DC, Gettysburg & Hershey – 3 Days

Upon arrival in Gettysburg, you’ll meet your Tour Manager at the Gettysburg Visitor Center. Here you’ll begin your trip in The Cyclorama. This is a film and museum experience. First is a film narrated by Morgan Freeman, “A New Birth of Freedom” (sponsored by The History Channel) that walks you through the Battle of Gettysburg. Next is that famous and massive Cyclorama painting, which surrounds visitors with a magnificent visual of the fury of Pickett’s Charge. Lastly, you’ll visit the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War, featuring 12 exhibits that contain historical artifacts and interactive displays.

After lunch, you’ll take a two hour guided tour of the Gettysburg battlefield. Fought during the first three days of July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most crucial battles of the Civil War having occurred at a time when the fate of the nation literally hung in the balance.

After your battlefield tour, you’ll say goodbye to Gettysburg as you begin your trip to Washington D.C. When you arrive in our nation’s capital, you’ll take a guided tour of some of the most iconic Memorials in our country, including visits to the World War II Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and the Korean War Memorial.

This evening you’ll have dinner and head to your hotel to rest for the exciting days ahead.

After breakfast, you’ll visit Arlington National Cemetery, our nation’s largest military cemetery. Here you will see the hundreds of thousands of grave stones remembering all those buried on this hallowed ground. You’ll also see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, the Challenger Memorial and the Kennedy Gravesites. We will then visit the Iwo Jima Memorial and the United States Marines Corps War Memorial.

Next, you will explore the National Air & Space Museum, a center for research into the history and science of aviation and spaceflight.

You’ll visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. This is America’s national institution for the documentation, study and interpretation of Holocaust history and it serves as our country’s memorial to the millions murdered during the Holocaust.

After lunch, you’ll head to the National Archives and see the rotunda where some of the country’s most important documents are stored. You will see an original copy of the U.S. Constitution and an original copy of the Declaration of Independence.

The White House is the official residence and workplace of the President of the United States, and it was first occupied by John Adams in 1800. You will have a chance to see the North Front of the White House from Lafayette Park where you can take photos and enjoy the view.

After dinner this evening, you will continue your guided tour of the Memorials including visits to the FDR Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial.

After breakfast this morning, you’ll board your bus and depart D.C. making your way to Hershey, Pennsylvania. You’ll spend the day at one of America’s favorite theme parks, Hersheypark! Packed with 11 thrilling coasters, 20+ rides for kids, live entertainment, and nine water-play attractions, Hersheypark is a perfect way to end your trip.

Your educational tour comes to a close as you depart on your return trip home.