2027076 Tidings, Tea and Twinkling Lights

Day 1

Thursday December 2, 2027
1:00pm Arrive at The Jefferson Hotel for Holiday High Tea. Featuring a selection of finger sandwiches, scones, assorted pastries, and of course Tea. While at the hotel, view the exquisite holiday décor. The hotel will be adorned with hundreds of live poinsettias, thousands of twinkle lights, hundreds of yards of garland, and dozens of wreaths. Signature displays will be created on the Grand Staircase, in the Circle Drive, and in the Palm Court lobby, along with more than 20 smaller trees placed throughout the hotel. The breathtaking centerpiece, the 30-foot Christmas tree in the Rotunda, will be embellished with hundreds of oversized ornaments, bows, and baubles, along with too many white twinkle lights to count. The annual Jefferson Gingerbread display will also be available throughout the season for guests to enjoy, theming is TBD until it's unveiling December 1st , but we can promise all the delightful smells of freshly baked gingerbread and royal icing, the impeccable details created by hundreds of pounds of individually placed candies, and the sweet memories that you have enjoyed in years past.
3:00pm Board and depart.
3:30pm Check into Drury Plaza Hotel Richmond. Baggage handling is included.
4:30pm Board and depart with a local guide.
5:00pm Visit the Lewis Ginter Botanic Garden's Gardenfest of Lights featuring more than 500,000 holiday lights arranged in botanical themes.
6:30pm Board and depart.
7:00pm Enjoy included dinner at Tarrant's West. Housed in a former 1883 drug store, this elegant eatery offers fine American fare.
8:30pm Depart and continue with a Richmond Tacky lights driving tour. A delightfully fun holiday tradition in Richmond. Richmond boasts some of the country's brightest and tackiest lights displays during the holiday season. Don't just take our word for it - two local displays have taken home the grand prize on ABC's reality show "The Great Christmas Light Fight."
9:45pm Return to the hotel. Guide drops

Day 2

Friday December 3, 2027
7:15am Enjoy included breakfast at the hotel and check out. Baggage handling is included.
8:15am Board and depart.
9:00am Tour the Virginia State Capitol. Thomas Jefferson's neo-classical marvel features a hidden dome, pre-historic fossils in the floor marble and the world-famous statue of George Washington.
10:00am Board and depart.
10:15am Visit St John's Church with a guided tour and meet Patrick Henry! As tensions grew between the colonies and Great Britain in the 1770s, Virginia held a series of meetings to organize its protests against the mother country. In March of 1775, the Second Virginia Convention was held here at what was then called Henrico Parish Church. Patrick Henry, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Peyton Randolph and other prominent Virginians were delegates to the convention. Here, Patrick Henry embodied the spirit of the Revolution on March 23, 1775, with his words, "Give me liberty or give me death!"
11:15am Board and depart.
12:30pm Visit Lee Hall Mansion with a Christmas Through the Ages tour. Learn about the origins of holiday traditions while exploring nineteenth and early twentieth century period decorated rooms set amidst the splendor of the Victorian era.
1:30pm Board and depart.
1:45pm Arrive at Historic Boxwood Inn for Christmas High Tea and holiday lunch. A high tea featuring hors devours, a full Christmas themed buffet, 25 different tea selections, and desserts. Menu TBD.
3:15pm Board and depart.
3:45pm Check into Embassy Suites by Hilton Williamsburg. Baggage handling is included.
5:00pm Board and depart.
5:30pm Drive through the Celebration In Lights in Newport News. Now in its 33rd season, Virginia's first holiday drive-through light show features two miles of fanciful holiday scenes created with over one million lights. Installations include light tunnels, falling snow, penguins, polar bears, snowmen, and more! Travel through the seasons and end up at your favorite time of the year along this picturesque display set inside Newport News Park.
7:00pm Continue
7:30pm Enjoy included dinner at Sal's By Victor. Savor traditional Italian dishes with fresh ingredients. Menu TBD.
9:00pm Board and depart.
9:15pm Return to the hotel for the evening.

