Celebrating America: 250 Years Strong

Welcome to Boston!

At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

ENHANCED FREE TIME - EXPLORE MORE: in Boston! Your Tour Director can point you to the best eateries offering the perfect culinary experience in this melting pot of cultures from around the world. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps and suggestions on where to dine and what to see!

Birthplace of the American Revolution

Modern Boston fades into the past as you visit the sights of the American Revolution, including visits to nearby Colonial Lexington and time at Buckman Tavern to learn about revolutionary events that happened here before continuing to Concord, another site of the first military engagement of the Revolution.

Return to Boston for lunch at a local restaurant and a tour of the Old North Church. Explore the iconic Freedom Trail and Black Heritage Trail to experience the iconic city's rich history, from Boston Common to the Old South Meeting House and Old State House. Continue to the site of the Boston Tea Party at the waterfront and sail through time on a relaxing harbor cruise on Boston Harbor in Massachusetts Bay—an active port for more than 400 years! (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ONE IF BY LAND, TWO IF BY: SEA. Retrace the route of Paul Revere's legendary midnight ride in 1775. Visit the Old North Church, the site of the famous lantern signal that alerted citizens to the arrival of British troops by sea. Also see Lexington, where Revere warned prominent leaders Samuel Adams and John Hancock to leave the city.

From Sea to Shining Sea

Depart Boston for the Mystic Seaport Museum, one of the nation's largest maritime museums in Mystic, Connecticut. Visit the museum exhibits, stroll through the working shipyard, and interact with storytellers in a recreated New England coastal village to learn about America's seafaring heritage. Continue south for a two-night stay in cosmopolitan New York City. Tonight, enjoy free time to dine at one of New York's many restaurants, experience Times Square at night, or travel to the “Top of the Rock” for memorable views of Central Park and Manhattan. (B)

ENHANCED FREE TIME - EXPLORE MORE: in New York City! Wander and wonder in Midtown Manhattan. Perhaps, visit Rockefeller Center, a National Historic Landmark and cultural center, developed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Built during the Great Depression, the complex includes restaurants, shops, commercial space, Radio City Music Hall and “30 Rock,” home to NBCUniversal Studios.

The Big Apple

Experience the energy of NYC during a private sightseeing tour with a Local Guide, including Central Park, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Fifth Avenue, Grand Central Terminal, Bryant Park, and the historic New York Public Library. Continue to the Meatpacking District with a tour of Chelsea Market and time for lunch on your own. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to experience the city on your own. Perhaps a tour of Radio City Music Hall, the new Broadway Museum, or a walk on the High Line. Feast on classic Italian specialties tonight with your tour companions at an included dinner. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - MANGIAMO! Pasta, cannoli, and chianti! Long considered a melting pot for culture and cuisine, New York is home to the largest Italian-American population in North America; more than four million Italians immigrated to the US between 1880-1924. Don't miss the chance to indulge in one of New York's authentic Italian restaurants still serving the best family recipes from The Old Country.

LOCAL FAVORITE - CITY SIGHTS: In the late 1800s, the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco) constructed factories in the Meatpacking District. The Chelsea factory location was the birthplace of the Oreo cookie in 1912, and the rugged industry-style architecture is maintained today in the popular Chelsea Market.

Cultures and Traditions of New York

This morning, visit the highlights of Lower Manhattan, including the Financial District and Wall Street, Chinatown, and Little Italy.

Explore more of New York with your choice between included Globus Choice Excursions.

• HAMILTON'S NEW YORK - Explore Lower Manhattan through the eyes of a Founding Father, Alexander Hamilton. Hear stories about his life and death with a guided walking tour to see the historic sites of Zuccotti Park, Federal Hall, Trinity Church, and Wall Street, as well as Hamilton's tomb and favorite bar.
• HALLOWED GROUND - Visit the 9/11 Memorial and Museum to explore Ground Zero, New York. Hear moving stories of unselfish courage and unimaginable loss on the fateful day in September 2001.

