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Virginia

Virginia, Mother of Presidents: Seven Historic Sites

Program No. 19969RJ
Immerse yourself in the wonders of Virginia, exploring seven presidential homes, visiting national landmarks and enjoying traditional colonial food at the historic Michie Tavern.
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Regional StudiesSmall GroupMilitary HistoryHistory
Length
6 days
Rating (5)
Activity Level
Starts at
1,699

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6 days
5 nights
14 meals
5B 5L 4D
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, VA's Eight Presidents
Charlottesville
2
Mount Vernon Full Day Field Trip
Charlottesville
3
Jefferson & Leadership, Highland & Monticello
Charlottesville
4
Madison, Montpelier, Montebello, Free Evening
Charlottesville
5
Sherwood Forest Plantation, Berkeley Plantation
Charlottesville
6
Woodrow Wilson Birthplace, Program Concludes
Charlottesville
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At a Glance

Truly the “Mother of Presidents,” the state of Virginia is the birthplace of eight of the country’s chief executives. Seven of these Old Dominion natives were among the first twelve holders of the nation’s highest office. Explore with experts how the homes of these men reflect their personalities and the social norms of each man’s own era.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles a day over uneven terrain.
Small Group
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.

What You'll Learn

  • Visit the homes of seven former United States Presidents, including Washington’s beloved Mount Vernon and Jefferson’s masterpiece at Monticello.
  • Experience the beauty of the Virginia countryside from the mountains to the Tidewater region, and enjoy lunch at historic Michie Tavern.
  • Meet one of the Founding Fathers in a lively interaction where you can ask questions and gain insights from a convincing historical interpreter.

General Notes

This program visits eight different homes & locations over six days. We try our best to explore each individual area as best we can. Please be aware that bus time is crucial, and travel may take up to a few hours at a time.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
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Karen Warnecke
Karen Warnecke attended the University of Buffalo. After college, she made her way to San Diego, California, where she met her husband. His 30-year naval flight career led them to raise four sons all over the country. In Charlottesville, Karen continued her career with the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine as a course coordinator for first-year medical students. She retired several years ago to allow more opportunities to travel, visit family and friends, work in her garden, read, and enjoy the local area.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Karen Warnecke
Karen Warnecke View biography
Karen Warnecke attended the University of Buffalo. After college, she made her way to San Diego, California, where she met her husband. His 30-year naval flight career led them to raise four sons all over the country. In Charlottesville, Karen continued her career with the University Of Virginia School Of Medicine as a course coordinator for first-year medical students. She retired several years ago to allow more opportunities to travel, visit family and friends, work in her garden, read, and enjoy the local area.
Profile Image of Dennis Bigelow
Dennis Bigelow View biography
For more than a decade, Dennis Bigelow has interpreted the character of President James Monroe for the College of William & Mary at Highland, Monroe's home in Albemarle County, Virginia. He has performed at the White House, Colonial Williamsburg, the Virginia State House, the National Archives, the Smithsonian, and other venues. He shares ancestral grandparents with Thomas Jefferson through the Randolph family as well as Chief Justice John Marshall, a great friend of Monroe and a maternal ancestral uncle.
Profile Image of Michael Dickens
Michael Dickens View biography
Michael Dickens, M.D., is an honors graduate of Princeton University and received his medical degree from Columbia University. In addition to a longtime career practicing medicine in Charlottesville, he has been employed on the interpretative staff at James Madison’s Montpelier and James Monroe’s Highland. He has served as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. He also had five years' experience as a volunteer researcher for the staff of the Papers of George Washington.
Profile Image of John Ragosta
John Ragosta View biography
John Ragosta, an award-winning author, is currently a historian at the Robert H. Smith International Center for Jefferson Studies at Monticello and a fellow at Virginia Humanities. He has taught history and law at the University of Virginia, George Washington University, and Hamilton, Oberlin, and Randolph Colleges. Dr. Ragosta has published on a broad range of topics in historical, legal, and scientific journals and written several important books on the development of American religious freedom.
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Meals
14 Meals
5 Breakfasts
5 Lunches
4 Dinners
The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Gluten Free, Vegetarian, Low Fat, Low Salt
Lodging
Lodgings may differ by date. Select a date to see the lodgings specific to that date.
Display
Oct 27, 2024 - Nov 01, 2024
  • Oct 27, 2024 - Nov 01, 2024
  • Sep 08, 2024 - Sep 13, 2024
  • Sep 15, 2024 - Sep 20, 2024
  • Oct 06, 2024 - Oct 11, 2024
  • Oct 27, 2024 - Nov 01, 2024
  • Apr 06, 2025 - Apr 11, 2025
  • May 04, 2025 - May 09, 2025
  • May 18, 2025 - May 23, 2025
  • Aug 31, 2025 - Sep 05, 2025
  • Sep 21, 2025 - Sep 26, 2025
  • Oct 05, 2025 - Oct 10, 2025
  • Oct 19, 2025 - Oct 24, 2025
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews
Hyatt Place Charlottesville
5 nights
Charlottesville
Hyatt Place Charlottesville offers six guestroom floors featuring 137 guest rooms including three spacious suites. This Virginia hotel is located in the heart of Charlottesville and is within walking distance to restaurants, the theater and the Shops at Stonefield Town Center. Conveniently located near the University of Virginia and the Historic Downtown Pedestrian Mall, the hotel is also located less than ten miles from the Charlottesville Albemarle Airport.
TripAdvisor Reviews





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