America’s Historic Cities: 250th Anniversary Tour

 Two hundred and fifty years of American history is a feat worth celebrating, and we do just that as your vacation begins today in the coastal city of Boston. As you arrive, make your way to our four-star hotel, located in the heart of Back Bay. Check in and enjoy some time to get to know your new surroundings before joining the Tour Manager and your travel group at the hotel later this afternoon.

Following a welcome meeting, a coach transfer takes us to the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, where we enjoy an after-hours tour of the facility and grounds. See where the Crown's tea was thrown into the water and enjoy a glimpse at the only surviving tea chest, the Robinson Tea Chest, without the daytime crowds.

Our evening continues at a local restaurant, where we sit down for our first dinner together. Overnight Boston.

• Dinner

Dip your toes into the 18th century this morning as a coach transfer takes us to Lexington, where the first battles of the American Revolution were fought so long ago. On arrival, a period-dressed guide steps aboard and we set off on a journey back to the early days of America in Lexington and Concord.

Our tour takes us to Lexington Battle Green and on Battle Road through Minute Man National Historical Park. Continuing to Concord, we see preserved colonial homes and visit the Old North Bridge, said to be the place where the "shot heard 'round the world" was fired.

There is free time through lunch in Lexington, and then our coach takes us back to Boston, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. You might like to use this time to seek out more historic sites, such as those on the Freedom Trail, or to stroll along the harbor or through Boston Common. With no planned dinner this evening, you could discover Boston's diverse restaurant options or sample the booths at Quincy Market. Overnight Boston.

• Breakfast

 Enjoy a leisurely start to the day to stroll the tree-lined streets of Back Bay after breakfast before a late-morning transfer takes us to Boston's railway station, where we join Amtrak's Acela to Philadelphia. We settle into our spacious Business Class seats for the six-hour journey, enjoying the ambiance that can only come with the East's unique mix of urban scenery and waterside views.

We arrive in Philadelphia in the late afternoon and are transferred to our four-star hotel, located in the heart of the historic downtown district with many of the city's top attractions within walking distance. Upon checking in, you have some time to relax, or you can dig right into the local stories and sites, perhaps visiting Independence National Historic Park. We reconvene at the hotel this evening for dinner. Overnight Philadelphia.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The morning is yours to get to know Philadelphia at your own pace. Dating to 1682, this city has ties to America's roots at every turn and is the first World Heritage City in the U.S. The historic district is the heart of it all, and you could begin your day here, wandering among the quaint streets and alleys. Alternatively, you might like to visit a museum, such as the Franklin Institute or the Philadelphia Museum of Art - home to the iconic "Rocky" Steps.

Rejoining the group after lunch, we set out on a walking tour of Philadelphia. Headed by an expert guide, our tour takes us to some of the most influential sites of the American Revolution. Soak up history in the architecture and through the guide's stories, and enjoy entrance to places like Christ Church, where early Americans gathered, and the Constitution Center. We can also step inside Independence Hall, where the Constitution was signed in 1787.

Following the tour, the evening is yours to find dinner locally or relax at the hotel. Overnight Philadelphia.

• Breakfast

 With an early start this morning, we walk to the Museum of the American Revolution for an early access guided tour of the facility. Learn about the fundamental ideals that this nation was founded on while perusing exhibits that explore the journey to independence and life in the 18th century. Our guide reveals some of the museum's most impactful exhibits, and then you can continue exploring independently.

After some free time through lunch, a coach transfer takes us from our hotel to Philadelphia's rail station. We reboard Amtrak's Acela in Business Class and complete the final leg of its route from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in approximately two hours. The train delivers us from city center to city center, and on arrival, we walk to our nearby hotel and check in for the first of three nights. The evening is then yours to start exploring the nation's capital. Overnight Washington, D.C.

• Breakfast

 When visiting the greater Washington, D.C., region, some places stand out as must-sees, and many of them are on our itinerary today. We begin our explorations with a morning visit to Arlington National Cemetery, where more than 400,000 marble headstones punctuate the immaculate grounds. Our tram tour introduces the cemetery's history and showcases points of interest, including the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There is free time to watch the changing of the guard before we head back toward the city.

Our return journey takes us past the National Mall, where we can see the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Korean and Vietnam Veterans Memorials, amongst other sites.

With a free afternoon and evening after the sightseeing excursion, you could get an up-close look at the memorials from our tour or walk along the Reflecting Pool. The Smithsonian Museums are a perennial favorite with visitors, as is the National Gallery of Art. With the 250th anniversary crowds, we recommend checking your destination(s) for timed entry requirements or pre-booking your visit to ensure admission. Overnight Washington, D.C.

Please note: June 28th departures will instead embark on an afternoon tour of George Washington's Mount Vernon.

• Breakfast

 Relish a slow morning to continue your sightseeing or have a coffee while the city fills for a new day, perhaps in Upper Senate Park overlooking the U.S. Capitol Building.

Later in the morning, we board a water taxi to cross the Potomac River to Alexandria, a town dating to 1749. This charming destination is filled with preserved 18th and 19th-century buildings, and despite its place on the National Register of Historic Places, has a fashionable atmosphere of boutiques and trendy restaurants. We have free time through lunch here before our day continues to George Washington's home, Mount Vernon.

At this sprawling estate, our guide takes us through the grounds to George Washington's gardens and tells us the stories of the enslaved people who once worked at this property. We also step inside the 18th-century mansion to see the New Room, study, kitchen and other carefully restored rooms.

We return to Washington, D.C., this evening and celebrate the final night of our American exploration with dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight Washington, D.C.

Please note: June 28th departures will instead have a full day at leisure ahead of an Independence Day fireworks viewing experience in the evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

 The East has set the stage for some of the United States' most notable moments, and over the last week, this vacation has offered an expert lens into the region's living history during a truly monumental year. We uncovered the places that sparked the American Revolution in Boston and Philadelphia and traveled to Lexington and Concord, where the battles began. From here, the past and present merged in Washington, D.C., where, after three days to explore, our journey comes to a close this morning.

After breakfast at the hotel, you can check out of the hotel and continue exploring the capital at your own pace or walk to the railway station to begin your travels home.

• Breakfast