Harrisburg, PA-From Richmond to Newport News, an upcoming HACC bus trip promises history buffs two days of sightseeing rich in Civil War history.

"A Civil War Experience!" heads to Virginia, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5, to tour prominent sites associated with America’s deadliest war.

Buses will leave from multiple HACC campuses starting at 4 a.m. Saturday and travel to the USS Monitor Center in Newport News. On Sunday, stops will include The Hollywood Cemetery, The Museum of the Confederacy, The Confederate White House and Monument Avenue in Richmond.

"The trip is a great opportunity to see things you wouldn’t normally have the chance to see with an experienced guide," said Lawrence Keener-Farley, a HACC adjunct faculty member and president of the Camp Curtin Historical Society, who will lead the trip.

Keener-Farley, former director of education for The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, has spent more than 45 years as a self-described student of the Civil War. Co-author of a tour book of Civil War Harrisburg, he currently serves as a consultant for the Pennsylvania Civil War Trails Project and is a member of numerous Civil War organizations.

The USS Monitor Center, the highlight of the trip, is a $30-million facility that opened in 2007, some 145 years after the historic clash between the Civil War ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. The battle marked the beginning of a new era in naval warfare, when the wood and sail ship was left behind for those made of iron and powered by steam.

In addition to seeing a full-size replica of the USS Monitor, visitors will experience a rich history of ironclad vessels through original artifacts, archival materials, multimedia experiences and recreated ship interiors.

Cost for the trip varies with type of room reservation: Single room is $415, double - $339, triple - $315 and quad - $299. Cost includes bus, lodging, baggage handling, one breakfast, one dinner, guides and admissions. The deadline to register is Sept. 4 and no refunds will be issued after that date.

To register, call 780-2414 or visit Noncredit Courses, search "bus trips" and then look for the trip titles. The link leads you to the Shopping Cart where you can enroll. Users receive an e-mail confirming enrollment.

CALENDAR INFO:

-- "A Civil War Experience!" bus trip to the USS Monitor Center, The Hollywood Cemetery, The Museum of the Confederacy, The Confederate White House and Monument Avenue, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 4-5. Cost $415, includes bus, lodging, baggage handling, one breakfast, one dinner, guides and admissions. Departures from multiple HACC campuses start at 4 a.m. Oct. 4. Register by Sept. 4. Call 780-2414 or visit Noncredit Courses, search "bus trips" and then look for the trip titles. The link leads you to the Shopping Cart where you can enroll. Users receive an e-mail confirming enrollment.

-- Eleventh annual "New York Chocolate Show" takes participants to a 40,000-square-foot celebration of chocolate and art on Friday, Nov. 7. Join nationally renowned chocolate sommelier, C. Curtis Vreeland, for a tour of the show. The cost is $120, which includes bus fare, HACC guide and show admission. Lunch facilities are available at the show. Lunch, free time in New York City and dinner are all on your own. Departs from Harrisburg Campus at 6 a.m., with a student pick-up scheduled at the Lancaster Campus. Bus returns at 10 p.m. Register by Aug. 29. Call 780-2414 or visit Noncredit Courses, search "bus trips" and then look for the trip titles. The link leads you to the Shopping Cart where you can enroll. Users receive an e-mail confirming enrollment.

-- "Seasons Greetings from our Nation’s Capital" includes a tour of the Washington National Cathedral, free time at Union Station, a performance of "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens and dinner in Georgetown. Scheduled for 5 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, the trip to Washington, DC, costs $160 and includes bus, tours, guide, theater ticket and dinner. Departures are available from multiple HACC campuses. For more information, call 780-2414 or visit Noncredit Courses, search "bus trips" and then look for the trip titles. The link leads you to the Shopping Cart where you can enroll. Users receive an e-mail confirming enrollment.