American History ~ narrowing down the search

Feels like I am still hunting the elusive rabbit when it comes to finding an American History curriculum I'd like.  Over the last few weeks of researching eras, curriculum's, Pinterest and what ever else, Notgrass keeps popping up.  I've been torn between their American History Curriculum and Bright Idea's curriculum.

Today, we headed into Washington, D.C. to look at a few of the monuments and memorials.  Simon's Boy Scout Troop is working on "Citizen in the Nation" and one of the requirements is to visit a national monument or memorial.  He really wanted to see the Lincoln memorial, as for another requirement on this badge he is studying "The Gettysburg Address"!

While in between areas, it really struck me that given enough time, I should probably not rush into the American History curriculum.  Settle on one soon and start planning it out for not this coming school year, but the following year (meaning 2014/2015).  My thought is to take a longer of a school year to and build in many field trips along the east coast and inland a bit.  We can easily hit Jamestown, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Monticello (all in VA but different trips; the first three and then the forth); Gettysburg, PA; Ford's Theatre; Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island; Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross' house; with a bit more planning some sights out west.

It seems like it would be such a rich experience to be able to hit as many of these things as possible.  To see the area's first hand either before, during, or shortly after studying them for school.  Would love to make the school year real for them; real people and places!

So where have been?  What have you liked?  I'd love to hear what you have done!