Never Stop Learning

COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG
The 301-acre attraction in Williamsburg, Virginia recently underwent a $42 million renovation to update its facilities with a renewed focus on historical accuracy. A new 65,000-square-foot wing and 25 percent more gallery space showcase previously overlooked experiences of marginalized Colonial-era people. Walk into history at the largest living history museum in the world and meet costumed interpreters, ride in a horse-drawn carriage or take a candlelit walking ghost tour of Williamsburg's most haunted sites.

WASHINGTON, D.C.
On top of stunning monuments and historic landmarks, Washington, D.C. is a mecca for museums. The Smithsonian museums are obvious must-sees, but don't overlook the International Spy Museum, where authentic spy gear is on display, and Newseum, where you can walk in the shoes of a news broadcaster and learn about the right to a free press. Spring is an ideal time to visit, as the Cherry Blossom and Kite festivals happen in late March-early April.

NEW YORK CITY
Our nation's first official capital, New York City is steeped in history as the largest city in the U.S. since 1790. See firsthand Thomas Jefferson's handwritten draft of the Declaration of Independence -- with passages cut from the final version -- at the New York Public Library's brand new, first ever permanent exhibit, "Treasures." Take a ferry to Liberty Island and marvel at the Green Goddess's size 879 shoe. Round out the immigrant experience with a visit to the Tenement Museum, where a new walking tour highlights stories of how Black and African Americans shaped Lower Manhattan.

BOSTON
Experience one of the most impactful protests in U.S. history through live performances, interactive exhibits and full-scale 18th-century sailing vessels at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum. See the stories of the American Revolution on the 2.5-mile Freedom Trail, which connects 16 historical sites, including the home of Paul Revere. Another exciting stop on the trail is the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship still afloat. The famous ship earned her nickname "Old Ironsides" during the War of 1812, when enemy cannonballs bounced off her wooden hull.