The JTHG Historical Vacation Planner
Itineraries for Revolutionary War Sites, Civil War Battlefield Tours, and More
The Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area is an immersive experience where visitors can take a vacation through American history. From Civil War and Revolutionary War battle sites to the homes of nine US Presidents to historical Main Street communities, inns, restaurants, and marketplaces, each and every itinerary you’ll find along the Journey is a vibrant showcase of the American spirit.
Exclusive trips available only through Mid Atlantic Tours and Receptive Services (MARS) and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership include customized experiences, behind-the-scenes historical tours, book signings with Pulitzer-prize winning authors, lectures with noted historians, meet-and-greets with local dignitaries, and more!
African American Heritage Tour
African American history is more than a story of an ethnic group. It’s a window on America itself. Along the Journey Through Hallowed Ground, there are memorials, exhibits and museums that recount the African American experience. Some sites are destinations all their own; others make for fascinating stops while touring the Journey. The locations of the sites are listed south to north, and described by proximity to Routes 15 or 20, the mainline of the Journey Through Hallowed Ground.
A Presidential Journey
A visit to sites linked to U.S. presidents: their homes, retreats, and places important to their presidencies and American history.
Orchards and Highlands Loop
The Journey begins at a covered bridge and visits a stop on the Underground Railroad. There are breathtaking views of Adams County’s Orchard Belt nestled below South Mountain, and a stop at one of the Journey’s architectural wonders, the Historic Round Barn and Farm Market in Cashtown.
Catoctin Scenic Loop
This is your chance to travel not just along The Journey Through Hallowed Ground, but into it—into the mountains, that is, to enjoy stunning views of Frederick County. Follow a leafy drive through the Catoctin Mountains to the famed Cunningham Falls and the historical exhibits at Catoctin Mountain Park, then on to historic Thurmont for lunch and the Camp David exhibit at Historic Cozy.
Potomac Legacy Loop
A scenic drive in Loudoun, Va., Frederick and Washington, Md., with a stop in Harpers Ferry, W.Va. Cross the Potomac River at the site of a Civil War skirmish, then take a scenic drive upriver to Brunswick, Md., and on to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.
Route 231
Travel the western edge of the Piedmont in Orange and Madison counties on the historic Blue Ridge Turnpike, one of the most scenic drives of the Appalachian Mountains.
