This six-day trip entrenches you deep in American history, paying homage to the battlegrounds of the Civil War and monuments celebrating progress and democracy. Your tour starts in Washington, where you’ll pick up your rental car for a roundtrip around Richmond, Shenandoah National Park, Gettysburg, and back to the capital of the United States.

Wave hello to the President as you explore the heart of the Federal Government, from the Capitol to the halls of the White House itself. History buffs will be delighted to stroll through the National Mall, an immaculately manicured park containing the Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian Institute, many museums, and more. Fuel up at a local eatery in Washington Square or Foggy Bottom to keep museum fatigue at bay, because no history book can ever compare to what you’ll see here.

Heading south to Virginia, you’ll walk the grassy plains at Manassas Battleground National Park, the site of two key battles between Union and Confederate forces. You’ll feel the revolutionary spirit in the air of Richmond, the city where U.S Founding Father Patrick Henry once famously declared “Give me liberty or give me death!” You won’t want to miss the Maggie L. Walker Historic Site, whose urban mansion now functions as a tribute to the lifelong civil rights activist and trailblazing entrepreneur.

Stepping out of the city, explore the cascading waterfalls, floral meadows, and trails with sweeping views of Shenandoah National Park as you marvel at the Blue Ridge Mountains. As you gaze out at their peaks, you’ll notice a blue haze settling over its rolling landscape, suddenly understanding where the mountains get their namesake.

A battleground tour would not be complete without a stop at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, where nature and history converge. The flowing rivers of the Potomac and Shenandoah lead you back in time to the famous abolitionist uprising led by John Brown, which ignited the Civil War. Learn about the struggle for education and civil rights in this vast park which also provides you with opportunities for hiking, rock climbing, and picnicking while you contemplate the progress America has made since 1859.

Follow the route of liberty to the Gettysburg National Military Park, home to a crucial turning point in the Civil War when Union forces fended off the Confederate army’s advances into the north. Pay homage to fallen soldiers and learn about the outcomes of the war’s bloodiest battle as you walk through green fields, currently undergoing a nature rehabilitation project to restore native orchards to the area.

Returning to Washington, resume your tour of all the sites you didn’t catch the first time around. Whether you browse the rooms of the National Museum of the Women in Arts or opt for an Old Town Trolley Tour for a view of the monuments by moonlight, there’s plenty of sites to explore in this vast cultural hub.

Return your car to the airport for your return flight home, or continue exploring the endless galleries that await you in the US capital.

• Explore Washington’s iconic landmarks, from the Capitol and White House to the Smithsonian museums.
• Walk the historic grounds of Manassas and uncover Richmond’s revolutionary and civil rights heritage.
• Breathe in the mountain air along Shenandoah’s Skyline Drive, framed by misty Blue Ridge peaks.
• Reflect on the fight for freedom at Harpers Ferry, where history and the Potomac River intertwine.
• Stand on Gettysburg’s hallowed fields, where the Civil War’s turning point shaped America’s future.

• 6 days Intermediate Car Rental with unlimited mileage (Mazda 3 or similar)
• Detailed day-by-day itinerary
• 2-night moderate accommodation in Washington, D.C.
• 1-night moderate accommodation in Richmond
• 1-night moderate accommodation in Luray
• 1-night moderate accommodation in Gettysburg

• Car Rental Insurance
• Travel insurance
• International and domestic airfare & airfare taxes
• Meals and beverages not explicitly listed as included
• Gratuities
• Optional excursions
• Items of a personal nature
• Passport & Visa fees, if applicable