Visit Washington D.C. with WNAX!
This trip is August 4th – 15th 2010
Go to Washington D.C with WNAX and see things you never thought you would EVER see! WNAX will plan the trip so you get exclusive access to history.
You will see ALL the historical sites: From our Nation’s Capital, to the White House…
…Ford’s Theatre, the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, and the Jefferson & Roosevelt Memorials.
You will visit Arlington National Cemetery, the final resting place of 1000’s of US soldiers & Patriots – including JFK & RFK.
You will take breathtaking tours of the WW II, Korean & Vietnam War Memorials.
We will take time to visit the extensive Smithsonian Museum. We’ll see the Pentagon, Mount Vernon Estate and many other places.
We will take a day to visit a variety of historical Virginia Plantations and Civil War sites. Another day will be spent in the sun at Virginia Beach.
Washington DC Trip FINAL Itinerary. August 4th – 15th
Day 1 Wednesday, August 4th
6:00am Board Bus: Depart WNAX Studios
7:00am Board Bus: Pickup at Tyson Events Center in Sioux City, IA
8:15am Board Bus: Pickup at Missouri Valley, IA
9:15am Bus Break: at Adair, IA Rest Area or Jesse James historical site
Note:We will stop at the Jesse James historical site if we have time. This is the site of the first Jesse James train robbery. HOWEVER, there aren’t any restrooms. It is possible that we won’t have enough time to get off/on the bus twice. We will have to make that call when we get close.
12:00pm Lunch at Amana Colonies in Amana, IA
Note:You can expect to spend $10-15 per person for lunch at any of the Amana restaurants. If you are on a tight budget (like me!), there is a Casey’s convenience store down the street. After lunch, there are several interesting shops to browse.
1:30pm Board Bus: to Chicago!
3:45pm Bus Break: I-80 Rest Area 51.5mm, Eastbound
5:30pm Check in: at Best Western – Chicago Hillside
6:00pm Board Bus: to Willis Tower
6:30pm Optional: Visit the Skydeck of the Willis (Sears) Tower (75) OR taken straight to Navy Pier (36). After coming down from Skydeck, you will be bused to Navy Pier.
7 & 8:00pm Bus drop: at Navy Pier for Dinner
10:15pm Fireworks show at Pier
10:45pm Board Bus: Return to Best Western
Note:Fireworks last about 20 minutes. It is a nice display over the water on Lake Michigan.
Day 2 Thursday, August 5th Pittsburgh
7:00am Board Bus: Depart Chicago for Pittsburgh
9:00am Bus Break: at Touchdown Jesus in South Bend, IN at Notre Dame campus
Note:Some of you indicated that Touchdown Jesus burned down. However, this isn’t THAT one. This is the original Touchdown Jesus. As the Fighting Irish drive for a touchdown at the open end of the stadium, they see a mural of Jesus on the side of a building.
9:30am Board Bus: Continue to Pittsburgh
Noon Lunch: at McDonalds-Subway-Burger King-Sbarro in Toledo, OH area.
1:00pm Board Bus: Depart Toledo
3:00pm Bus Break: To be determined from the road
5:00pm Check in: at Pittsburgh Days Inn Airport
5:45pm Board Bus: Depart for PNC Stadium / Downtown restaurants
7:05pm Optional: Game time Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Colorado Rockies or downtown restaurants or stay at motel.
10:00pm or 30 minutes following the game: Return to motel
Day 3 Friday, August 6th Washington DC
8:00am Board Bus: Depart Pittsburgh
10:00am Arrive in Shanksville, PA for Flight 93 Memorial
Note:Last year, our NYC trip stopped at the Memorial and found it to be a VERY somber, moving experience. According to those on the bus, it was one of the most memorable places on the tour.
11:00am Board Bus: Depart Memorial
11:30am Lunch: at Long John Silvers-McDonalds-Wendys in Bedford, PA
1:00pm Board Bus: Depart for DC
4:00pm Arrive at Washington Plaza Hotel
5:30pm Board Bus: Depart for dinner at Old Country Buffet
6:00pm Dinner: at Old Country Buffet ($12.50 per person)
7:30pm DC drive-by: on WNAX buses
Note:Many of you will want to at least get a PEEK at some of the history of Washington DC the first day we are in the city. This will be an informal “drive by” of the historical areas from our buses.
9:00pm Return: to Washington Plaza Hotel
Day 4 Saturday, August 7th Washington DC
10:00am Board Bus: Depart Hotel to White House for outside pictures & site-seeing.
11:00am Tour: the White House Visitor’s Center located on the southeast corner of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Ave.
12:30pm Official White House tour
Note:Those not cleared for the tour may stay outside the gates, even walk around the White House. The tour will last about 45 minutes.
1:30pm Board Bus: Depart White House to Washington Monument
Note:OR you may walk to the Washington Monument, as the monument is 9/10ths of a mile from White House.
2:30pm Washington Monument Tour (ticket included)
3:00pm On your own:Explore the mall area on foot for a couple of hours, visiting the Lincoln Memorial, WWII Memorial, Korean War Memorial, Vietnam War Memorial and whatever else you find!
