Tour starts and ends in Washington, DC
2 nights Washington, DC
2 nights Baltimore MD
2 nights Richmond VA
2 nights Williamsburg VA
2 nights Norfolk VA
2 nights Charlottesville VA
2 nights Lynchburg VA
2 nights Roanoke VA
Capital Region By Rail
Days 1-3
Washington, DC
Begin your Capital Region USA holiday in Washington, DC.
Washington, DC is the greenest city on the East Coast and was the first jurisdiction in North America to launch a bikeshare system, meaning it’s very easy to explore the city without a car. The city now has more than 4,000 bikes and 500 stations across the city, as well as stations located in nearby Maryland and Virginia. Travellers to the city can explore some the most historically important monuments in America, including the Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and the US Capitol Building, as well exploring the city’s diverse neighbourhoods and booming restaurant scene.
2 Nights – Washington, DC
Standard Hotel – Beacon Hotel DC
Select Hotel – Washington Hilton
Days 3-5
Baltimore, Maryland
Board Amtrak at Washington’s Union Station and depart for Baltimore, Maryland.
Less than an hour from Washington, DC’s Union Station is Baltimore’s Penn Station. Dubbed Charm City, Baltimore is the cultural capital of Maryland. Step off the train and onto the platform at Penn Station, and head down to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor, just a 15-minute walk away. This is the heartbeat of Baltimore, home to seven miles of fantastic restaurants, eclectic shops and many famous museums including the Maryland Science Centre, National Aquarium, and the American Visionary Arts Museum.
Climb aboard one of the historic ships docked at the piers to travel through the city’s rich maritime history and see what it was like to live at sea in the 19th century. Then, take a kayak tour or sunset cruise, or navigate the harbour in a paddle boat shaped like Chessie, Baltimore’s version of the Loch Ness monster.
Explore the lives of Maryland African Americans dating back to the 18th century at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum with a permanent collection of more than 10,000 objects and temporary special exhibitions. Then head to the Frederick Douglass-Isaac Myers Maritime Park Museum in Fell’s Point to discover the history of the first African American-owned shipyard in the country.
The city’s culinary scene has exploded with imaginative eateries. Come taste for yourself why Baltimore was named one of “The Top 10 U.S. Cities for Food Lovers” and touted by Zagat as one of the most exciting food cities in America.
2 Nights – Baltimore, Maryland
Standard Hotel – Indigo Downtown
Select Hotel – Kimpton Hotel Monaco Inner Harbor
Days 5-7
Richmond, Virginia
Depart via Amtrak for Richmond, Virginia.
Whether you want to stroll past murals created by artists from around the world, kayak down the James River, shop fashionable boutiques or tour historic American Civil War sites, a fun-filled time awaits in Richmond, Virginia.
The Richmond Region continues flexing its culinary muscle with the help of James Beard-nominated chefs and buzzworthy restaurants. Foodies will love eating their way through these four neighbourhoods firing up the city’s dining scene. It won’t take long to see why National Geographic named Richmond a top place to travel for food.
The Richmond Region’s award-winning craft breweries offer tasting rooms on large farms, in beer gardens and outside on patios in the city. The beer scene is so dynamic that it’s one of the reasons Frommer’s named the city a worldwide, must-see destination. VinePair recently named Richmond the #1 Top Beer Destination in the World. With more than 30 breweries, the Richmond Beer Trail makes it easy for you to navigate the region’s vast craft-beer offerings.
2 Nights – Richmond, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Linden Row Inn
Select Hotel – Omni Richmond
Days 7-9
Williamsburg, Virginia
Depart Richmond for Williamsburg, Virginia.
From living history and theme-park fun to shopping and stunning waterfronts, there’s plenty to explore in Williamsburg, Virginia. Come discover why readers of Southern Living magazine call this vibrant area “The South’s Best Small Town 2020.”
Explore the grounds of America’s first settlement in Jamestown, or shop along the quaint streets of historic Williamsburg. Discover the sights, sounds and tastes of America’s earliest days. Or spend the day in America’s most beautiful theme park, as voted year after year since 1990, at Busch Gardens®, Williamsburg. Thrills and nature intersect at artfully landscaped villages, like the Parisian streets of France, the hamlets of Scotland and the Oktoberfest celebrations of Germany.
