Dear Parents and Colleagues,
I have been wrestling with the question of what to do about our precious trip nonstop since Tuesday. I
have not been in further communication with you since then because I’ve been working with our trip
company to secure an alternate itinerary. They have been working (literally) around the clock, partly
because of our upcoming trip, but also because they have a group of 5th graders from another school in
DC this week! And their itinerary was (obviously) a more immediate need.
First, if you are upset about the shutdown, please contact your congressional representatives. I know
several of us have already, but the more they hear from us the better! I am trying to remain optimistic
that things may be settled by the time we get to DC.
Second, let me say that I feel that Thomas Tours has been the epitome of grace under pressure with this
situation. They have really been available to me and listened to my concerns. And, they are arranging
for extra guides and additional tickets (that were not in the original quote) at no extra cost to us!!
Third, I also want to share with you that I did consider trying to reschedule our trip. There are three
main reasons I decided to go ahead…first, while I am trying to remain optimistic, there is no way of
knowing how long the shutdown will last; second, many of you have taken vacation time for this trip and
are not able to change that due to your job commitments – if we leave the trip where it is, we can ALL
attend and I feel that is very important; third, the alternate itinerary is terrific – I firmly believe that the
experience we will have in DC will be top notch and amazing with the new itinerary. Please know that I
am so very disappointed with not being able (as of right now) to view the monuments close up. And, of
course, the Smithsonians are amazing… But I really think you’ll be excited to see the places we’re going
instead.
Fourth, if you have any concerns or questions about the trip, please contact me directly. I am more than
willing to talk to you!! I will be working all day tomorrow, so you can call me at 784-8928 or my cell is
(606) 407-0350. I realize this is a challenging situation for all of us, but I ask that you remember our
“Kids Come First” trip motto  and the fact that the experience for the kids will depend, at least in part,
on how we react to the situation as well.
And, lastly, there are two attachments to this letter. The first is Plan A (the original itinerary – and what
will be our plan if the situation in DC rights itself before we get there). The second is Plan B (the new
itinerary that we will go with if we are not able to follow Plan A).
Thank you, as always, for all you have done (and continue to do) for the trip.
See you Sunday night!!
Genny
PLAN A
ITINERARY
Sunday
October 6, 2013
Depart Morehead, KY
Scheduled Reststop Enroute
Monday
October 7, 2013
Reststop/Breakfast - Rest Area on I-70 at Mile Marker 39
Depart Rest Area
Arrive Washington, DC/Air and Space Museum
IMAX Movie
Following the IMAX Movie The Group Enjoys Exploring The
Air and Space Museum
(Lunch Included at The Air and Space Museum)
Depart Air and Space Museum
Arrive National Gallery of Art
Highlights Tour of The National Gallery of Art
Depart National Gallery of Art
Arrive Museum of American History
This Afternoon The Group Enjoys Discovering The Museum of
American History
Depart Museum of American History
Dinner (Included) at Uno Chicago Grill
Arrive Hotel/Check-In
Tuesday
October 8, 2013
Wednesday
October 9, 2013
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Depart Hotel
Arrive U.S. Capitol
Tour of The U.S. Capitol
Depart U.S. Capitol
Lunch (Included) at The Hard Rock Café
Tour of Ford's Theatre
Time for Souvenir Shopping
Tour of The World War II Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial,
The Vietnam Memorial and The Korean Memorial
Dinner (Included) at Pentagon City Mall
Tour of The Jefferson Memorial, The Roosevelt Memorial,
and The Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Return to Hotel
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Depart Hotel
Arrive White House Visitors Center
Photo Opportunity at the White House
Depart White House Visitors Center
Arrive Newseum
Time to Discover The Newseum
Depart Newseum
Arrive Natural History Museum
