Art Lover's Tour:  A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Nation's Capitol, plus Dining, Fairmont Washington DC 3-Night Stay, and Airfare for 2

This Experience Includes:

• 3-hour private guided tour of the art works at The Capitol and surrounding buildings


• $150 towards dining at Art and Soul Restaurant, including Meet & Greet with Executive Chef Wes Morton


• 3-night stay in a standard Fairmont room at the Fairmont Washington DC


• Daily breakfast for 2


• Round-trip coach class airfare for 2 from within the 48 contiguous U.S. to Washington, DC


• Complimentary booking

Private Art Lover’s Tour of the US Capitol “The Most Famous Building in the World”

You and a guest will enjoy a private tour of the art works at The Capitol with the Chief Guide of the US Capitol Historical Society.  Beyond the public’s standard experience, your unique experience will be guided by historian Steve Livengood. He has spent more than 40 years studying not only the Congress and its activities, and the famous people who have served there, but also becoming an expert on the artwork. 

You will be able to enjoy:

• The sculptures of the Statuary Hall collection representing each State


• The Rotunda paintings and sculpture with a description of the iconography and evolution of the collection


• The new $600 million Capitol Visitor Center with the newest bronze and marble sculptures


• The restricted Senate corridors where refugee artist Constantino Brumidi sought to glorify “the one country on Earth where there is liberty”, and the 20+year conservation of those works still in progress


• Close examination of the plaster original of the sculpture atop The Capitol, where American sculptor Thomas Crawford represented Freedom Triumphant in War and Peace and its iconic role before the Civil War


• Historic portraits and busts of Washington, Lafayette, Lincoln and other iconic figures


• The 1970-90s corridors of New York muralists Allyn Cox and Jeff Greene in the corridors beneath the House of Representatives Chamber


• Works of Italian artists brought to Washington to create world-class decoration in the original building 


• Epic paintings of Western settlement, great battles, and crucial moments such as The Declaration of Independence in the Rotunda and The Signing of the Constitution in the Grand Staircase next to the House Chamber


• Visit the Houses of Congress


• View famous historic spots: the Old Senate and Old Supreme Court Chambers, and the Crypt


• Visit your Congressman’s and Senators’ Capitol Hill offices


• Visit the fabulous Library of Congress, as seen in the movie “National Treasure”


• Discuss history with a knowledgeable and engaging historian

Some additional suggestions of free museums and galleries in the area (not part of tour):

Museum of Contemporary Art

National Gallery of Art

Smithsonian Institution & Museums (a collection of 17 museums in the D.C. area such as the Natural History Museum, Air & Space Museum, American Art Museum, plus the National Zoo)

Dining at Art and Soul Restaurant

Enjoy $150 towards dining at Art and Soul, where Owner and Celebrity Chef Art Smith offers a modern, regional cuisine with Southern accents and was named one of the Best Brunches in DC.  Perhaps best known for being the former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey, Art Smith is a two-time James Beard Award recipient. Located in The Liaison Capitol Hill, an Affinia Hotel, the restaurant and lobby lounge, ArtBar, provide a casually chic environment and offers indoor and outdoor patio seating. Art and Soul is just steps away from Union Station and the U.S. Capitol.

You will also enjoy an opportunity to Meet and Greet Executive Chef Wes Morton, subject to availability.  A graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vermont, he has previously held positions at Citronelle, CityZen, and The French Laundry early in his career. Morton honed the techniques that would ultimately guide him to top toque at Art and Soul.  Chef Morton has received numerous accolades including recognition by Washingtonian Magazine as a 2010 “Rising Star” for his modern interpretations utilizing locally sourced ingredients.

Fairmont Washington, DC (Georgetown)

Enjoy a 3-night stay in a standard Fairmont room including daily breakfast for two at this AAA 4-Diamond property located in Washington’s fashionable West End and adjacent to historic Georgetown. The Fairmont Washington, DC, Georgetown is considered one of the premier luxury hotels in Washington, offering unsurpassed service and amenities for discerning travelers.  At 17,000 square feet, the mezzanine-level health club is one of the city's largest and most comprehensive, featuring a 45-foot lap pool and squash and racquetball courts, as well as a whirlpool, sauna, aerobics rooms, exercise bikes, treadmills and fitness stations with headphones and TVs.

American Airlines

This package includes round-trip coach class service for two from any American Airlines destination in the 48 contiguous United States to Washington, DC, subject to availability. A minimum of three nights or a Saturday night stay is required. AAdvantage miles may be earned in accordance with the terms and conditions of the AAdvantage frequent flyer program. Miles cannot be utilized to upgrade these coach class certificates to a higher level of service. The following blackout dates apply:

2013: Mar 9-10, 16-17, 23-24; Mar 29-Apr 1; Jul 3-7; Nov 22-27; Nov 30-Dec 2; Dec 20-23, 27-31.

2014: Jan 1-2; Mar 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 28-31; Jul 3-6; Nov 21-26; Nov 29-Dec 1; Dec 26-31.