We had fantastic experiences on our 2023 tours to the American South, the Emerald Isle of Ireland, and the beautiful Pacific North West! (see below for highlights).

We are currently accepting applications for our May 6-16, 2024 tour of Pennsylvania, the "Keystone State."  See below for highlights or click here for the itinerary. If you wish to join us simply complete an application form and mail it in with a deposit!

OUR 2024 TOUR SCHEDULE

Next year we plan to offer 2 or 3 tours: Pennsylvania, May 6-16; Maine in July/August; and Treasures of Italy in October .

Our popular 'State Series' continues in May 2024 with a journey through the historic Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. A few of the highlights will include:  Two Frank Lloyd Wright's homes: Fallingwater and Kentuck Nob; Philadelphia landmarks including a private guided tour of the Museum of  the American Revolution; the Flight 93 Memorial; Fort Necessity and Fort Ligonier; an exclusive visit to a farm adjacent to a remote corner of the Gettysburg Battlefield to tour "Lost Avenue."; a visit to an Amish farm; and a tour of Wheatland, home of President James Buchanan.

By popular demand, our international tour in 2024 will be Treasures of Italy: from Florence to Rome with an optional extension in Sorrento for those who wish to visit Pompeii and Herculaneum. This trip will fall in late October 2024 in an attempt to beat the crowds and the heat.

Looking to escape next summer's heat? We are considering offering a 3rd program that would operate in July-August 2024.... an in-depth look at Maine, The Pine Tree State, where this summer the temperatures averaged 20-25 degrees cooler than Washington, DC!  We are currently checking into hotel availability.

We will be booking Italy and Maine in the coming month; detailed itineraries and dates will be posted soon.

IN 2023 WE JOURNEYED TO.....

PACIFIC NW ADVENTURE, SEPTEMBER 20-30, 2023 

 This fall, we traveled to the beautiful State of Washington, from Seattle to Mount Rainier; to its exquisite coast, verdant rainforests, and on to the San Juan Island Archipelago. We toured the underground city of Seattle and joined a National Park ranger on a nature walk at the foot of Mount Rainier. In Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, our private naturalist guide led us tours of Hurricane Ridge which offered a spectacular panoramic view of the Olympic Mountain Range; the lush Hoh Rainforest; and stunning Rialto Beach. A local historian joined us as our private guide for two days as we explored San Juan Island. We heard the story of the Pig War of 1859 where a Captain George E. Pickett (yes, that George Pickett!) played a vital role in avoiding war with Canada over a dead pig. On Orcas Island, we drove to the summit of Mount Constitution which afforded a spectacular view of the San Juan islands. (click for detailed tour itinerary)

FROM MEMPHIS TO NEW ORLEANS, MARCH 2023

Featuring Ed Bearss' Mississippi  

On this trip, we explored historic and cultural sites including plantation homes along the Natchez Trace;Vicksburg National Military Park and the USS Cairo with Historian Terry Winschel; the birthplace of Elvis; Emerald Mound; the US Grant Presidential Library; and several stops on the US Civil Rights Trail. A highlight of our tour was our 3-day stay in Jackson-Brandon-Vicksburg Mississippi when Ed's daughter, Ginny Bearss took us to family landmarks including where Ed and Margie Bearss were married and their final resting place.  Ginny welcomed us back to her home for homemade peach cobbler and blueberry pie and showed us family photos (including the only known photo of Ed in a National Park Ranger uniform!) and mementos including the branding irons from the Bearss ranch in Sarpy MT. Our tour ended with two nights in New Orleans. (click here to see where we traveled)

IRELAND, THE EMERALD ISLE, MAY 2023

We had a phenomenal time on our grand adventure around the Emerald Isle in May. We visited the best known sites of both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  In the company of our outstanding National Guide Marian McCormack and a series of expert local guides, we toured the cities of Dublin, Waterford, Derry, and Belfast and explored the Dingle Peninsula, the Cliffs of Moher, the Burren, and Wicklow Mountains and Killarney National Parks. Other memorable visits included walking the Giant's Causeway (we were the first coach to arrive so we beat the hordes!); a day excursion by ferry to the Aran Island of Inishmore; a tour of a whiskey distillery; and a sheep dog demonstration at a working sheep farm! But for most, the Hawk Walk at the Ireland School of Falconry at Ashford Castle was hands down the highlight of the entire trip; participants are still talking about it! (Click to see our itinerary)

If you would like more information, please email us at tours@smountainexpeditions.com.

We hope to see you soon on one of our tours!

Marty Gane

South Mountain Expeditions

P.O. Box 204, Keedysville, MD 21756

Tel: 301-491-0225     email: tours@smountainexpeditions.com