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College of the Sequoias presents:
Heritage of America
Day 1: Friday, October 12, 2012 New York City, New York - Tour Begins
Explore America’s heritage, history and scenic horizons on this in-depth tour of the eastern United States.

Day 2: Saturday, October 13, 2012 New York City
Meet your fellow travelers this morning for a welcome breakfast at a NYC diner. Then, a local guide leads you on a fascinating tour of the “Big Apple.” You’ll see Greenwich Village, the Wall Street district, Little Italy, Chinatown, the Empire State Building, United Nations, the Chrysler Building, and other time-honored landmarks. A memorable visit to Ground Zero is sure to be a moving moment. This afternoon, discover “the city that never sleeps” at your own pace. (B)

Day 3: Sunday, October 14, 2012 New York City - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Lancaster
Travel to Philadelphia and embark on a tour of “the Birthplace of a New Nation” which highlights the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Independence Hall is rich in heritage as the location of both the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the drafting of the Constitution. Continue on to the Amish Country of Lancaster, the second largest Amish community in America. (B, D)

Day 4: Monday, October 15, 2012 Lancaster
Visit Wheatland*, the gracious Federalist home of James Buchanan, the U.S.’s 15th President. Sample the true taste of Amish Country with a stop at the Kitchen Kettle Complex where small batches of jams, jellies and relishes are handcrafted daily. Next, a local guide introduces you to the fascinating history and traditions of the Amish people during a tour of their farmlands. As you learn more about their self-sufficiency and peaceful lifestyle, you will understand how their “life apart” is an expression of their religious faith and dedication. Tonight, enjoy a traditional dinner of local specialties and the chance to learn more about Amish customs firsthand when members of the local Amish community** join you for dinner. (B, D)

Day 5: Tuesday, October 16, 2012 Lancaster - Gettysburg - Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Journey to Gettysburg, site of the Union victory that marked a turning point in the Civil War. A guided tour of the site illuminates those three historic days in 1863 and the decisive battle that changed the course of American history forever. Travel to Shenandoah National Park via the famous Skyline Drive, along the crest of the Blue Ridge Mountains, where scenic expanses of Shenandoah Valley wilderness extend in all directions. Tonight you’ll overnight*** inside the park! (B, D)

Day 6: Wednesday, October 17, 2012 Shenandoah Valley - Charlottesville - Williamsburg
Visit Monticello, the beautiful home and gardens of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson was not only the third U.S. President and author of the Declaration of Independence, but he was also an accomplished inventor and true “Renaissance man.” This afternoon, arrive in the historic town of Williamsburg. Tonight, begin your journey into Revolutionary-age America by dining in a Colonial Williamsburg tavern specializing in colonial fare. (B, D)

Day 7: Thursday, October 18, 2012 Colonial Williamsburg
Begin the day by viewing “Story of a Patriot,” a short film which introduces you to Colonial Williamsburg, one of the largest and best living history museums in the world. Costumed re-enactors populate the streets and buildings, bringing the customs and sentiments of 1770 to life. Tour Governor’s Palace and Gardens before enjoying time to independently wander the cobblestone streets and explore some of the eighty-eight historic buildings. (B)

Day 8: Friday, October 19, 2012 Williamsburg - Washington, D.C.
Visit Mount Vernon, the beloved home of the first U.S. president, George Washington. Wander the beautiful plantation grounds he adored and tour the home, filled with 18th century artifacts. Then, travel to Washington, D.C. Explore the world-famous Smithsonian Institution’s countless treasures, containing the largest and most extensive collection of artifacts in the world, such as the fabled Hope Diamond and the actual Apollo 11 Command Module. (B)

Day 9: Saturday, October 20, 2012 Washington, D.C.
This morning, a guided tour of America's capital affords you wonderful views of the Capitol building, the White House, monuments and museums. Drive along Embassy Row and stop at the moving World War II Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and the Korean War Memorial. Next, visit the White House Visitor Center where you will gain insight into the many transitions this historic residence has undergone. This afternoon, visit Arlington National Cemetery to view the Tomb of the Unknowns and the Kennedy gravesites. Toast the end of a wonderful trip this evening at a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Day 10: Sunday, October 21, 2012 Washington, D.C. - Tour Ends
Your tour ends in Washington, D.C. this morning. (B)




October 12 - October 21, 2012
10 Days • 14 Meals
9 Breakfasts • 5 Dinners
Highlights: New York City, Philadelphia, Amish Country, Gettysburg, Shenandoah Valley, Monticello, Colonial Williamsburg, Mount Vernon, Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institution
Rates Per Person
Double: $2799, Single: $3599,
Triple: $2769
*Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Fresno Air Terminal,Air Taxes and Fees/Surcharges of $50 (subject to increase until paid in full),Hotel Transfers.
*Not Included in Price: Cancellation Waiver and Insurance of $165 per person.
Itinerary at a Glance
Day 1 - 2 Sheraton New York, New York, NY
Day 3 - 4 Eden Resort Inn and Suites, Lancaster, PA
Day 5 Skyland Lodge, Shenandoah Valley, VA
or Holiday Inn Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA
Day 6 - 7 Williamsburg Woodlands Hotel, Williamsburg, VA
Day 8 - 9 Doubletree Crystal City, Arlington, VA
On some dates alternate hotels may be used.
Essential Experiences
  • Spend two nights in the heart of New York City!
  • Learn about the traditions and history of the Amish with a locally guided tour.
  • Stroll the grounds of historic Colonial Williamsburg and enjoy dinner at one of its famous taverns.
  • Glimpse into the life of America’s first president with a visit to his estate, Mount Vernon.
  • From space exploration to the American presidency, see the many exhibits at the world-famous Smithsonian museums.
For more information call
 Elizabeth Lamar
JEST4Fun!
(559) 561-4154
jestlamar@wildblue.net
Included Meals Key
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

