U.S EAST COAST: [USE100-4D3N] Philadelphia – Washington D.C – Niagara Falls – Boston (*)

Today, we’ll drive to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, to visit Independence Historical Park and witness the history of American independence. We’ll then travel to Washington, D.C., the political center of the United States. Home to the White House and Congress, it’s also home to numerous museums and is a renowned tourist destination.

Itinerary: New York → Philadelphia → Independence National Historical Park (30 mins) → Washington D.C. → U.S. Capitol In-depth Tour + The National Archives (Optional, inside visit U.S. Capitol & The National Archives + outside visit Supreme Court of the United States & Library of Congress, 120 mins) → White House (outside visit, 30 mins) → Lincoln Memorial + Vietnam Veterans Memorial (45 mins) → Hotel

 Drive from New York to Philadelphia, 100 miles, 1hour 40mins. Drive from Independence National Historical Park to Washington -D.C, 140 miles, 2 hours 30 mins. Drive from Washington D.C. to Hotel, 25 miles, 40 mins.

Special Notes: If unable to enter U.S. Capitol, the attraction will be replaced with the Washington D.C. In-depth Tour (optional). Washington D.C. In-depth Tour itinerary: Air Force Memorial (20 mins) → Thomas Jefferson Memorial (20 mins) → World War II Memorial (20 mins).

Independence National Historical Park: Philadelphia is a land that witnessed the independence and birth of the United States. The National Independence Historical Park, built in the spirit of the American War of Independence, contains some historical buildings related to the American Revolution and the founding of the country. It is known as “the most historic square mile in the United States.” In the park, you can see the Independence Square surrounded by green trees, the towering milky white clock tower, and the bronze statues of the founding heroes standing on the lawn. The overall atmosphere here makes people feel solemn and dignified.

U.S. Capitol: As the political center of the United States, Washington has many iconic political and cultural landscapes, such as the Capitol Building and the U.S. Supreme Court. We will enter the Capitol Building, the geometric center of Washington, DC, walk along the gorgeous and exquisite congressional corridors, listen to the stories behind each mural and each statue, and deeply understand why this is the highest symbol of a government owned by the people, governed by the people, and for the people.

The National Archives: The National Archives houses precious documents, photographs, and video footage from various periods of American history. Among its most notable collections are the original parchment manuscripts of the founding documents, drafted at the founding of the nation in 1776. These documents include the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. Other collections include the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863, issued by Lincoln during the Civil War to free slaves, the surrender of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, and the Watergate tapes that exposed Richard Nixon’s corruption and ultimately brought him down.

OR:

Washington D.C. In-depth Tour: First, we’ll visit the Air Force Memorial, composed of three curved steel columns over 80 meters long. Its design was inspired by the three white smoke trails left in the sky by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds during their aerobatic performances. We’ll then visit the Jefferson Memorial, which commemorates the ideal that “all men are created equal,” in front of Taidou Lake. We’ll then visit the World War II Memorial, which honors the 16 million American service members who served during World War II.

The White House: The White House is a white neoclassical sandstone building covering an area of more than 73,000 square meters. It consists of the main building and the east and west wings. The White House is the office and residence of successive US presidents and is also synonymous with the US government. Many important US decision-making bills are signed and announced by the president in the White House. George Washington, the founding father of the United States, once expressed his views on the construction of the US President’s residence: it must not be a palace, and it must not be luxurious, because the masters working here are servants of the state.

Lincoln Memorial: The Lincoln Memorial is a white ancient Greek temple-style building built to commemorate the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is regarded as an eternal statue of the United States. It is also the most famous rally for the pursuit of peace and democracy. Martin Luther King delivered his speech “I Have a Dream” here.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial: The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located north of the Lincoln Memorial. It is a 500-foot-long V-shaped monument made of black granite. It is used to commemorate the American soldiers and generals who died while serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The glittering black marble wall is engraved with the names of more than 57,000 US soldiers who died in the Vietnam War between 1959 and 1975, in chronological order of the date of each person’s death.

