St Paul the Apostle/Washington DC
Monday, April 6
You will depart this morning on a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to Washington Dulles Airport. You will be met by your tour escort upon arrival. Dinner is included tonight.
Tuesday, April 7
This morning you will enjoy breakfast at the hotel and then begin your exciting patriotic adventure at the WWII Memorial which was dedicated in 2004 to the Americans who served in the Second World War. Afterward you will visit one of the highlights of your patriotic journey, the National Archives, where you will view some of the most important documents in our nation’s history including The Declaration of Independence. In addition, your group is scheduled to partake in the Constitution in Action Learning Lab which is a hands-on activity focused on the Constitution. After lunch you are scheduled to visit one of the seats of power in our nation, a California Congressman’s Office and the Capitol Building for a tour. The Senate and the House of Representatives have met at the Capitol for over 200 years. You will have time to appreciate the stunning architecture of the Capitol as well as the spirit of the nation and government it represents. You will also visit the Library of Congress, where Thomas Jefferson’s personal library collection is housed. Dinner tonight will be at Union Station where you will have a voucher provided for the food court.
Wednesday, April 8
This morning you will start at Mount Vernon, George Washington’s estate and resting place. Your escort will direct you through Washington’s home, tomb and the many buildings which helped to run this large estate. Following your visit you will enjoy a buffet-style lunch at Old Country Buffet. You will then set out to tour the National Cathedral, a neo-gothic architectural achievement. Although the foundation wasn’t laid until 1907, the idea of the National Cathedral began in 1791 when George Washington discussed the plans for the nation’s capital with Major L’Enfant. You will travel down Massachusetts Avenue to see the National Cathedral. Along Massachusetts Avenue, you will find Embassy Row, in which embassies, diplomatic missions and other diplomatic representations are concentrated. Afterward you will enjoy a guided tour of the Lincoln, Vietnam and Korean Memorials. Following dinner at Uno’s Pizzeria you will return to your hotel.
Thursday, April 9
After breakfast at the hotel you will visit the White House for a walk-through and possibly a tour. Following your White House visit you will spend the rest of the day in the National Mall area. You will not want to miss the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum. Some of the exhibits you will find at the Air & Space Museum include: Wright 1903 Flyer and the Apollo 11 command module Columbia. Sandwich boxes will be delivered nearby so you can picnic as a group. Next you will visit the Smithsonian American History Museum which offers exhibits like the Star Spangled Banner and Julia Child’s kitchen. You will also get a chance to visit the Smithsonian Natural History Museum. Some of the popular exhibits you may see include: Dinosaurs, FossiLab and The Hope Diamond (to name a few). You will have a voucher for the food court for dinner tonight at the Pentagon City Mall.
Friday, April 10
Following breakfast at the hotel, a visit is planned to Ford’s Theatre, Petersen House and Lincoln Center which will showcase our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, assassination and legacy. You may see millions of dollars being printed while on your tour at The Bureau of Engraving and Printing. After lunch your escort will take you to some of the many memorials dedicated to the pride and sacrifice of the American people, such as the Jefferson, FDR and MLK. Time permitting, you may stop at the Udvar Hazy Museum, a secondary Smithsonian Air & Space Museum which houses decommissioned war planes, space shuttle Discovery and much more. Dinner is included before departing for the airport and your flight home, along with your memories and a deeper pride and appreciation for American history.