Washington, D.C.
Discover Washington, D.C.: The Best of the Capital
Program No. 2833RJ
Discover D.C. through expert-led explorations of Capitol Hill, the memorials and topical issues. Plus, enjoy visits to historical institutions and a live show at a local theater!
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Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,249Sep 22 - Sep 27, 2024
Starting at
2,249Oct 13 - Oct 18, 2024
Starting at
2,249Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
2,249DATES
& starting prices
PRICES
Sep 8 - Sep 13, 2024
Starting at
2,859Sep 22 - Sep 27, 2024
Starting at
2,859Oct 13 - Oct 18, 2024
Starting at
2,859Oct 27 - Nov 1, 2024
Starting at
2,859Apr 6 - Apr 11, 2025
Starting at
3,089Not seeing the date you're looking for?
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At a Glance
Experience the invigorating environment of America’s capital city as knowledgeable instructors immerse you in a wide-ranging exploration of Washington D.C.’s iconic memorials, eclectic neighborhoods and topical conversations. During lectures with D.C. experts, discuss policy issues, explore vital history, and learn about famous figures throughout the capital. Delight in an introduction to Washington’s vibrant cultural institutions as you venture into the Smithsonian Museums, Library of Congress, Kennedy Center, National Cathedral and attend a live performance at a local theater.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking 1-4 miles per day, including to/from motor coaches; some standing.
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
- Gain historical insights while visiting Washington’s most treasured monuments and its newest memorials.
- Explore America’s unique political system with expert lectures and visits to the U.S. Capitol, Library of Congress, and the White House.
- Go behind the scenes at the Kennedy Center, learn about the many extraordinary gifts from the governments of more than 60 countries that make this a truly international destination.
Featured Expert
All trip experts
Ann McClellan
Ann McClellan is author of “The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration,” and “Cherry Blossoms, The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.” She has held executive positions at the Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund, the American Lung Association, the American Association of Museums, and the George Washington University Law School. Ann has viewed cherry blossoms in Japan, giving her even more of an appreciation for Washington’s sublime blooming season.
Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.
Ann McClellan
View biography
Ann McClellan is author of “The Cherry Blossom Festival: Sakura Celebration,” and “Cherry Blossoms, The Official Book of the National Cherry Blossom Festival.” She has held executive positions at the Smithsonian Institution, World Wildlife Fund, the American Lung Association, the American Association of Museums, and the George Washington University Law School. Ann has viewed cherry blossoms in Japan, giving her even more of an appreciation for Washington’s sublime blooming season.
Lynde Vespoli
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Lynde Vespoli has been leading groups since 2006 and has worked for Road Scholar since 2012. She has certificates in travel and tourism, as well as hospitality and tourism management. A native Midwesterner, she has led programs in that region as well as Washington, D.C., New York, Canada, Cuba, and Italy. In her free time, Lynde enjoys traveling with her family and spoiling her granddaughters.
Akram Elias
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Akram R. Elias has been a Mason since 1996, when he was initiated into Freemasonry at Potomac Lodge No. 5, F.A.A.M. in Washington, D.C. Elias has been the head of several Masonic lodges in Washington, DC, and was installed as Grand Master of Masons of the District of Columbia on December 8, 2007, and completed his term in office on December 13, 2008. The Grand Master oversees all Masonic lodges within a Masonic jurisdiction.
Karen Warnecke
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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.
Lili Murad
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Lili Murad knows firsthand the unique, life-changing moments that only travel can provide, whether it be building houses with Habit for Humanity in New Zealand, working at an eco-lodge in Costa Rica, or participating in a Bald Eagle field study project in Alaska. She made her first solo trip at the tender age of 9, and has since visited 30 countries and 29 U.S. states. In between adventures, she has put down deep roots in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Boston.
Steve Flynn
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Steve Flynn was raised in Oregon. He pursued graduate work in intercultural studies and has extensive experience leading educational groups for students and adults both within and outside the U.S. A current resident of Washington, D.C., he has spent his professional career working in international student exchange programs for the University of North Carolina system.
