We have had many requests for a comprehensive tour of both Washington DC and New York City. We believe we have accomplished this, and have also included many interesting venues both to and from the East Coast.  This tour is designed to cover almost everything of general interest in both featured destinations — Washington DC and New York City. However, everyone has their favorite focal points and we have allowed ample free time to pursue any personal interests.
Itinerary:
DAY 1: SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2019
8:00 AM – Depart Cedar Rapids Sam’s Club – Blairsferry Rd & HWY 380
Additional pickup locations available on route.
9:00 AM – Arrive in Walcott for short rest stop
9:20 AM – Depart Walcott
1:30 PM – Arrive at “The Shrine of Christ’s Passion”
Lunch is scheduled at the Shrine and is included.
Located in St. John, Indiana, the Shrine of the Christ’s Passion is a multi-media interactive, half-mile winding trail of 40 life-size bronze sculptures. Created by Texas artist Mickey Wells, and weighing 300 to 700 pounds, they vividly tell the story of the last days of Christ. These life-size bronze sculptures are in a tranquil setting, complete with beautiful music and amazingly sculptured gardens. They allow visitors to experience the story of the crucifixion and resurrection as never before. Construction on the interactive winding pathway began in 2001 and included 3,000 yards of concrete, approximately 200 semi loads of boulders and more than 1,000 trees and bushes.
3:00 PM – Depart “The Shrine of Christ’s Passion”
SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN ON CENTRAL STANDARD TIME. NOW IS THE TIME TO SET YOUR WATCHES AHEAD BY ONE HOUR AS WE WILL NOW BE ON EASTERN STANDARD TIME FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS.
4:30 PM – TBD Short rest stop
7:00 PM (EST) – Arrive in Perrysburg, OH
Country Inn and Suites – Toledo South, Rossford, OH
7:30 PM – Dinner TBD on your own. There are a number of restaurant options available, including a Cracker Barrel
 
DAY 2: MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2019
6:30 – 8:00  AM – Breakfast included at hotel
8:00 AM – Depart hotel
10:30 AM – TBD Rest stop
1:00 PM – TBD Rest stop / lunch
2:30 PM – Arrive Flight 93 National Memorial – Stonystown, PA
The Flight 93 National Memorial is located at the site of the crash of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked in the September 11 attacks. Of the four aircraft hijacked on September 11, Flight 93 is the only one that did not reach its intended target, presumed to be the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. Several passengers and crew members made cellular telephone calls aboard the flight and learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon. As a result, the passengers and crew members decided to mount an assault against the hijackers and wrest control of the aircraft. The plane crashed in a field in Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, killing all 39 civilians, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer, and four terrorists.
3:30 PM – Depart for Alexandria, VA
5:30 PM – TBD Rest stop and dinner
7:30 PM – Arrive at “The Hampton Inn and Suites” Belvoir-Alexandria SQ. VA
 
DAY 3: TUESDAY OCTOBER 1, 2019
6:30 – 8: 00 AM – Breakfast included at hotel
8:00 AM – Depart hotel for morning tour of Washington, DC
9:00 AM – Meet our guide at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.  Your morning tour includes monuments & memorials, a picture stop at the White House and picture stops around Capitol Hill.
1:00 PM – The tour ends at Union Station where everyone can have lunch on your own. Time is allowed this afternoon to visit the Smithsonian Museums.
6:00 PM – Depart with our guide for dinner tonight on the Georgetown waterfront at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place.
6:45 PM – Arrive at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Dinner is included at Tony & Joe’s choice of entrée:

Broiled Salmon Filet: Honey-Orange Glaze
Chicken Marsala: Sautéed Chicken Breast with Marsala Wine Mushroom Sauce
Broiled Maryland Style Crab Cakes
New York Strip Steak: Grilled to Medium, Red Wine Sauce
Lightly Blackened Atlantic Cod: Beurre Blanc
Mushroom Risotto: Roasted Garlic, Cremini Mushrooms, Asparagus, Tomato, Cream, Parmesan

Following dinner an illuminated tour provides a unique perspective as you witness DC by night. When the museums and other attractions close for the evening, our tour guide will show us the memorials in their splendor.
11:00 PM – Return to the Hampton Inn and Suites Belvoir-Alexandria SQ. VA
 
DAY 4: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2019
6:30 – 8:00 AM – Breakfast included at the hotel
8: 00 AM – Depart the hotel for Arlington National Cemetery
8: 20 AM – Meet our guide at the Arlington Information Center. Tour today includes the tram tour of Arlington Cemetery and a continuation of the tour including the Iwo Jima.
11:30 AM – Lunch on your own at one of the food courts in the area.
12:30 PM – Depart for The Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,  It is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s annex at Washington Dulles International Airport. It holds numerous exhibits, including the Space Shuttle Discovery and the Enola Gay.  We wanted to make sure this museum is included as it is more fulfilling than the Smithsonian Air and Space museum located in Smithsonian row, located in central Washington DC.
2:30 PM – Depart for Englewood, NJ.  Dinner stop in route TBD.
8:00 PM – Arrive at Crowne Plaza Englewood NJ.
 
