Trails of Liberty

Day 1

ARRIVE WASHINGTON DC (2 nights)
Ghosts and heroes, ammunition and battle strategies, chocolate-making and barbecue – you’re sure to have a blast as history comes alive on this patriotic adventure! You’ll be welcomed to the nation’s capital with a complimentary transfer to your hotel and meet your Tour Director this afternoon. Join your Tour Director and fellow travellers at 6 p.m. for a drink at a Kick-off Gathering at your hotel.
Hotel: Capital Hilton (SF)

Day 2

WASHINGTON DC SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Dive into the heart of America with a guided tour of the capital and all its famous landmarks. View the Washington Monument, the National Mall, the Capitol and the White House. You’ll be awed as you walk right up to the Lincoln Memorial and World War II memorials. Then step aboard the Tourmobile to visit Arlington National Cemetery and hear all about the fi nal resting place of the nation’s heroes. Visit President Kennedy’s grave and the eternal flame and see the Tomb of the Unknowns. You get the rest of the afternoon to explore wherever you want. Maybe visit one of the world’s greatest museums -- the Smithsonian Institution; check out the space vehicles at the National Air and Space Museum or look up at the bellies of the gigantic dinosaurs at the Museum of Natural History, just for starters. Tonight, visit hip Georgetown for a Highlight Dinner at a local restaurant. You’ll be knocked out when you see the capital’s stunning landmarks all lit up at night. Awesome! (FB, HD)

Day 3

WASHINGTON DC – PHILADELPHIA
Follow in the footsteps of Benjamin Franklin, the great inventor and statesman, as you travel to Philadelphia. Starting at Independence National Historic Park, visit the National Constitution Center and Independence Hall where Franklin and the other founding fathers started the country’s favourite national holiday with the signing of the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776. Ever wonder why the Liberty Bell cracked? You’ll find out when you visit the giant bell on display in its own pavilion. Then, with lunch time on your own, head on over to the Reading Terminal Market, an old train shed opened in 1892 that now houses a huge marketplace and food stands serving up yummy local specialities. With so many choices, you may need a while to decide which treats you want to try - maybe dig into an authentic Philly Cheesesteak or a piping hot Pennsylvania Dutch apple dumpling? Tonight, don’t be surprised if a special historic guest joins you for dinner!
Hotel: Holiday Inn Historic District (FB, D)

Day 4

PHILADELPHIA – AMISH COUNTRY – HERSHEY – GETTYSBURG
Set out this morning for the rolling countryside of Lancaster County. You’ll have a whole new idea of life without an iPod as you ride back in time aboard an oldfashioned horse-and buggy and learn about the traditional lifestyle of the Amish. Then, be treated to an Amish family-style Highlight Lunch. Travel on to yet another world - Hershey’s Chocolate World that is, where you’ll learn the chocolate making process and everyone will get to make their own customized chocolate candy bars! Tonight, remember Abraham Lincoln as you settle into historic Gettysburg.
Explore on your own or choose an optional dinner at the “most haunted” 19th century Farnsworth House Inn.
Hotel: Wyndham Gettysburg (FB HL)

Day 5

GETTYSBURG – SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK
”Four score and seven years ago,” Gettysburg was one of the most important battlegrounds in the Civil War where President Lincoln gave his remarkable Gettysburg Address. Tour the battlefield with an expert guide and be amazed by the greatest collection of Civil War relics at the new $135 million Gettysburg National Military Park Museum. Then, leave the war behind and travel into the peaceful mountains to Shenandoah National Park. Hike with a guide who will teach you about the history, wildlife and native plants in the park. After a hearty Barbecue Highlight Dinner, settle in around a crackling bonfire and listen to a local storyteller bring the legends of Shenandoah to life. Then, challenge your fellow travellers in a contest to see who can toast the ultimate golden marshmallow for the best s’more ever.
Hotel: Skyland Resort (FB HD)