AVAILABLE OPTIONS:
Washington, D.C.
District of Columbia Twilight Tour • $80.00
Savor the cuisine of Washington, D.C. during dinner at a local restaurant, before joining a local guide and heading out for a spectacular evening twilight tour of our nation's capital. See the dramatic monuments and memorials that this beautiful city is known for illuminated against the darkened sky. Stops will be made at beloved icons such as the Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, the FDR Memorial, and the Lincoln Memorial. The experience of seeing these famous landmarks as darkness falls is certain to be the highlight of your visit to Washington, D.C.
CANCELLATION WAIVER:

Worry-Free Cancellation
Our industry-leading cancellation waiver offers travelers a full cash refund for the price of the tour, right up to the day prior to departure, minus the small cost of the waiver. Travel worry-free knowing if anything changes, you're protected.

Plus, you're covered on tour.
Our cancellation waiver and insurance plan covers you on tour. If you have to stop your trip or return home early, need medical assistance or evacuation, suffer a baggage loss or delay; or are delayed on tour for 12 hours or more, you're covered.

Cancellation Waiver and Insurance is just $165 per person.

Click here for complete details.

TRAVEL TIPS:
Heritage of America
Listed below is important information to assist you in preparing for your upcoming trip. This information provided will help you have a more enjoyable experience while you are on your tour.
Accommodations
On some programs, there are a limited number of single and triple rooms. Double rooms usually consist of 2 beds. Triple rooms are normally a standard double room with 2 beds. A cot or rollaway bed may be added to the double room at some hotels, based on room size and fire codes. When triples are not available, appropriate charges for single and twin accommodations will be assessed. We make every effort to accommodate your specific requests and forward them to the hotels. These requests cannot be guaranteed as hotels may not always be able to honor them. Check-in times are set by individual hotel properties and vary by hotel. Depending on your arrival time, there may be a delay in gaining access to your room as most hotels offer afternoon check-in. We ask guests to observe check-out times at all properties as designated by the hotel. Some hotels require a credit card imprint or your passport information upon check-in in order to activate telephones in the rooms and for potential incidental charges. Most hotels charge an access fee for using phones in hotel rooms. Please check with the front desk personnel at each hotel for specific policies. Hotel membership programs are not applicable.
Arrival Day Suggestions
Due to varied flight schedules and different arrival times of our tour guests, your tour will not have any scheduled activities prior to dinner on Day 1. Should your flight schedule allow for an earlier arrival time that day, enjoy the great opportunity for some independent exploration.
Clothing & Packing Tips
If you are taking prescription medication, please be sure to take an adequate supply for your tour and a few additional days, in original prescription containers. Medication should be packed in your carry-on baggage. Do not place it in your checked luggage. You may want to carry an extra prescription in a separate bag in case medication is lost.
As you prepare to explore the patriotic cities and colonial towns of the east coast, enjoy a casual dress style and be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes, particularly while you are in Philadelphia, Williamsburg, and Washington, D.C. It is recommended to bring clothing that may be worn in layers that may be added or removed as the temperature changes. In case of rain, you may want to pack a collapsible umbrella, a light raincoat or a poncho.
Currency
Your personal bank card may work at local ATM machines in the destination you are traveling to. Please contact your bank to determine if this option is available, that your PIN number will be accepted and to inform them that you are traveling. We recommend carrying only a few major credit cards. Credit card purchases often provide an extra guarantee on your purchase (check with your specific credit card company for details and fees). It is advisable to contact any credit card company you intend utilizing while on tour before you depart to notify them where you will be traveling, to avoid any rejection of services. If optional tours are made available to purchase, please note that credit cards must have an expiration date of greater than 30 days from the start of the tour.
Electricity
An adaptor (which changes the physical plug) and/or converter (which changes the electric current) are necessary if you plan to use an appliance with voltage different from the standard within the country you are visiting. Please note, if your appliance has dual voltage you may still need an adaptor for the plug. When packing your electronic items for travel, please review the converter electric current level to make sure it is the same or greater than the items you are planning on using. If you plan on utilizing or transporting a sleep apnea machine, please remember to pack an extension cord and adapter plug to ensure proper function.
Elevation
Highest Elevation on this tour is 3,680 feet in Shenandoah National Park. All other sites at or near sea level.
Helpful Hints
Bring a camera, memory cards, film, and batteries and be sure to bring enough photography supplies for your entire trip. If you have a video camera, bring an extra battery, plus proper recharging equipment. Due to security screening, we recommend storing your equipment in your carry-on luggage. Bring a travel alarm clock, travel sewing kit and an alcohol based gel hand sanitizer when soap and water is not accessible. Pack items that may leak in plastic bags. Do not pack any articles of value in your checked luggage. As a precaution, we suggest that you divide the contents of your suitcase with your traveling companion. Avoid over packing and leave room for souvenirs that you plan to take back home.
