American Pioneer

Day 1: New York

Welcome to the USA! 

Days 2-3: Washington DC

There will be an important welcome meeting at 8am this morning. Meet in the hotel reception/lobby. We'll be collecting your insurance details, kitty and next of kin information at this meeting so please ensure you have all details on hand to provide to your leader. Head south to Washington DC, stopping to visit Philadelphia along the way. The journey will cover 400 km and, depending on the busy east coast traffic, can take anywhere from 4-5 hours, including a lunch stop. Founded in 1682, Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell and it was here that Thomas Jefferson proclaimed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The nation's capital, Washington DC, is easily explored by foot. Don't miss the White House, Capitol Building, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and National Air and Space Museum, as well as many other museums of interest. In the evening you can stroll through Georgetown, the centre of the city's nightlife. 

Day 4: Shenandoah National Park/Appalachian Mountains

Travel through Shenandoah National Park en route to Wytheville (510 km, approx 6 hrs). Shenandoah National Park is one of the highest and most scenic portions of the Appalachian Mountains. Taking the Skyline Drive along the crest of the mountains, travel through deep woods and past spectacular vistas. Stop to stretch your legs under the impressive oak trees and admire the gorgeous views.

Day 5: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Drive to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which can take most of the day depending on our stops (350 km). The Great Smoky Mountains are the highest range on the east coast and one of the oldest uplands on Earth. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains and its quality remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, this is America's most-visited national park. Here you can go for a hike, visit the Oconaluftee Indian village and the authentically reproduced Cherokee Indian village, or try to spot a bear. 

Day 6: Nashville

Drive to Nashville (450 km). Known as 'Music City', most of Nashville's attractions revolve around country music. Visit the Country Music Hall of Fame, which contains Elvis' golden Cadillac. Another point of interest is Music Row, where more than 50 record studios and approximately 200 music publishing houses are located. 

Day 7: Mammoth Cave National Park/Louisville

Enter the impressive Mammoth Cave National Park and then carry on to Louisville (320 km). With almost 600 km of caves explored, Mammoth Cave National Park has the world's longest cave system. Join a national park ranger for a guided cave tour; one of the most popular is the fantastic stalactite cave. 

Days 8-9: Chicago

Travel to Chicago (500 km, approx 6 hrs). Chicago is the 'City of Skyscrapers'. Located on Lake Michigan, it's also known as the friendly city. Locals are more than happy to tell you about their favourite restaurant or cafe, or perhaps which music club plays the most authentic blues music. With more than 45 km of lake front paths, Chicago is also one of the world's most walkable cities. Take a trip to the Willis Tower. As one of the highest buildings in the world, it offers a fantastic view of the city and the lake from the 103rd floor. 

Day 10: Lake Erie

Drive 400 km on Highway 94 to reach Lake Erie. Lake Erie is one of America's Great Lakes. This chain of freshwater lakes form the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and their combined surface area is almost the same size as the United Kingdom. 

Day 11: Niagara Falls

Our path leads us 510 km east along Lake Erie to Niagara Falls (approx 6 hrs). As one of the most well-known waterfalls in the world, Niagara Falls is a truly majestic sight not to be missed. There are numerous viewpoints at which we can appreciate the pure power of this amazing set of falls. There's no better way to get a feel for their true immensity than to approach them from the water. So after donning raincoats, head straight up to the falls at the Horseshoe Basin on the thrilling 'Maid of the Mist' boat ride. 

Day 12: Finger Lakes Region

It's a 3 hour drive to the Finger Lakes Region. The Finger Lakes are a chain of seven lakes, each long and narrow in shape and orientated north-south. They contain some of the deepest lakes in the US. As well as its picturesque beauty, the Finger Lakes district is also known for its wine production. Here, you can take a leisurely walk and a cooling dip in these freshwater lakes. 

Days 13-14: Boston

Drive through Albany, the state capital of New York, to historic Boston (400 km). Boston is a historically important city that was founded by the Puritans in 1630, and you'll have the chance to stroll along the British colonial streets. Boston is also famous for its sporting events including baseball, basketball and ice hockey, not to mention its popular college teams. Visiting Faneuil Hall marketplace or the nearby Italian District is a great way to get a real taste for this popular city. 

Day 15: New York

Drive to New York - this should take about 4 hours but is very dependent on traffic. Our arrival time depends on each group, but we generally aim for a 3pm arrival. If you are flying out today, we suggest you don't book a flight before 8pm to allow enough time to transfer to the airport and check-in 2 hours before your flight.