Washington & Old Town Alexandria Virginia
Thursday, August 24^th to Monday, August 28^{th
4 nights and 5 days. $2395 includes Amtrak, 5-star hotel, 9 meals, tours, and tipa
Subtract $100 if meeting us there and -$225 if sharing a room}

Recently opened after a 9-year renovation- The Watergate Hotel a 5-Stars hotel in Washington DC- One of the top hotels on Trip Advisor. Set along the banks of the Potomac River, The Watergate Hotel is a luxurious urban resort with mid-century modern architecture. Following an extensive $200 million renovation the hotel offers a choice location within a historically significant structure, steeped in services. The renovated guest rooms and suites have artful, mid-century modern styling with sleek wood furnishings, large windows, work desks, 48-inch flat-screen TVs, and Nespresso coffee makers. The spa-inspired marble bathrooms have custom La Bottega amenities. All tours included, Amtrak to DC, Michelin Star Restaurant, Multiple top 10 restaurants in town, #2,#3,#6,#7,#10  top restaurants on TripAdvisor!!!

We will take the Thursday morning Amtrak into DC, getting in to town in time to check in and eat lunch at one of the best restaurants in the country. After lunch, we will have a 3+ hour bus trip around DC covering various parts of the city as well as visiting various sites. There will be very light walking on this tour. We then head back to the hotel to rest before dinner at another top restaurant.

Friday- we will have an all-day tour of various sites, and of course dine at 2 top restaurants in town. Some places on our itinerary for this day are sites such as the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, The U.S. Capitol Building, the World War II Memorial, the Thomas Jefferson Memorial, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, the FDR Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Memorial, the Korean War Memorial and the National Archives Building.

United States Holocaust Memorial Museum- Chartered by a unanimous Act of Congress in 1980, the USHMM’s collections contain more than 12,750 artifacts, 49 million pages of archival documents, 80,000 historical photographs, 200,000 registered survivors, 1,000 hours of archival footage, 84,000 library items, and 9,000 oral history testimonies. Spanning three floors, our self-guided tour, offers a chronological narrative of the Holocaust through historical artifacts, photographs, and film footage. Throughout the exhibition, we will also encounter personal objects and the eyewitness testimonies of individual survivors. The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is America’s national institution for the documentation, study, and interpretation of Holocaust history, and serves as this country’s memorial to the millions of people murdered during the Holocaust. The Museum’s primary mission is to advance knowledge about this unprecedented tragedy; to preserve the memory of those who suffered; and to encourage its visitors to reflect upon the moral and spiritual questions raised by the events of the Holocaust.

Old Town Alexandria, is nationally recognized for its rich history and preserved 18th and 19^th century architecture. Alexandria is a beautiful small town of cobblestone streets on the waterfront, an extraordinary backdrop for acclaimed, chef-driven restaurants; a thriving boutique scene; vibrant arts and culture; and a welcoming, walkable lifestyle. Founded in 1749 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Alexandria offers the best of the Greater Washington Metropolitan area. Just 16 minutes from our hotel, experience history where it happened, while enjoying one-of-a-kind boutique shopping, award-winning dining, and diverse cultural activities and art. After 268 years on the map, Alexandria has accumulated countless tall tales, housed legendary prominent citizens, perpetuated amazing architecture, and flourished into an award-winning culinary hotspot. Explore charming Old Town Alexandria with a local historian as we stroll by 18th- and 19th-century houses immersing ourselves in the history of the city both George Washington and Robert E. Lee called home. If you have never been to Alexandria Virginia it is one of the more beautiful little cities in the country.

In the morning, we will have guide (dressed in Colonial costume) show us about 10 city blocks (in an hour+) covering the history of Market Square, Gadsby’s Tavern, The Carlyle House, George Washington’s townhouse and end at Christ Church cemetery. After lunch, we also take a 40 minute narrated boat tour past historic landmarks such as Old Town Alexandria, Founders Park, Old Town Yacht Basin, Admiral’s Row, Jones Point Lighthouse and more!  We will also visit The Torpedo Factor Art Center- home to 150+ working artists and 6 galleries, The Art League, and the Alexandria Archaeology Museum. Founded in 1974, the Torpedo Factory Art Center is home to the nation’s largest collection of working-artists’ open studios under one roof. An Alexandria landmark, it’s the highlight of the Potomac Riverfront, attracting approximately 500,000 visitors annually

Sunday, we head out for tours of Mount Vernon and Arlington National Cemetery.

