Rotary Eastern Adventure

March 19-28, 2010

A Journey Through the Great American Eastern Cities

Washington DC, New York, and Boston

Featuring Colonial Williamsburg (founded 1699) and Gettysburg

You Only Need To Fill Out One Application for All Trips

Trip Hotels Pictures/address/Phone
Trip Chaperones Email Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Pick Up and Drop Off Instruction Drivers
Meeting the Trip Drivers/Flyers
Flying in to meet the trip (Airport Meeting Point/Instructions on dealing with flying).
How Much Do You OWE!!!!
Packing List and Instructions
Downloadable Packing List PDF File
Staying Healthy

Itinerary

Day 1 – March 19 – Columbus OH : Today students will arrive to meet the tour. Our hotel, the Ramada Inn North Columbus is located on the Westerville/Columbus border and many of you will be dropped off there. Those arriving by air will be met and shuttled to the hotel by Chaperones and Rotary Volunteers. This evening we'll have a meeting and a chance to get to know one another before we start our adventure. Do not arrive at the hotel before 1 pm. (D)

Day 2 – March 20 - Williamsburg: An early morning departure and a beautiful drive to Colonial Williamsburg, VA. Tonight, time permitting we'll visit the old capital of Colonial Virginia. Walking the old streets at night is fun and a little spooky.

Day 3 - March 21 - Washington DC: This morning we'll take a tour of Colonial Williamsburg. The Rockefeller family put a large amount of money in rebuilding this old city to it's original glory. It was here that George Washington became famous. It is where Patrick Henry said "Give me liberty or give me death". We'll walk through the old buildings and see how America's founding fathers lived. An entirely new type of archeology was invented to create this place. After lunch, we'll drive to Washington DC getting us there in time to walk the Monuments of the famous Washington Mall (The Mall is a large park surrounded by the official building of our Capitol, not a shopping place). You will see the Lincoln, World War 2, Vietnam and Korea Memorials. All are grand in scale and beautiful. Our hotel is in College Park, Maryland on the Campus of the University of Maryland. (CB)

Day 4 - March 22 - Washington DC: This morning we'll tour Washington including the White House, Capitol Building, and the myriad of other buildings in this beautiful place. This afternoon you'll be free to explore the Smithsonian Museums. There are many museums in this complex, including three of the world's great art museums, the Holocaust Museum, Museum of American history, American Museum of Natural History, the Museum of the American Indian, Ford's Theater (where Lincoln was assassinated) and many more interesting sites. (CB)

Day 5 – March 23 - New York City: This morning we’ll drive to New York and we'll take the ferry and visit the Statue of Liberty and the Museum of Immigration at Ellis Island. Admissions included. Here people from all over the world stopped on their way to becoming Americans. The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France in the 1880s. Ellis Island was the place where over 9 million people entered the USA. The museum has computer archives which allow you to track your relatives who might have come to America since the early 1900s. Time permitting we'll do a quick tour of New York. This evening we are in our New Jersey Hotel. (CB)

Day 5 – March 24 - New York City: A morning sightseeing tour will give you a great overview of Manhattan in New York City. We’ll visit Morningside Heights (Columbia University), Harlem, Central Park, Time Square, Fifth Avenue, Greenwich Village, China Town, SOHO, NOHO, Wall Street Area, Downtown and Uptown. New York is one of the world's most exciting cities. It's also the cultural center of the World, with world-class museums, theater and sights. This afternoon you'll have a chance to see it on your own with several hours of free time. Times Square and the incredible shopping of Fifth Avenue are marvelous places to explore and see the Greatest City in the World. (B)

Day 6 – March 25 - Boston/Somerset Massachusetts: Today we'll surprise you with two activities. Explore the New England countryside and see one of the best hands-on attractions in the region. We will keep this a big surprise which will wow you when you see it. Time permitting we'll explore the Portuguese center of Fall River, Massachusetts which is the gateway to Cape Cod. We'll get to Boston, time permitting. (B, L)

Day 7 - March 26 - Boston: We start this morning with a trip to where history is everywhere, Boston. We'll stop and see Plymouth Rock, where the Pilgrims first settled New England. From there we'll tour Boston, including a stop at Harvard University where you can explore "Harvard Yard". We'll drive by MIT (The Massachusetts's Institute of Technology) and Cambridge. Boston is the home of the Kennedy family and the Adams Family and is one of the oldest and most beloved cities in the North East. We'll stop at Boston Common where you can walk the 5 kilometer Freedom Trail which takes you all over the City visiting historic and cultural landmarks like the Old North Church, Quincy Market and Fannieul Hall, Boston Common, the State House, Paul Revere's House and the USS Constitution. Boston is the most European City in the USA, with old streets, coffee shops, and delightful restaurants. Much of the afternoon will be free time to explore this beautiful city. (B)

