New York City is such a popular city for students, and it has so many choices for beautiful fountains, that we had to choose at least one of its attractions this week. The Bethseda Fountain is beautiful and just part of one of the best reasons for New York City student tours: Central Park.

These varied and beautiful acres in the midst of this giant metropolis are a favorite part of New York City for residents as much as for tourists. Bethseda Fountain is one of its most prominent landmarks, and some even call it the centerpiece for Central Park.

The Bethseda Fountain is a popular place to find cool refreshment on a hot, summer day. And it has a rich history of providing refreshment. The same aqueduct that fed the fountain finally provided a clean water supply to a city previously plagued by disease. The famous sculpture on top is titled Angel of the Waters and was designed to celebrate that accomplishment. 

Besides being a beautiful, refreshing stop on your tour, students might actually recognize Bethseda. Thanks to its pretty setting, it has been featured in more movies than almost any other landmark in Central Park. And that’s saying a lot – there are entire tours devoted to the movies set on location in Central Park and the landmarks that have been featured.

We don’t expect many student groups to take a tour of various US fountains, but when in the city of your choice, be sure to look up popular sites like Bethseda. People gather around them for a reason, and they are a great way to begin to get to know the city.

Photo Credit: hobbs_luton on Flickr

Washington D.C. is well-known for its monuments and memorials. Throughout the national mall, you’ll find meaningful tributes to our national heroes from founding fathers to war veterans. You can see their own words inscribed in history, learn more about their lives, and find in their memorials quiet places to reflect and refresh. 

The National World War II Memorial is just such a place, and it is frequented by residents and tourists alike for its artistic setting, soothing fountains, and powerful tribute.

The soothing yet powerful design of this memorial was very deliberate. Its architects wanted to blend a modern feel with the neoclassical architecture in so many structures around it, like the Lincoln Memorial nearby. The Washington Monument towers directly above it, and together they create perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city.

The memorial has several parts besides its refreshing fountains. The freedom wall is a beautiful tribute to the more than 400,000 American lives lost during the war, each represented by a raised gold star. Pillars within the memorial’s design represent the Atlantic and the Pacific. Between those rest smaller pillars representing each of the 48 states in 1945, plus the territories of Hawaii and Alaska and the various commonwealths of the United States.

All of these components flow together as effortlessly as the water from the fountains. And yet, great effort went into the design and strength of the memorial. That effort is a tribute itself to the lives that are honored there. And the joy and refreshment visitors gain from the memorial every day is yet another way to honor those who died.

Washington D.C. student tours are some of the most popular in the nation. And the National World War II Memorial is just one of the many reasons why.

Photo Credit: Mo Kaiwen on 莫楷文 on Flickr

Fountains tend to be like a centerpiece in any given city. They’re a great place to lunch, to rest, to meet up with friends or family members at any given moment in the day. In summer months, they’re a place to feel refreshed. And besides all this, they’re often a place to showcase the best of artistic design.

This week we’ll highlight some popular fountains in some of the cities we love for student travel. Today’s feature is an absolute must for Chicago student tours. It’s one of the most popular places in the city and one of the most innovative fountains in the nation.

Crown Fountain is located in Millennium Park, known for the unique design of several of its visual highlights. The fountain is a digital display as you see here (photo by Serge Melki on Flickr) of actual Chicago faces. Their mouths then actually appear to spray the fountain’s water. This design is like traditional fountain and modern art combined. It’s a favorite play place for children and popular attraction for tourists and residents alike. So much of Chicago’s charm is based in architectural and artistic design. Say hello to Crown Fountain, just another famous part of the charm.

Acadia National Park is a different kind of landscape than the other featured parks last week. Whereas they were all in the west, Acadia is one of the eastern-most regions of the United States. Again, we owe this gorgeous landscape and its preservation to that common denominator of national parks, the visionaries of yesterday who managed to protect it for future generations to enjoy.

