2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

America's Historic East (AH)

9 Day Tour from Washington DC to Philadelphia

2025 Tour Details View 2024 Tour Details »

Oh, say can you see the nation’s birthplace, capital, and significant battlefields from your easy chair? Of course not! Pack up your patriotism and head east for Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the notable settlements, landmarks, and presidential estates of the historic East. America’s greatest chapters in history come to life as you stroll down the quaint streets of Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, march in the steps of American Revolution and Civil War soldiers, and stand inside the remarkable Palladian walls of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Prepare to be moved as this East Coast vacation leads you to the marbled memorials of D.C., the sacred site of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and the symbolic Liberty Bell in the City of Brotherly Love. Combining national treasures with small town gems – plus a visit to see the wonder and expansive views of Shenandoah National Park – this vacation through America’s historic East promises discovery and wonder for all.

Small-Group Discovery Dates Available

Select Globus 2021 North America tours are limited to an average of just 24 guests per tour. There’s always room to roam with extra space between you and other travelers—while still getting up close and personal to the experiences you’ve been dreaming of. Small-Group Discoveries include all the features of a traditional Globus North America tour, complete with expert Tour Director, Driver, and Local Guides who ensure that your health and safety is our top priority. A Small-Group Discovery Europe vacation is the perfectly sized tour—without the crowds.


Dates & Prices Book Online
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America's Historic East map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 4 dinners

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN WASHINGTON DC

Welcome to Washington DC! At 6 pm, meet with your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome drink.

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Day 2 WASHINGTON DC. EXCURSION TO MOUNT VERNON

Monuments & Moving Memorials Visit Mount Vernon, the restored home of George Washington. Tour the house and gardens and visit the museums. On a sightseeing tour, see many of Washington DC’s famous landmarks, including the Lincoln Memorial, and the Vietnam and Korean War Veterans Memorials, with stops for photos at the White House and Capitol Hill. Try our optional dinner tonight at one of Washington’s favorite restaurants, followed by an illumination tour of the monuments.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
A LEGEND SLEPT HERE The Virginia mansion estate of America’s first president, George Washington's Mount Vernon is one of the most iconic 18th-century homes in America. The patriot and president renovated the home, and it grew to 10 times the size of the average home in colonial Virginia. George Washington began running Mount Vernon in 1752, and slowly enlarged the dwelling to create the 21-room residence we see today. Washington oversaw each renovation, advising on design, construction, and decoration; reflecting his growing status as a Virginia gentleman and ultimately as the leader of a new nation.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 3 WASHINGTON DC–FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA–YORKTOWN–WILLIAMSBURG

U.S. History & Heroes Travel south to Fredericksburg, known for its role in both the American Revolution and the Civil War. After an orientation tour, enjoy a bit of free time to explore the historic district. Next, visit Waterman’s Museum, whose mission is to demonstrate the role Chesapeake Bay watermen. From pre-colonial to modern times, the watermen played a great role in shaping our nation. Continue to Williamsburg for a 2-night stay.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITE Williamsburg is a historic treasure you’ll love exploring. After English settlers founded the colony in 1632, it became the center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution. History lovers are drawn to restored Colonial Williamsburg, part of the Historic Triangle with Jamestown and Yorktown – where America was born.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 WILLIAMSBURG. EXCURSION TO JAMESTOWN SETTLEMENT

The Birthplace of America This morning, enjoy an exclusive Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite performance from Sylvia Tabb-Lee, a professional historian. Visit the nearby Jamestown Settlement for a guided tour to learn about the first permanent English settlement in the New World. Then, enter Colonial Williamsburg’s Historic Area, where costumed villagers add to the authenticity. Stroll down its quaint streets, browse through the historic trade shops, and see the Public Gaol. Also, be sure to stop at Raleigh Tavern, the meeting place for Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, and other patriots. This evening, enjoy a Colonial-style dinner at a famous local Tavern for the chance to engage in a recreated supper experience savored by 18th-century patriots.

LOCAL FAVORITE
HISTORIC MOMENTS Join renowned historian actor Sylvia Tabb-Lee for a fascinating and moving performance in Williamsburg that illuminates and inspires insight into the experience of slaves in American history. In keeping with her philosophy of “Each One, Teach One; Each One, Reach One,” Tabb-Lee is a wealth of information and inspiration in sharing the trials and triumphs of African-American history.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITE When the Virginia Company settlers landed at Jamestown to establish an English colony 60 miles from the Chesapeake Bay in 1607, they faced enormous challenges and hardships in a dramatic experience of disease and famine. Within the wooden fort here was England’s first permanent colony in North America and it planted the seeds for the United States of America to grow. Hear the dramatic details of this insurmountable venture with a tour led by an expert guide, including the legend of Captain John Smith, the dark, starving winter of 1609, and the story of Pocahontas – all part of the thrilling story of America’s birthplace.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 5 WILLIAMSBURG–RICHMOND–MONTICELLO–STAUNTON

Historic Figures First stop is Richmond, Virginia’s capital and once the capital of the Confederacy. Visit St. John’s Church, where Patrick Henry proclaimed, “Give me liberty or give me death!” Next, visit Thomas Jefferson’s estate at Monticello. Spend the evening in Staunton, nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Visit the home of America’s third president and principal author of the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson, at his grand estate at Monticello. Stroll its beautiful gardens and explore the majestic mansion designed by Jefferson himself. Learn about the history of this plantation with a Local Guide.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 STAUNTON–SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK

Complex Views Visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, located at the 28th president’s birthplace. Gain a better understanding of the life and times of President Woodrow Wilson, his impact on the world, and his relevance today and for the future. Then, journey to beautiful Shenandoah National Park.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Travel to the spectacular expansive vistas of Shenandoah National Park along the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. Enjoy photo stops and panoramic vistas from Skyline Drive en route to the historic Skyland Resort, established in the late 1800’s.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 7 SHENANDOAH NATIONAL PARK–HARPERS FERRY–GETTYSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA

Hallowed Grounds Follow the same route as Lee’s army during its invasion of Pennsylvania. In West Virginia, visit Harpers Ferry National Historic Park, where John Brown and his “army of liberation” staged their fateful raid on a U.S. Arsenal. Continue across Maryland to Gettysburg National Military Park. Tour Gettysburg and hear your Local Guide vividly recount the Battle of 1863. A Colonial-style candlelight dinner tonight at the elegant Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Dobbin House Tavern, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Be transported back in time to the early days of America with a Colonial-style candlelight dinner at Dobbin House Tavern. This elegant Gettysburg restaurant is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. A notable address in Gettysburg!

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Stay overnight at the historic Hotel Gettysburg, established in 1797. President Lincoln honed the immortal words of his Gettysburg Address just steps away from the hotel, and nearly a century later, the hotel served as President Dwight Eisenhower’s National Operations Center.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 8 GETTYSBURG–LANCASTER–VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORIC PARK–PHILADELPHIA

Pennsylvania’s Past & Present Enjoy an exclusive Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite presentation by one of America’s heroes of the 19th century in a performance by Ulysses S. Grant and his wife Julia. Travel through Lancaster County past Amish farmland to Valley Forge National Historic Park and continue to Philadelphia, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner on the historic Moshulu ship. Launched in 1904, she has had a long and exciting career on the seas and is now considered one of Philadelphia’s best restaurants.

LOCAL FAVORITE
ICONIC FIGURES Learn about the epic and incredible life of America’s 18th president, Ulysses S. Grant, with a dramatic portrayal of the Civil War general and his wife, Julia. Get a sense of the man and legendary commander of the President Lincoln’s Union Army. Hear about this iconic figure’s life and legacy as a war hero, abolitionist, and president.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LEGENDARY LIVES Visit Valley Forge National Historic Park to see the camp where Washington and his troops endured the harsh winter of 1777–1778. See the Memorial Arch, the Grand Parade, and the Washington Memorial Chapel.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 9 PHILADELPHIA

Lovers of Liberty Sightseeing this morning features the “City of Brotherly Love” famed historic treasures, including the Liberty Bell. Your vacation ends with a motorcoach drop at the Philadelphia International Airport or Washington DC tour hotel for those with post-nights. Schedule departing flights from Philadelphia International Airport after 1:30 pm.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITES The Liberty Bell bears a timeless message: "Proclaim Liberty Throughout All the Land unto all the Inhabitants Thereof" where it rang out from Independence Hall to summon lawmakers to work and the citizenry to gather for news. Benjamin Franklin noted while writing a letter, "Adieu, the bell rings, and I must go among the grave ones and talk ‘politicks.’" Go beyond the iconic crack to learn how this State House bell was transformed into an extraordinary symbol of civil rights. And while no one living today has ever heard the bell ring freely due to its cracked surface, it still resounds with a message of freedom and hope.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

PATRICK NEILSON

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

“An educator by trade, I hold post-graduate degrees in English Imersion and Tourism & Marketing. I speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. I use my training and experience to bring the history and culture of each place alive. I love to share my passion, enthusiasm, and knowledge with guests while providing a unique local perspective.”

Tour Director - PATRICK NEILSON

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.