Tour Video

Tour Description

Your package includes deluxe transportation and accommodations, all listed tour fees, and 16 meals.

  America is a nation of heroes. Making Memories is proud to provide a tour that honors the brave soldiers who gave their lives for freedom and explores the pivotal battles that helped shape our country. Relive the turmoil of our nation’s birth by revisiting the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, holding conferences with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, and traversing Valley Forge and Gettysburg. If you’re someone who loves history, if you’re someone who wants to learn about the great leaders of our country, if you’re someone who wants to make memories where American history began, then this is the tour for you!

Day 1:

---

Our journey begins as we cross the diverse terrain of Missouri, take time to get to know one another, and end the night in Terre Haute, IN.

Day 2:

---

Meals: Breakfast

This morning we travel to Dayton, OH, where we will arrive in time for a stop at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This museum has everything from the Wright Brothers up to the Stealth Bomber. Departing here, we head east to our hotel for the night in Triadelphia. W.V

Day 3:

---

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Begin the day with a tour of the most critical engagement of the Civil War, Gettysburg. This decisive Union victory was the turning point of the Civil War, prompting President Lincoln’s famous “Gettysburg Address.”  We end our activities in Gettysburg with dinner at the Farnsworth House. Leaving here, we find some rest at our hotel in Gettysburg.

Day 4:

---

Meals: Breakfast

This morning our travels bring us to Amish Country. Here we will have a chance to see some of the beauty of the Amish countryside. We will enjoy time at Kettle Kitchen Village in Lancaster County, PA. Enjoy home-cooked lunch cafes and quaint shops that have not changed in three generations. With bellies full, we leave the peaceful Amish stores behind and shift our attention back to the Revolutionary War at the Visitor’s Center at Valley Forge. A trolley tour will guide us through the trials and hardships George Washington and his Colonial Army endured to fight for America’s freedom. After a busy day, we check in to our hotel in Philadelphia, PA, where we will stay the next two nights.

Day 5:

---

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

The sights and sounds of the City of Brotherly Love greet us as we take a step on guided tour of Philadelphia. From the crack of the Liberty Bell to the ruckus of Independence Hall, this tour promises to bring out the rebel in all of us. But the day is not done! Next, we’ll visit the Museum of the American Revolution, whose collection of Revolutionary artifacts reaches the thousands! We will enjoy an included dinner here in Philly before returning to our hotel.

Day 6:

---

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

With our time in Philly over, we change course and explore the elegant Hagley Museum & Library. Located on 235 acres along the banks of the Brandywine in Wilmington, Delaware, Hagley is the site of the gunpowder works founded by E. I. du Pont in 1802. This example of early American industry includes restored mills, a workers' community, and the ancestral home and gardens of the du Pont family.  After exploring exquisite exhibits and gardens, we make our way to Virginia to the Arlington National Cemetery.  Walking through this hallowed ground, you will have the opportunity to thank the many men and women who gave their lives to create and protect our nation. We will stay two nights in Arlington, VA.

Day 7:

---

Meals: Breakfast

Start the day off with your choice of activities. You can either explore science and history at the Smithsonian or journey through time by visiting the various memorials around Washington, D.C.  a quick lunch on your own, we come together for a tour of the Capitol Building, visiting places such as the Crypt, Rotunda, and—most interesting of all—the National Statuary Hall. In this portion of the Capitol Building, you can not only see statues of past presidents and other famous Americans, but you can also experience the famous Whisper Spot. This acoustic marvel allows you to hear what everyone in the room is saying! After touring the Capitol Building, we will return to our hotel.

Day 8:

---

Meals: Breakfast

The next day, it is time to see George Washington’s Historic Mount Vernon Home and Gardens, including an in-depth mansion tour. You will catch a glimpse of this great man’s life and legacy before heading to Virginia Beach for the next two nights.

Day 9:

---

Meals: Breakfast

Today, we will go to the Parade of Nations; you will have specially designated seating along the parade route. This is the only parade in the U.S honoring NATO. After the parade, you can explore the famous Virginia Beach Boardwalk, relax on the beach, and comb the various shops for hidden treasures. In the evening, we will attend the International Tattoo Performance, an exhibition of military band performances filled with routines by bands and drill teams from across the world! After enjoying the show, we return to the hotel for a good night’s rest.

Day 10:

---

Meals: Breakfast

We begin our trip home but stop for some shut-eye in Huntington, WV.

Day 11:

---

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Travel continues, but we have one last dinner arranged for everyone at Pattie’s 1880s Settlement! A delicious way to end a wonderful trip.

Day 12:

---

Meals: Breakfast

The rest of the ride will be for rest and reflection as we make our way back. We arrive home full of the knowledge of the past, appreciation of those who have gone before, and memories of travels with new friends.