Acadia includes the coast of Maine, so this park has ocean shores in its varied scenic options. The park’s mountains include the tallest peak on the Atlantic coast, Cadillac Mountain. Acadia is a cluster of islands and includes many fresh water sources besides its ocean shores. One of the great learning centers in the area are the tide pools where students will be amazed at the plant and animal life.

Acadia National Park sits at the edge of deciduous and coniferous forests, adding to its rich variety. This park is a beautiful choice for educational tours. Its landscape is a learning center on its own. The area is rich with human history as well – consider for instance reading a sea captain’s letter from over 150 years ago. And its ranger-led programs highlight all kinds of educational aspects to the park. Acadia national Park has beautiful scenery, a powerful glimpse of America’s eastern coast, and is an inspirational setting for education.

Photo Credit: Lee Coursey on Flickr

Yosemite was one of the first wilderness areas to become a national park, and it is a beautiful choice for student travel destinations. The waterfalls are perhaps the most famous natural wonder in this area and reason enough to walk, hike, or bike the famous paths. But there is more to Yosemite than the falls.

For a comprehensive look at all it has to offer, bus tours might be the way to go – at least the first day. Students can get an overview of the many different aspects of this amazing area – the falls, the meadows, the deep valleys and giant, ancient sequoias. These are the reasons Yosemite will take your breath away.

To make the most of the educational opportunities in the park, choose a ranger-guided tour, rich with information about Yosemite and its history. “A shrine to human foresight,” the National Park Services declares, and the “strength of granite,” and “the persistence of life.” Yosemite can teach students all kinds of valuable, life-changing lessons. 

For an even richer experience, after a day of exploring, consider a few hours of volunteering. You won’t find a more wonderful work environment nor a place that more fully inspires the preservation of our beautiful earth.

Photo Credit: Rob Inh00d on Flickr

There is one thing all national parks have in common: They have been preserved because someone at some point recognized their amazing beauty and stood up for them, realizing they must be treasured, that they must remain as places of ultimate inspiration. For some, they are reminders of what nature provides us all on its own and our responsibility to it. For some, they point to a deliberate Creator. For almost everyone, they are a wake-up call to our own small place in a vast and beautiful universe. 

National Parks, like this one – the amazing and incomparable Grand Canyon – are therefore the perfect environment for educational tours. They are learning centers all on their own without any human hand. And yet, they are usually rich with guides who can steer the inspiration toward an interest in nature, conservation, and history. 

The Grand Canyon has made it to world wonder lists for a reason. It’s simply breathtaking – a play of light and color and deep caverns that cannot be properly reproduced on film. Standing above this amazing footprint of nature is something so moving you simply have to experience it for yourself. There are all kinds of accommodations just minutes from this amazing US attraction, making it both possible and a must-see. It’s just one more gorgeous landscape carefully preserved and honored by the National Park Services. But you have to admit once you’ve seen it, this park kind of stands alone.

Photo Credit: mandj98 on Flickr

As long as we’re talking about national parks – for that matter, if you’re considering making a tour of them or adding even one to your list of must see US attractions – then you’ve got to consider Yellowstone. Besides its expanse and beauty – this is the first National Park established in our country and certainly deserves a nod just for that.

We like educational tours around here.  When you put students and travel together, education is almost inevitable.  There is simply so much to learn from our earth, from travel, and about our country’s rich and amazing history. Yellowstone is full of educational treasure like this.  Ranger-led programs give students insight into ecology, geology, wildlife, weather patterns, and so much more. Plus, every American should see Old Faithful at least once – the amazingly consistent geyser. Can you imagine the history it could share? And, although the most famous, Old Faithful is not the only geyser in Yellowstone. There are hundreds of others as well as hot springs – one of the most fascinating wonders of nature.

Yellowstone is an unequaled experience.  It has its own Grand Canyon and amazing sights throughout. There are activities galore and a rich, fantastic history – all brilliant choices for student tours.