Day 3

Saturday December 4, 2027
9:00am Enjoy included breakfast at the hotel.
10:00am Board and depart.
10:15am Meet your Colonial Guide begin your tour of Colonial Williamsburg including the Capitol and the Governor's Palace. The Capitol is where Virginia patriots developed principles of self-government, individual liberty and responsible leadership. The Governor's Palace reflects the period of Lord Dunmore's residence, the last English governor of the Virginia colony. After the colonists chose revolution, two commonwealth governors lived here. Virginia's restored 18th Century Capitol showcases a variety of restored and reconstructed homes and public buildings, museums, craft shops, taverns and special entertainment in its 173-acre historic area.
Notice the myriad of all natural handmade Holiday decorations from the Colonial era - from the ornate displays of the aristocracy to the simpler displays of the hearty Colonists.
1:30pm Enjoy lunch on your own and free time in Colonial Williamsburg. Merchants Square is the shopping hub of downtown Colonial Williamsburg, or you may want to try a Colonial Tavern. Located at the head of Duke of Gloucester Street, the gateway to Colonial Williamsburg, Merchants Square includes many fine stores and restaurants.
4:00pm Explore Colonial Williamsburg's Grand Illumination, a tradition that has taken visitors' breath away for over 60 years! In the 18th century, illuminations--the firing of guns and lighting of fireworks--celebrated major events such as the birthday of a reigning sovereign, military victories, or the arrival of a new colonial governor. Join Colonial Williamsburg for this special day by strolling the Historic Area and viewing all the unique decorations. Enjoy musical performances on multiple stages throughout the Historic Area and fireworks displays from the Capitol, the Magazine, and the Palace.
5:00pm The lighting of candles in the windows of shops and homes along the Duke of Gloucester Street began in 1934 during the Colonial Williamsburg restoration. This timeless tradition continues with three simultaneous ceremonies at the Raleigh Tavern, George Wythe House, and Randolph House.
5:15pm Highlighted ensembles from the Williamsburg community will fill the air with seasonal music throughout the Historic Area.
6:00pm Follow the Yule log, hauled by wagon, from the Capitol circle to Market Square, accompanied by music, festivity, and the community of 18th-century and present-day Williamsburg. Make a wish and toss a sprig of greenery into the bonfire.
7:00pm Fireworks Display scheduled at the Governor's Palace and Capitol Building
7:30pm Meet the motorcoach and depart.
8:00pm Enjoy an included Prime Rib Buffet at hotel for dinner. Menu TBD. Second guide drops.
9:30pm Dinner ends and return to your rooms.

Day 4

Sunday December 5, 2027
8:30am Enjoy included breakfast at the hotel and check out. Baggage handling is included.
9:30am Board and depart.
11:00am Arrive at Town Center of Virginia Beach for lunch on your own. More than 25 appealing restaurants and nearly as many shops - from local boutiques to international retailers.
12:45pm Board and depart.
1:15pm Visit the Thoroughgood House. One of the oldest surviving colonial homes in Virginia Beach and a National Historic Landmark, the Thoroughgood House was likely built in 1719 by Argall Thorowgood II, great-grandson of Adam Thorowgood. You may begin your tour by visiting the recently constructed Thoroughgood House Education Center to learn about the history of Princess Anne County, the impact of the Thorowgood family, and the overarching story of how this area has grown. Enjoy a stroll through the beautifully landscaped English garden before stepping back in time as you enter the home. Guided tours of the home itself give you a glimpse into the daily lifestyle of wealthy Virginia colonists who lived there. The Holiday House Tour includes cocoa and cookies as well as a holiday themed tour of the decorated historic house. ADA note: the grounds, restrooms, and Education Center are all ADA accessible, the Historic House itself is not. There are three steps up into the Historic House and a staircase to the second floor.
2:30pm Board and depart.
3:00pm Check into Founders Inn & Spa. The hotel features beautiful Colonial-style buildings, gardens, and ponds, creating a picturesque setting for holiday celebrations. Guests can enjoy holiday decorations, including a large Christmas tree. Baggage handling is included.
3:30pm Upon arrival, enjoy included dinner at the hotel.
5:15pm Board and depart.
5:45pm Arrive for boarding at American Rover
6:00pm Embark on a Holiday Lights Cruise!
6:30pm Dock and continue.
6:45pm Enjoy Winterfest on the Wisconsin. Step inside the Battleship and explore its historic decks decorated for the holidays. Indulge in holiday bites, festive treats, and an exciting outdoor bar with delicious holiday beverages. Then, shop for the perfect gift for yourself or a loved one at the holiday market.
9:00pm Board and depart.
9:30pm Return to the hotel for the evening.

Day 5

Monday December 6, 2027
7:00am Enjoy included breakfast at the hotel and check out. Baggage handling is included.
8:00am Board and depart.
12:00pm Arrive at The Mount Vernon Inn Restaurant for an included Farewell lunch. Restaurant on George Washington's estate serving Traditional American fare in a Colonial setting. Menu TBD.
1:30pm Visit Mount Vernon for a Mount Vernon Christmas! Mount Vernon has some of the most unique and wonderful holiday shopping of the season to be found in the DC area. Find Colonial style and American Holiday traditions for your home, friends and family. See the beautifully decorated Mansion and grounds. Tour the Mansion and discover what the Washingtons, enslaved people, and hired workers ate during this season. Learn how food was grown, preserved, prepared, and served during the holiday season. Watch 18th-century demonstrations and hear stories of Christmases past from costumed characters.
3:30pm Depart for home. Stop will be made in route.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner, T=Tea