East Coast Camping Adventure

Meet your leader near New York City at the Grove Street Station in Jersey City at 10am for a Welcome Meeting followed by a leader-led walk-through Greenwich Village to the Highline Trail, a former elevated train line reinvented as a lush public park. After free time for lunch, depart New York and head to your comfortable campground in the nearby foothills of the Pocono mountains.

This morning, kickstart your journey along North America’s history trail and drive south towards the nation's capital, stopping at Philadelphia on the way for a look at some of the highlights of the Old City, including the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. You will also discover Philadelphia’s scenic car-free streets, get a feel for what an East Coast historic neighbourhood looks like, and perhaps take a seat on one of the Once Upon A Nation storytelling benches in the historic district. Grab some lunch in Philadelphia before travelling to your campground near Washington DC. Today’s driving time is approximately 4.5 hours.

This morning join your leader for an orientation tour of Washington DC, then the rest of your day is yours to explore Washington DC your way. We suggest grabbing a map and planning your day to ensure that you maximise your time in this iconic city. Choose from around 100 famous world-class museums such as the National Air and Space Museum or National Museum of Natural History or seek out one of the smaller museums hidden around the city. Washington DC is also overflowing with famous monuments and buildings like the White House and Capitol Hill so you’ll find plenty to keep you entertained today.

Depart Washington DC and drive to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania. The state of Pennsylvania is home to the greatest number of Amish in the USA, with a community of around 30,000 in the Lancaster area. Known for their resistance to modern technology and traditional values, visiting an Amish community can feel like taking a step back in time. Take a traditional buggy ride, then visit a local dairy farm where you’ll meet some locals and learn about Amish customs and culture.

After breakfast, settle back and relax for the scenic journey north through the rolling farmland of Pennsylvania into upstate New York. In the afternoon, visit the United States’ side of Niagara Falls and ride the iconic Maid of the Mist boat right up to the base of Horseshoe Falls. You’ll almost certainly get drenched so wear your poncho! Later in the afternoon, drive to your campsite and pitch your tent in the heart of the great outdoors, share stories with your fellow travellers around the campfire, and make s’mores (a traditional sweet night time campfire treat in North America) as you watch the stars sparkling overhead.

After breakfast, you’ll discover the most “gorges” part of New York state in the Finger Lakes region. These eleven glacier-formed lakes offer breathtaking views of rolling vineyards and sparkling water, but the most astonishing attractions here are the many waterfalls and limestone gorges. Hike the three-mile round-trip gorge trail at Watkins Glen State Park, which passes by, over and under 19 picturesque waterfalls, and has photo opportunities galore.

You’ll be closing your East Coast loop today as we head back to New York City. No accommodation is provided tonight, but if you do wish to spend extra time in New York, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability).