Discover the spectacular National Parks and eclectic cities of the Eastern USA on this 10-Day guided tour. Revel in wide open spaces, stunning landscapes, iconic city sights and enjoy a bounty of food, music and art. Starting in Washington D.C., enjoy the spectacular colours of Shenandoah National Park, taste signature wines at the Veritas Winery and reconnect with nature at New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, America’s newest National Park. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Citizen Vinyl Record’s press factory in Asheville, and explore the vast Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. Uncover the region’s fascinating history at the Oconaluftee Indian Village as you join a Cherokee cultural expert for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and explore the intricate caves of Mammoth Cave National Park, ending your trip with a crescendo in Nashville, the toe-tapping home of country music.
Locations Visited
Washington, D.C., Shenandoah Valley, New River Gorge National Park, Asheville, Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Nashville
Countries Visited
United States
Travel Style
Discovery
Accommodations
9 nights included
Age Requirements
Minimum age 5
Day 1
Welcome to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital and a haven for history and art buffs alike. This eveing, join your Travel Director and meet fellow guests for a dinner.
Accommodation
Royal Sonesta Dupont Circle
Meals
Dinner
Join your Travel Director and meet fellow guests at a private Welcome Dinner with drinks at 18:00.
Day 2
This morning, immerse yourself on a tour of Washington D.C. View iconic sights and national monuments, including the White House, Washington Monument, the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture. As the newest member of the Smithsonian Institution, this is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Leave the city sights behind in the afternoon and travel along Skyline Drive, the main scenic drive into Shenandoah National Park. Enjoy spectacular views across the colourful vistas of the park before arriving at your hotel, the historic Skyland Lodge. The evening is yours to relax and bask in breathtaking views of Shenandoah Valley.
Accommodation
Skyland Lodge
Meals
Breakfast
Take a city tour of the history lined streets of Washington, D.C. and learn about the proud heritage of a nation. View the White House, the striking Washington Monument, and sprawling National Mall. Reflect on the country's most turbulent days at the Lincoln Memorial and the somber World War II Memorial.
This striking museum has collected more than 36,000 artefacts that reflect history, politics, sports, arts and entertainment. Explore the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped shape this nation.
Famous for its stunning views, colors and foliage, the scenic Skyline Drive is one of America’s National Scenic Byways. The route runs 105 miles along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the full length of the Shenandoah National Park.
Day 3
Start your day immersed in nature’s beauty with a gentle hike along the Stony Man Trail. The trail is part of the iconic Appalachian Trail and offers some of the best vistas in Shenandoah National Park, so have your camera ready. Visit the acclaimed Veritas Vineyards and Winery, for a wine tasting and farmhouse lunch. Taste signature wines and relax on the sundeck while enjoying spectacular views over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Later, travel on to your resort hotel where you can enjoy your evening at leisure.
Accommodation
The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Meander your way along a gently winding trail, with the most breathtaking views out over Shenandoah National Park. This 1.5 mile hike takes in part of the famous Appalachian trail, and explores the slopes of Stony Man Mountain, the most northernly peak in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Taste signature wines, and enjoy a tasty farmhouse lunch, while overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 50 acres of vineyards, the Veritas winery is a must see for wine enthusiasts, producing an extensive range of complex and elegant wines. Epitomizing the true heart of Virginia, the huge estate was originally a horse and cattle farm, and was transformed into this stunning winery by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Patricia.
Day 4
Today explore New River Gorge National Park, the newest park in the America’s National Park System, encompassing over 70,000 acres of land. Visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Centre to learn all about the history and flora and fauna of the park. Then stroll along a picturesque boardwalk trail to enjoy magnificent views of the New River Gorge Bridge. Guests can also choose to take an optional guided bridge walk to learn the history of the longest single arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the park and hotel amenities at your leisure.
Accommodation
The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels
Meals
Breakfast
Scenic mountains and breathtaking gorge views await at New River Gorge National Park, the nation’s newest National Park, situated over 70,000 acres along the New River. The whitewater river is one of only a few in the world that flows northward, winding dramatically through deep canyons and spanned by magnificent bridges.
Day 5
This morning, depart for Asheville and unleash your inner musician with a tour of the famous Citizen Vinyl Record press factory. Learn the history of the label and factory, get an inside look at how their record pressing operation works, and see the original WWNC radio station and studio. Later, get a true taste of Asheville on a walking food tour. Take a seat at some of the most elegant, trendy, and acclaimed tables in this beloved foodie city to sample an array of flavours, cuisines, local produce, and drinks.
Accommodation
Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Asheville
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
A must for music lovers and history buffs, enjoy a fascinating behind the scenes look at how this vinyl pressing operation fits into Asheville’s cultural legacy. Take a factory and studio tour and see the original WWNC radio station, now home to Citizen Studios. Citizen Vinyl also now serves as a community space, serving to celebrate the history of manufacturing and craft.