DAY 5:  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2019
6:30 – 8:00 AM – Breakfast included at hotel
8:00 AM – Depart hotel for New York City
9:00 AM – Meet our guide on 8th Avenue between 49th and 50th Street after coming through the Lincoln Tunnel. Today’s tour is an introduction to the Big Apple. Your 4-hour tour will comprise the Upper Manhattan and Mid-Town area. Highlights will include: Lincoln Center, Upper West Side, the Dakota, a walk in Central Park, Upper East Side, Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Times Square and Grand Central Station. The afternoon is free to: Visit one of the museums NY is famous for, take a carriage tour of Central Park or shop on Fifth Avenue.
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM – On your own to enjoy Manhattan. We will arrange a pick up location and depart for our Times Square Hotel
4:00 PM – Check into the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Times Square West
FREE EVENING:
For those wanting to attend a Broadway Show, the hotel is close to most theaters. Tickets can be purchased in advance on various websites. For those who want the “same day” discounted tickets – they can be purchased at TKTS Times Square, located “under the red steps” in Father Duffy Square at Broadway and 47th Street. If you want a particular show, we advise you purchase them in advance because some shows may be sold out.
 
DAY 6: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2019
Breakfast has NOT been included today. To include it would add $25/person to the tour and there are plenty of places they can get a breakfast for a lot less.
8:30 AM – Depart for a tour of Lower Manhattan. Highlights include: A walk in Greenwich Village, SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street District, The World Trade Center Site, and the 9/11 Memorial. Lunch on own at Hudson Eats.
2:30 PM – Depart on the Circle Line Cruise to view the Statue of Liberty. Departing from the pier at South Street Seaport, this one-hour cruise allows you to experience the panoramic view of downtown New York’s celebrated towers, memorials and landmarks while you cruise to get an up close view of the Statue of Liberty.
3:30 PM – Depart for the Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze. Dinner on own in route. Depending on traffic, we can check into our hotel either before or after the Great Jack-O Lantern Blaze.
Hampton Inn Nanuet
7:30 PM – Arrive Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze. This is the time they would like us to arrive, however, if we are a little late it won’t matter.
Our time slot for entering the “Blaze” is 8:00 PM.
We will not be able to enter before 8:00 PM but can enter up to 8:30 PM. Meander through an historic, 18th century riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display – all made of jack o’ lanterns! In this elaborate, hugely popular experience, see more than 7,000 illuminated jack o’ lanterns, all designed and individually hand-carved on site by a team of artisans. In 2018, guests strolled across the Pumpkin Zee Bridge, watched the Pumpkin Carousel twirl, gazed in wonder at swimming aquatic creatures and a giant Sea Serpent. They were mesmerized by a color-changing star show in the Pumpkin Planetarium and discovered an awe-inspiring jack o’lantern Statue of Liberty rising to the sky! ALL MADE ENTIRELY OF JACK O LANTERNS! WHAT WILL 2019 BRING? WE WILL SEE! PLANNING BEGINS IN JUNE OF EACH YEAR.
 
DAY 7:  SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2019
Breakfast is included at the hotel.
9:00 AM –  Depart Croton-on-Hudson, NY for Sunnyside
9:30 AM – Arrive in “Sunnyside” Irvington, NY
A gently curved path leads to gorgeous views of the Hudson River and reveals the allure of Sunnyside’s unique design, its intimate setting, its bucolic grounds. our guide, dressed elegantly in hoop skirts or formal dress of the times, tell about Washington Irving’s storied past and how Washington Irving designed Sunnyside and its grounds himself, collaborating with his neighbor, the artist George Harvey. The grounds reflect Washington Irving’s romantic view of art, nature, and history
11:30 AM – Depart Sunnyside for Tappen, NY
12:00 PM – Lunch included at the “Old 76 House”, Tappen, NY
Built in 1686 and expanded in 1755, it is America’s oldest Tavern. The colonial taverns were considered the birthplace of the American Revolution and the Old 76 House is one that played a prominent part. It was here the Resolutions of Orangetown were drafted and signed in 1774 (one of America’s first declarations of independence.) Its strategic location made it a stop for every general of the Continental Army and many of our founding fathers. It was here the infamous spy, Major Andre stayed during his trial and until his execution. Here, also General Washington met with Sir Guy Carlton to negotiate the British evacuation after the battle of Yorktown and where America was first officially recognized as a free and independent nation.
Lunch today includes:

Starter: Chinoise Salad
Entrée: Choice of Chicken Galantine (breast of chicken stuffed with chicken and topped with a creamy wine sauce, Grilled Salmon Beurre Blanc, Yankee Pot Roast or Vegetarian Penne Vodka
Dessert: 76 Apple Crunch.

