9-Nights Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA from $5,395

Insight Vacations

OFFER ID 1505941

Spectacular National Parks Of Eastern Usa
Discover the spectacular National Parks and eclectic cities of the Eastern USA on this 10-Day guided tour. Revel in wide open spaces, stunning landscapes, iconic city sights and enjoy a bounty of food, music and art. Starting in Washington D.C., enjoy the spectacular colors of Shenandoah National Park, taste signature wines at the Veritas Winery and reconnect with nature at New River Gorge National Park in West Virginia, America’s newest National Park. Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Citizen Vinyl Record’s press factory in Asheville, and explore the vast Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. Uncover the region’s fascinating history at the Oconaluftee Indian Village as you join a Cherokee cultural expert for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Picnic in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and explore the intricate caves of Mammoth Cave National Park, ending your trip with a crescendo in Nashville, the toe-tapping home of country music.

Dining Summary

3 Dinner with Wine (DW)
9 Breakfast (B)
3 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Nashville: This truly unique park, Mammoth Cave National Park features the longest known cave system in the world. Join a Park Ranger for a tour of the intricate cave system and learn about thousands of years of human history and rich biodiversity that earned this park a title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
Nashville: MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® with a visit to the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. For music lovers of all generations, this museum inspires, educates, and transforms the appreciation of American music all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

Authentic Dining

: Join your Travel Director and meet fellow guests at a private Welcome Dinner with drinks at 18:00.
Asheville: Enjoy a fun and educational walking food tour of Asheville’s culinary favorites that spotlight the region’s signature farm-to-table, local flavors. Taking a seat at several acclaimed eateries, enjoy outstanding food and drink pairings, designed by some of Asheville’s most notable chefs, brewers, and mixologists.
Smoky Mountains National Park: Enjoy an intimate picnic lunch while overlooking the Smoky Mountains. The secluded Collins Creek picnic site sits near a scenic creek, and here you can relax, enjoy tasty delights and bask in nature’s beauty.
Nashville: Dine at one of the locals' favorite restaurants, Puckett's.

Insight Choice

Nashville: This truly unique park, Mammoth Cave National Park features the longest known cave system in the world. Join a Park Ranger for a tour of the intricate cave system and learn about thousands of years of human history and rich biodiversity that earned this park a title of UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve.
Nashville: MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® with a visit to the National Museum of African American Music, the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the many music genres created, influenced, and inspired by African Americans. For music lovers of all generations, this museum inspires, educates, and transforms the appreciation of American music all while celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack.

Insight Experiences

Visit a pioneer mountain farm-village that lends voice to the people of Southern Appalachia through a recreated community complete with log cabins, barns, farm animals, churches, schools and gardens. There are over 250,000 artifacts of folk art, musical instruments, baskets, quilt and Native American artifacts. Feast on a full Southern Appalachian country lunch and enjoy authentic traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band.
Shenandoah Valley: Taste signature wines, and enjoy a tasty farmhouse lunch, while overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains. With over 50 acres of vineyards, the Veritas winery is a must see for wine enthusiasts, producing an extensive range of complex and elegant wines. Epitomizing the true heart of Virginia, the huge estate was originally a horse and cattle farm, and was transformed into this stunning winery by husband-and-wife team Andrew and Patricia.

Make Travel Matter

Washington, D.C.: This striking museum has collected more than 36,000 artefacts that reflect history, politics, sports, arts and entertainment. Explore the richness and diversity of the African American experience, what it means to their lives, and how it helped shape this nation.
Cherokee: Be transported to the 1760s at the Oconaluftee Indian Village, as you discover living history. Learn the stories and lifestyle of the Cherokee with a Cultural expert, and together walk winding paths, flanked with traditional dwellings, work areas and sacred ritual sites. Here you can also interact with villagers as they hull canoes, sculpt pottery and masks, weave baskets and fashion beadwork. Your experience advances UN Global Goals 10 & 11 - Reduced Inequalities & Sustainable Cities and Communities

Top Rated Highlights

Asheville: The Biltmore Estate is America's largest privately owned home and is as magnificent today as it was more than a century ago. Your self-guided house visit spans three floors and the basement of the luxurious family home of George and Edith Vanderbilt. Explore the stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests, and employees through displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art, and furniture.
Washington, D.C.: Take a city tour of the history lined streets of Washington, D.C. and learn about the proud heritage of

9 nights from $5,395 per person

Valid for new bookings deposited December 9, 2024 – February 20, 2025 for select 2025 travel

*Promotion may not be combinable with any other offers, promotions, or discounts, and is subject to availability. Other restrictions may apply.

