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Day 1: Welcome to Philadelphia
Your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour begins at 6:00 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. A transfer is included from Philadelphia International Airport to the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. You might want to schedule your arrival a day ahead of time to explore Philadelphia on your own. Please join us and meet your fellow travelers at this evening's welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your elegant hotel on Philadelphia's Logan Square. D.
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Day 2: Have fun with history in exciting Philadelphia
Your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour down America's road of history begins with a full day's exploration of The City of Brotherly Love. Ride a horse-drawn carriage through the Old City's beautiful, tree-lined cobblestone streets; visit America's birthplace, Independence Hall; view the Liberty Bell in its new home, and watch the renowned multimedia presentation Freedom Rising at the National Constitution Center. Spend the rest of the day as you please in Philly, perhaps exploring some of the city's numerous museums, or sampling its rich culinary culture from cheesesteaks to pretzels and beyond during lunch and dinner on your own. B.
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Day 3: Amish country & Gettysburg's Civil War battlefields
Journey to Pennsylvania's Lancaster County, home of the Amish. With their simple ways, the Amish still live very much as their ancestors did, without all the modern conveniences that we take for granted. Gain insights into the Amish culture during a tour with a local guide, then continue on your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour to historic Gettysburg. Sense the haunting quality of the battlefields where this decisive 1863 Civil War battle was fought as you explore Gettysburg National Military Park with a National Park Service guide. Tonight, a storyteller in Civil War-period garb describes the experience of a Gettysburg civilian caught in the fighting at an exclusive Tauck dessert reception. B, L, D.
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Day 4: Semper Fi... and a colonial dinner in Williamsburg
After crossing the Mason-Dixon line, arrive at Virginia's National Museum of the Marine Corps, where interactive exhibits showcasing the USMC's glorious history illustrate the meaning of "Semper Fidelis." Today's final destination is Colonial Williamsburg, whose cobblestone streets and buildings have been restored to the way they looked when the city was Virginia's colonial capital. As you step back in time on a two-night stay, have dinner tonight at one of Williamsburg's famous taverns featuring authentic colonial-era fare. B, D.
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Day 5: Living history at Williamsburg
Restored to its 18th-century glory and inhabited by interpreters in period dress living its 18th-century lifestyle, Colonial Williamsburg awaits your independent exploration today. Discover life in days gone by as you step back in time to meet residents ranging from artisans and tradespeople to militiamen and ordinary citizens, and visit restored buildings including Virginia's colonial Capitol, the Governor's Palace, Raleigh Tavern, Bruton Parish Church and scores of colonial homes and shops. B, L, D.
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Day 6: Old Jamestown & on to Washington, DC
En route to the nation's capital, visit the historic site of Jamestown, Virginia, established 400 years ago as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. Contrast the three cultures that converged here – Powhatan Indians, the English and the Africans – at an educational lecture, and take a walking tour to view gallery exhibitions focusing on America's early heritage. Continue on to America's capital city for a two-night stay in the heart of it all at the landmark Mayflower® Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel; enjoy dinner at a popular DC restaurant tonight. B, L, D.
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Day 7: From historic Mount Vernon to Washington by day & night
Take a morning excursion to the beloved Mount Vernon estate of George Washington, overlooking the Potamic River; explore the estate with its state-of-the-art interactive museum, the 18th-century mansion and its landscaped grounds. Return to the capital for daytime sightseeing featuring the National Mall and its poignant memorials to those who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and Capitol Hill. Tonight, your memorable Philadelphia to Washington DC tour concludes with a sparkling evening including a farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your landmark hotel, capped by a nighttime tour of the capital's iconic monuments, magnificently illuminated against the night sky. B, D.
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Day 8: Homeward bound
Tauck's Philadelphia to Washington DC tour ends in Washington, DC. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Mayflower® Renaissance Washington, DC Hotel to Ronald Reagan National Airport or Dulles International Airport; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in formalities. B.