Northern Virginia's 'Capital Region' - Wednesday 7th October - UPDATED

Sadly today was the last day of our high-speed tour of the East Coast.
We began after breakfast with a short stop to visit one of the Capital Region's most iconic sights - the Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington.  Commemorating all Marines, the statue specifically recalls the flag-raising over Iwo Jima in 1945, hence its popular name.
From the memorial we drove south to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington.
Arriving before the crowds, we viewed the introductory movie, toured the mansion, then had time to explore the estate, the museum, & to have an early lunch.
Our final stop was to visit Arlington National Cemetery, always a highlight of a tour to Washington D.C.  We made a walking tour of the cemetery, visiting the Tomb of the Unknowns to view the Changing of the Guard ceremony, paying our respects at the grave of Audie Murphy & the Space Shuttle memorials, & finally visiting the Kennedy grave sites.
Finally, after another full morning of sightseeing it was time to head to the airport, through some of DC's terrible traffic!  After checking-in we said our farewells & the group headed through security.
It's been another great tour with students from Anacoco High School.  We've seen a lot in just a few days, learnt a lot, visited some of the nation's most important sites, & had a lot of fun along the way.  A big thank you to the chaperones for their work keeping everybody safe, & to Ms. Teasley for all her efforts to make this tour happen.  Go Indians!

The Marine Corps Memorial in Arlington

George Washington's home, Mount Vernon

The view over the Potomac, still just as Washington enjoyed it.

Tour rituals - boarding the bus

Arlington National Cemetery

Changing of the Gard at the Tomb of the Unknowns

The grave of Audie Murphy, one of the most-decorated US veteran's ever

Memorials to the Space Shuttle disasters & the Iran rescue mission

President Kennedy's gravesite

DC by Metrorail - Tuesday 6th October - UPDATED

For our full day in Washington D.C we traveled like the locals - not by tour bus but on the DC 'metrorail', the city's efficient subway system.
A short walk from our hotel we caught our first train into the heart of the city & then walked to our first destination... The White House!
After a walk-through tour of the presidential mansion we rode the train again to Union station & walked to he offices of the group's senator on Capitol Hill.  After meeting his staffers we descended into the depths of the building & rode an underground train to the Capitol where we had a tour of the building & then were able to view proceedings in the Senate for a while.
After another walk & metro ride we made our last stop before lunch - to visit Ford's Theatre & the Peterson House, where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated & where he later passed away.  Afterwars we had free time for souvenir shopping & for lunch.
This afternoon we made two more visits - first to the nearby National Archives, where we viewed the so-called 'Charters of Freedom', the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution & the Bill of Rights.
A walk along & across the National Mall took us to our last sightseeing stop of the day, the National Holocaust Museum & Memorial.  Whilst not a 'fun' visit the museum is excellent & the students definitely gain a lot from the experience.
Dinner this evening was in Chinatown, at the famous 'Tony Cheng's' restaurant.  We enjoyed a feast of multiple dishes, all served family-style on a 'lazy Susan'.  After dinner we rode the metro back to our hotel, tired after a long day packed with sights & experiences & ready for one more day tomorrow!

Waling to the metro station

Entering the White House grounds

In line for White House security

After our tour of The White House

Washington's replica Liberty Bell, outside Union Station

Inside our senator's offices, in the Hart Senate Office Building

Riding the underground train from the Hart Senate Office Building to the US Capitol

With a Senate 'staffer' in the Capitol

A replica of 'Freedom', the statue that tops the Capitol dome

The Supreme Court

The DC metrorail

Shopping for souvenirs

A lunchtime break

The J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building

The National Archives

Waiting to view the 'Charters of Freedom'

Walking on the National Mall

DC's Chinatown

Dinner at Tony Cheng's famous Chinese restaurant

Historic Philadelphia - Monday 5th October - UPDATED

We departed our New York area hotel this morning, boarding our private bus for the ride to Washington DC via Philadelphia.  With little traffic & a clear run we arrived in Philadelphia earlier than expected & in bright sunshine.
Our first destination was Independence Hall, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  There the group took a ranger-led tour of this important historic building.  Afterwards we visited the Liberty Bell, located very close by.
Then we had free time to explore the historic center of Philadelphia further & for lunch.  Some students visited Benjamin Franklin's grave, others took a quick self-guided tour of the US Mint, & all headed to nearby Campos Deli to enjoy (in our opinion) the best cheesesteaks in Philly - with cheese whizz on of course, just like the locals!
From Philadelphia we traveled onwards to Washington DC, passing by Baltimore on the way, & again arriving in good time.  So we visited the National Mall & some of the Smithsonian Museums before dinner - some choosing to visit the Museum of Natural History, some choosing the Museum of American History, & some managing a quick visit to both!
Dinner this evening was at the Hard Rock Cafe, always a popular venue for students.  There was time for souvenir shopping afterwards, then we made an evening tour of the National Mall's monuments.
All the monuments are beautifully illuminated at night & look their best, & we enjoyed visiting the Jefferson Memorial, the FDR & MLK Memorials, & then the Korean War, Lincoln & Vietnam Veterans' Memorials.
After fitting in so much again today everyone was ready for bed by the time we arrived at our hotel around 10:15pm tonight.