We end our trip on Monday with a tour of Georgetown. Our Amtrak is at 4:02pm getting us back to NYC around 7:30pm

Food tour of Georgetown– Washington D.C.’s Georgetown neighborhood is home to some of the city’s most notable residents, local commerce, embassies, and of course, culinary gems. On this tour, we will eat our way through this well-known and prestigious neighborhood. We will learn about Georgetown’s early iconic years as we stroll off-the-beaten path for a taste from various local eateries. Georgetown’s shady lanes and cobblestone streets reflect another side of the Capital. It is Washington’s genteel, southern side where Presidents lived when they were just Congressmen and where the Founding Fathers laid out the plans for the city on a tavern bar top. Our Historic Georgetown tour focuses on the houses and sites of a town that still invokes the image of refinement and class after 300 years. Walking a total of about 1 mile at a comfortable pace.

Fiola- MICHELN STAR 2016 Zagat 4.8 (4.7 décor and service) This “beautiful flagship of chef Fabio Trabocchi’s growing empire (Casa Luca, Fiola Mare) offers elegance and sophistication in a modern Penn Quarter setting, matched with sumptuous Italian cuisine that delivers flavor in every bite; service is so impeccable that any meal here is a special occasion, and though the experience is decidedly not cheap, it’s certainly worth what you pay”-Zagat    TripAdvisor #3 of 2579 restaurants.

Zaytinya- Zagat incredible 4.7 Featuring “exceptional, small plates, José Andrés’ one-of-a-kind Penn Quarter Med hot spot is a go-to choice for everything from dining with out-of-towners to impressing a first date; its light, airy space and sunny service supply the warm backdrop for its magic mix of traditional and inventive meze, and the bar scene is a hoot”. TripAdvisor #10 of 2579   Under the direction of celebrated chef José Andrés and his ThinkFoodGroup team, Zaytinya offers an innovative mezze menu making Zaytinya one of the most exciting restaurants in Washington. Since opening in 2002, Zaytinya ranks consistently as a Top DC Dining Destination. Listed in Eaters, “38 Essential DC Restaurants” Spring 2107

Rasika– ZAGAT WHOPPING 4.8- “These phenomenal Indian destinations take a centuries-old cuisine to a whole new level with innovative interpretations like crispy spinach unlike anything you’ve ever had served in beautiful, modern settings that rank among DC’s swankiest; friendly, unobtrusive servers put novices at ease, one must plan ahead for prime-time reservations.” President Obama celebrated his 52nd birthday here. Showcasing Tawa (Griddle), Sigri (open Barbeque), Tandoori and regional dishes. Rasika’s Vikram Sunderam was awarded the 2014 James Beard Award for best chef in the Mid-Atlantic region.  Rasika is listed in the Top 25 Best Fine Dining Restaurants on Trip Advisor in the United States, Rasika has been named among the top 20 restaurants across America in Zagat’s America’s Top Restaurants Survey. Listed in Eaters, “38 Essential DC Restaurants” Spring 2107   TripAdvisor #7 of 2579

Joe’s Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab– TripAdvisor #6 of 2579 The legendary Joe’s Stone Crab first opened in Miami Beach in 1913. It all began when Joseph Weiss, the “Joe” of Joe’s Stone Crab, and his wife Jennie set up seven or eight tables on the front porch of the house they owned. 100 years later, Joe’s has become one of the most beloved and widely recognized restaurants in the world, famous for its Florida Stone crab, signature sides and Key lime pie.  This restaurant is subject to change.

Kingbird– Too soon for a Zagat rating, but they say, “the centerpiece of the storied Watergate Hotel’s $125-million renovation, this French-inspired modern American features both a more casual eatery and a fine-dining affair offering seasonal tasting menus and tableside preparations of complex classics like bouillabaisse. Curved lipstick-red banquettes divide the dramatic space, boasting Potomac riverfront views, sloped-seat chairs, towering stainless-steel columns and sculptural light fixtures.” The manager John Gilbert, previously at Fiola Mare, and executive chef Michael Santoro previously of Michelin Star Blue Duck Tavern head this restaurant. This restaurant subject to change.

Brabo– in Alexandria- Zagat 4.6– “To-die-for French-Belgian fare is paired with a great wine list at this refined, white-tablecloth venue in Alexandria’s Old Town; given the pleasant service and modern decor, fans feel it’s like being at a friend’s lavish home”. #2 Fine Dining Restaurant in Alexandria on TripAdvisor

Gadsby’s Tavern–Gadsby’s Tavern has been offering fine dining since 1770. The site known as Gadsby’s Tavern consists of two buildings, a (circa) 1785 tavern & the 1792 City Hotel. Named after Englishman John Gadsby, an entrepreneur who leased the buildings & operated them as tavern keeper from 1796-1808, the tavern & hotel were the center of Alexandria’s economic, political, & social life in the late-18th and early-19th centuries. Notable tavern visitors include George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, James Madison & James Monroe.