10 Feb Take a Presidential Road Trip!

In honor of President’s Day we thought what better way to get into the “Presidential” spirit than take a road trip and visit some of nation’s greatest and most historical sites. We’ll start our trip in the northeast and end in the midwest. Here we go!

George Washington Equestrian Statue at Public Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

Boston, Massachusetts

Boston is a city of American firsts—the first public library, first subway system, first public school and first public park are all located in Boston. You can kick off your city tour on the Freedom Trail, free of charge, and walk the same cobblestone streets as the puritans and revolutionaries. The list of historical sites and museums is endless, you won’t run out of things to do for days!

Historic Liberty Bell at Independence Hall National Historic Park.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

A historic trip to Philly is not complete without visiting Independence National Historical Park. Within the walls of Independence Hall Assembly Room, the Continental Congress met, George Washington was appointed to command the Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the U.S. Constitution was drafted. Needless to say, it’s worth a visit. But it doesn’t stop there. The area is also home to the Liberty Bell, Gettysburg Battlefield, National Civil War Museum, among many others landmarks.

The White House in Washington DC

Washington, D.C.

This next stop needs no introduction. Home to the White House, the Pentagon, National Mall and Memorial Parks, the Lincoln Memorial, and Smithsonian Museums – there is no shortage of historical sites to see while in the nation’s capitol. The best part? Entrance to all of these historical landmarks and museums are free of charge.

Horse Drawn Carriage in Historic Williamsburg, VA

Williamsburg, VA

Former Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison among many others called Virginia home. Williamsburg specifically was the thriving capital of Virginia when the dream of American freedom and independence was taking shape. For 81 years (1699-1780), Williamsburg was the political, cultural, and educational center of what was then the largest, most populous, and most influential of the American colonies. A Colonial Williamsburg experience is truly a unique one, where else can you explore a Revolutionary City?

Springfield, Illinois: A statue of Abraham Lincoln stands in front of the 1868 Illinois State House

Springfield, Illinois

Our first stop in the Midwest is to the Land of Lincoln in his home state of Illinois. Former President Abraham Lincoln was a hometown hero and such his house was turned into the Lincoln Home National Historic Site for all to visit. In fact, that was the only home he ever owned. Other nearby, and free, Abe sights to see include the Lincoln-Herndon Law Offices State Historic Site where he used to practice law, and the Old State Capitol where he gave his infamous “House Divided” speech in 1858.

Gateway Arch, St. Louis

St. Louis, Missouri

While the stainless-steel-faced landmark is officially called the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, it’s better known as the Gateway Arch. Completed in 1965, the 630-foot structure is America’s tallest monument —it’s actually more than twice as tall as the Statue of Liberty. Other notable sights to see while in town are the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and the National World War I Museum.

Mount Rushmore, South Dakota Black Hills

Keystone, South Dakota

Last but certainly not least, no Presidential Road Trip could be complete without a trip to Mount Rushmore National Park. Carved into the granite mountainside in the Black Hills, this sculpture of four of America’s most influential presidents (Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt) was considered an extraordinary feat of engineering upon its completion in 1941. To this day it still draws over 2 million visitors each year.

We hope you enjoyed the road trip and learned something about American history along the way. No matter where you travel, ResortRentals.com has you covered for affordable accommodations across the world.