Washington DC, Niagara Falls 3-Day Tour [EW-DN3]

Today, we will drive to the City of Brotherly Love - Philadelphia to visit the Independence Historical Park and witness the history of American independence. Then we will go to the political center of the United States, the capital Washington, where the White House and Congress are located. It also has many museums and is a famous tourist destination.

Itinerary:

New York → Philadelphia → National Independence Park (30 minutes) → Washington DC → Capitol Hill in-depth tour (entry at own expense, 1.5 hours) Exterior view of the Supreme Court and Library of Congress → White House (exterior, 30 minutes) → Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial Plaza, Vietnam War Memorial Wall (45 minutes) → Hotel

Schedule from 01/01/2024:

New York → Philadelphia → National Independence Park (30 minutes) → Washington DC → Capitol Hill National Archives in-depth tour (entry at own expense, 2 hours) Exterior view of the Supreme Court and Library of Congress → White House (exterior, 30 minutes) → Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Memorial Plaza, Vietnam War Memorial Wall (45 minutes) → Hotel

Special instructions:

If you are unable to enter the Capitol due to special circumstances, the itinerary will be replaced by an in-depth tour of Washington, D.C.

Washington DC in-depth tour itinerary: Air Force Memorial (20 minutes, you can see the famous Pentagon) → Jackson Memorial (20 minutes) → World War II Memorial (20 minutes) → Reflecting Pool (20 minutes)

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Independence National Historical Park
Philadelphia is a land that witnessed the independence and birth of the United States. The National Independence Park, built in the spirit of the American Revolution, contains some historical buildings related to the history of the American Revolution and the founding of the country. It is known as "the most historically significant square mile in the United States." In the park, you can see the Independence Square surrounded by green trees, the tall milky white clock tower, and the bronze statues of the founding heroes standing on the lawn. The overall atmosphere here makes people feel solemn.

US Capitol In-depth Tour
As the political center of the United States, Washington has many iconic political and cultural landscapes, such as the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court of the United States. In the Capitol Hill Panorama In-depth Tour, we will enter the geometric center of Washington DC - the Capitol Building, walk in the gorgeous and exquisite corridors of the Capitol, listen to the stories behind each mural and each statue, and deeply understand why this is the highest symbol of government owned by the people, by the people, and for the people.

The National Archives
The National Archives has collected valuable documents, photos, and video data from various periods in American history. The most famous collection is the original manuscript of the founding documents written on parchment at the beginning of the founding of the country in 1776, including three copies: the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. There is also the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863 issued by Lincoln during the Civil War to free the slaves, the surrender of Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, and the Watergate tapes that exposed Nixon's crimes and eventually brought him down. Among the many exhibits, there is also a very intimate one - a photo of Premier Zhou Enlai receiving visiting US President Nixon. Next to it is a menu for the banquet that was held for Nixon. It is extremely simple, just a piece of white paper with the national emblem printed on it. The main dish is the famous Peking roast duck, accompanied by several other simple dishes. This menu brought back by the American guests has become a true portrayal of China's national conditions at that time.

Washington DC In-depth Tour
First, we will visit the Air Force Memorial, which is composed of three curved steel columns over 80 meters long. Its design was inspired by the three white smoke trails left in the air by the US Air Force Thunderbirds during their stunts. Then we will visit the Jefferson Memorial in front of Lake Tahoe to commemorate the great idea of "all men are created equal". Then we will visit the World War II Memorial built to commemorate the 16 million American soldiers who served during World War II, and finally visit the Capitol Reflecting Pool.

The White House
The White House is a white neoclassical sandstone building covering an area of more than 73,000 square meters. It consists of the main building and the east and west wings. The White House is the office and residence of successive US presidents and is also synonymous with the US government. Many important US decision-making bills are signed and announced by the president in the White House. George Washington, a founding father of the United States, once expressed his views on the construction of the US presidential residence: it must not be a palace, and it must not be luxurious, because the masters working here are state servants.

Lincoln Memorial
The Lincoln Memorial is a white ancient Greek temple-style building built to commemorate the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is regarded as an eternal statue of the United States and a symbol of Washington. It is also the most famous rally in the pursuit of peace and democracy. Martin Luther King delivered his speech "I Have a Dream" here.

Korean War Veterans Memorial
The Korean War Memorial Plaza is located near the Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. It was completed on July 27, 1995 to commemorate the sacrifice of 5.8 million Americans who served in the U.S. military during the three-year Korean War. The plaza consists of four parts: one is a group of 19 life-size sculptures of American soldiers; the second part is a black granite memorial wall; the third part is a reflection pool; the fourth part is a sidewalk on the left side of the mural, which lists 22 countries that sent troops to the United Nations during the Korean War.

Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial is located to the north of the Lincoln Memorial. It is a 500-foot-long V-shaped monument made of black granite. It is used to commemorate the American soldiers and generals who died while serving in Vietnam during the Vietnam War. The gleaming black marble wall is engraved with the names of more than 57,000 U.S. soldiers who died in the Vietnam War between 1959 and 1975, in chronological order of the date of each person's death.

Dining
Breakfast - at own expense, Lunch - at own expense, Dinner - at own expense
Accommodation
Comfort Inn Fairfax, Holiday Inn Gaithersburg, Springhill Suites Gaithersburg or similar
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
without

Go to the headquarters of Corning, a Fortune 500 company, visit the world's largest glass collection museum, and enjoy the live glass production performance technology. After lunch, go to the famous Watkins Gorge. Then arrive at Niagara Falls, visit the Falls National Park, and overlook the "American Falls", "Horseshoe Falls" and "Bridal Veil Falls". The water is rushing thousands of miles, and the thunder is overwhelming. Experience the majestic momentum in person, just like thousands of horses galloping.

Itinerary:

Corning Glass Center (own expense, 90 minutes) → Watkins Gorge State Park (own expense, 60 minutes, the tour will not go there after it closes) → Hotel → Niagara Falls Night Tour (own expense, 90 minutes)

Schedule from 01/01/2024:

Corning Glass Center (own expense, 90 minutes) → Watkins Gorge State Park Finger Lakes (own expense, 90 minutes, the tour will not go there after closing) → Hotel → Niagara Falls Night View Tour (own expense, 90 minutes)

Warm Tips:

Watkins Canyon State Park is a summer trip that takes place after the canyon opens, usually from April to October each year.

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The Corning Museum of Glass
The world-renowned Corning Glass Center is located in Corning, a unique and quaint town in upstate New York. Although it is a small city, it is the center of the American glass industry. Corning's glass and porcelain are as famous in the United States as Jingdezhen porcelain is in China, and are also well-known in the world. Corning Glass Center can be said to be a magical glass world. Corning Glass Center has about 100,000 pieces of glass boutiques and artistic sculptures on display. These exquisite glass products are either colorful or crystal clear, dazzling and overwhelming. The Glass Center is not only a glass museum, but also a factory for glass strengthening, glassware and handicrafts, and a store that sells glass and crystal products such as sunglasses, necklaces, pins, etc.

Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Canyon is located in the Finger Lakes region of New York, USA. It is a stratified rock geology, which has been eroded by glaciers and streams, forming a unique landform. There are more than a dozen waterfalls along the approximately two-mile canyon trail. There are excellent canyon trails here, where you can appreciate the waterfalls up close and the natural scenery is so pleasing to the eye. It provides tourists with an excellent photo spot and is known as the "Millennium Valley".

Finger Lake
The Finger Lakes are located in the northwest of New York. They are a scenic spot consisting of 14 narrow lakes. They are named after the fact that they are arranged vertically from south to north, shaped like fingers. Many Hollywood stars have holiday villas or manors here. The red leaves here in autumn are also very famous. You can overlook the entire lake area from the high ground of Cornell University. The red leaves all over the mountains and the blue lake water echo each other, which is intoxicating.

Niagara Falls Night Tour
During the trip, we will go to [One Park, Two Islands, Three Falls], go deep into Niagara Falls Park, and see a wide variety of exotic flowers and trees up close; stand on two islands, Goat Island and Moon Island, and admire the grandeur of the Thor's Water from multiple angles in the dark; visit the three major waterfalls, Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and American Falls, and feel the majestic momentum of nature presented by the different faces of the waterfalls under the illumination of colorful neon lights. At this time, don't forget to pick up your camera and take a photo with them.

Dining
Breakfast - at own expense, Lunch - at own expense, Dinner - at own expense
Accommodation
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Buffalo Downtown, M Hotel Buffalo or equivalent
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
without

Today we will have a series of activities at the falls, drive along the Niagara Falls to the war fort downstream, take the famous Maid of the Mist boat ride, and learn about the past and present of the falls from both water and land perspectives. Finally, we will return to New York.

Summer itinerary (starting with the Maid of the Mist waterfall boat ride):

Niagara Falls In-depth Tour (at your own expense, 120 minutes, including Whirlpool Park and Fort State Park) → Maid of the Mist Falls Cruise (at your own expense, 40 minutes, the tour will no longer go there after closing) → Niagara Falls Day Tour (30 minutes) → New York

Winter itinerary (starting from the closure of the Maid of the Mist waterfall boat):

Niagara Falls In-depth Tour (at own expense, 120 minutes, including Cyclone Park and Old Fort State Park) → Cave of the Winds (at own expense, 45 minutes) → Niagara Falls Daytime Tour (30 minutes) → New York

Special instructions:

1. If the Old Fort State Park attraction is closed, the Niagara Falls in-depth tour will not be carried out.

2. The Maid of the Mist waterfall boat is open to the public from the end of April to October (depending on the freezing conditions of the river). After the boat is closed, the itinerary will no longer visit the attraction. The specific closing time is subject to the actual notification of the attraction.