5:00pm Board Bus: to Washington Plaza Hotel
6:00pm On your own:There are several restaurants, even grocery store close to the Washington Plaza
8:15pm Hop on, hop off bus: Group night tour of DC picked up from stop #40 at Thomas Circle. (ticket included)
Day 5 Sunday, August 8th Washington DC
All day: On your own: Hop on, hop off bus
Note:What is a hop on, hop off bus? There are dozens of buses we have access to all over the city. You will receive a brochure that will show 3 different routes through the city. These buses will take you to ANY important stop in the city. This gives you the flexibility to tour the monuments and museums at YOUR PACE. When you get to your stop, simply “hop off”. Stay as long as you like and wait for the next bus to “hop on”. Generally, another bus will stop ever 15-20 minutes. The Arlington Cemetery bus is every hour.
Day 6 Monday, August 9th Washington DC
8:30am Board Bus: to U.S. Capital Building
9:20am U.S. Capital tour
11:00am On your own: Hop on, Hop off from the Capital / Lunch
Note:Take note of your time and try to arrive at the Holocaust Museum at 12:15. This a MUST STOP in DC.
12:15pm Holocaust Museum tour (Arrive via Hop on, hop off)
2:30pm On your own: Hop on, Hop off from Museum until 8:00pm.
Note:At that point, your hop on, hop off tickets expire.
Day 7 Tuesday, August 10th Ocean City, MD
8:00am Board Bus: to Mount Vernon
8:30am Tour Mount Vernon (ticket included)
11:00am Board Bus: to Annapolis, MD
Noon Lunch in at Annapolis Mall Shopping Center, Annapolis, MD
1:00pm Board Bus: to Ocean City, MD
3:00pm Arrive in Ocean City, MD
3:01pm Hit the Beach
3:02pm Check in at Sea Breeze & Madison Beach motels.
Note I:To fit an oceanfront motel/hotel into the budget, we booked rooms at what you might consider “spring break” hotels. These are no frills motels that provide only the most basic of needs. Some of the rooms will be a bit small and cramped. Keep in mind the room isn’t the attraction --- OUTSIDE the room IS the attraction! Spend some time enjoying the atmosphere and the beach. Get your feet wet and HAVE FUN!
3:03pm Note II:Following check-in, you are on your own for the rest of the day. Hopefully there will be large waves! If so, you will most DEFINITELY find me riding the waves in my raft – feel free to ask for a turn!
Day 8 Wednesday, August 11th Richmond, VA
7:00am Board Bus: to Norfolk, VA
9:15am WATCH OUT: We cross the 23 mile Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
10:00am Unload: all luggage at Super 8 in Norfolk, VA
Note:In order to tour the base on OUR buses, we have to remove all luggage as a security precaution. We have reserved a room at a nearby Super 8 to store the luggage. I will need the assistance of able bodied individuals to move the luggage from the buses into the room.
10:30am Tour Norfolk Naval Station and Information Center
11:30pm Pick up luggage at Super 8
Noon Lunch at USS Wisconsin / Nauticus Museum
1:00pm Tour the Battleship USS Wisconsin downtown Norfolk
4:30pm Board Bus: to Richmond, VA
6:30pm Dinner at Labumum Park Shopping Center in Richmond, VA
7:30pm Board Bus: to check in at Hilton Garden Inn Richmond-Airport
7:31pm Relax for the evening / enjoy the pool
Day 9 Thursday, August 12th Roanoke, VA
7:00am Board Bus: to Monticello
8:30am Arrive at Monticello Plantation
Note:Half will start the tour at 9:10 and half at 9:20am. Monticello was the home of Thomas Jefferson.
Noon Lunch at Café at Monticello
1:30pm Board Bus: to Appomattox Court House
3:00pm Arrive at Appomattox Court House
Note:General Grant accepted surrender papers from General Lee at the Appomattox Court House.
5:00pm Board Bus: to Roanoke, VA
6:30pm Check in at Howard Johnson Full breakfast included.
Relax for the evening / enjoy the pool
Day 10 Friday, August 13th Louisville, KY
8:00am Board Bus: to Louisville, KY
Drive along the Midland Trail – National Scenic Highway (Highway 60)
Note:We will find a couple of scenic areas to take bus breaks.
Noon Lunch in Charleston, WV in Kanawha Mall Shopping Center area.
1:00pm Board Bus: Continue along National Scenic Highway
6:00pm Arrive in Louisville, KY Check in at Best Western Envoy Inn
Relax for the evening / enjoy the pool
Day 11 Saturday, August 14th St. Louis, MO
6:30am Board Bus: to Churchill Downs
7:00am Churchill Downs Backstretch Breakfast Tour
Note:We will eat breakfast in the “chow line” – the same area where the riders/trainers eat. Allow for them to cut into line – because they are working as WE are on vacation.
8:00am Tour- the Kentucky Derby Museum
10:00am Board Bus: to St. Louis, MO
Noon Lunch in Evansville, IN area Subway-McDonalds-Arbys
1:00pm Board Bus: to St. Louis
3:30pm Visit Gateway Arch / Area ($7)
6:00pm Check in at Check in at La Quinta Inn or arrive at Rams-Vikings game.
Note:Those not going to football game will eat and then check in at La Quinta Inn
7:00pm Optional: St. Louis Rams vs. Minnesota Vikings Pre-Season game ($30-60).
Day 12 Sunday, August 15th Yankton, SD
7:00am Depart for home!
9:30am Bus Break: at Boonville, MO Rest Area
Noon Stop for lunch in St. Joseph at Ryan’s Buffet ($7.50)
1:30pm Board Bus: Depart St. Joseph, MO
Drop off at Missouri Valley, IA
Drop off at Sioux City, IA
6:30pm Arrive in Yankton