Raymond Batvinis
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Dr. Raymond J. Batvinis is the Historian for the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. For 25 years, he was a Special FBI Agent concentrating on counterintelligence and counterterrorism. Dr. Batvinis operates fbistudies.com, a website focused on the FBI. In addition to authoring scholarly articles, he has contributed to the Oxford History of Intelligence and has produced two books on the history of the FBI’s counterintelligence program: "The Origins of FBI Counterintelligence" and "Hoover’s Secret War Against Axis Spies."
Donald Daniel
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Donald C.F. Daniel is Professor Emeritus at Georgetown University and Milton E. Miles Professor Emeritus at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He was Special Assistant to the Chairman, US Intelligence Council in Washington; Ford Foundation Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington; Research Associate at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London; researcher-in-residence for the UN Institute for Disarmament Research in Geneva; and Associate Fellow at the Swedish National Defense College, Stockholm. He has directed political-military simulations involving participants worldwide.
Gautham Rao
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Gautham Rao, Associate Professor of History at American University, is Editor-in-Chief of “Law and History Review.” He did his undergraduate and graduate work at the University of Chicago and has been a fellow at the New York University School of Law and the University of Wisconsin Law School. His first book was “National Duties: Custom Houses and the Making of the American State” with the University of Chicago Press. His current book is “Slavery's Leviathan: Fugitive Slaves and the Making of the American Police State.”
Eric Arnesen
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Eric Arnesen is the Teamsters Professor of History at George Washington University. He earned his B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in African-American Studies and a Ph.D. in history from Yale University. A specialist in the history of race, labor, politics, and civil rights, he has written two award-winning books: “Brotherhoods of Color: Black Railroad Workers and the Struggle for Equality” (2001) and “Waterfront Workers of New Orleans: Race, Class, and Politics, 1863-1923” (1991). He has written, edited, or co-edited five other books.
Ella Schiralli
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Ella Schiralli is a certified D.C. group leader with a passion for sharing the culture, history, and modern vibrancy of our nation’s capital. She graduated from George Washington University with a B.B.A. and E.M.B.A. Ella values diversity and is passionate about leadership. She has had the opportunity to work and volunteer in organizations that range from advanced homeland security solutions and public policy advocacy, to women’s military achievements, the performing arts, and children’s advocacy.
Suggested Reading List
(3 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Discover Washington, D.C.: The Best of the Capital
Program Number: 2833
The Houses and Collections of Marjorie Merriweather Post: The Joy of It
A celebration of philanthropist Marjorie Merriweather Post’s passions for her residences and personal collections, reflecting centuries of some of the finest treasures in the world.
Washington
An instant classic on the way Washington works-and a witty, provocative portrayal of the tribes that run it-by a revered Washington writer and editor. Meg Greenfield, the illustrious long-time editorial page editor of the Washington Post, has written an instant classic that is as wise as it is wry. Greenfield came to Washington in 1961 at the beginning of the Kennedy administration and joined the Washington Post in 1968. Her editorials at the Post and her columns in Newsweek were universally admired in Washington for their insight and style. Here Greenfield provides a portrait of the United States capital at the end of the American century. Washington is an eccentric, tribal, provincial place where the primary currency is power. For all the scandal and politics of Washington, its real culture is surprisingly little known, and Meg Greenfield explains the place with an insider's knowledge and an observer's cool perspective.
The Washington National Mall
The Washington National Mall" is the first general history of America's greatest urban park. Learn the fascinating stories behind the monuments and museums, from the best known to the most obscure. The Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the Lincoln Memorial are all here, as are forgotten landmarks such as the Fish Commission, the Redwood Tree House, and Braddock's Rock. This amply illustrated volume has more than 100 archival photographs, many never before published, as well as recent color photographs of the monuments and museums. A detailed two-page map of the Mall and the surrounding area serve as a handy reference guide for visitors.