Itinerary

Insight Vacations: Spectacular National Parks of Eastern USA

Day 1 - A Monumental Time in Washington, D.C.
Welcome to Washington, D.C., the nation's capital and a haven for history and art buffs alike. Join your Travel Director and meet fellow guests at a private Welcome Dinner with wine at 18:00.
Accommodations: Melrose Georgetown Hotel, Washington, D.C.
Meals: Dinner with Wine

Day 2 - Washington, D.C. to Shenandoah National Park
This morning, immerse yourself on a tour of Washington D.C. View iconic sights and national monuments, including the White House, Washington Monument, the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial. Visit the National Museum of African American History and Culture on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. As the newest member of the Smithsonian Institution, this is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. Leave the city sights behind in the afternoon and travel along Skyline Drive, the main scenic drive into Shenandoah National Park. Enjoy spectacular views across the colorful vistas of the park before arriving at your hotel, the historic Skyland Lodge. The evening is yours to relax and bask in breathtaking views of Shenandoah Valley.
Accommodations: Skyland Lodge, Shenandoah National Park
Meals: Breakfast

Day 3 - Shenandoah National Park
Start your day immersed in nature’s beauty with a gentle hike along the Stony Man Trail. The trail is part of the iconic Appalachian Trail and offers some of the best vistas in Shenandoah National Park, so have your camera ready. Visit the acclaimed Veritas Vineyards and Winery, for a wine tasting and farmhouse lunch. Taste signature wines and relax on the sundeck while enjoying spectacular views over the Blue Ridge Mountains. Later travel on to the New River Gorge National Park and your resort hotel, where the evening is yours at leisure.
Accommodations: The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 4 - Exploring New River Gorge National Park
Today explore New River Gorge National Park, the newest park in the America’s National Park System, encompassing over 70,000 acres of land. Visit the Canyon Rim Visitor Center to learn all about the history and flora and fauna of the park. Then stroll along a picturesque boardwalk trail to enjoy magnificent views of the New River Gorge Bridge. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy the park and hotel amenities at your leisure. Guests can also choose to take an optional guided Bridge Walk to learn the history of the longest single arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
Accommodations: The Resort at Glade Springs, Daniels
Meals: Breakfast

Day 5 - A feast of music and food in Asheville N.C.
This morning, depart for Asheville and unleash your inner musician with a tour of the famous Citizen Vinyl Record press factory. Learn the history of the label and factory, get an inside look at how their record pressing operation works, and see the original WWNC radio station and studio. Later, get a true taste of Asheville on a walking food tour. Take a seat at some of the most elegant, trendy, and acclaimed tables in this beloved foodie city to sample an array of flavors, cuisines, local produce, and drinks.
Accommodations: Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Asheville
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 6 - The Biltmore Estate Relaxed Start
Enjoy a relaxed start before visiting the magnificent Biltmore Estate, America's largest privately owned home. Tour the remarkable house and explore the lush gardens and arboretum. Through intriguing displays of vintage clothing, accessories, art and furniture, uncover stories of the Vanderbilt family, their guests and employees. The afternoon is yours at leisure to explore Asheville. Maybe try out the famous craft-beer scene? Guests can also choose an optional experience of the River Arts District Tour. Visiting some of the working studios where local artists produce and display their works, this guided tour offers a unique insight into the creative culture of the city.
Accommodations: Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park, Asheville
Meals: Breakfast

