Highlights

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Itinerary

Day 1 – Alexandria VA – Dinner at Mount Vernon Inn 

Travel today takes you to Alexandria, VA for a two night stay. After time to freshen up at the hotel, enjoy dinner this evening at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Savor the flavors of early America at George Washington’s estate. (D)

Day 2 – National Cathedral Tour – Museum of the Bible – Dinner at Tony & Joe’s – Illuminated Monument Driving Tour

This morning begins with a tour of Washington’s National Cathedral, a spiritual resource for our nation. It is a great and beautiful edifice in the city of Washington, an indispensable ministry for people of all faiths and perspectives, and a sacred place for our country in times of celebration, crisis, and sorrow.

From its earliest days, the cathedral has been promoted as more than simply an Episcopal cathedral. Planners wanted it to be a national shrine and a venue for great services. For much of the cathedral’s history, this was captured in the phrase “a house of prayer for all people.”

In more recent times the phrases “national house of prayer” and “spiritual home for the nation” have been used. The cathedral has achieved this status simply by offering itself and being accepted by religious and political leaders as playing this role.

The afternoon features the Museum of the Bible, a Guided Tour & Film.  This state-of-the-art museum in the nation’s capital focuses on the history, narrative and impact of the Bible. As soon as you enter the Museum, through its 40-foot bronze doors, its majesty is undeniable. The grand lobby is long and awe-inspiring, with a digital display on the ceiling that rotates throughout the day.

Your tour starts at the History of the Bible galleries on the fourth floor, there are 11 galleries with over 600 artifacts here. The third floor is the Stories of the Bible section, you’ll be immersed in stories of Biblical figures like Noah, Abraham and David. On the second floor, you can fully explore the Impact of The Bible in the World your experience can continue well beyond the exhibits. The fifth floor features a 500-seat performance theater. The sixth floor contains a restaurant named Manna which offers a menu inspired by Israeli cuisine.

Tonight, dinner is included at Tony & Joe’s. If you’re in the mood for fresh delicacies from the sea, dive into Tony and Joe’s Seafood Place at the Georgetown Waterfront. While enjoying tempting dishes you have spectacular views of the Potomac River, Kennedy Center, Washington Monument, Roosevelt Island, and the Key Bridge.

Following dinner, enjoy an Illuminated Monument Driving Tour.  Driving tour of Washington’s grand buildings, memorials, and monuments. Drive by: Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jimo Statue), Jefferson Memorial, The Washington Memorial, The White House, U.S. Capitol Building and other memorials and monuments as time permits.

A special stop will be made at the Lincoln Memorial. From here you walk to The Wall at the Vietnam Memorial and then see the Ghost Patrol at the Korean Memorial. (B,D)

Day 3 – Lancaster, PA – Amish Countryside Tour – Sight & Sound’s DANIEL – Bird –in-Hand Family Inn 

This morning travel to Lancaster, PA.  On arrival, meet your local guide for an Amish Backroads Tour, see the farmlands, hear the stories, and learn the difference between Amish beliefs and yours. Also included during this tour is a family style lunch in an Amish Home.

The afternoon features Sight & Sound Theatre’s newest show, DANIEL (March 14-Dec 31, 2024). Taken from his people, Daniel is exiled far from home in the powerful kingdom of Babylon. Now this faithful servant must navigate his new life inside a palace filled with golden statues and shifting empires. As royal pressures mount, Daniel is faced with a dangerous choice. Will his trust in the one true God remain steadfast through every test of faith?

From the fiery furnace to the infamous den of lions, DANIEL is a spectacular theatrical experience for the whole family. Witness one of the Bible’s most hope-filled stories as it comes to life in this brand-new original stage production from Sight & Sound Theatres.

After the show, enjoy a family-style dinner at Hershey Farm Restaurant. Then check into the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn for a two night stay. (B,L,D)

Day 4 – “Jacob’s Choice” at The Amish Experience” – Tabernacle Tour at Mennonite Information Center – Perspective: Everyday Life of an Amish Woman – Shoo Fly Cooking Class – Bird-in-Hand Theater

 Today begins with “Jacob’s Choice’ a compelling story that best describes the everyday life of the Fishers, an Old Order Amish family. In as unusual a theater setting as you have likely encountered, you meet grandfather, mother, father and children living together on the land as their ancestors before them.

You learn of teenager Jacob’s dilemma, he must choose between joining the Amish church, or leaving behind family and community to become a part of the modern world. This decision is faced by every young adult member of an Amish family. Becoming Amish is a choice made freely as an adult and is never a “given.”

Next is a visit to the Mennonite Information Center. The highlight of this morning will be The Biblical Tabernacle Reproduction created in the late 1940s as the “Moses Tabernacle in the Wilderness,” by a Baptist minister in St. Petersburg, Florida. For over 60 years this exhibit has been invaluable for students of Bible and cultural studies. Thousands of people visit the Biblical Tabernacle each year. It is housed in a building with a contoured upward ceiling and an acoustically pleasing atmosphere.

Presentation guides versed in the scriptural context and significance of the tabernacle and its furniture lead you in conversation from the Bronze Altar just inside the eastern gate of the courtyard to the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies. Even if you know little about Biblical history, this presentation is fascinating. But for those who know, this makes the story come to life.

Then get an insightful look at the Amish way of life from a woman’s perspective. Learn about such traditions as weddings and funerals, Rumspringa, schooling, farming, cooking and how the Amish adapt to the modern world around them. You’ll hear from “Sadie King,” an Amish woman portrayed in authentic Amish dress by Susan Heil, an actress and long-time Lancaster County tour guide who has a Pennsylvania Dutch background herself and enjoys learning about the Amish. The program ends with a question-and-answer session to help you gain a better understanding of the Amish people.  This is followed by another unique experience as you learn how to make a Shoo Fly Pie.

Your dinner tonight is a traditional Amish Family-Style at the Bird-In-Hand Family Restaurant. It’s fresh wholesome Penn Dutch Food served with large platters of meat, bowls of vegetables, breads and Grandma Smuckers Desserts. So pull up your chair, sit down and enjoy a friendly family dinner.

After dinner… The house lights dim… A hush settles over the audience… the cast steps on stage, and you’re in for a treat. The Bird-in-Hand Stage brings live entertainment up close and personal with musical theatre and more in a unique Lancaster County setting. Be captivated by our Broadway-style musicals, packed with humor, heart and purpose. (B,D)

Day 5 – Depart for home

This morning your group departs for home. (B)