This may be the final outing for multi-award-winning American spy thriller Homeland, but even after it all ends, there are still ways to follow in the thrilling footsteps of CIA officer Carrie Mathison (Claire Danes). The original series was set in Virginia and Washington, DC, the political epicentre of the United States and a city steeped in spy tradition and secrecy. History resounds through its wide boulevards, gleaming white monuments and leafy parks, while the state of Virginia is home to Langley, the CIA Headquarters.
Here's how to delve into the world of espionage and US politics on a visit...
The International Spy Museum
Where: Washington, DC
Re-opened in spring 2019 at a larger location in L'Enfant Plaza, allowing for even more interactive exhibitions and installations, this is the only public museum in the country solely dedicated to espionage. Visitors can create their own spy identity, listen to first-person accounts from top intelligence officers and learn how spies have shaped world history.
How: Tickets are $24.95 (£19) for adults, $14.95 ( £11.50) for children, and children 6 and under go free. Visit spymuseum.org.
Follow in the footsteps of Harriet Tubman
Where: Capital Region
Civil War spy and political activist Harriet Tubman was one of America's most inspirational women and also the subject of Oscar-nominated movie, Harriet. Travel through the Capital Region to visit places where she lived, sites associated with the Underground Railroad, Civil War, and African American history and culture, and filming locations for the movie. The Underground Railroad Scenic Byway is a 125-mile scenic drive through Chesapeake Bay, following the secret network of people, places and routes that provided shelter to escaping slaves.
How: Bon Voyage offer a 10-day self-drive holiday from £1,895 per person, including flights, car hire and accommodation. Visit bon-voyage.co.uk.
Meet a former CIA agent
Where: Washington, DC
Imagine getting the inside track from someone working in the secret services? Abercrombie & Kent have launched a package with exclusive access to a former CIA agent. Get to snoop inside Alban Towers, an apartment block where the Japanese Naval attache had a suite used as a lab for tapping into US radio frequencies, and learn about botched drop-offs, clandestine meetings, secret codes, and even post boxes that have played a role in espionage cases.
How: Abercrombie & Kent offers a three-night break in Washington DC including flights, transfers, accommodation and a tour with a former spy from £6,200pp, based on two sharing. Visit abercrombiekent.co.uk.
Hike, bike and fish in Prince William Forest Park
Where: Virginia
From 1942-1945, the Office of Strategic Services, America's first centralised intelligence agency, used Prince William Forest Park and its summer camps as secret training areas. Thousands of men were taught the art of spying and survival for WWII. These days, the park is a haven for outdoor adventure and an ideal place to hike, bike and camp, just a short distance from Washington, DC. Spend the night in a woodland cabin, fish in one of the lakes and wake the next morning to some of the best bird watching in the region. During summer, there are Saturday night campfire programmes and even a Spy Camp for children.
How: Entrance to the park costs $10 (£8) on foot or bike, $20 (£15) for a vehicle and is valid for seven consecutive days. A four-person cabin costs from $40 (£31) per cabin, per night. Visit nps.gov/prwi.
Dine at Occidental
Where: Washington, DC
For 100 years, this was a gathering place for the nation's political power brokers, sports figures and celebrities. Their photos line the restaurant's walls and peer down on the diners below. In the early 1960s, the Occidental played a supporting role in the Cuban missile crisis. ABC News correspondent John Scali had lunch here with the counsellor of the Soviet embassy, Alexander Fomin. Fomin passed papers to Scali indicating the Soviet Union's willingness to make a deal regarding the crisis, which led to the removal of missile sites in Cuba. Today, the table where this historic event took place is marked by a brass plaque.
How: The Occidental offers a three-course pre-theatre menu for $45 (£35) per person. Visit occidentaldc.com
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