Day 6

SHENANDOAH – CHARLOTTESVILLE – WILLIAMSBURG (2 nights)
Oh Shenandoah…Too bad we have to say farewell so soon. Roll on down picturesque Skyline Drive as you head on over to Charlottesville for a Southern Highlight Lunch at historic Michie Tavern and get a peek of 18th century tavern life. Continue on to Williamsburg, the early Colonial capital. This evening, don’t be scared when you walk by candlelight with a storyteller telling you the ghostly legends of the “Hauntings of Williamsburg.”
Hotel: Crowne Plaza Williamsburg at Fort Magruder (FB, HL)

Day 7

JAMESTOWN & COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG SIGHTSEEING
Hear ye, Hear ye! Get up and get going to visit Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement in America. With the insight of your local guide, you’ll find out how rough life was for the early colonists when they came to America in 1607. History comes alive as you meet living history characters and walk through the life-size re-creations of the colonists’ crude fort, explore the mock-up Native American Powhatan village and climb aboard a replica of one of the three ships
that sailed from England to Virginia. Then, fast forward to the 18th century to spend the rest of the day in Colonial Williamsburg, Britain’s largest colony in the New World from 1699 to 1780. Get in the spirit along Gloucester Street where costumed townspeople go about their daily lives in faithfully restored shops, taverns and homes. Tonight, you’ll love the amusing tales of a strolling balladeer as you feast on a Farewell Dinner with your newfound friends. (FB, FD)

Day 8

WILLIAMSBURG – MOUNT VERNON – DEPART WASHINGTON DC
Be assured that George Washington really does sleep here with this morning’s visit to Mount Vernon, the home and final resting place of George Washington. Kids, search for clues to solve the nine different puzzles with the special map you will receive as you tour the mansion and gardens, walk along the forest trail and meet the farm animals. Return to Washington DC where your tour ends with a complimentary transfer to the airport or to the tour hotel in Washington DC for
passengers extending their stay. (FB)

Day 9

ARRIVE BACK IN IRELAND
Please do not schedule flights before 5:30 p.m. from Dulles International or 6:30 p.m. from Ronald Reagan National airports.

What's Included

• Return transatlantic flights

Sightseeing Highlights

• Washington DC Explore the capital city’s landmarks and memorials with a
• local guide; enjoy the illuminated monuments on the National Mall at night.
• Arlington National Cemetery Join a tour on a narrated Tourmobile.
• Philadelphia Tour Independence National Historic Park, home to the Liberty
• Bell, the National Constitution Center and Independence Hall.
• Lancaster County Travel through Amish Country by horse-and-buggy and
• visit an Amish farm.
• Hershey Visit Chocolate World and make your own chocolate bar.
• Gettysburg National Military Park Visit the new Civil War exhibits and learn
• about the famous battle and Lincoln’s speech from your own expert guide.
• Shenandoah National Park Hike with a guide and roast marshmallows and
• listen to stories around a bonfire.
• Charlottesville Learn about 18th century tavern life at historic Michie Tavern.
• Williamsburg Explore the early Colonial capital; listen to ghostly legends
• from a storyteller on a candlelight nighttime tour.
• Jamestown Visit the fi rst permanent English settlement on the continent
• and step aboard a replica of one of the ships that sailed from England.
• Mount Vernon Discover the plantation home of George and Martha
• Washington, America’s fi rst presidential family.
• Hidden Treasure: Trafalgar’s expert Tour Directors will be sure to surprise
• you during your tour by revealing a wonderful Hidden Treasure unique to
• your destination.

Dining Highlights

• Kick-off Gathering with your Tour Director in Washington DC.
• 7 full breakfasts.
• 2 Highlight Lunches.
• 1 three-course dinner.
• Local Highlight Dinner in Washington DC.
• Barbecue Highlight Dinner in Shenandoah National Park.
• Farewell Dinner with drinks in Williamsburg.

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class Travel Highlights
• First Class hotel accommodation includes two-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned motorcoach with reclining seats and a restroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• A qualifi ed local guide in Washington DC.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and Welcome on Tour book with map.
• Just 4 Kids Surprise Pack.
• Complimentary airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 8.