Make it a multi-day stay in Williamsburg’s city centre, and you’re sure to enjoy the region’s many restaurants, breweries and wineries — many within walking distance of area attractions.
2 Nights – Williamsburg, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Fife and Drum Inn
Select Hotel – Williamsburg Lodge
Days 9-11
Norfolk, Virginia
Board Amtrak and depart for Norfolk, Virginia.
Travellers from Washington, DC can also head directly to Norfolk on the North East Corridor, which has great access to Virginia Beach and the Atlantic Ocean in just four-and-a-half hours. Norfolk is a city on the water, with a melting pot of people, cultures, delicious local flavours and interesting history. This charming city is one of Virginia’s most bikeable, where travellers can easily rent bikes to explore many routes, including the Elizabeth River Trail, which takes cyclists along Norfolk’s iconic waterfront.
Norfolk also gives travellers easy access to Virginia Beach. Just a stone’s throw from the city, Virginia Beach is where the Chesapeake Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean. Travellers can reach Virginia Beach from Norfolk using the regular local bus service or the special Amtrak extension bus. The vibrant coastal city has a delicious culinary scene and a variety of arts and entertainment and family friendly attractions. The city is a cyclers paradise with miles of routes along the boardwalks and coast, perfect for exploring without a car.
2 Nights – Norfolk, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Wyndham Garden Norfolk downtown
Select Hotel – Sheraton Norfolk Waterside
or
2 Nights – Virginia Beach, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Moxy Virginia Beach
Select Hotel – Hilton Virginia Beach Ocean Front
Days 11-13
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia is 2 ½ hours from Washington, DC’s Union Station by train.
Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States and principal author of the Declaration of Independence, called Charlottesville and Albemarle County home. He went on to found the University of Virginia. Part of the university’s grounds — the Rotunda, Lawn and Academical Village — along with Monticello, Jefferson’s mountaintop estate, are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Take a stroll through the University of Virginia’s grounds. It is possible to take a lap of the UNESCO World Heritage site — the Rotunda, Lawn and Academical Village — in 15 or 20 minutes. Be on the lookout for signage and historic markers and be sure to stop by the room formerly inhabited by Edgar Allan Poe, a legendary American writer. Near the Rotunda and Academical Village on the grounds of the University of Virginia is a new memorial, the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers, which honours the work and individual lives of the African Americans who built the structures Jefferson designed.
Come dinnertime, explore the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville's city centre, one of the longest pedestrian malls in the country. Lined with restaurants, well-known for its spacious outdoor patios and dotted with massive trees, the atmosphere on the mall is pleasant and cheerful year-round. After dinner, walk alongside one of the region’s broad local rivers.
A free trolley stops at the Charlottesville Amtrak Station and loops through the downtown area including the University of Virginia, Rotunda and Downtown Mall.
Another way to enjoy the countryside is to partake in a wine tasting at any one of our 35-plus wineries. The Monticello American Viticultural Area, centred on Charlottesville, has won numerous national and international accolades. It is also America’s oldest wine region: Thomas Jefferson was one of the first Americans to experiment with winemaking. Jefferson Vineyards, a short drive from Monticello, would be the thematic choice. Other wineries with excellent reputations include King Family Vineyards, Pippin Hill Farm & Vineyards and Blenheim Vineyards — though they are by no means the only options. Make sure you explore the full sampling of wineries in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Virginia.
2 Nights – Charlottesville, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Home2 Suites by Hilton Downtown
Select Hotel – Omni Charlottesville
Days 13-15
Lynchburg, Virginia
Depart Charlottesville for Lynchburg, Virginia.
Lynchburg is a quintessential Virginia city with a leafy veneer, a powerful industrial heart and a history that dates from John Lynch’s first ferry crossing of the James River in 1757. Discover a destination with a vital sense of its past and a growing contemporary energy. Take the time to explore 40 miles of urban trails and riverfront downtown, as well as galleries and places of historical importance.