Photo Credit: Savannah Grandfather on Flickr

This week:  National Parks. Our country has hundreds of beautiful reserves and natural wonders – many of them conveniently preserved by the National Park Services, a national treasury of natural beauty.

The Black Hills of South Dakota are first up. This unique area of the country actually contains SIX national parks.  Today, with students in mind, I want to focus on one famous portion of these hills – not strictly “natural” – but easily one of the most famous historical sites in the nation and something every American should see at least once. So why not consider it for educational tours?

I’m talking about Mt. Rushmore, the 16-story presidential faces carved into the granite in the famous black hills themselves. Can you name all four? I guarantee you’ll always be able to if you see it even once. The figures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Franklin Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln are completely recognizable in their detail. They are beautiful and almost seem animated, or lifelike, in the sunlight.

This National Memorial is more, of course, than just some landscaping and the famous sculpture. You’ll find a museum, the sculptor’s studio, walking paths, various viewing spots, and the Avenue of Flags with one for each state, commonwealth, and US territory.

This memorial is just a great choice for students, and it is smack dab in the middle of the beautiful black hills/national parks territory – making it a great choice for this week’s theme.

(photo by bcmom on Flickr).

The Midway at Cedar Point

That is the claim to fame that makes this theme park in Sandusky, Ohio, my Friday choice for the week of thrills.  If you’re looking for dips, drops, loop-da-loops, corkscrew twists and turns, and the ability to do them all again and again in one single park – Cedar Point is your destination.

This park had the first coaster to span a midway.  It’s actually called The Corkscrew, and standing beneath it as riders scream above you is almost as heart-pounding as the ride itself.  Almost.  

At press time there were sixteen roller coasters in this roller coaster capital of the world – all seventeen rated as high to aggressive thrill on a scale from mild to moderate to the latter.  If your group brings some first timers looking for the mild to moderate ratings  - they’ve got those too.

For the rest of you – think classic wooden coasters like the Blue Streak and the Mean Streak.  For steel twists and turns, you’ll love Mantis, Maverick, and the Iron Dragon.  As if they needed more innovation, the Gemini is a thrilling chance to enjoy the trip while competing with your friends in a race to the finish on a side-by-side dueling coaster.

Cedar Point is cleverly nicknamed “America’s Roller Coast.”  It’s located on a Lake Erie peninsula and an absolute MUST for thrill seekers.  Student travel, educational tours, and graduation trips have never looked so good.

photo credit: Andrew 94 on Flickr

Yes, Sea World is a surprising choice for a week focused on high-thrills.  We all know this park as the brightly-colored sea life oasis in the midst of Orlando theme parks actually known for their rides.  It’s certainly no Six Flags or Busch Gardens.  And, frankly, who wants a roller coaster to outshine Shamu?  No one.  We want Sea World to remain the home of flipping dolphins, splashing Shamu, playful seals, and ominous sharks (behind glass).  Still, it doesn’t hurt that they’ve thrown in a few looping thrills for the human visitors to this famous park.  And they’ve thrown them in with such gusto, you may indeed find yourself drawn to this park as much for the coasters as the fish – (and mammals!)

The Kracken is the big one.  This is the tallest, longest, fastest coaster in Orlando.  Named for a mythical monster that used to destroy ships to eat the sailors, this coaster certainly lives up to its legendary name.

Journey to Atlantis is a leisurely ride through another mythical legend with twists, turns, and surprising drops at the end.

The newest addition opens in May 2009.  They call it the Manta, and it’s a full senses, entertaining thrill with the illusion of being strapped in a flying position to the bottom of a manta ray as it flies at high speed through a twisting, high-thrill ocean adventure.

Sea World has been thrilling audiences for decades with its amazing animal shows.  Now they’ve taken the thrills up one notch further, making this attraction perfect for student trips of any kind – from Orlando graduation trips to educational tours with a twist.

(photo by lemoncat1 on Flickr)