Day 7 - Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Depart for the Great Smoky Mountains via the Blue Ridge Parkway, one of the most beautiful drives in America. On the way, visit the Oconaluftee Indian Village, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. You'll join a cultural expert for an interactive journey through Cherokee lifestyle and history. On arrival in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, discover the importance of agriculture to the park’s ecosystem with a visit to the Mountain Farm Museum. See how families lived centuries ago through their unique collection of farm buildings. Savor a delicious and picturesque picnic lunch before continuing to your hotel. Enjoy magnificent views with stops along the way, including Newfound Gap, dramatically straddling the Stateline of North Carolina and Tennessee. The rest of the day is yours at leisure.
Accommodations: The Park Vista: A DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Gatlinburg
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 8 - The Museum of Appalachia and on to Nashville Relaxed Start
Following a relaxed start, step back in time with a visit to the Museum of Appalachia. Roam the original buildings of this living mountain village and learn about the people of Appalachia through the bounty of artefacts and stories they left behind. Feast on a full Southern Appalachian country lunch and enjoy authentic traditional bluegrass music from The Museum of Appalachia Band. Then journey on to Nashville and get acquainted with Music City on an orientation tour. Visit the picturesque Riverfront Park, Tennessee State Capitol and the 132-acre Centennial State Park, where you'll encounter an exact replica of the Parthenon. Pass by the city's lively honky-tonks and street performers on Broadway, as you make your way to the Ryman Auditorium, former and original home of the Grand Ole Opry.
Accommodations: Hotel Fraye, Nashville
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9 - Welcome to Music City
This morning, explore Nashville with Insight Choice. Choose to visit the National Museum of African American Music for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience celebrating the central role African Americans play in creating the American soundtrack. Alternatively, visit Mammoth Cave National Park and explore its intricate cave system with a guide. The rest of the day is yours at leisure. Maybe take a stroll down Broadway, soaking up the live music and atmosphere. Tonight, toast your travels at your Celebration Dinner and enjoy timeless southern hospitality at a local restaurant.
Accommodations: Hotel Fraye, Nashville
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10 - Depart Nashville
This morning, bid farewell to Nashville at your leisure, or extend your stay in Music City.
Meals: Breakfast

Featured Destinations

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in eastern Tennessee (near Gatlinburg, 160 mi/260 km east of Nashville) and is shared with North Carolina.

The Smoky Mountains get their name from the bluish haze that has always clung to them, and they're thought to be among the oldest mountains on Earth, having formed 500 million years ago. (The natural haze has been made thicker by man-made pollution—smog from far-off cities collects on the peaks.)

The Smokies can be a great area to drive through, as the scenery is both relaxing and striking. However, traffic gets heavy in the summer months and during the fall-color season. In fact, this is the most visited national park in the U.S. Crowds are thinner in the spring or early fall. Visitors can avoid congestion by staying away from main entrances to the park, where 75% of visitors congregate, and instead using some of the less popular access points; however, some of them do not have paved roads. The Greenbrier Entrance, 6 mi/10 km east of Gatlinburg, is one.

Because the area receives a lot of rain, a variety of trees and plants thrive in the Smokies. (The vapor emitted by all the greenery is the cause of the natural haze.) In late April and early May, wildflowers bloom along the roadside, and pink and purple rhododendrons decorate the area in June and July. However, the park is at its prettiest in autumn (mid-October), when the fall foliage turns colors. The park is also full of animals (bears, deer, wild turkeys and even moose), waterfalls and several historical sites, including the remains of a frontier settlement at Cades Cove.

There are plenty of hiking opportunities in the park, from brief strolls to multiday backpacking excursions. Backcountry permits are required for overnight hikes, and they can be hard to come by in peak season. Reservations should be made in advance.

One of the park's biggest draws is the hike up Mount LeConte. LeConte Lodge, near the summit, offers one of the park's only overnight accommodations other than camping.

Those who would rather drive to a lofty summit can take the road to Clingman's Dome, the highest point in the park and in Tennessee. An observation tower provides good views if the peak isn't wrapped in fog.

Other activities in the park include interpretive programs, picnicking, fishing and horseback riding. There are several campgrounds, though they fill up in the summer. Some of the campsites can be reserved.

Many towns near the park are perfect for a brief stint of antiques or crafts shopping. The Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville includes a museum and the restored home and tailor shop of the president who succeeded Lincoln. Up the road from Greeneville is the Davy Crockett Birthplace State Historic Area, preserved in memory of the Tennessee frontiersman and politician (he served three terms in Congress) who died fighting the Mexican Army at the Alamo.

The park is open daily 24 hours, and admission is free. Phone 865-436-1200. https://www.nps.gov/grsm.

Nashville

Asheville

Nestled firmly between the Great Smoky Mountains and the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville has many great qualities that attract a truly diverse population, hence the city's moniker: "Asheville: Discovery, Inside and Out."

Although Asheville is nationally known for the Biltmore Estate, George W. Vanderbilt's palatial home built in the 1890s, it represents just one of the attractions the western North Carolina city has to offer.

Since the railroads created easier access to western North Carolina in the late 19th century, swarms of people have been drawn to Asheville's magnificent beauty and hospitable climate. People-watching from one of the city's many outdoor cafes reveals its character more than any tour could: Among the constant flow of tourists, you'll see plenty of young professionals and hippies, retired couples, street performers and mountain folk.

The number of attractions in Asheville is astounding for such a modest city. In addition to the Biltmore Estate, you'll find seemingly countless restaurants of almost every variety, museums, art galleries, theaters, cozy pubs, breweries, eclectic shops and pristine natural attractions. Nearby Pisgah National Forest is a favorite place for locals to squeeze in a weekend hike or simply relax in the woods.