 Hotel: Springhill Suites Gaithersburg; Comfort Inn Shady Grove – Gaithersburg – Rockville or similar.

Go to the headquarters of Corning, a Fortune 500 company, visit the world’s largest glass collection museum, and enjoy the live glass production performance technology. After lunch, go to the famous Watkins Glen. Then arrive at Niagara Falls, visit the Falls National Park, and overlook the “American Falls”, “Horseshoe Falls” and “Bridal Veil Falls”. The water rushes down and thunders, and you can experience the majestic momentum in person, just like a thousand horses galloping.

Itinerary: Corning Museum of Glass (Optional, 90 mins) → Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes (Optional, 90 mins, this optional activity is only available when Watkins Glen State Park is open) → Niagara Falls Night View Tour (Mandatory, 90 mins)

Drive from the hotel to The Corning Museum of Glass, 275 miles, 5 hours. Drive from Finger Lakes to Niagara Falls, 135 miles, 2 hours 30 mins. Drive from Niagara Falls to the hotel, 20 miles, 30 mins.

Notes:

1. Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes is a seasonal summer itinerary. We will visit after the state park officially opens (generally from May to October each year). Please refer to the park’s official website for the exact opening date. Once the park is closed, Watkins Glen State Park + Finger Lakes will no longer be available.
   2. In order to ensure a better experience for guests, it is guaranteed that guests can watch the fireworks show at the waterfall on that day (except when there is no fireworks show on that day).

 The Corning Museum of Glass: The world-renowned Corning Glass Center is located in Corning, a small town with unique style and quaint flavor in upstate New York. Although it is a small city, it is the center of the American glass industry. The status of Corning’s glass and porcelain in the United States is just like the status of Jingdezhen porcelain in China, and it is also well-known in the world. Corning Glass Center can be said to be a magical glass world. Corning Glass Center has about 100,000 pieces of glass boutiques and artistic sculptures on display. These exquisite glass products are either colorful or crystal clear, dazzling and overwhelming. The Glass Center is not only a glass museum, but also a factory for the production of glass strengthening, glassware and handicrafts, and a store that sells glass and crystal products such as sunglasses, necklaces, pins, etc.

Watkins Glen State Park: Watkins Glen is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, USA. It is a stratified rock geology, which has been eroded by glaciers and streams, forming a unique landform. There are more than a dozen waterfalls along the approximately two-mile canyon trail. There are excellent canyon trails, waterfalls that can be admired up close, and pleasing natural scenery, providing tourists with an excellent photo spot, and it is known as the “Millennium Valley”.

Finger Lakes: The Finger Lakes are located in the northwest of New York State. They are a scenic spot consisting of 14 long and narrow lakes. They are named because they are arranged vertically from south to north and look like fingers. Many Hollywood stars have vacation villas or estates here.

Niagara Falls Night View Tour: During the trip, we will go to [One Park, Two Islands, Three Falls], go deep into Niagara Falls Park, and see a wide variety of exotic flowers and trees up close; stand on two islands – Ram Island and Moon Island, and appreciate the magnificence of the Water of Thor from multiple angles in the dark; see the three major waterfalls – Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls, and feel the majestic momentum of nature presented by the different faces of the waterfalls under the illumination of colorful neon lights. At this time, don’t forget to pick up your camera and take a photo with them.

Hotel: Crowne Plaza Niagara Falls NY – Riverside by IHG; Buffalo Marriott Niagara; Aloft Buffalo Airport or similar.

Today we will be exploring the true beauty and nature of Niagara Falls! Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. Later, we will drive to Boston.

• Summer Itinerary: (Applied when Maid of the Mist opens)
  Niagara Falls Classic Tour(Optional, 2.5 hours, Whirlpool Park + Cave of the Winds + Maid of the Mist included) → Boston
• Winter Itinerary: (Applied when Maid of the Mist closes)
  Niagara Falls Classic Tour(Optional, 2.5 hours, Whirlpool Park + Cave of the Winds + Old Fort Niagara State Park included) → Boston

Drive from the hotel to Boston, 470 miles, 8 hours.

