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Whatever the purpose of your group’s trip to Washington DC you will want to visit Mt. Vernon.

Whatever the purpose of your group’s trip to Washington DC you will want to visit Mt. Vernon. Located in Mount Vernon, Uninc Fairfax County , Virginia, George and Martha Washington’s home is open to the public. You will join the 80 million who have visited the estate of our first president. When your group arrives pick up your tickets at the Ford Orientation Center.

Each day the American Flag is raised over the gate and if your student group would like to participate in the raising of the flag arrive early and speak with the gatekeeper – you may receive the honor or raising Old Glory to her rightful place – waving above the land of the free and the brave. Groups will enjoy a 20 minute movie We Fight to be Free, that is an action- packed, adventure-filled documentary about the life and times of George Washington. I hope you have dressed in comfortable shoes that are suitable for walking because touring Mt. Vernon is more than just walking through the beautiful mansion where George and Martha lived.

The estate also has twelve outbuildings that include the slave quarters, kitchen, stables, and greenhouse Be sure to allow for at least one half of your day to be spent at Mt. Vernon because after touring the buildings your group will want to walk through the four different gardens, walk and watch the workings of the four acre farm that has a re-creation of Washington’s 16 sided threshing barn and hike the Forest Trail. Your visit here will include a solemn stop at the gravesite of George and Martha Washington where there is a wreath laying ceremony each day.

Take time to visit the Slave Memorial and Burial ground which is nearby. As if all this isn’t enough, while your group is walking along taking in the sights at the Pioneer Farm site of George Washington, you can participate in cracking corn, visit the animals, help build a fence and taste a hoecake. (Hoecake is a type of cornbread made of cornmeal, salt and water, which is very thin in texture, and fried in cooking oil in a skillet. It became known as "hoecake" because field hands (slaves) often cooked it on a shovel or hoe held to an open flame.)

You take a step back in history when you visit Mt. Vernon. After your day of witnessing the beauty and rewards that came from the hard work of individuals like George and Martha Washington walk down over the hill and to the Potomac River. Your group can board the Miss Christin or the Spirit of Washington and enjoy a short narrated excursion along the Potomac River. Imagine how many times the Washington’s took a similar boat ride to fish, buy or sell merchandise or just to enjoy one another’s company in the peaceful land they called home.

Mount Vernon is located 16 miles south of Washington, D.C. and 8 miles south of Old Town Alexandria, Virginia at the southern terminus of the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Your group can park for free. Lunch and dinner is also available on site. Groups can pre purchase meal vouchers for lunch to be used at the Food Court or enjoy a more upscale meal at the Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant. Wherever you choose to spend your day, enjoy your travels.

If you’re looking for a great destination to travel to, don’t overlook beautiful Lake Chelan in North Central Washington State. Lake Chelan is a gorgeous 55-mile long lake that cuts into the beautiful North Cascade Mountains. Fishing, boating, and water sports of all sorts are plentiful on Lake Chelan as is sunbathing on the shores during the hotter summer months. If outdoor recreation is an interest of yours then Lake Chelan a great place to go.

At the lower end sit the towns of Chelan and Manson; these communities combine the aspects of a resort town with the charm of a simple small village. You’ll find few chain restaurants and motels in Chelan, meaning you’ll have to “settle” for superior cooked meals from locally owned establishments. Many condos and motels overlook the famous lake, but summer reservations better be made early. A popular tourist site for young and old alike, Chelan is surrounded by apple orchards like much of the North Central Washington region. During the harvest months fresh fruit is both plentiful and delicious thanks to roadside fruit stands that seem to appear out of nowhere. For the youngsters, there is miniature golf, bowling, a petting zoo, and a waterslide park. There is also the option of casino-like entertainment from the Casino in Manson.

The lake is divided into the upper and lower basin. The lower basin is home to most of the recreational boaters and jet skiing enthusiasts and the upper lake is mainly used as a waterway to get to some of the numerous boat-in-only or hike-in-only campgrounds that dot the shoreline. Imagine your peaceful camping trip taking place at a campground that only boaters and accomplished hikers could get to.

At the upper end of Lake Chelan sits the remote village of Stehekin. The Stehekin area itself has about 20-30 miles of roadway but none of them connect to the outside world. That’s right; the only way to make a much needed visit to Stehekin is by boat, floatplane, or hiking in on forest trails. Stehekin has one calling card operated phone and not much else for modern luxuries. There are approximately 75 year-round residents made up of retirees, forest service workers, teachers in the one-room schoolhouse, and small business owners. The most convenient way to get to Stehekin is by boat. Daily boat trips are run from Chelan, 55 miles down lake, to Stehekin and passage can be booked there at the boat company (this is also how the Stehekin residents get their groceries and other living necessities). This boat service also stops at other points on the lake like the small community of Holden Village and the occasional trailhead. Once in Stehekin you can choose to spend the night in the rustic inn or camp in any of the local camp sites. Within a short drive/hike is Rainbow falls that, though an awesome sight at any time of year, is truly majestic in the spring and early summer. There is far more to explore in this rustic little hamlet cut off from the world, enough for the outdoor enthusiast and the history lover alike.

Hiking trails head off in many many directions from the shores of Lake Chelan allowing thorough exploration of the beautiful North Central Washington area. Chelan itself boasts a number of golf courses and wineries so there is enough to keep the adults occupied as well. When the winter hits, the recreation doesn’t stop as the skiers, snowboarding, and snowmobiling take over.

Beautiful Lake Chelan in North Central Washington has no problem year in and year out entertaining many wonderful visitors. There is so many events and activities offered by, not only this town, but the entire North Central Washingon.area that it would be a shame for the entire family to miss out on such great memories.