Leaving New York in the morning and driving two hours in the beautiful Garden State, we are arriving in Philadelphia - the birthplace of this nation. From the first penny to the First Amendment, Philadelphia led the nation. We will bring you directly to the newly overhauled Independence National Historical Park on 45 acres of Center City landscape. The center of the park is the Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell illustrating the early history of this country. The 2,000-pound bell, cast in England to "proclaim liberty throughout the land" as the Declaration of Independence was read aloud to the citizens, is housed in a new 13,000-square-foot glass pavilion angled so you can see it against the backdrop of Independence Hall. Diagonally across from Liberty Bell Pavilion you can find the U. S. Mint which turns out about 1.5 million coins every hour. Our free and self-guided tour allows you to see coin in production and to go home with rich knowledge of our country's storied history of money. By early afternoon, we are arriving at the country's capital.
Let's start the most ever popular Air and Space Museum on the Mall. The museum chronicles the story of the mastery of flight, from Wright Brothers'1903 Flyer to outer space. It holds the largest collection of historic items in the world and hundreds of space and aircraft artifacts dangle before your eyes everywhere you look. Before you leave, don't forget to touch the Moon Rock for good luck! Another popular choice is the National Museum of Natural History housing various habitat and fossil collections. Ever a big draw is its Hall of Gems and Minerals, which showcases the Hope Diamond, a 45.52-carat fancy deep-blue diamond with interesting stories.
Perhaps one of the most unforgettable business in Washington is politics. The U. S. Capitol, by law the tallest building in our capital, is home to the U.S. Congress and has north (Senate) and south (House) wings. The neo-classical sandstone White House sits at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and is home and office for every President of the United States.
Our tour continues to visit the memorials for two of the top U. S. Presidents in history. The Jefferson Memorial is dedicated to our third President, Thomas Jefferson, who is known for his contributions to the Declaration of Independence. Both the exterior and interior walls and floors are made of marble. The interior has a 19 foot bronze statue of Jefferson along with passages from his writings engraved on the walls.

We are going back to Washington D.C.. Lincoln memorial was built to honor our 16th President and a country that withstood a civil war and created a free, democratic society for all people regardless of skin color. This amazing memorial was the work of 3 men and took nine years to complete. The powerful symbolism that is exuded from this monument is what prompted Martin Luther King Jr. to give his famous "I have a dream" speech in its front. Nearby you can find two ware memorials. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is composed of two long, black-granite walls in the shape of a V, each inscribed with the names of the men and women who gave their lives, or remain missing, in the longest war in American history. This privately funded Korean War Memorial, founded in 1995, honors those who served in Korea, a 3-year conflict that produced almost as many casualties as Vietnam. It consists of a circular "Pool of Remembrance" in a grove of trees and a triangular "Field of Service," highlighted by lifelike statues of 19 soldiers. Leaving D.C., we will proceed to Baltimore. Founded as a port and shipbuilding town, manufacturing has always played a big role here. However, the city's focal point for tourism is the Inner Harbor. The birthplace of the "Star Spangled Banner" and the guardian against the British attack during the War of 1812, and back. This interactive ride combines a leisurely cruise with an animated narration of Baltimore's rich history. Come aboard and get an insider's view of Baltimore's many historic sites and its world-famous Inner Harbor. Passing through Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey, our bus will safely take you back to New York City in the early evening.
* Inside visits are not guaranteed.

***Tour route may be changed and reversed