Day 19, Friday, June 25, 2021, College Park, MD (McLean, VA)

A 30 minute car ride to Great Falls Park in McLean, VA.  The park is part of the National Park Service and is located along the Potomac River where there is a 77 foot drop resulting in a series of beautiful waterfalls and cascades before entering one mile long Mather Gorge. We hiked, ate our picnic lunch and hiked some more. The trails were mostly shaded meandering through the forest along the river. On the way back to the coach we picked up bubble teas at Kung Fu Tea. 

Day 18, Thursday, June 24, 2021, College Park, MD (Mount Vernon, VA)

A 45 minute car ride to Mount Vernon, VA, to visit the estate of George Washington. We had purchased advance tickets for the mansion tour which were required. This was Washington’s residence from 1759 until his death in 1799 but the property was in his family since 1674. Of course, he was gone for 8 years for the Revolutionary War and later his two terms as President. The mansion is built of wood but with a style to look like masonry.  Much of the furnishings are original as of his death in 1799. The estate has many buildings as well as gardens and overlooks the Potomac River. Plaques at each building described its purpose and how it took over  300 enslaved people to make this estate function. The estate was well organized and we even had a lecture/discussion with Washington’s secretary (his right hand man) about life in the 18th century. I rate this a must see. On the way back to the coach we stopped in Alexandria, VA for a drive around Old Town and a visit to the George Washington Masonic Memorial. Another very pleasant day except for the Beltway traffic which is insane. Please slap me if I ever complain about Tampa traffic again. 

 

Day 17, Wednesday, June 23, 2021, College Park, MD (Annapolis)

A 40 minute car ride to Annapolis, MD, for the day. Our first stop was the Maryland State House, the oldest state capitol in continuous legislative use built 1772-1777.  The State House served as the first peacetime capitol of the US. George Washington resigned his commission as commander in chief of the Continental Army in 1783 in the old Senate Chamber and a month later Congress ratified the Treaty of Paris officially ending the American Revolution. We toured the William Paca House and Garden, built in 1763-1765.  Paca was a signer on the Declaration of Independence and the third Governor of Maryland. After a stroll along main street and the docks we took out lunch from Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls. The “Bar Harbor Rolls” we each had each contained a 1-1/4 lb. lobster. Delicious. We also visited the Hammond-Harwood House, a National Historic Landmark and walked by the Government House of Maryland.

Day 16, Tuesday, June 22, 2021, College Park, MD 

A welcomed cold front came in today with rain until about 3 pm. So we relaxed and rested in the coach. When the rain stopped, we picked up bubble teas at Gong Cha and drove around the University of Maryland. Evening walk around the campground required light jackets. Delightful! Ran the heat tonight with low temps in the 50's.