Washington square

Day 1

NEW YORK

Begin your tour of the Historic Northeast in New York City, originally called New Amsterdam by the Dutch who arrived here in 1609. According to legend, it was here that the Dutch colonists 'bought' the island of Manhattan for $ 24, one of the greatest real estate deals in history. In Lower Manhattan, near where Fort Amsterdam once stood, you can follow the immigrant story on a visit to the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, where audio tours in English, French, German, Italian and Spanish are available. Afterwards, wander the streets of New Amsterdam, whose frontier trading post has long ago been replaced by Wall Street and the towering skyscrapers of the Financial District. In 1664, faced with the overwhelming firepower of the British, the Dutch mayor Peter Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam without a fight, and the city was renamed New York. By 1740, the new colonial city had become the third largest seaport in the British Empire, surpassed only by Philadelphia and London. On the East River at the end of Wall St, the ships docked along South Street Seaport recall the grand age of sailing; you can visit the South Street Seaport Museum, or shop and dine with a stunning view of the Brooklyn Bridge. After the American Revolution, New York became the US capital, and at nearby Federal Hall on Wall St, a statue of George Washington commemorates where he was sworn in as the first President of the United States. Other sites associated with the early US history are also located in Lower Manhattan, including Fraunces Tavern, Trinity Church, and St Paul's Chapel

Day 2

NEW YORK

Continue your discovery of Historic New York in Manhattan's Lower East Side, where new neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Kleindeutschland sprang up to house immigrants from the world over. The excellent Lower East Side Tenement Museum tells the stories of actual families who once lived here, their apartments restored according to the memories and photographs of their descendents. Nearby Katz’s Delicatessen, where “Harry met Sally”, is New York’s oldest deli, and most New Yorkers will tell you it’s the best. Another nearby favorite is Lombardi's Pizza, New York's first pizzeria. Cross Houston Street to the East Village, still Manhattan’s edgiest neighborhood, once home to successive waves of Irish, German, and Eastern European immigrants. Then cross town to Greenwich Village, originally a separate farming community settled by the Dutch in the 1630's. As New York grew in size and wealth in the early 1800s, successful merchants and tradesmen built the fine brick Federal-style homes that characterize the West Village today. With the founding of New York University here in 1836, Greenwich Village became the center of intellectual life, and remained so after New York society moved uptown to the more desirable addresses around Central Park. Artists and writers from Eugene O'Neill and the Bohemians to Jack Kerouac and the Beatniks to Bob Dylan and the hippies all made their home in Greenwich Village. In Washington Square Park and the surrounding clubs and cafes, artists, musicians and students still gather to exhibit, write and perform

Day 3

NEW YORK » PHILADELPHIA (95 mi / 155 km)

Depart this morning for Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love, and head to the visitor’s center at Independence National Historical Park, where printed materials are available in various languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish). Pick up your free tickets to Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site where both the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were signed. On either side of Independence Hall stands the original Congress and Supreme Court buildings, and across the street the Liberty Bell is on display. Stroll down Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, and step into Christ Church, where Benjamin Franklin and George Washington once worshipped. For dinner, experience culinary history at City Tavern (1773), and dine on the same 18th-century recipes enjoyed by Washington, Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers who frequently met here. In the evening, Philadelphia nightlife is easy to find, with plentiful restaurants and clubs clustered together in the Old City, along South Street, and south of City Hall

Day 4

NEW YORK » PHILADELPHIA (95 mi / 155 km)

Depart this morning for Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love, and head to the visitor’s center at Independence National Historical Park, where printed materials are available in various languages (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish). Pick up your free tickets to Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site where both the Declaration of Independence and US Constitution were signed. On either side of Independence Hall stands the original Congress and Supreme Court buildings, and across the street the Liberty Bell is on display. Stroll down Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the United States, and step into Christ Church, where Benjamin Franklin and George Washington once worshipped. For dinner, experience culinary history at City Tavern (1773), and dine on the same 18th-century recipes enjoyed by Washington, Jefferson and the other Founding Fathers who frequently met here. In the evening, Philadelphia nightlife is easy to find, with plentiful restaurants and clubs clustered together in the Old City, along South Street, and south of City Hall

Day 5

PHILADELPHIA » LANCASTER (70 mi / 115 km)