Kindly Reminder: Maid of the Mist Niagara Falls Boat usually closes in winter, and it will not be visited during the closure.

Niagara Whirlpool State Park: The Niagara Whirlpool is 125 feet deep and was formed by water erosion 7,500 years ago. It is located where the Niagara River suddenly turns northeast from the northwest. The rapid river water flows back after the change of direction, forming a huge whirlpool. The park is very quiet, with barbecue pits and picnic tables. Standing on them, you can overlook the whirlpool below, which is very spectacular.

Cave of the Winds: The entrance to the Cave of the Winds is on Goat Island, where there is a small museum and a small cinema. You can then take an elevator down 53 meters in the Niagara Gorge cave to the bottom of the valley. Standing at the foot of the falls, looking up, you will see the falls rushing down with overwhelming momentum, which can’t help but make people feel passionate and resonate with nature.

Maid of The Mist: The Maid of the Mist is the most monumental boat trip in the United States since 1846. There is no better way to experience Niagara Falls in the United States. Put on a blue raincoat and take aboard the dreamy Maid of the Mist boat to experience the refreshing mist, surging waves, and roaring waterfalls produced by more than 2 million liters of water per second. As a unique fleet of yachts, under the skilled command of captains, they have been sailing safely in the waves of the Niagara Gorge for more than 100 years and have carried tens of millions of tourists directly into the depths of the misty water.

 OR

Old Fort Niagara State Park: The War Fort is a tourist attraction of great historical value. It existed at the mouth of the Niagara River leading from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie before the independence of the United States. Therefore, it played a very important role in the Indian-French War, the American War of Independence, and the Anglo-American War at that time. Behind it is the vast Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes of the United States.

Hotel: Fairfield Inn Boston Tewksbury/Andover; Sonesta Select Boston Lowell Chelmsford; DoubleTree by Hilton Boston-Andover or similar.

Boston is a city steeped in history, yet also one of the youngest. Its prestigious universities and numerous firsts have given the city a vibrant new lease of life. Today, we’ll embark on a Firsts Tour, immersing ourselves in Boston’s rich history. We’ll also visit Quincy Market to experience Boston’s ancient heritage, shop for souvenirs, and sample authentic local cuisine. Finally, we’ll return to New York.

Itineraries: Hotel → The Firsts of America Exploration Tour (Mandatory, 3 hours) → Quincy Market + Boston Lobster Meal (Lobster Meal for optional, 70 mins) → BOS Airport Drop-off → NYC Airport Drop-off

The Firsts of America Exploration Tour: Harvard University (1 hour, official campus tour included) → The Old State House (the birthplace of the American Revolution and the place where the Declaration of Independence was first published) → The first subway system → The first public park → The first public botanical garden → The first large-scale free municipal library funded by the public

Drive from the hotel to Harvard University, 25 miles, 40 mins. Drive from Boston to New York, 220 miles, 4 hours.

The Firsts of America Exploration Tour: Boston is one of the oldest cities in the United States, with a strong academic atmosphere. After experiencing the cleansing of history, many firsts were born in Boston. Today we will visit the first university in 1636 – Harvard University, the birthplace of the American Revolution and the place where the Declaration of Independence was first published – The Old State House, the first subway system in the United States, the first public park in the United States, the first public botanical garden in the United States, and the first large-scale free municipal library invested by the public in the United States, to experience the strong historical style of Boston.

Quincy Market: Quincy Market is a well-known tourist attraction and shopping place in Boston. The characteristics of Quincy Market are its unique Romanesque architectural style, large columns and iconic triangular roofs, classic Romanesque carved gates, granite building materials and modern American-style rectangular glass, which successfully combine classical beauty with modern beauty. The two buildings next to the market are called South Market and North Market, which are a collection of various small shops, where you can find all kinds of Boston souvenirs.