Lynchburg is known as the Hill City—and the walk-up is the best free exercise you can get. Rising more than 200 feet from Jefferson to Court St., there are several spots—including the Bluffwalk and Monument Terrace—to catch your breath for views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the James River.
Have a land & sea adventure. The entire family will enjoy this exciting journey around the planet while interacting, meeting and feeding animals from five continents.
Explore Old City Cemetery, a 27-acre “history park” filled with hundreds of varieties of native and heirloom plants, including the largest public collection of antique roses in the state. Five small museums tell the stories of the diverse population of nearly 20,000 buried here.
The Pierce Street Renaissance Historic District was home to notable African American Civil Rights influencers, including Anne Spencer, Harlem Renaissance poet; her son Chauncey Spencer, an aviation pioneer; and Dr. R. Walter Johnson, first black physician granted practice rights at Lynchburg General Hospital and tennis instructor to both Arthur Ashe and Althea Gibson. Find respite in the garden at 1313 Pierce St., Anne Spencer’s retreat and source of inspiration for much of her poetry.
2 Nights – Lynchburg, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Lynchburg Grand
Select Hotel – The Virginian Lynchburg
Days 15-17
Roanoke, Virginia
Depart for Roanoke, Virginia.
Virginia’s Blue Ridge is made up of the City of Roanoke at its heart and surrounding communities within an hour radius. Visitors to Roanoke can explore the eclectic boutiques and markets in the city’s downtown district, just a ten-minute walk from the station. The city has a great selection of local shops and businesses where travellers can easily rent bikes to keep their Capital Region adventure car-free. Cycling and mountain biking are a huge part of the culture in Roanoke, with an extensive urban greenway system, and a huge number of road biking and mountain biking trails for cycling enthusiasts to explore. Make a reservation for a half-day guided mountain biking adventure with Roanoke Mountain Adventures at Carvins Cove Natural Reserve. You’ll conquer 60 miles of trails (more or less) in what is becoming one of America’s premier mountain biking destinations. Included with your reservation is a guide, helmets, water, snacks, bikes, a day pack, and shuttle service.
The Taubman Museum of Art is easily recognizable, just look for the shiny silver building that appears to be a work of art itself. Inside you’ll be treated to the permanent collection of 19th and 20th century art, as well as a cool family space for children to get hands-on with art. The museum of free with the exception of special exhibitions.
Centre in the Square is one of our favourite places to spend a rainy day, but quite honestly, it deserves your attention rain or shine. Check out the various museums inside, like the Science Museum of Western Virginia, Pinball Museum, Children’s Museum, and Harrison Museum of African American Culture. Be sure to make your way to the observation deck to take in the views of Downtown Roanoke and the surrounding mountains.
Whenever you’re ready for lunch, you’ll find plenty of tasty options downtown within walking distance. Some of our favourites are On the Rise Bread Bakery & Cafe, Bread Craft, Nawab Restaurant, and a variety of local options in the City Market Building food court.
2 Nights – Roanoke, Virginia
Standard Hotel – Hampton Inn & Suites Downtown
Select Hotel – The Roanoke Hotel, a Curio by Hilton
Day 17
Washington, DC
Depart Roanoke for Washington DC Union Station, this journey takes approx 5 hours.
Package includes
- Flights, arrival private airport transfers, 16 nights accommodation and all Amtrak train travel between each destination.
Hotel accommodation
is offered on two quality levels: “standard” typically 2/3 star hotels providing clean and moderate accommodations with several basic facilities, some with a limited dining room and sometimes a swimming pool. “Select” indicates a more superior style of accommodation typically of a 3/4 star quality, in a central location with extended facilities including a dining room and usually a swimming pool. Rooms in both levels of accommodation choice provide private facilities and are based on the hotels standard or lead in room type.
Pre, post or extra nights:
Pre, post & extra nights within the itinerary are available to be added to this tour, please let us know at time of booking if you would like to extend your stay anywhere and we will be happy to quote the extra nights.
