Return to DC - Mount Vernon & Washington

We made our earliest start to a day today, with wake-up calls at 6:30am & departure time at 8:00am.
We loaded & boarded our van, then began the long drive back towards Washington DC.  After around 2hrs 15minutes we arrived at our destination, Mount Vernon.
The family home of George Washington, Mount Vernon is still home to my of the original buildings that the first President knew, including his mansion.
Our visit began with a model of the house, & a movie introducing Washington's life...

Next we began exploring the estate grounds, then entered the mansion itself...

Having made good time this morning we had plenty of time to explore the grounds, visit the gift shop & have lunch.
Then we drove into Washington DC, with a short detour through Old Town Alexandria to see the cobbled streets & George Washington's 'town house'.
In DC we made a stop to see the White House...

...and with some extra time we decided to make a visit to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.

Next it was time for dinner, & another new experience for many - a Chinese feast in Washington's Chinatown.

We finished our day with an evening tour of some of the inspirational monuments to great Americans - veterans, Presidents, statesmen, etc - that surround the National Mall.
Amongst the monuments we visited we that honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr...

... & President Abraham Lincoln.

Finally we checked-in to our Arlington hotel for a one night stay.  Tomorrow we will end the tour with visits to Arlington National Cemetery, the Crime & Punishment Museum, & the Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Jamestown & Busch Gardens

We met up after breakfast this morning, ready for another great day of sightseeing in "Virginia's Historic Triangle".

Our morning visit was to Jamestown Settlement.  Located just a mile from the site of historic Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in the Americas, Jamestown Settlement features a museum section & many recreations - a native American village, the English fort, the three ships that the English colonists arrived on, etc.
We had a private tour & our excellent guide Lu Ann taught us about the way the different peoples dressed, ate, lived, etc.  A variety of re-enactors demonstrated their skills, & we had a chance to try some for ourselves...

From Jamestown Settlement we drove the short distance to Busch Gardens, the most scenic theme park in America.  The students spent the entire afternoon here, riding the roller coasters, enjoying the shows & the scenery, shopping, eating, etc.

We returned to the hotel & after time to freshen-up we regrouped for dinner - burgers or sandwiches, desserts, & Shirley Temples!  A nice end to another educational & fun day.

Today in 18th Century Williamsburg

Today our entire day was spent in Williamsburg.

After breakfast we made the short walk from our hotel to the Visitor Center, then followed a timeline on the ground as we strolled into the heart of what was once the colonial era capital of the Virginia colony.  Along the way the timeline took us further & further back in time until we entered the historic area in the late 1700s.

Our guide today was Laurie, who showed us around the restored, rebuilt & reconstructed colonial buildings.  There were historical re-enactors in many of the buildings, as well as walking ni the streets, working in stores, etc.

One of the highlights of the day (so much so that some of the group went back for a second try!) was 'the brick yard'.  Here the re-enactors make bricks the same way that it was done over 200 years ago in Williamsburg.  And the students had the opportunity to knead the clay with their bare feet!

Later we visited the colonial Capitol.  Here we learned more about the colonists struggles against the tyranny of King George III & the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.  Williamsburg as the Virginia capital at the time, was frequented to many leading Americans of the day - Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, George Mason, James Madison, Patrick Henry were all Virginians so regular visitors to Williamsburg either as delegates to the Capitol or for other business.

Our final group visit was to the jail.  Here we saw the cells where the notorious pirate Blackbeard's crew were held before trial).  And we learned what might happen to criminals guilty of lesser crimes than piracy...

At lunchtime we split up.  The students spent the afternoon with Ms MacGillis, exploring more of the exhibits including the Governor's palace.  

Then we met up again this evening for our group dinner in one of the colonial city's original historic taverns.  

As well as eating we also enjoyed traditional music & met more historical characters.

All in all a great day in colonial times!

Tomorrow:  Jamestown & Busch Gardens...