If you're strolling through downtown on a Friday night, you might happen upon an odd sight. In Pritchard Park, hundreds of people of every description, both young and old, gather to dance to the rhythms of a local drum circle. Strange as it might seem at first, it's sights like these that may just entice you to stay in Asheville for good.

In September 2024, Asheville experienced widespread, destructive flooding when Hurricane Helene dumped massive amounts of rain in the mountains of Western North Carolina. The storm washed away homes, flooded businesses and destroyed infrastructure, including interstate highways and other roads. Recovery efforts are underway, but the damage to the city and surrounding communities was devastating, and it will take time to rebuild. Please confirm current conditions before making plans to visit the area.

New River Gorge National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is the nations capital and is full of things to see and do. See where the President lives or even where the laws are made; take a tour of the Capitol building and White House. Washington D.C. is situated perfectly between Virginia and Maryland which allows its visitors the convenience of great attractions and activities. There are tons of museums, historical landmarks, art galleries, monuments, and all the government buildings right in Washington D.C. for you to visit. For a little more excitement visit Busch Gardens, Water Country USA, and Six Flags America close by.

Excursions

Washington DC: Deluxe Private DC Monuments & Memorials Pedicab Tour - 3 Hours

Washington DC: Washington DC by Land & Sea Private Experience - 7 to 8 Hours

Overview:

Get ready for a fun-filled day of biking and boating around Washington DC! Your expert guide will kick off the excitement with a private bike tour where you’ll take in the city’s iconic monuments and memorials. Afterward, there’ll be time for a bite to eat before boarding your private sport boat where your US Coast Guard licensed captain will entertain you with stories and history of the landmarks you spot along the way. Don’t miss this unique adventure!

Tour Itinerary & Highlights:

Note: This is a suggested itinerary – we can customize based on your preferences.

Let’s Get Rolling: Your DC bike tour begins when your guide arrives at your hotel complete with your bike, helmet, water and even snacks!
Biking Bliss: Pedal through history, passing the White House, Washington Monument, WWII Memorial and more.
Reflect on Freedom: Pause by the Reflecting Pool and soak in the Vietnam Veterans Memorial’s solemnity.
Lincoln’s Legacy: Visit the grand Lincoln Memorial and be inspired by Honest Abe.
War Stories: Explore the Korean War, Martin Luther King Jr., Roosevelt and Jefferson Memorials on two wheels.
Lunch Break: Fuel up for your next adventure with a stop for lunch.
Speed Boat Soiree: Climb aboard a private speed boat for a 90-minute tour of iconic monuments from the Potomac River.
Refreshments Included: Your DC boat tour comes with complimentary soft drinks, bottled water and ice.

More Information:

The duration of the tour is seven (7) to eight (8) hours.
This tour is seasonal and operates from April through November, seven (7) days a week.
Important Information for guests traveling with young children: Adults and teens can enjoy riding appropriately sized bicycles while smaller children can either ride kids’ bikes or be chauffeured safely by the DC Cycling Concierge in his custom family bike and/or tag-along.
Please inquire with your sales representative for information on wheelchair accessibility.

Click here for additional information

Vacation Details

Valid Date Ranges

05/10/2025 - 05/19/2025

from $5,395 per person

09/13/2025 - 09/22/2025

from $5,450 per person

* This departure has been designated a guaranteed departure by the operator, meaning that the minimum number of guests has been met, although still subject to weather and other conditions.

Prices Start At

from $5,395 per person

Length

9 Nights

Air City

Call for airfares from your city.

Vacation Rating

Deluxe
Fine dining, on-site bars or lounges and room service with extended hours are characteristic of deluxe establishments. Guest services usually include valet parking, concierge services, baggage assistance and laundry services. Other on-site facilities often include shops and boutiques, full service spas, full fitness facilities with pools and tennis courts. Business amenities may include available up-to-date technology and support staffs available for services. Attention to detail is apparent in the guestrooms which typically have stylish furnishings, quality bedding and bath products and often provide an evening turn down service.

Remarks

Trip prices are per person, land only, based on double occupancy and reflect applicable discounts. Trip prices and discounts are subject to change. Airfare is additional. Tour prices, dates and itineraries are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking. Other restrictions may apply.

All fares are quoted in US Dollars.

OFFER ID

1505941

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Journeys By Barbara

85606 Molvena Drive
Indio, CA 92203
USA

(707) 621-4717