Day 8 - March 27 - Gettysburg: Today we'll drive all day to Gettysburg, PA, the site of the famous American Civil War battle. We'll be driving through the Lehigh Valley. Time permitting we are going to stop at Hersey's Chocolate World Store where you can load up on delicious chocolates. Arriving this evening we'll exchange pins and say good-bye this evening while having a pizza party. (CB, D)

Day 9 - March 28 - Sunday - Columbus Ohio: This morning we'll tour the battlefield where between 46,000 and 51,000 Americans became casualties. A beautiful and fascinating place, Gettysburg is on of America's most significant historical sites. Weather permitting we'll walk a great part of the battlefield with an expert guide. Over 2000 monuments and signs explain the battle in detail. Many cannon and other mementos of the battle are located throughout the battlefield. Tonight we'll arrive in Columbus, where most of you will leave the tour. Students flying out will be spending one more night at a hotel in Columbus before leaving. (B)

CB=Continental Breakfast B=Full Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

Trip Application

You Only Need To Fill Out One Application for Both Trips

Send The Following (Required):

Deposit of $425.00

Your application

a headshot photo,

a copy of your passport (Black and white is fine)

your medical permission Form,

Medical Insurance Copy and

Application is not complete until all parts are received. Only one application is required for all three trips .

Trip Cost

Price $825 per person quad occupancy

Send a deposit of $425 with your application (make checks payable to McMurray Travel Service, all payments must be in U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank). Mail your check or money order to: McMurray Travel Service, 6480 Dobson Square East., Columbus OH 43229. BALANCE of $400 IS DUE 60 days before departure, January 17, 2010. Please put student's name and Roteast in Memo of check or money order. (No international checks, credit cards or wire transfers). If you are waiting for money, send your application to hold your spot temporarily. Send your deposit as soon as possible. Money should follow your application within 21 days. YOU ARE NOT OFFICIALLY ON THE TRIP UNTIL YOUR DEPOSIT IS RECEIVED.

PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY or TYPE APPLICATION Send The Following (Required): a photo, a copy of your passport, your permission form. You can have your parents send parental permission at a later date (but before trip departure). District Evaluations must be signed by district chair or district RYE officer designated by District chair. Verbal recommendations are permitted. It can be sent by fax or email. Application will not be accepted until all parts are received.

Mail application to: McMurray Travel Service, 6480 Dobson Square East., Columbus OH 43229

All Tours Subject to Possible Price Increase

While every effort has been made to guarantee our tour prices for 2010, due to recent oil price increases and fluctuations each tour may be subject to airline and Motor coach fuel surcharges before departure). We sincerely regret this, and do our best to avoid it if at all possible.

Out of Ohio-Erie Area?

Ohio-Erie is a Rotary Multi-District which includes parts of OH, MI, ON, KY, NC, TN, WV

AIRFARE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR. YOU MUST GET TO COLUMBUS, OHIO (AIRPORT CODE - CMH)

IF YOU FLY TO COLUMBUS

If you are coming from outside Central Ohio or related areas, remember that no flights are included in the cost of this tour. We can make the flight reservations for you if you wish. Arrive March 19, 2010, Return March 29, 2010. Arrive March 19, 2010 before 6pm, DO NOT take the last flight or connection from your hometown to Columbus. Fly home March 29 on the first flight or before 12:00 Noon.

Please Download and Print Flying Instructions

E-MAIL JEANNE MCMURRAY at

jeanne@mcmurraytravel.com

Tell her from which cities can you fly
Your Host Rotary District
Who might be traveling with you from your district
Your Email and phone number and phone number of host parents.
Your Credit Card with expiration date

You will need a credit card for your airline ticket

Jeanne has been a professional travel agent for 35 years and is extremely good at getting you the lowest fare.

IF YOU DRIVE TO COLUMBUS

If you want to drive to Columbus, arrive on March 19th after 1 pm at the Ramada Inn North Hotel. At the end of the tour March 28, get picked up Columbus Airport Baymont Suites Hotel, around 6 pm.

Cancellation Penalties: Individual tour members cancelling from the tour for any reason will be charged the following percentages of the tour price. 60-15 days prior (January 17, 2010 - March 3, 2010) 25% of tour cost plus applicable supplier penalties, 14 Days prior (March 4, 2010 at 5:00pm EDT) until return 100% of tour cost per participant. Travel insurance is highly recommended. No shows are non-refundable. If you have purchased non-refundable airline tickets, each airline's rules apply. To keep any value, YOU must notify each airline at least 24 hours before the flights.