Students will reinforce what they have learned in 8th Grade US History while they travel for 6 days and 5 nights to  New York City, Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and Hershey Park.  It's a trip of a lifetime as they experience  New York City, Arlington Cemetery, the Lincoln Memorial, Independence Hall, Gettysburg Military Park and so much more.

To end the trip, we celebrate by having a blast at the award winning Hershey Park.

Friday, June 5                 

4:00 a.m. Meet at the Middle School (Watt Auditorium)

4:30 a.m. Depart Ionia MS

438 Union St. Ionia, MI 48846

Back of school, in the Watt Auditorium Driveway

1:00 p.m. Lunch:  Bring a packed lunch to eat at one of the rest areas along the way.  

2:00 p.m. Depart for the Great Wolf Lodge  Pocono Mountains, New York

• Swimming and games

• Dinner at the Lodge (7:00 reservations)

Optional Activity Hiking  in the Poconos Mountains.  It would be an easy hike to an amazing waterfall.  

The time of the hike is dependent on our arrival time.  We’ll determine the time prior to 

arriving at Great Wolf Lodge.  This activity is dependent on the number of people 

interested.

 Saturday, June 6 

6:00 a.m. Breakfast

7:00 a.m. Depart for New York City

• New York City

  • 9:30 a.m. (NJ-Liberty State Park) Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island, 

Lunch on Liberty Island

• 1:00 pm  9/11 Memorial, One World Trade Center

• 3:00 pm Depart for Times Square

Explore and shop on your own, meeting at the Hard Rock Cafe at 4:45.

*If you plan to purchase HRC souvenirs please do so before our reservation as

 there will not be much time after dinner.

• 5:00 pm Dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe, Times Square

• 6:30 pm Walk to the Broadway Show, Hamilton at Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036

9:45 p.m. Depart for our hotel

11:00p.m. Arrive at our next hotel:

Holiday Inn Newark Intl Airport - North

160 Frontage Road

Newark, NJ ,07114

(973) 589-1000

Sunday, June 7

8:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Depart for Philadelphia

• Philadelphia

  • Eastern State Penitentiary

  • Independence Hall (We’ll visit it but no reservations possible due to Flag Day - we’ll wait in line)

  • Lunch at Philly Gourmet Steaks (12:30 reservation - call if late:  215-923-4397)

  • Liberty Bell Exhibit

  • Constitution Center (4:15 show)

5:00 p.m. Double Decker Bus Ride (Picks up in front of Constitution Center, Drops off at Dave & Busters)

Buses not allowed in the Independence Mall area, pick up and drop off at Dave & Busters.  

6:30 p.m. Dave & Busters for dinner and fun

8:00 p.m. Depart for Washington, D.C.

10:00 p.m. Arrive at Holiday Inn College Park 10000 Baltimore Ave.

Monday, June 8

7:30 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Depart for the Capitol

Capitol Tour 

Outside picture stops at the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court

Group Picture

11:30 am Lunch and free time at the Smithsonian Museums

Choices include:  

• American History 

• Natural History museums

• Air & Space (must get own tickets….more info to come)

• National Gallery of Art

• Sculpture Park

2:30 pm Depart for Arlington National Cemetery

• Changing of the Guard Ceremony

• Kennedy Graves

• Lee House (time permitting)

• Among other notable graves

5:00 pm Depart for the Iwo Jima Marine Memorial

5:30 pm Depart for the Pentagon City Mall for dinner

6:30 p.m Memorial Tour

• Vietnam, Korean, Lincoln, Jefferson

8:30 p.m. Depart for our hotel:  

Best Western Premier: The Central Hotel & Conference Center

800 E Park Drive Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111 United States  

717-561-2800

Tuesday, June 9

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Depart for Gettysburg

• Gettysburg Battlefield Tour 9:00am

• 11:15 am  New Birth of Freedom Video, Cyclorama

• Gift Shop

• Boxed lunch in the Battlefield Cafe

12:00 Depart for Hershey Park

. Hershey Park

• The Boardwalk (Water park inside Hershey)

• Hershey Zoo

• Rollercoaster, Rides

• Lunch and Dinner voucher included

9:00 p.m. Depart for our hotel:

Best Western Premier: The Central Hotel & Conference Center

800 E Park Drive Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17111 United States  

717-561-2800

Wednesday, June 10

7:00 a.m. Breakfast

8:00 a.m. Depart for home

2:00 p.m. Lunch provided 

7:15 p.m. Approximate arrival home