The Pentagon, also known as Department of Defense headquarters, is located in Washington, D.C. The location is considered to be one of the world’s largest office buildings. Tours are offered and dynamically highlight the respective missions of the five Armed Services, the office of the Secretary of Defense and the joint staff. There is a 60-minute presentation that will include a 1.49 mile walk through the building. The group will view: colorful displays, historic photographs depicting significant moments in military history, including the 9/11 Memorial Chapel. The building was constructed at the start of World War II to bring all offices of what was then termed—the department of war together in a single building. The location now contains offices for the departments of the Army, Air Force, and navy, and the office of the Secretary of Defense. Leaders of the United States military have played critical roles in American foreign policy and military operations abroad—from the Cuban Missile Crisis to the Iraq Wars.

The Zoological Park, also known as the National Zoo, is located in Washington, D.C. The zoo is 163 acres and will take several hours for the group to see all of the featured animals and exhibits. There are various animals that are located outdoors for visitors to observe. These include: sloth bears, seals, giant pandas, great cats, and sea lions. The zoo has a new exhibit featuring 58 different species all coexisting peacefully under a brightly colored, open-air pavilion. It is called the Speedwell Foundation Conservation Carousel. The exhibit features some beloved endangered species including: giant pandas, Komodo dragons, and cheetahs. The attraction will be fun for all ages! Other exhibits include Amazonia, Asian Trail, American Trail, and Primates. Amazonia features a living tropical forest, home to free-ranging animals, and a large aquarium in which dozens of fish species swim. While on the Asian Trail, the group will observe seven species including the following: fishing cats, red pandas, sloth bears, clouded leopards, Asian small-clawed otters, a Japanese giant salamander, and giant pandas. Guided tours are also available along with programs offered by rangers.

Groups visiting Music City in the warmer months will certainly welcome a chance to take a little break from sightseeing to beat that sticky Southern summertime heat, and Nashville Shores Lakeside Resort has just the ticket! A wonderful world of wet and whacky watery entertainment awaits guests at the resort’s fabulous family waterpark, situated on the scenic shores of 14,200 acre J. Percy Priest Lake. Ride the wicked waves of Breaker Bay, kick back and stay cool on Castaway Creek Lazy River, go all kamikaze at Kowabunga Beach, and cool off quick under the Giant Bucket of Fun! No fewer than eight water slides stand ready to take your breath away, turn your tummy inside out and tickle your “funny”-bone eight ways to Wednesday with zig-zags, body slides, tube rides, free falls and vertical drops certain to satisfy guests of all sizes, from timid types to waterslide warriors. Go for a swim in crystal clear Suntan Lagoon, the facility’s largest pool with a breathtaking view of the Lake, or hop the crazy Banana Boat and zip across the water; jet ski, canoe, kayak, pontoon, paddle boat, and board rentals are also available by the hour or day – something for everyone! The park hosts a variety of special events throughout the season – Drive In Movies, Homeschool Week, Fish Family Fun Day, Hometown Heroes, Military Days, Duck Splash and more – be sure to check with your Exploring America team when planning your great Nashville getaway to see what’s happening when you’re in town!

The Ride the Duck Tour Company has a location in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is a sightseeing experience you won’t want to miss! It is perfect for families, family reunions, and organizational events. These land and water vehicles are amazing and fun. Your group may want to view the historic streets and neighborhoods or splash down in the water for an exciting cruise! DURING these tours, the group can quack along with the captain and the music. The captain is entertaining and mixes music, fun and history into an interactive land and water unique experience. While on the tour, the captain will tell fascinating stories about the past and the present. Group members will be educated about history, famous personalities, and the area’s impact on the state and nation. The ducks are climate controlled so you can go on a tour rain or shine. You will also ride by many interesting local attractions and historic sights. Enjoy the entertainment and fun on the tour and even dance in your seat along with the fun music!

