 | Gettysburg – Baltimore – Annapolis, MD

Distance: 93.00 miles / 149.6 km

Today you are traveling via Baltimore, home of the world-renowned Inner Harbor, on your way to Annapolis. Once there, explore the inside of the World War II submarine Torsk or take an elevator ride to The Top of the World Observation Level for an unforgettable 360-degree panoramic view of the city’s skyline, harbor, and beyond. Tour the inside of the USS Constellation, the last all-sail warship built by the US Navy. Continue your journey toward Annapolis, the state capital of Maryland, a beautiful historical seaport along the Chesapeake Bay. Visit The Maryland State House, the oldest state house still in legislative use. Stroll along the City Doc or take a tour of the US Naval Academy, highlights include the Ship-building museum, Hemdon Monument, Crypt of John Paul Jones, and the Statue of Tecumseh.

Accommodations: (STD) Best Western Annapolis or similar (1 Night) (SUP) Loews Annapolis Hotel or similar (1 Night)

Day 7 | Annapolis – Washington, D.C.

Distance: 68.00 miles / 109.4 km

Depending on your return flight schedule, you might find time to enjoy Chesapeake Bay before returning to Washington D.C.