Continue to Philadelphia with a stop in Princeton, New Jersey. Did you know that New York City, Philadelphia, and Princeton all held the title of nation’s capital before Washington, DC permanently became the U.S. capital in 1800? With a brief stop in Princeton, best known for its Ivy League university, hear how the 1777 Battle of Princeton was an important victory for General George Washington during the American Revolution. (B)

Pens and Parchment in Philadelphia

Commemorate the rich history of Philadelphia during a city sightseeing tour featuring the historic red-brick buildings where important gatherings determined the American Revolution that resulted in the creation of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.

Enjoy a classic Philadelphia cheesesteak lunch and continue to the Museum of the American Revolution for a fascinating guided tour. Feel history come to life through inspiring photography, interactive exhibits, and dramatic stories from the Revolutionary War. This evening, enjoy dinner on the historic Moshulu ship. Launched in 1904, she had a long and exciting career on the seas and is now considered one of Philadelphia's best restaurants. (B/L/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: You want onions on that? The Philly Cheesesteak was created in the 1930s. Campo's of Philadelphia grew from a local grocery store and butcher shop established in 1943 to become one of the most-loved sandwich spots in Philadelphia.

Birthplace of America

Enjoy free time this morning and consider a visit to the Liberty Bell, National Constitution Center, or delicious lunch and shopping at Reading Terminal Market, one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Continue to Washington, DC. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT: Check in to a monumental hotel in the heart of D.C. on prestigious Sixteenth Street for an unforgettable stay at the Capital Hilton. A member of Historic Hotels of America, it stands as one of Washington's most celebrated hotels—having hosted prominent gatherings with presidents, dignitaries, celebrities, and history makers. Formerly the Statler Hotel, the hotel became the affinity of U.S. Presidents and notable guests from Lucille Ball to Judy Garland; Winston Churchill to Martin Luther King, Jr. to Queen Elizabeth II – and now you!

The Nation's Capital

Explore historic landmarks to celebrate America's 250th birthday on a Washington, DC sightseeing tour with a Local Guide, including the National Archives to view the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, Magna Carta, and Bill of Rights. Continue to the National Mall to visit the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial plus the Vietnam and Korean War Veterans Memorials. Enjoy leisure time this afternoon to explore on your own. Consider the Smithsonian Museums, C & O Canal in Georgetown, International Spy Museum, or a walk along Embassy Row. (B)

ENHANCED FREE TIME - ART & ARCHITECTURE: The Smithsonian is the world's largest museum complex, featuring 11 of the 21 galleries along the National Mall. Explore the National Museum of the American Indian's expansive collection and indigenous landscaping; the Smithsonian National Museum of American History—rich in artifacts highlighting historic American culture, including Dorothy's ruby slippers from Wizard of Oz, Muhammad Ali's boxing gloves, and a special exhibit honoring the nation's flag, the Star-Spangled Banner; the National Museum of African American History and Culture for significant exhibits illustrating African American culture and history, including the Revolutionary War and Civil Rights Movement.

Service and Sacrifice

This morning, visit the U.S. Capitol, home for the Legislative Branch of U.S. Federal government, for a guided tour. Depart Washington, DC for nearby Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Continue to Arlington National Cemetery, the nation's largest military cemetery, and the final resting place for President John F. Kennedy, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and many other historic figures. Tonight, join your Tour Director for a special farewell dinner. (B/ D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - ICONIC FOOTSTEPS: Witness the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a symbolic site for heroes whose remains were not recovered or identified. Stand at the moving site where soldiers from the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) steadfastly guard the tomb 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.

ENHANCED FREE TIME - EXPLORE MORE: in Old Town Alexandria. Once part of Washington, DC and a former home to George Washington, the city was a prominent hub for political, social, and commercial activity during the Colonial and Federal Periods. Stroll the historic King Street area to discover inviting shops, restaurants, and cobblestone streets leading to the Potomac River waterfront.

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Washington, DC? Extra nights are available for purchase. (B)