This Afternoon The Group Enjoys Exploring The Natural History
Museum
(Lunch Included at The Museum)
Depart Natural History Museum
Visit to The Iwo Jima Memorial
11:00 PM
6:30-7:30 AM
7:30 AM
8:45 AM
9:15 AM
12:45 PM
1:00 PM
2:15 PM
3:00 PM
5:30 PM
6:00-7:15 PM
7:45 PM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM
9:00-11:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:30-12:30 PM
12:45-2:00 PM
2:15-3:15 PM
3:45-5:30 PM
6:00-7:00 PM
7:30-9:30 PM
10:00 PM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM
9:00 AM
9:30 AM
12:30 PM
1:00 PM
4:00 PM
4:30-5:00 PM
Dinner (Included) at The Fish Market
Following Dinner The Group Enjoys a Ghost Tour of Old
Town Alexandria
Return to Hotel
Thursday
October 10, 2013
Friday
October 11, 2013
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Check-Out/Depart Hotel
Arrive Arlington National Cemetery
This Morning The Group Enjoys a Tram Tour of Arlington National
Cemetery Including a Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of
The Unknown Soldier
Depart Arlington National Cemetery
Arrive Mt. Vernon
This Afternoon The Group Enjoys a Tour of Mt. Vernon
(Lunch Included While at Mt. Vernon)
Depart Mt. Vernon, VA
Scheduled Reststop Enroute
Arrive Morgantown, WV
Dinner (Included) at Golden Corral
Depart Morgantown, WV
Scheduled Reststop/Drivers Exchange Enroute
Arrive Morehead, KY
5:30-6:45 PM
7:00-8:30 PM
9:00 PM
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
10:15 AM
11:00 AM
3:00 PM
7:15 PM
7:15-8:15 PM
8:15 PM
1:15 AM
PLAN B
ITINERARY
Sunday
October 6, 2013
Depart Morehead, KY
Scheduled Reststop/Drivers Exchange Enroute
11:00 PM
Monday
October 7, 2013
Reststop/Breakfast - Rest Area on I-70 at Mile Marker 39
6:30-7:30 AM
Depart Rest Area
7:30 AM
Arrive Washington, DC/Ronald Reagan Building – Meet Local Guides
8:45 AM
This Morning the Group will Have a Photo Opportunity at the White
9:00-10:30 AM
House, Visit Lafayette Square and the Ellipse Area
Arrive Bureau of Engraving and Printing
11:00 AM
Tour of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
11:15-12:15 PM
Depart Bureau of Engraving and Printing
12:15 PM
Lunch (Included) at Reagan Building
12:45-2:00 PM
Arrive Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
2:15 PM
Visit to Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum
2:30-4:30 PM
General Sightseeing in the Area
4:30-5:30 PM
Dinner (Included) at Uno Chicago Grill
6:00-7:15 PM
Arrive Hotel/Check-In
7:45 PM
Tuesday
October 8, 2013
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Depart Hotel
Arrive Mt. Vernon, VA/ Mt. Vernon
This Morning the Group Enjoys a Tour of Mt. Vernon
Depart Mt. Vernon, VA
Lunch (Included) at The Hard Rock Café
Arrive Ford’s Theater Center For Education and Leadership
Visit to the Ford’s Theatre Center For Education and Leadership
Time for Souvenir Shopping
Time to Visit the Memorials as well as the Capitol Area
Visit to the 9/11 Memorial
Dinner (Included) and Shopping at Pentagon City Mall
Return to Hotel
Wednesday
October 9, 2013
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Depart Hotel
8:45 AM
Arrive Newseum
9:30 AM
Time to Discover The Newseum
9:30-12-30 PM
(Lunch Included While at the Newseum)
Depart Newseum
12:30 PM
Arrive International Spy Museum
1:00 PM
This Afternoon the Group Will Explore the International Spy Museum
Depart International Spy Museum
4:00 PM
Visit to The Iwo Jima Memorial
4:30-5:00 PM
Dinner (Included) at The Fish Market
5:30-6:45 PM
Following Dinner The Group Enjoys a Ghost Tour of Old
7:00-8:30 PM
Town Alexandria
Return to Hotel
9:00 PM
8:15 AM
9:00 AM
9:00-11:15 AM
11:15 AM
NOON-1:15 PM
1:30 PM
1:30-2:30 PM
2:30-3:30 PM
4:00-6:00 PM
6:30-7:00 PM
7:15-9:00 PM
9:30 PM
Thursday
October 10, 2013
Deluxe Continental Breakfast Included in The Lobby of The Hotel
Check-Out/Depart Hotel
Arrive Arlington National Cemetery
This Morning The Group Enjoys Tour of Arlington National
Cemetery Including a Wreath Laying Ceremony at The Tomb of
The Unknown Soldier
Depart Arlington National Cemetery
Lunch (Included) at National Place
Depart Washington, DC
Scheduled Reststop Enroute
Arrive Morgantown, WV
Dinner (Included) at Golden Corral/Drivers Exchange
Depart Morgantown, WV
Scheduled Reststop
Arrive Morehead, KY
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
11:00 AM
11:30-1:00 PM
1:00 PM
5:00 PM
5:00-6:00 PM
6:00 PM
11:00 PM