Washington D.C.

Spy Kids: Sleuths & Secrets With Your Grandchild

Program No. 23214RJ
Decode D.C.’s history of espionage with your spy kid grandchild, as you visit the city’s most notorious spy sites and learn about investigative gadgets from former CIA & NSA agents.

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At a Glance

Invite your grandchild to join the ranks of Harriet the Spy, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Encyclopedia Brown as they transform into student sleuths and spy kids during a week of mysterious adventure. Together, you’ll investigate Washington D.C.’s cryptic history during visits to the city’s most notorious spy sites, as well as the International Spy Museum and the Cryptologic Museum at the NSA Headquarters. Meet former CIA agents, and learn about different spying devices and decoding tactics on this covert adventure!
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Program involves walking up to two full miles each day, taking Washington, D.C. public transportation, and getting on/off motor coach.

What You'll Learn

  • Enjoy a private, hands-on presentation on the art of espionage from a former intelligence officer.
  • View rare spy artifacts and learn all about the art of espionage at the International Spy Museum.
  • Decode D.C.’s history of espionage at Mount Vernon as you learn about the Culper Gang, America’s first Spy Ring, coordinated by George Washington himself.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Profile Image
Charles J. Miller
Chuck Miller served 28 years at the Central Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. At the CIA, he held assignments as a technical operations officer, program manager, systems engineer, and technical counterintelligence officer. At the NRO, he served as mission director, project manager and senior systems engineer. Chuck served abroad for ten years in support of overseas operations. Chuck retired in 2001 and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal and the NRO Silver Medal for Achievement. Since 2009, Mr. Miller has been an independent consultant.

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

Profile Image of Charles J. Miller
Charles J. Miller View biography
Chuck Miller served 28 years at the Central Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office. At the CIA, he held assignments as a technical operations officer, program manager, systems engineer, and technical counterintelligence officer. At the NRO, he served as mission director, project manager and senior systems engineer. Chuck served abroad for ten years in support of overseas operations. Chuck retired in 2001 and was awarded the Career Intelligence Medal and the NRO Silver Medal for Achievement. Since 2009, Mr. Miller has been an independent consultant.
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While we make every effort to ensure the accuracy of our published materials, programs are typically advertised more than a year prior to their start date. As a result, some program activities, schedules, accommodations, personnel, and other logistics occasionally change due to local conditions or circumstances. Should a major change occur, we will make every effort to alert you. For less significant changes, we will update you during orientation. Thank you for your understanding.
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6 days
5 nights
13 meals
5 B 4 L 4 D
DAY
1
Check-in, Registration, Orientation, Welcome Dinner
Washington, DC
D
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 4:00 p.m. Remember to bring your nametag (sent previously).

Afternoon: Program Registration: 3:00-5:00 p.m. After you check in and have your room assignment, join us at the Road Scholar table in the hotel lobby to register with the program staff, get any updated information, and confirm the time and location of the Orientation session. If you arrive late, please locate your Group Leader and let them know you have arrived. Orientation: 5:15 p.m.: The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. This is a Road Scholar Grandparent program. Grandparents are responsible for their grandchildren at all times. If/when separate age group activities are conducted concurrently, program staff will supervise. Minors are never to be left unsupervised. We will learn from a series of local experts who will give lectures, lead field trips, performances and hands-on experiences. Program-related travel and transfers will be via private motorcoach, public transportation, and walking. Your knowledgeable Group Leader will provide you with all pertinent information. We will have meals at the hotel and local restaurants, and a period for you to explore local cuisine on your own. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

DAY
2
National Cryptologic Museum, D.C. Highlights
Washington, DC
B,L,D
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 50 miles throughout the day, approximately 75 minutes total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile and standing at museum.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will depart by motorcoach for the National Cryptologic Museum in Annapolis, Maryland, where you can join your grandchild on a scavenger hunt around the museum or crack open your own interests with a separate expert-led journey.

Lunch: At the museum.

Afternoon: After we’ve mastered cryptology, we’ll head back to D.C. for a motorcoach exploration of the monuments and memorials led by our expert Group Leader.

Dinner: At a local restaurant.

Evening: At leisure. Rest up for tomorrow, when we will take a field trip to learn about one of America’s founding fathers and his role as a spymaster.

DAY
3
Spycraft, Mount Vernon, Spying & The Revolutionary War
Washington, DC
B,L,D
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 45 miles throughout the day, approximately 75 minutes total riding time. Walking and standing up to 1 hour with some uneven terrain and steep inclines.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will be joined by an intelligence expert for a lecture and activity on spycraft. After, we will board the motorcoach and head to Virginia for a field trip to explore George Washington’s estate at Mount Vernon, a National Historic Landmark. On our way, we will watch a film about the Culper spy ring who reported to General Washington during the Revolutionary War.

Lunch: At Mount Vernon.

Afternoon: Arriving at Mount Vernon, we will explore the mansion with a knowledgeable expert. We’ll learn about the history of George and Martha Washington’s beloved home and how Washington personally supervised its design and expansion. From MountVernon.org: “In 1754, George Washington began residing at Mount Vernon, a 3,000 acre estate and a house that likely approximated 3,500 square feet. By his death, Washington’s Mount Vernon consisted of about 7,600 acres and an almost 11,000 square foot mansion.” We will have some time to continue exploring Mount Vernon independently to see what interests each of us most. There are four different gardens, the tombs of George and Martha, a working farm, and re-creations of his distillery and gristmill. We’ll ride back to the hotel after our field trip and be joined by George Washington himself, who – via a historical re-enactor – will reveal more about the Revolutionary War.

Dinner: At the hotel.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
4
International Spy Museum, Free Time
Washington, DC
B,L
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

Activity note: Walking up to 3 miles indoors and out; urban terrain. Walking and other free time activities according to personal choice.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will walk over to the International Spy Museum for a self-directed field trip. The museum – which moved into its current location in 2019 – is “…the only public museum in the U.S. dedicated solely to espionage and the only one in the world that provides a global perspective on the ‘invisible’ profession....” Its large and extensive collection includes amazing artifacts of international espionage, some never displayed publicly before. Many of these objects are being seen by the public for the first time. The museum seeks to present the history of espionage throughout history with accurate, unbiased information.

Lunch: At a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration.

Dinner: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Evening: At leisure.

DAY
5
Udvar-Hazy Center Military Aviation, Code Making & Breaking
Washington, DC
B,L,D
Hyatt Place Washington DC/National Mall

Activity note: Getting on/off a motorcoach; driving about 65 miles throughout the day, approximately 90 minutes total riding time. Walking up to 1 mile indoors and out; urban terrain.

Breakfast: At the hotel.

Morning: We will start with a field trip by motorcoach to visit the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, part of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum. During our field trip, we will learn about the important role aerial reconnaissance and satellites played during Cold War from an expert as we explore the Udvar-Hazy Center’s collection of aviation and space artifacts. Afterward, we’ll have time to explore the center’s two hangars of air- and spacecraft on our own, including one-of-a-kind biplanes from the 1920s and 1930s, a Concorde, and the Space Shuttle Discovery.

Lunch: At the hotel.

Afternoon: This afternoon we will put our skills to the test with a fun activity hosted by our Group Leader. Grandkids and grandparents are no longer junior detectives, but could be the next international spy!

Dinner: At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends.

Evening: We will wrap up our evening with another activity led by our Group Leader to put our detective skills to the test! Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

DAY
6
Program Concludes
Washington, DC
B

Activity note: Hotel check-out by 11:00 a.m.

Breakfast: At the hotel. This concludes our program.

Morning: If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!






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