People everywhere are realizing if work and school are virtual, they're not tied to one location and can venture somewhere else - with a strong WiFi connection, of course. Whether you have kids in school or are just getting stir-crazy at home, who wouldn't love to finish their work then go for an ocean swim, horseback ride, or scenic hike before dinner?
Besides working or studying remotely from your ideal getaway spot, there's another travel trend which never goes out of fashion - using travel to experience history as a living classroom. This week I'm focusing on the Mid-Atlantic region because its settlements, shores, and towns formed the backbone of U.S. history and our economy. Take history off the page and discover diverse cities and cultures in the company of an historian, war veteran, art curator, astronaut, and former Congress member on private, behind-the-scenes tours with special access - a specialty of Nine Muses Travel.
Whether you crave a gorgeous mountain escape in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a pastoral experience in Amish country, a Maryland coastal adventure, or colonial insights at Williamsburg, the Mid-Atlantic is a history buff's dream. You'll see the region in a whole new way alongside specialist guides and insiders!
Why The Mid-Atlantic?
Geographic diversity - Cities, quaint towns, rolling countryside, coastal experiences
Living classroom regions come alive - Williamsburg, Amish country, Washington, D.C. special access, Revolutionary War, Civil War, Philadelphia
4 and 5 star accommodations
Excellent airlift through Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia
Pennsylvania
While Washington, DC was being built, Philadelphia was the nation's temporary capital between 1790 and 1800, and no visit is complete without seeing Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the terrific Museum of the American Revolution. You'll also want to savor the excellent culinary scene and take a curated tour of the city's impressive galleries and collections. Stay at The Rittenhouse in Philadelphia or at the cool Cork Factory Hotel in Lancaster before your private tours of Amish country and Gettysburg with specialist guides. For the ultimate in studycations, choose Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, where the hotel's newest staff member, the Chief Virtual Learning Officer, will set kids up for success!
Top Experiences
Classic / gourmet Philly food tours
Eastern State Penitentiary after-hours
Independence Hall special access
Philadelphia history tour
Philadelphia arts exploration
Museum of the American Revolution expert curator-led tour
Amish cultural immersion
Battle of Gettysburg with battlefield guide or historian
Maryland
Maryland may be small, but it's got over 3,000 miles of coastline and makes a marvelous destination for marine experiences and forays into American nautical history. Everything here is within three hours drive of each other, making it super-accessible for exploration. In Baltimore, stay at Sagamore Pendry Baltimore or head to St. Michaels and relax on the water at the manor house resort, Inn at Perry Cabin.
Top Experiences
Baltimore history & food tour
Moonlight harbor cruise in Baltimore
Whiskey & rum distilleries
Walters Art Museum private visit
Craftsman boat building
Chesapeake Bay sailing charter
Private oystering experience
St. Michaels and Annapolis historic walking tours
Virginia
Virginia is for Lovers - of history! Charlottesville is where you'll uncover stories of Thomas Jefferson, the Revolutionary War and Civil Wars. The University of Virginia's architecture is classically stunning, and once you head into the mountains you'll find the far more quiet and much less visited Shenandoah region with easy, picturesque trails that aren't too challenging. Definitely make time for Virginia's impressive (and delicious!) breweries and vineyards. Stay at Keswick Hall in Charlottesville, the Williamsburg Inn, and spend time in the countryside at the excellent Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg. This is an oft-requested resort for Nine Muses Travel clients - for good reason!
Top Experiences
Monticello private tour
Pocohanta / Jamestown settlement
Thomas Jefferson history tour
Charlottesville Civil War tour
University of Virginia gardens & architecture tour
Williamsburg historical tour
Virginia wineries & breweries
Hiking & outdoor adventures in the Shenandoah
Washington, D.C.
You may think you know our capital city, but I guarantee that the kinds of tours we can arrange for you will make this city come alive with history on your private tours with intimate access in the company of specialist guides to some of the most iconic sites in our country. One of the more off-the-beaten-track visits is a private visit to see money being printed at the Bureau of Engraving, which usually you can only see on a group tour! Stay at Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC or Rosewood Washington DC in Georgetown for easy access to top shopping and dining. Stay downtown at the legendary Willard InterContinental Washington DC, or for epic White House views, stay across the street at The Hay-Adams.
Top Experiences
The Spy Museum with an ex-operative
D.C. Civil War sites excursion
Historic Mount Vernon tour
Nighttime tour of monuments by boat or private guide
Bureau of Engraving private visit
Veteran & historian led tours of D.C.
Air/Space Museum tour led by an astronaut
Capitol tour with a former Congress member
War monuments tour with an historian or veteran
Suggested Itineraries
U.S. Living History for Families: Philadelphia, St. Michaels, Williamsburg, Charlottesville, Washington, D.C.
America's Coastal Capitals: Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C.
Living Classroom Along The Appalachian Trail: Blue Ridge Mountains, Charlottesville, Gettysburg
Nine Muses Travel works with exceptional tour operators who add value for all my clients.
Expert guides for private tours: historians, naturalists, artists, unique locals
Exclusive experiences
Comfortable, sanitized, and luxurious vehicles
Custom-designed routings
24/7 real-time support
Competitive rates at four and five star properties with strict health and safety protocols
Deep destination knowledge
Flexible and worry-free cancellation policies, including 100% refunds until shortly before travel
Contact Nine Muses Travel when you're ready to bring history alive in the Mid-Atlantic and to learn more about me and what I can do for you!
I creatively customize luxury travel highlighting local arts and culture, history, and cuisine for intellectually curious clients longing to feel deeply inspired by exciting destinations, culinary delights, and authentic cultural experiences on a life-changing, joyful journey of discovery.
Danielle Dybiec
President of Nine Muses Travel