Bring a copy of your passport/identification and pack it separately from the original. Leave a copy of your tour itinerary at home with your emergency contact and a copy of your passport. Remember when flying you can only take one quart size bag with no more than 3 ounces of any one liquid. Liquids that do not fit in the one quart size bag and are larger than 3 ounces will be discarded by security. Remember to hydrate and get up and stretch while flying. If you are considering using your cell phone while traveling internationally, you should check with your cell provider concerning their access and charges for overseas calls, texting and emailing for the specific destination you are traveling to.
Included Features
The following are included in your tour package: transportation via motorcoach, accommodations, hotel luggage handling, meals, sightseeing, admission charges (as outlined in your itinerary), and applicable gratuities for bellmen, doormen and dining room wait staff. Customary gratuities for hotel housekeeping staff, local sightseeing guides, drivers and tour managers have not been included.
Local Guides
In order to further enhance your experience of this destination, four local guides have been arranged throughout this tour. Customary gratuities for these guides are not included in the cost of the tour. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary and individual basis at a suggested amount of 1-2 USD per day, per guide. Your tour manager will review customary tipping amounts and timing with you when you are on your tour.
Reading List
Interested in reading about your destination before you depart? We have pre-selected travel guides, novels and books on history, nature and art to help enhance your total vacation experience. You can access the complete list by typing the following into your web browser. Select the region of the world to find your tour: http://www.longitudebooks.com/find/d/3279/r/CV/mcms.html
Shopping
One of the best parts of traveling is coming back home with souvenirs that really reflect the place you’ve just been. As you make your way through the "Big Apple" - New York City - you'll find countless souvenirs of token landmarks like Times Square, the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and more. Lancaster, Pennsylvania is well known for its beautiful, quality hand-crafted items such as quilts, quillows (a pillow that unfolds into a quilt), small woodcrafts, locally-produced jams, jellies, and other food products. As you explore Williamsburg, Virginia, you'll find colonial themed artifacts and artwork that capture the old-fashioned charm of this unparalleled destination. Popular items found in Washington, D.C. include American history and political memorabilia.
Smoking
Smoking Restrictions: Our tours are non-smoking throughout. If you require a smoking room, please alert your agent upon tour booking. Please be mindful of locations where smoking is prohibited: the motorcoach, at dining venues and other restricted areas on tour including most hotels. Customers are responsible for any fines incurred for failure to comply with smoking restrictions.
Time Zone
Eastern Standard Time
Transportation
Flight Information, Departure Taxes & Fees Land Only Vacations: If you chose to purchase a land only vacation, pay particular attention to flight segments that occur during the tour which are not included in your land only rate. You must purchase these internal flight segments and the schedule must match the flights that we utilize on the group tour. Please provide us with your flight schedules for the entire tour six weeks prior to departure so we may secure services if you purchased transfers from us, as well as maintain emergency contact. Air Inclusive Vacations Air inclusive vacations cover air transport to and from your origin gateway as well as all internal air segments on tour. In order to comply with Homeland Security’s “Secure Flight” mandate, all passengers must provide full name, date of birth and gender at time of reservation. Your airline ticket must match the name on your valid, non-expired, government issued photo ID to be shown at the airport (including middle name, first or middle initial). If you are a member of a participating frequent flyer program, provide the number upon booking and retain the passenger copy of your ticket and boarding pass to ensure that you receive proper credit of your mileage. Some air tickets are not eligible for mileage accrual. Whenever possible, we will add charges for air departure taxes to your invoice. Some international arrival and departure fees are not included in your air ticket and must be paid by you on tour in local currency.
Transfers We are pleased to provide you with complimentary airport to hotel, and hotel to airport transfers at the beginning and end of an escorted tour when you purchase an air-inclusive vacation. Land-only clients who have purchased round trip transfers will be accommodated at the same times as air inclusive clients. Arrival meeting locations and transfer departure times are provided on your document booklets. On some programs there may be a waiting period at the airport due to varying flight schedules of other arriving passengers. If you have secured your own transfer, you may meet your tour manager at the hotel. Motorcoach Information: We do not own or operate vehicles. We charter quality coaches that are temperature controlled vehicles. Coach size may vary based upon the number of tour patrons. In certain countries, lavatory equipped motorcoaches are not available or the lavatory is for emergency use only. Frequent stops will be made en route for comfort and convenience. Seat Rotation: Seats are rotated for the benefit of our tour guests. This fosters communication and enables our guests to enjoy a variety of vantage points on the motorcoach. Guests will rotate seats at least once a day, as directed by the tour manager. In fairness to all, there will be no exceptions to this policy.