Christmas in Washington D.C.

Experience the most wonderful time of the year in our Nation’s Capital, Washington D.C., for a holiday extravaganza! Upon arrival this afternoon, our first stop is at Arlington National Cemetery where we will see the Wreaths Across America event as we take a tram tour of the grounds. Visiting Arlington this time of year is especially meaningful because wreaths are laid at the base of a veteran’s headstone to honor their legacy and sacrifice. After we will check into our hotel, the 4-star Grand Hyatt Washington. The hotel is in the center of the city, only blocks from the White House, the National Mall, and metro. This evening dinner is included. (D)

A full breakfast is included this morning followed by a guided tour of Washington, D.C. See the WWII Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, The Vietnam Wall, FDR Memorial and the new Martin Luther King Memorial.

This Afternoon, you will have free time to explore D.C. on your own. You might want to visit the Smithsonian, the world’s largest museum complex consisting of 23 museums and galleries where the entrance to all venues is free. Highlights of the Smithsonian include the Air & Space Museum, the National Portrait Gallery, National Museum of Natural History (with the museum’s largest café), National Museum of American History, and the historic Arts and Industries Building, America’s first National Museum that has a groundbreaking new experience, “Futures.” For a change of pace, you might want to visit The Spy Museum to test your sleuthing skills, or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing where you will learn about U.S. currency and see millions of dollars being printed as you walk along the gallery overlooking the production floor. Another option is to walk to the Capitol or White House to get a picture perfect photo of the National Christmas Tree. Make sure to save some time to shop at the annual Downtown Holiday Market, located only one block from our hotel. Featuring 70 plus local exhibitors this is a one-stop wonderland to find the perfect gift for the most challenging person on your list.

Tonight dinner is included, before we head to Nationals Park to explore the world’s largest light maze, Enchant Christmas. This is a dazzling winter wonderland maze of millions of lights where you can wander beneath towering lit forests, stroll along glowing trails, and fill your stockings with handcrafted items offered by the Enchant Village of local artisans. (B,D)

After breakfast, our journey continues to Mount Vernon, the beloved home of George Washington, the first president of the United States. He lived here for forty years and at the time of his death in 1799, the plantation expanded from 2,000 acres to 8,000 and the house from six rooms to twenty-one. Today, the grounds remain largely as Washington intended. The tomb of George and his wife Martha Washington lies to the south of the mansion. Although the mansion is not decorated for Christmas, as this was not a tradition when Washington lived here, the two modern buildings are decorated with twenty themed trees. A box lunch is included before we leave for home with visions of gingerbread dancing in our heads. An evening return is planned. (B, L)