| East Coast Trip 2005 |
| Day 6: Hello from the Revolutionary War winter encampment
at Valley Forge. This morning we learned about how General
Washington’s troops survived the winter and trained during the spring
of 1778, outside British-occupied Philadelphia. We saw recreated huts,
training grounds, and George Washington’s actual headquarters. Valley
Forge is now an incredible park used for running, bike riding, horseback
riding, and much more.
The afternoon was spent in the Lancaster, PA area, learning about
Old-order Amish culture. What beautiful farmland and yummy food! |
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| Day 5: CMS toured Philadelphia today, beginning at the
National Constitution Center where many interactive exhibits taught us
about the document that govern our nation. In the signer’s hall,
students posed with life-sized signers of the Constitution, and some
even signed the document itself.
A short walk away we visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall,
the building in which the Declaration of Independence and Constitution
were accepted back in the day. Other sites visited included Congress
Hall, Carpenters Hall, Christ Church, Franklin Court, and Elfreth’s
Alley…a place with little tiny 18th century houses where people still
live.
The day ended at the Hard Rock Café with a birthday bash and dancing to
YMCA. Look for us in a few days with a report on Valley Forge,
Lancaster, and Gettysburg. |
| Click on the thumbnails below to see full size
images from Philadelphia. |
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| Day 4:
Today we began our day in New York with tour guide
extraordinaire, Jay, showing us the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
It was a beautiful day to be in NY Harbor. Back on land, we stopped at
Ground Zero, ate hot dogs and cheesecake for lunch, viewed Manhattan and
beyond from the Empire State Building, and even had time for a stroll
through Central Park. |
| Click on the thumbnails below to see full size
images from New York. |
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| Day 3:
After a view of Plymouth Rock and the Mayflower II, our crew
of 57 travelers spent the morning wandering through the 17th century at
Plimoth Plantation. Students spoke with pilgrims who “live” in this
1627 farming settlement, and several even helped a woman take out her
family’s bedding to air. When asked about the armor hanging on the
wall, the lady of the house demonstrated its use and wearing on one of
our kids.
We ended this day in New York City with a meal at Bubba Gump’s and
a night at the theatre seeing Phantom of the Opera. |
| Click on the thumbnails below to see full size
images from Plimoth. |
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| Day 2
: On Sunday the group hit the ground walking Boston’s Freedom
Trail. Learning about the Battle of Bunker Hill took us to a multi-media
presentation, a hike up the 294 steps of an obelisk commemorating the
battle, and our own reenactment of the regular army’s charge up
Breed’s Hill. Remember the story, “Make Way for Ducklings”? We
found the mother duck and her brood in the Public Garden before heading
to the site of the Boston Massacre.
Next it was off to Lexington and Concord for the “shots heard
‘round the world” where we met a volunteer interpreter who said we
set a record. He has never been in so many pictures or been photographed
with so many visitors at one time. He was one of many adults who have
complimented our CMS students with being so courteous, interested, and
knowledgeable. |
| Click on the thumbnails below to see full size
images from Boston. |
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| Day 1: Saturday, September 24, and we’re off to Boston.
After a late bus, we made it to SFO with time to spare. We are proud of
your kids who were polite, friendly airline passengers. We descended on
Boston’s Quincy Market for dinner and shopping, then a short swim
before bed. |