Lancaster and Lancaster County are the heart of Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country. The name “Pennsylvania Dutch” actually refers to the Pennsylvania Germans (“Deutsche”) who settled here, particularly the “Plain People” of the Amish and Mennonite churches. Many Pennsylvania Dutch continue the dress, traditions and the dialect of their 18th-Century ancestors, with varying degrees of accomodation to the modern world. They remain a fascinating and thriving community in Lancaster, and a drive through the Lancaster countryside will most likely be slowed as you pass their horses and buggies. Their traditional arts and crafts, especially woodworkings and quilts, are available in local shops. For those with more than just a passing interest, there’s the Amish Village, a recreation of a working Amish Farm, and the living history Landis Valley Musuem, displaying an excellent collection of Pennsylvanian German heritage. Not to be missed are the local restaurants offering heart-warming Pennsylvania Dutch cooking and pastries. Railroad aficiandos and children alike enjoy nearby Strasburg’s steam-powered train rides, as well as a visit to both the National Toy Train museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, where over 100 vintage locomotives and train cars are on display

Day 6

LANCASTER » YORK » GETTYSBURG (60 mi / 100 km)

Depart Lancaster for York, first capital of the United States and home of Harley-Davidson’s largest factory (a museum and factory tours are available - check schedule for details). Continue on to Gettysburg, a picturesque small town made famous by the Battle of Gettysburg, turning point of the American Civil War. Abraham Lincoln’s eloquent Gettysburg Address, spoken here to commemorate the fallen soldiers of both North and South, is remembered as one of the most important speeches in American history. A self-guided auto tour recounts the dramatic battlefield events of 1863

Day 7

GETTYSBURG » HARPERS FERRY » SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK (140 mi / 225 km)

Drive on “country roads” to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, where the Shenandoah River flows into the Potomac. Shortly before the Civil War, the anti-slavery crusader John Brown and his 21-man army attempted to capture the government weapons stored here in order to arm a slave revolt; they failed after a 3-day standoff. The event, however, shocked and polarized the nation, bringing it closer to war. Today Harpers Ferry is a peaceful town; boutiques in historic stone houses line hillside streets with impressive views of the two rivers and the nearby countryside. Continue south to the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, picking up the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. One of America’s most scenic highways, the Skyline Drive offers magnificent panoramic vistas as well as a multitude of hiking and picnicking opportunities

Day 8

SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK » CHARLOTTESVILLE (95 mi / 150 km)

Continue on the Skyline Drive to Charlottesville, consistently rated as one of the best places to live in the United States. Begin the day with a visit to Monticello, the estate of America’s third president, Thomas Jefferson. Designed and built by Jefferson, Monticello is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as are the original buildings of Charlottesville’s University of Virginia, another Jefferson project. Life in Charlottesville revolves around the university and the Downtown Mall, an outdoor pedestrian zone, with restaurants to fit every budget and a lively nightlife scene

Day 9

CHARLOTTESVILLE » RICHMOND » JAMES RIVER PLANTATIONS » WILLIAMSBURG (135 mi / 215 km)

Depart for Richmond, capital of Virginia and one-time capital of the Confederate States of America. Continue along the James River past America’s earliest plantations, family estates to two presidents and Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Arrive in Williamsburg, colonial capital of Virginia until the Revolutionary War. America’s best-preserved historic district is one large living history museum recreating life in 1775, where costumed interpreters recreate every aspect of life in the colonial city

Day 10	WILLIAMSBURG » MOUNT VERNON » WASHINGTON DC (160 mi / 255 km)
A number of options are available for today. Spend more time in Colonial Williamsburg before continuing on to Washington DC, or depart directly and pay a visit to the Mount Vernon home of General George Washington. Or, depart early for the hour-long drive to Virginia Beach and enjoy a day of sun and sand before returning via Williamsburg, arriving in Washington DC in the evening

Day 11

WASHINGTON DC

Full day to view the sites of America’s capital city. Grouped on or near the open lawns of the National Mall are the major institutions of the US government - the White House, Capitol, and Supreme Court buildings - as well as the museums of the Smithsonian Institute and memorials to past presidents. This evening, head out for dinner and the nightlife in Georgetown or Adams Morgan, perhaps combined with a driving tour of the government buildings at night, lighted in an impressive display

Day 12	WASHINGTON DC » ANNAPOLIS » BALTIMORE (60 mi / 100 km)
Begin the day with a visit to historic Annapolis, Maryland’s seaport capital since 1694. Attractive and lively, Annapolis is a pleasant and walkable city, with the highest concentration of 18th-century architecture to be found anywhere in the United States. Continue on to Baltimore’s historic waterfront

Day 13	BALTIMORE » (JERSEY SHORE) » NEW YORK (190 mi / 305 km)
Depart directly for New York, or perhaps visit the boardwalk at one of New Jersey’s beaches for some fun in the sun on your way to Manhattan

Day 14	NEW YORK
A final day to enjoy the Big Apple. Take the opportunity to do some last-minute shopping for your friends and family back home, or revisit a favorite neighborhood to enjoy a relaxing morning before your flight departs