3. If time permits, guests will have the opportunity to attend the Niagara IMAX Movie (Beautiful Scene) (at their own expense, 30 minutes) and see the story of Niagara Falls up close!

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Niagara Whirlpool State Park
The Niagara Whirlpool is 125 feet deep and was formed by water erosion 7,500 years ago. It is located where the Niagara River suddenly turns northeast from the northwest. The rapid river water flows back after the change of direction, forming a huge whirlpool. The park is very quiet, with barbecues and picnic tables. Standing on them, you can overlook the whirlpool below, which is very spectacular. There is a trail in the park that leads down to the bottom of the valley, and you can take a raft into the whirlpool to experience the thrilling scene.

Old Fort Niagara State Park
The War Fort is a tourist attraction of great historical value. It existed at the mouth of the Niagara River connecting Lake Ontario to Lake Erie before the independence of the United States. Therefore, it played a very important role in the Indian-French War, the American War of Independence, and the Anglo-American War at that time. Behind it is the vast Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes of the United States.

Maid of the Mist
The Maid of the Mist is a monumental American boat tour that has been in operation since 1846. There is no better way to experience Niagara Falls in the United States. Put on your blue raincoat and take aboard the dreamy Maid of the Mist boat to experience the refreshing mist, the surging waves, and the roar of the waterfall as more than 2 million liters of water rush down per second. As a unique fleet of yachts, under the skilled command of their captains, they have safely sailed in the waves of Niagara Canyon for more than 100 years and have carried tens of millions of tourists directly into the depths of the misty water.

Cave of the Winds

The entrance to the Cave of the Winds is on Goat Island, where there is a small museum and a small cinema. You can then take an elevator down 53 meters in the Niagara Canyon cave to the bottom of the valley. Standing at the foot of the falls, looking up, you will see the falls rushing down with a majestic momentum that covers the sky and the earth, which can't help but make people feel passionate and resonate with nature.

Self-funded items
Item Name Price Description
US Capitol The National Archives In-depth Tour
Adult: $45.00;

Seniors (65 years and above): $45.00;

Children (3-12 years old): $35.00;

US Capitol In-depth Tour
Adult: $35.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): $35.00;

Children (3-12 years old): $25.00;

Washington DC In-depth Tour
Adult: $35.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): $35.00;

Children (3-12 years old): $25.00;

Corning Museum of Glass
Adult: $22.00;

Elderly (62 years old): $19.00;

Children (under 17 years old): $0.00;

Watkins Glen State Park Finger Lakes (F) Watkins Glen State Park Finger Lake
Adult: $22.00;

Seniors (65 years and above): $22.00;

Children (3-12 years old): $17.00;

Watkins Glen State Park
Adult: $15.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): $15.00;

Children (3-12 years old): $10.00;

Niagara Falls Night Tour
Adult (12 years old): $35.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): $35.00;

Children (0-12 years old): $25.00;

Niagara In-Depth Tour
Adults: Before 01/01/2024: $29.00; From 01/01/2024: $35.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): before 01/01/2024: $29.00; from 01/01/2024: $35.00;

Children (3-12 years old): before 01/01/2024: $19.00; from 01/01/2024: $25.00;

Includes Whirlpool Park and Fort Niagara

Maid of the Mist Boat Tour
Adult: $28.25;

Elderly (65 years old): $28.25;

Children (6-12 years old): $16.50;

Only open from late April to early November, depending on local weather conditions!

Cave of the Winds
Adult: 04/01/2023-May TBD: $14.00; May TBD-10/15/2023: $21.00; 10/16/2023-03/31/2024: $14.00;

Children (6-12 years): 04/01/2023-May TBD: $10.00; May TBD -10/15/2023: $17.00; 10/16/2023-03/31/2024: $10.00;

Meijing Waterfall IMAX Movie (US Side)
Adult: $12.00;

Senior citizen (65 years old): $12.00;

Children (5-12 years old): $9.00;

Buffet/Group Meal in the Eastern U.S.
Adults: $16 – $25;

Children (under 12 years): $11 – $20;

The actual price and whether this fee will be incurred varies by region.

Dining
Breakfast - at own expense, Lunch - at own expense, Dinner - at own expense
Accommodation
without
Transportation
Bus
Shopping Arrangements
without