Enjoy a fun and educational walking food tour of Asheville’s culinary favourites that spotlight the region’s signature farm-to-table, local flavours. Taking a seat at several acclaimed eateries, enjoy outstanding food and drink pairings, designed by some of Asheville’s most notable chefs, brewers, and mixologists.
Day 6
Enjoy a relaxed start before visiting the magnificent Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. Tour the remarkable house and explore the lush gardens and arboretum. Through intriguing displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art and furniture, uncover stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests and employees. The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore Asheville.
Accommodation
Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Asheville
Meals
Breakfast
America's largest privately owned home is as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Built by George Vanderbilt between 1889 and 1895, this 250 room French Renaissance chateau was the largest undertaking in residential architecture at its time. Once completed, the Vanderbilt’s luxurious family home consisted of 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms and 65 fireplaces. Discover Biltmore’s rich and fascinating history, explore the gardens and arboretum and browse specialty shops.
Day 7
Depart for the Great Smoky Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most beautiful drives in America. On the way, visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. You'll join a cultural expert for an interactive journey through Cherokee lifestyle and history. On arrival in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, discover the importance of agriculture to the park’s ecosystem with a visit to the Mountain Farm Museum. See how families lived centuries ago through their unique collection of farm buildings. Savour a delicious and picturesque picnic lunch before continuing to your hotel. Enjoy magnificent views with stops along the way, including Newfound Gap, dramatically straddling the Stateline of North Carolina and Tennessee. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.
Accommodation
The Park Vista: A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Gatlinburg
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
Be transported to the 1760s at the Oconaluftee Indian Village, as you discover living history. Learn the stories and lifestyle of the Cherokee with a Cultural expert, and together walk winding paths, flanked with traditional dwellings, work areas and sacred ritual sites. Here you can also interact with villagers as they hull canoes, sculpt pottery and masks, weave baskets and fashion beadwork. Your experience advances UN Global Goals 10 & 11 - Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities
Visit the United States' third most-visited park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Enjoy an intimate picnic lunch while overlooking the Smoky Mountains. The secluded Collins Creek picnic site sits near a scenic creek, and here you can relax, enjoy tasty delights and bask in nature’s beauty.
The Mountain Farm Museum is a unique collection of farm buildings assembled from locations throughout the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Highlighting the importance and culture of agriculture within the park, explore a log farmhouse, barn, apple house and working blacksmith shop, to see how families may have lived 100 years ago.
Day 8
Following a relaxed start, step back in time with a visit to the Museum of Appalachia. Roam the original buildings of this living mountain village and learn about the people of Appalachia through the bounty of artefacts and stories they left behind. Feast on a full Southern Appalachian country lunch and enjoy authentic traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band. Then journey on to Nashville. Pass by the city's lively honky-tonks and street performers on Broadway, as you make your way to the Ryman Auditorium, former and original home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Accommodation
Hotel Fraye, Nashville
Meals
Breakfast
Lunch
The pioneering Museum of Appalachia is set in 65 picturesque acres and features over 250,000 artifacts, lending a voice to the people of Appalachia through the artefacts and stories they left behind. Step into a recreated community complete with 35 log cabins, barns, churches, schools and gardens. Browse folk art, musical instruments and Native American artifacts. Followed by a delicious lunch with traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band.
Enjoy an orientation tour of Nashville and see the major landmarks of this proud, musical city. Then visit the Ryman auditorium - the original home of the grand ole opry. Built in 1885 as a building for religious gatherings, it held its first concert in 1892, before opening its doors to Hollywood greats. It is here Johnny Cash first met June Carter, where bluegrass was born and where country music found an audience.
Day 9
This morning, explore Nashville with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the National Museum of African American Music and celebrate the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. Alternatively, visit Mammoth Cave National Park and explore its intricate cave system with a guide. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. Maybe take a stroll down Broadway, soaking up the live music and atmosphere. Tonight, toast your travels at dinner and enjoy timeless southern hospitality at a local restaurant.
Accommodation
Hotel Fraye, Nashville
Meals
Breakfast
Dinner
This truly unique park, Mammoth Cave National Park features the longest known cave system in the world. Join a Park Ranger for a tour of the intricate cave system and learn about thousands of years of human history and rich biodiversity that earned this park a title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
Visit the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. For music lovers of all generations, this museum inspires, educates, and transforms the appreciation of American music all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.
Dine at one of the locals' favourite restaurants, Puckett's.
Day 10
This morning, bid farewell to Nashville at your leisure, or extend your stay in Music City.
Meals
Breakfast
Title
Visit a pioneer mountain farm-village that lends voice to the people of Southern Appalachia through a recreated community complete with log cabins, barns, farm animals, churches, schools and gardens. There are over 250,000 artifacts of folk art, musical instruments, baskets, quilt and Native American artifacts. Feast on a full Southern Appalachian country lunch and enjoy authentic traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band.
Trip Notes:
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