The Shores of Civil War History

Arrive in Alexandria to embark Yorktown. Settle in to your cabin and familiarize yourself with the ship and her crew. Overnight aboard ship docked in Alexandria.

From port in the historic city of Alexandria, choose to explore Fredricksburg or Mount Vernon. The Battle of Fredricksburg was fought in 1862 and is remembered among the most one-sided battles in the Civil War. The Fredricksburg Historical District contains over 350 buildings that date from the 18th and 19th centuries.Visit the Fredricksbug and Spotsylvania Ntional Military Park. Alternatively, choose to visit Mount Vernon, George Washington's massive estate and gardens. Tour the sweeping grounds including the mansion, museum, slaves' quarters, and the gardens. Also visit the recently opened distillery, a reconstruction of Washington's original whiskey distillery.

Call in Yorktown. From here choose from two excursions to visit either Fort Monroe or Colonial Williamsburg. Fort Monroe has guarded the Chesapeake Bay from 1834 until is was decommissioned in 2011, when it was named a National Monument. Tour the fort and Casement Museum where Confederate President Jefferson Davis was imprisoned from 1865-67. Set out to explore the USS Monitor Center to see the famed Iron-clad ship that fought in the Battle of Hampton Roads. Alternatively, visit Colonial Williamsburg. The capital of the Virginia colony from 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg is the nation’s premier living museum, offering visitors a glimpse of life as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries. Enjoy a guided tour of the many buildings including the Governor's Palace and dine at an 18th century tavern.

Relax aboard the Yorktown while you cruise the open ocean. Enjoy the stunning views from deck, attend an informative lecture, take advantage of the ship's amenities, or settle in with a good book while you prepare for the next leg of your journey.

Visit the History Place, with exhibits relating to the Civil War, as well as Fort Macon, a Confederate garrison during the Civil War. Alternatively, visit Tryon Palace and Gardens. Explore the Federal-style Dixon House and Georgian-style John Wright-Stanley House.

Tour Wilmington's historic district, a veritable open-air museum of 19th-centiru architecture. Drive to Fort Fischer, a Confederate stronghold that fell to the Union in 1865 after a massive assault by a force of 9,000 men and 56 ships.

A prosperous, cosmopolitan seaport from colonial times, it was here in Charleston's harbor that Confederate troops first fired upon Fort Sumpter, thus initiating the Civil War. During your two days in this enchanting city, tour Charleston's extensive historic district. Visit the striking Middleton Place, an 18th-century plantation that is now a National Historic Landmark. Situated on the Ashley River, the property includes the House Museum and 65 acres of magnificent gardens. Enjoy plenty of time to explore at your leisure.

South Carolina's Lowcountry flourished on the cotton trade, making Beaufort one of the wealthiest cities in the country after Independence. Tour this elegant city, with its magnificent antebellum homes and shady lanes.

Tour Georgia's oldest city, planned by James Oglethorpe in 1733. Explore this renowned Historic District, the largest in the country, which features over 1,000 Federal and Regency buildings and 21 verdant squares. Enjoy time at leisure to explore the lovely streets and squares. Overnight aboard ship.

Following an early breakfast on board, disembark the Yorktown in Savannah. Transfer to airport to continue your travels.