1:30 PM – Depart for Clearfield, PA
Rest stop TBD and Dinner TBD on own. There is a “Dutch Pantry” at the Clearfield Exit.
6:00 PM – Arrive at Comfort Inn, Clearfield, PA
 
DAY 8: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2019
6:30 AM – 8:30 AM –    Breakfast included at the Comfort Inn.
8:30 AM – Depart for “Tara – A Country Inn”, Clark PA
10:30 AM –  Arrive at Tara – A Country Inn
A tour followed by a family style lunch is included at Tara – A Country Inn. This antebellum-inspired Country Inn is reminiscent of the greatest movie of our time, Gone with the Wind. It was built in 1854 by Charles Koonce on 1300 acres in the once bustling town of Clarksville on the Erie Canal Extension. When the railroad came into being, Clarksville essentially became a ghost town and the 1300 acres was inundated when the Shenango Reservoir was built in the 1960s leaving only the beautiful historic home. In 1984 Jim & Donna Winner purchased the abandoned home at a public auction. After two years of loving restoration by a very dedicated handful of staff, Tara – A Country Inn was opened to the public.
12:00 PM –  We will meet our guide at Tara and depart for a tour of the area including the Avenue of Trees and a candy shop.
3:30 PM – Depart for Perrysburg.
5:30 PM – Arrive Perrysburg, OH. Country Inn & Suites By Carlson, Toledo South, OH
6:00 PM – Dinner on your own at a number of nearby restaurants TBD
 
DAY 9, MONDAY: OCTOBER 7, 2019
6:30 AM – 8:00 AM – Breakfast included at hotel. Change to CST.
8:00 PM – Depart for Cedar Rapids. With rest stops approx. every 2 ½ hours
4:00 PM – Arrive Sam’s Club Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Transportation will be provided by modern motor coach equipped with Restroom, WiFi, DVD, TV, and  Video System. Our “It’s Five O’ Clock Somewhere” Beverage and Snack cart will be on board to satisfy all tastes both adult and soft. Give us your preferences and we will have it on board.

INCLUDED:

8 nights lodging

2 nights at the Country Inn & Suites, Rossford, OH (1st & last night)
2 nights at the Hampton Inn & Suites Mt. Vernon/Belvoir-Alexandria South Area
1 night at the Crowne Plaza Englewood
1 night at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel New York Times Square West
1 night at the Hampton Inn Nanuet
1 night at the Comfort Inn, Clearfield, PA

11 Meals

7 Breakfast
Lunch at the Shrine of Christ’s Passion
Dinner at Tony & Joe’s Seafood Place
Lunch at the Old 76 House, America’s Oldest Tavern
Lunch at Tara-A Country Inn

Visit to the Shrine of Christ’s Passion, St. John, IN
Visit to the Flight 93 National Memorial, Stoystown, PA
4 hour guided tour of Washington DC on day 3 to include:

Monuments & Memorials
Picture stop at the White House
Picture stops around Capitol Hill

Guide Illumination Tour of Washington DC
Afternoon to visit the Smithsonian
Guided tour on Day 4 to include:

Tram tour of Arlington Cemetery
Iwo Jima Memorial

Visit to the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center (Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum)
Morning tour of New York City on Day 5 to include:

Upper Manhattan & Mid-Town area
Short walk in Central Park

Morning tour of New York City on Day 6 to include:

Lower Manhattan
Walk in Greenfield Village
Drive by SoHo, Little Italy, Chinatown, Wall Street District
Visit to the World Trade Center site and the 9/11 Memorial

Circle line Cruise to view the Statue of Liberty
Admission to the Great Jack-O-Lantern Blaze
Admission to and tour of Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s Home
Tour of Tara—A Country Inn
Tour of Sharon County, PA including the Avenue of Trees and a candy shop.
Luggage handling at all included hotels

 
Rates:
$2095 pp.dbl.oc
$2795 Sig.oc
Some of the hotels require room confirmations and begin recall of our contracted rooms at 90 days prior to check in date. After this time the discounted group rates will not be available.  For this reason, there may be an additional $200/person charge for anyone booking this tour after July 1, 2019.
No deposit is required at time of booking. Full payment is due by July 1, 2019.
Trip insurance is available upon request.
 
Contact us to reserve your seat(s)