SLOCA COMMUNITY.
4TH EDITION.
BIRTH OF
A MODERN NATION
An American Story
Washington DC • Williamsburg • Monticello • And more
April 12-19, 2025
a
Family Learning Journey
by
guidebook
We are ready for our learning adventure! This book will serve as your road map for the trip, from where to be when, to useful tips about the hotels and sights. Please make sure to read the next day’s information each night before you go to bed in order to be prepared. Our goal is to reinforce learning while enjoying immersion in a whole new culture. We’ll learn first-hand through seeing, smelling, touching, and experiencing historical artifacts and famous places, artistic masterpieces, and different countries full of new sounds, foods, customs, and more. Magical moments and memories are about to be created! Don’t forget that you are free to bow out of any activity and just rejoin the group when you’d like. If you choose to skip something make sure to us so we don’t wait.
Thank you!
Cindy & Cédric
1 • before
2 • THE JOURNEY
3 • after
If at any moment, you encounter difficulties, let us know and we'll be happy to assit you.
1 •
before the trip
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
ARRIVAL meeting point @ XXX Ronald Reagan Airport (DCA) between gate 5 & 6 @ 5pm on Saturday April 12, 2025.
DEPARTURE @ Clarion Hotel Arlington VA @ anytime on Saturday April 19, 2025.
•
TOUR & GROUP ETIQUETTE
#1 Most important: don’t make your group late
#2 Let the kids speak/answer first, help them learn, support their attention
#3 Stay off cell phones while in museums or on the tour
(if you need a phone call, fall far to the back)
#4 Be aware of noise created that makes it difficult to hear – we’ll often be in loud, crowded areas so try to gather in closely, keep feet on gravel still and quiet, and encourage the little ones to gather closest to the guide
#5 Ask not only about the topic of the tour, but take advantage of the opportunity of being with a local to ask about life in their town
#6 In almost all museums, photography is allowed, but flashes are not
#7 Be flexible and keep a positive attitude
•
CONTACT
Need to call us?
Cindy +18054482364 (phone or whatsapp)
Cédric +18053299042 (phone or whatsapp)
•
HOTELS
WILLIAMSBURG, VA • Homewood Suites
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA • Country Inn
ARLINGTON, VA • Clarion Collection
(More information about the hotels in your Book)
•
EMERGENCIES EMERGENCIES
If you cannot reach us, call or ask anybody around to call (other group member or local): 911
•
2•
the journey
1
DAY
Saturday April 12
Washington DC
Title
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
ENTHUSIASTIC & EAGER PARTICIPANT
DIARIO OF THE DAY
DIARIOSONORO/PLAYLIST (bring your song)
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
BRING
/
INCLUDED
Dinner with water, Hotel
NOT INCLUDED
Transportation to the Hotel, Snacks, Personal Purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
6:00 • Welcome at the hotel
Holiday Inn Express Stratford London
6:15 • Walk to Dinner
6:30 • Dinner at HS & Co (fish&chips)
TO GO FURTHER
• We are located next to the Olympic Park designed for the London 2012 Olympics!
• the flag with the 2 hammers represents the football (not soccer!) club of West Ham (this neighborhood. They just won one of the European Cups this year! Here are some highlights.
• and we've walked over the Prime Meridian (Greenwich). On one side is the East of the World. On the other, the West... at least that is what the British thought at the time!
2
DAY
Sunday April 13
Jamestown, VA • Williamsburg, VA
Royal, Wallace, Park & Sunday Roast!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WHIZ
DIARIO OF THE DAY
DIARIOFOTOGRÁFICO
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
• Explain how the British government is set up? How is it similar and different from the United States?
• What is an abbey?
• Describe something interesting you saw at The Wallace Collection.
BRING
Daypack with water, snacks, Journal, pen/pencil, hat, sunscreen, extra layer & maybe umbrella (check the weather)
INCLUDED
Breakfast, Transportation, Entrances, Tour, Dinner
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Additional drinks at dinner, Personal purchases, Activities on free time
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
8.45 • Meet in lobby. Briefing before walking to Tube.
