Civil War Echoes - NEW LOWER PRICE!

Day 1

The American Civil War was a defining event in our nation's history. Between 1861 and 1865 10,000 battles and engagements were fought across the continent, from Vermont to the New Mexico Territory, and beyond. Come with us to discover the in depth history of this time in our country. Our first overnight will be in the Maumee, OH area.

Day 2

Travels continue through Ohio and into Pennsylvania today. We pause for an included lunch before arriving in Gettysburg early evening. Relax at your three-star property for the next two nights.

Day 3

Get ready to be immersed in the history of the 1860s. This morning we visit the Gettysburg Visitor Center & Museum. Here you will be introduced to this decisive battle and prepare you for your tour of the actual battlefield. Lunch will be enjoyed at the Historic Dobbin House. As Gettysburg's oldest and most historic home it was not only built in 1776—an important year for our history—it also acted as a hospital following the Battle of Gettysburg and a crawl space for runaway slaves seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. Later, visit the Shriver House to learn how the confederates took the house and used it as a sniper’s den and what was their fate. This afternoon, stroll the streets of downtown Gettysburg then enjoy a free evening.

Day 4

After breakfast, it's a short drive from our hotel to the Eisenhower Farm. This National Historic Site preserves the farm of General and 34th President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Adjacent to the Gettysburg battlefield, the farm served the president and first lady as a weekend retreat and as a meeting place for world leaders. With its peaceful setting and view of South Mountain, it was a respite from Washington, DC, and a backdrop for efforts to reduce Cold War tensions. Lunch today will be at Hickory Bridge Farm. Located just a few miles from the Mason Dixon Line, this family-owned working farm features fine family-style dining in an historic barn. Next, we travel across the border into West Virginia and the little town of Harpers Ferry. Our local guided tour will show pertinent Civil War sites and other historic locations before we check into our hotel early evening.

Day 5

Continuing our travels northward bound, we're on our way to historic Winchester. Start your visit at the Civil War Orientation Center then pick up your guide for an intense education on the important Civil War cemetery and other sites. Have lunch at the Union Jack Restaurant before it's on to Stonewall Jackson Headquarters. Before leaving town, we enjoy a quick visit to the girlhood home of Patsy Cline. Tonight, overnight in the Front Royal, VA area.

Day 6

As we make our way through the serene Shenandoah Valley, we'll pause for a visit at Luray Caverns. These caverns are the largest in the easter U.S. Paved walkways lead visitors through cathedral-sized rooms that have ceilings over 10-stories high. Making miles today our next overnight will be in Lexington, VA.

Day 7

Lexington has a history of both General Lee and Stonewall Jackson. We visit both, the Lee Chapel and the only home Jackson ever owned and where he lived following the war. The Virginia Museum of the Civil War, (VMI) on Bushong Farm, and New Market Battlefield State Historical Park provide many oppor-tunities to reflect upon the social and military struggle which changed the course of American history. Rest your head in Charleston, WV with several eateries nearby for dinner on your own.

Day 8

A busy day ahead takes us to Parkersburg, WV. The importance of this small town was the completion of the Baltimore & Ohio RR in 1857. Across the river historic Blennerhassett Island was home to the Irish aristocrat Harnman Blennerhassett and his wife Margaret from 1798 to 1806. This island has been almost continuously inhabited for 13,000 years, for most of that time by prehistoric peoples. Other illustrious visitors to the island included George Rogers Clark, Johnny Appleseed, Henry Clay and Walt Whitman. Our group takes the Island Belle Sternwheeler to the island where we tour the mansion, museum and have a wagon ride tour of the island. Returning to the mainland, we check into the beautiful Blennerhassett Hotel and enjoy an included dinner in the dining room.

Day 9

Today we're motoring back into the Midwest. Our destinations is the National Museum of the Air Force located in Dayton, OH. Designated as the official museum of the United States Air Force it's located at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The NMUSAF is the oldest and largest military aviation museum in the world, with more than 360 aircraft and missiles on display. We make a few more miles towards home for our last overnight at the always welcome Drury Inn & Suites just outside Indianapolis, IN.

Day 10

This detailed Civil War discovery has one more attraction very close to home. The Civil War Museum in Kenosha, WI is like no other Civil War museum in the country. It focuses on the Civil War from the perspective of the people of the seven states of the upper middle west: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. These seven states sent over one million men to serve in the Union army while providing much of the food and raw materials necessary for the northern states to carry on the war. Through the use of personal stories and narratives, the Museum also explores how the Civil War impacted the people on the Western home front before, during, and after the war by connecting the prewar causes to the postwar effects. A farewell luncheon is enjoyed by all until we bid goodbye to new friends. We hope you learned more about this pivotal time in history that still resonates with people today.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D =Dinner