Side Trips

Located within minutes of Washington, DC, Alexandria is a picturesque city with Colonial ambiance and European flair. Visiting tour groups can take a guided tour with an 18th century costumed guide and hear about unsolved mysteries, tales of romance and angry ghosts looking for revenge. Other options include a Potomac River cruise or a Broadway show at the West End Dinner Theater. Read more »

Welcome aboard the U.S. Naval Academy, undergraduate college of the U.S. Navy. The Armel-Leftwich Visitor Center features interactive exhibits, pictorial displays, a theatre showing the award-winning film, To Lead and to Serve, and an extensive gift shop and convenient snack bar. Learn more about the history and traditions of the Naval Academy and the life of the midshipmen on a guided walking tour of the Yard. Read more »

Visit the National Aquarium at the Baltimore Harbor. Begin your tour with an escalator trip to the rain forest and then proceed through a variety of aquatic exhibits featuring dazzling sea mammals and exotic jungle creatures. The Maryland Science Center and the popular ESPN-Zone are nearby. Visitors can also tour Fort McHenry, the birth place of the American national anthem. Read more »

Visit the site of the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, PA dedicated to the extraordinary men and women who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 to thwart an attack on our Nation’s Capital. Read more »

Visit the site of one of the most famous battles of the Civil War. Start at the National Military Park and Visitor’s Center by viewing the film, “A New Birth of Freedom”, narrated by Morgan Freeman. Next, take a self-guided tour of the battlefield or a tour led by a licensed battlefield guide (recommended). Conclude your visit with a meal at either Dobbin House or General Pickett’s Buffet. Read more »

From thrill rides and one-of-a-kind attractions to Hollywood-style shows, only Paramount's Kings Dominion can bring you a variety of entertainment. This park offers the first indoor roller coaster on earth, yet it's out of this world!! Blasting you through a black hole at mind-warping speeds, through unforeseen twists and gravity-defying loops, get ready for the journey of a lifetime to the Outer Limits. Read more »

This hidden treasure is one of the most beautiful caverns in the world. A mile-long walk explores numerous formations including an underground reflecting lake that presents a fairy-tale diorama for the imagination. The caverns also feature an organ made of vibrating stalactites. Read more »

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello is often described as one of our country's foremost architectural masterpieces. Located on a mountaintop with a view of the rolling Virginia countryside, this house was built and remodeled over a period of 40 years. Restoration continues today to recreate the interior as it was during Jefferson's lifetime. Throughout are reminders of his keen interest in science. Read more »