10.00 • Walking tour of Royal London (incl. Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace) (guided visit)
1.00 • Free lunch (around Trafalgar Square)
2.00 • Meet here (we'll take the bus 139)
2.30 • The Wallace Collection
4.00 • Meet in front of the Wallace Collection. Walk to Hyde Park
(Afternoon plan may change according to weather. But don't forget your umbrella and/or your rainjacket)
6.30 • Meeting point here (unless otherwise stated)
7.00 • Dinner at The Larrick (Sunday Roast)
TO GO FURTHER
• For the Wallace Collection, you can dowload their app here.
• To watch yesterday's Trooping The Color, the full session is here.
• To read about the UN & Muir Wood Forest (CA), click here.
• What makes June 18 such a special day for France? Listen to this historical moment here.
• “I need to spend a penny”: what's that?...
• "Wilding": hum...
• Speakers' Corner: read about it here.
• God Save the Queen or 'Tis of Thee? Read here.
3
DAY
Monday, April 14
Williamsburg, VA
Tower, Tate, Thames & Thali!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
FLEXIBLE PALETTE TRIES NEW THINGS
DIARIO OF THE DAY
DIARIOCINEMATOGRÁFICO
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
• Who built the Tower of London and why
• Why were some prisoners executed in public view and others in private?
• Why has art changed so dramatically from what we saw at The Wallace Collection to the contemporary art we saw at The Tate?
BRING
Daypack with water, snacks, Journal, pen/pencil, hat, sunscreen, extra layer & maybe umbrella (check the weather)
INCLUDED
Breakfast, Entrance tickets, Transportation, Dinner with water
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Drinks other than water at dinner, Personal purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
8.45 • Meet in lobby. Debriefing & Briefing.
9.15 • Depart from hotel
10.00-1.00 • Tower of London
1.30-3.30 • Free lunch @ Borough Market
4.00 • Tate Modern Museum
6.00 • Meet in front of Tate
7.00 • Dinner at The India
4
DAY
Tuesday April 15
Monticello, VA
Library, Museum, Free & Globe!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
PROMPT & PREPARED ADVENTURER
DIARIO OF THE DAY
DIARIOPOÉTICO
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
• Why is the Magna Carta so important
• Explain the modern day conflict about the Parthenon marbles?
• Did you see something today that altered the trajectory of the history of the world?
BRING
Light coat and something weather proof in case of rain.
The Globe is an open-air theater and rain or shine, the show goes on! Water, snack, journal, pen/pencil, hat, sunscreen.
At The Globe, no large bags permitted
INCLUDED
Breakfast, Private Guided Museum Tour, Transportation, Tickets for Play at The Globe
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Dinner tonight, Personal purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
09.00 • Meet outside in front of the hotel.
10.00 • British Library & British Museum (guided visit)
1.00 • Free lunch
Afternoon • Free time
Evening • Free dinner
7.30-10.00 • Play at The Globe
TO GO FURTHER
• "We build too many walls and not enough bridges." Isaac Newton
• 200 million books is barely enough for you? Want to hold your own British Library card in your here? It's here.
• More and more and more to discover about the Rosetta Stone? It's here.
• “My soup is getting cold, I’m sorry I’ll have to leave” Shakespeare
• King Georges and his books... Here.
• What a special theater... the Globe. Here.
5
DAY
Wednesday, April 16
Washington DC
Eurostar, Eiffel, Crêpes & Montparnasse!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
LEAN, MEAN TRAVELLING MACHINE
DIARIO OF THE DAY
DIARIODIBUJADO
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
• What body of water do we travel under on the Eurostar? How fast do we go?
• Who built the Eiffel Tower & what else is he famous for (important in the USA)?
BRING
Bring on Eurostar: Luggage.
You may want to bring food for lunch on the train (can buy in station).