Eastern State Penitentiary is a historic site located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The prison was founded in 1829. It was in use for 142 years, closing in 1971. At one time, the penitentiary was the most expensive building in the United States. The Wagon wheel floor plan was the model used to reform criminals. This model focused on strict isolation of the prisoners. There are 300 prisons over four continents that have since adopted this model. The location is also known for its grand architecture. Your group is sure to experience interesting sights while touring the facility. There are various options to consider when planning a trip.  These may include but are not limited to: hands-on history demonstrations, interactive audio voice tours, and observing exhibits in the prison Museums. These three tours are included in the cost of admission. The hands-on history tours involve group participation. They are offered in the regular season but can also be booked in the winter months. These demonstrations are shorter in length usually five minutes or less. One possible choice is for you to learn how to unlock an escape-proof iron cell door. During the audio tour, guests will be provided with an Mp3 player and headset. You will find an audio guide to help you through the complex. Listen to guards, wardens, and inmates that describe their prison experiences. This will enhance the walkthrough for the group immensely! The penitentiary has housed some famous prisoners. These include, Willie Sutton and Al Capone. While touring the location your group will be able to see Capone’s restored 19^th century cell, hear stories of inmate escapes, and marvel at the exquisite art installations. There is also an annual tour for your group to consider called “Behind Terror Walls.” This is offered in the fall. Winter Adventure Tours are also available for the group to enjoy as well. Eastern State Penitentiary is a one of a kind prison with an interesting historical background.

The Civil War and Underground Railroad Museum is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Museum interprets the struggle for freedom, equality and national unity in 19th-century America, to inspire a better understanding of that struggle and a renewed dedication to its importance today. During a visit to the Museum, the group will encounter real things that belonged to the real people who “lived” during the Civil War. Featured artifacts include the following: clothes, supplies, arms they used, the relics of those who fought and died for freedom we cherish, and the compelling stories that went with those struggles. The location has a library, bookstore, and offers various programs to its visitors. The holdings in the library include: regimental and unit histories, biographies and memoirs, published diaries and letters, and works on topics such as abolitionism and slavery, naval history, women in the Civil War, espionage, medicine, and surgery. The tours offered are interpretive and use reenactments to educate visitors. The Featured tours include: the Ream’s Station Tour, the First Day at Chancellorsville Tour, the Mine Run Tour, the Slaughter pen Farm Tour, the Spring Hill Tour,  and the Third Winchester Tour.

The Pentagon Memorial is located in Washington, D.C. It commemorates the 184 lives lost in the Pentagon and on American Flight 77 during the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. This Memorial encompasses 1.93 acres and sits on the western side of the Pentagon. Each victim has an individual unit bench engraved with their name, hovering over a pool of water that glows with light at night. The units are organized by a timeline based on the ages of the victims and are placed along age lines parallel with the trajectory of Flight 77, each marked with a birth year, ranging from 1998 to 1930. The Pentagon Memorial was dedicated and officially opened to the public on September 11, 2008. The construction of the location was funded by private donations. Centex Lee LLC built the Memorial and it was designed by Julie Beckman and Keith Kaseman. It was commissioned by the Washington Headquarters Service in 2003. If the group would like an audio tour, they are available through dialing a number and listening to a 24-minute guide. You will be shown to different points of interest throughout the memorial.

Here you will find the toys you had as a kid as well as the ones you wish you could have had! It is like Christmas everyday when you visit the World’s Largest Toy Museum. Members of your group love being able to remember their childhood toys and there is no better place to do it than at a toy museum!

The wildly popular “Titanic Museum Attraction” in entertainment capitol Branson, Missouri is described as “the most lavish monument to the sea’s most famous disaster” as well as the “best storytelling museum in the world!” Staged on a beautiful, eerily-true half-scale replica of the legendary luxury liner Titanic built by John Joslyn, the man who led a 1987 expedition to her actual resting place, the Museum tenders groups out and about on Show Me State holiday a totally immersive, absolutely unforgettable two hour tour experience. Step through the iceberg, receive your boarding ticket (with the name of an actual passenger on it) and travel back in time to that darkest day as you imagine yourself anticipating a cruise to end all cruises, blissfully unaware of the deadly frozen obstacle lying just ahead in the frigid, black waters. Ascend the grand staircase, masterfully steer the ship, touch an “iceberg,” and practice transmitting a desperate SOS signal; hear the stories of famous passengers who sailed on Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage. The night of the unspeakable tragedy, the ill-fated vessel’s eight faithful musician’s played their hearts out as the ship and its passengers slipped beneath the icy surface of the Atlantic; they are wonderfully honored in a new and thrilling, world-exclusive tribute exhibit detailing their lives and legacies as true heroes. At the end of your amazing Titanic adventure, you and your travel partners learn whether “your” passengers survived the horrible disaster – or perished along with most of the guests – and the stoic Captain – in frigid 28 degree waters!