Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA

Welcome to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital and a haven for history and art buffs alike. On arrival at the airport, your transfer will take you to the luxurious Melrose Hotel Georgetown. Join your Travel Director and meet fellow guests at a private Welcome Dinner with drinks at 18:00.

This morning, immerse yourself on a sightseeing tour of Washington D.C. View iconic sights and national monuments, including the White House, Washington Monument, the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. As the newest member of the Smithsonian Institution, this is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Leave the city sights behind in the afternoon and travel along the Skyline Drive, the main scenic drive into Shenandoah National Park. Enjoy spectacular views across the colorful vistas of the park before arriving at your hotel, the historic Skyland Lodge. The evening is yours to relax and bask in breathtaking views of Shenandoah Valley.

Start your day immersed in nature’s beauty with a gentle hike along the Stony Mountain Trail. The Stony Man is part of the iconic Appalachian Trail and offers some of the best vistas in Shenandoah National Park, so have your camera ready. Guests can choose to take an optional Skyland Trail horseback ride. This scenic guided ride takes you on a gentle wooded trail, past the Limberlost trailhead and through an old apple orchard. Visit the acclaimed Veritas Vineyards and Winery, for a wine tasting and farmhouse lunch. Taste signature wines and relax on the sundeck while enjoying spectacular views over of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Later travel on to the New River Gorge National Park and your resort hotel, where the evening is yours at leisure.

Today explore New River Gorge National Park, the newest park in the America’s National Park System, encompassing over 70,000 acres of land. Visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Centre to learn all about the history and flora and fauna of the park. Then stroll a picturesque boardwalk trail to enjoy magnificent views of the New River Gorge and New River Bridge. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the park and hotel amenities at your leisure. Guests can also choose to take an optional guided Bridge Walk to learn the history of the longest single arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

This morning, depart for Asheville via the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. One of the most beautiful drives in America, the route is world-renowned for its diverse range of habitats, wildlife and geological features. Once in Asheville, unleash your inner musician with a tour of the famous Citizen Vinyl Record press factory. Learn the history of the label and factory, get an inside look at how their record pressing operation works, and see the original WWNC radio station and studio. Later, get a true taste of Asheville on a walking food tour. Take a seat at some of the most elegant, trendy, and acclaimed tables in this beloved foodie city to sample an array of flavors, cuisines, local produce, and drinks.

Enjoy a relaxed start before visiting the magnificent Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. Tour the remarkable house and explore the lush gardens and arboretum. Through intriguing displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art and furniture, uncover stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests and employees. The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore Asheville. Maybe try out the famous craft-beer scene? Guests can also choose an optional experience of a River Arts District Tour. Visiting some of the working studios where local artists produce and display their works, this guided tour offers a unique insight into the creative culture of the city.

Say goodbye to Asheville and depart for the Great Smoky Mountains. On the way, visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Here, join a Cherokee cultural expert for an interactive journey through Cherokee lifestyle and history. On arrival in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, discover the importance of agriculture to the park’s ecosystem with a visit to the Mountain Farm Museum. See how families lived centuries ago through their unique collection of farm buildings. Savor a delicious and picturesque picnic lunch before continuing to your hotel. Enjoy magnificent views with stops along the way, including Newfound Gap, dramatically straddling the Stateline of North Carolina and Tennessee. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.

Following a relaxed start, step back in time with a visit to the Museum of Appalachia. Roam the original buildings of this living mountain village and learn about the people of Appalachia through the bounty of artefacts and stories they left behind. Feast on a full Southern Appalachian country lunch and enjoy authentic traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band. Then journey on to Nashville and get acquainted with Music City on an orientation tour. Visit the picturesque Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and the 132-acre Centennial State Park, where you'll encounter an exact replica of the Parthenon. Pass by the city's lively honky-tonks and street performers on Broadway, as you make your way to the Ryman Auditorium, former and original home of the Grand Ole Opry.

This morning, explore Nashville with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the National Museum of African American Music, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. Alternatively, visit Mammoth Cave National Park and explore its intricate cave system with a guide. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. Maybe take a stroll down Broadway, soaking up the live music and atmosphere. Tonight, toast your travels at your Celebration Dinner enjoy timeless southern hospitality at local favorite restaurant Pucketts.

This morning, bid farewell to Nashville at your leisure, as your journey comes to an end.