INCLUDED
Breakfast, Eurostar ticket, Metro tickets, Dinner, creative walk by Cédric, Montparnasse Tower ticket
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Personal purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
8.45 • Meet in Lobby
9.45 • Departure to St Pancras Station
12.24 • Eurostar to Paris
4.00 • Arrival in Paris (Gare du Nord)
4.30 • Hotel Eden Montmartre
5.00 • Meet in Lobby
5.30 • Walk in Paris with Cédric
7.00 • Dinner at Crêperie Port-Manech (crêpes)
8.30 • Montparnasse Tower
Night • Fête de la Musique
6
DAY
Thursday, April 17
Gettysburg, PA
Versailles, Cluny, Flammenkueche & River Cruise!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
PATIENT & CONSIDERATE GROUP MEMBER
DIARIO OF THE DAY
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
BRING
Daypack with water only, no snacks, journal, pen/pencil, hat, sunscreen, extra layer & maybe umbrella (check the weather)
No large bags (19”x12”x8”), knives, cans or glass bottles or food is allowed at several stops today.
INCLUDED
Light Breakfast, Metro tickets, Bus to Versailles, Entrance Tickets, Dinner, Seine River cruise
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Personal purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
7.30 • Meet in Lobby
9.00 • Château de Versailles & Gardens (audioguide - download the app here)
12.00 • Free Lunch
1.00 • Train to Paris
2.30 • Cluny Museum (self-guided)
After • Free time
6.30 • Dinner at L'Alsacien Châtelet (flammekueche)
8.30-10.00 • River Cruise
7
DAY
Friday, April 18
Mount Vernon, VA
Washington DC
Lines, Louvre, Free & Flight!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
ATTENTIVE & OBSERVANT STUDENT
DIARIO OF THE DAY
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
BRING
Daypack with water, snacks, Journal, pen/pencil, hat, sunscreen, extra layer & maybe umbrella (check the weather)
INCLUDED
Light Breakfast, Walk, Metro tickets, Entrance to Louvre & audioguide
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Personal purchases, Dinner (at airport)
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
9.15 • Meet in Lobby
10.00 • Walk in Paris with Cédric
12.00 • Louvre Museum
After • free lunch + free time
5.30 • Meet in Hotel Lobby and train to Orly Airport
7.00 • Free dinner at Orly Airport
9.50 • Flight to Firenze (Vueling)
11.30 • Arrival Firenze Airport
12.30 • Arrival at Hotel Foresteria Valdese di Firenze
8
DAY
Saturday, April 19
Washington DC
Departure!
SUPER TROOPER AWARD
BRAVELY ATTEMPTS A NEW LANGUAGE
DIARIO OF THE DAY
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY
BRING
Water, snack, Street map, Trip Guidebook, journal, pen/pencil, sunscreen, camera; Children under 18 need to bring their passports (or photocopy) to prove age for children’s entrance ticket. Modest dress if you plan to enter any churches on your free time.
INCLUDED
Breakfast, Entrance Tickets, Private Guided Tour, Tips for tour guides, Dinner
NOT INCLUDED
Lunch, Personal purchases
PROGRAM OF THE DAY
10.00 • Meet in Lobby
10.30 • Galleria dell'Accademia + Walking Guided Tour in the Center of the City
1.30 • Free lunch
Afternoon • Free time
7.00 • Dinner at Hotel Foresteria Valdese di Firenze
8.30 • Walk with Cindy to Ponte Vecchio
3 •
after the trip
The trip is over but... is it really over?
While the traveling is over, there is much to be done:
-
Soak your feet after walking so many miles
-
Take back the control of your life by making your own itinerary
-
Share your trip stories with family and friends
-
Look through your photos and videos
-
Read books about the subjects or places that sparked your imagination
-
Try cooking some of the foods we ate and enjoyed
-
Take a language course or use an app
-
Dream about your next trip!
-
Recommend us to family & friends
While we love the intense learning adventures, we also lead in depth cultural immersion trips with smaller groups and a higher level of comfort as well as tailored trips for personal or professional groups that you can put together with us. We look forward to traveling with you in the future!