It’s the most iconic intersection in New York City, approximately ten blocks total, and a famous stop for double decker tour buses, walking tours, and just about any first-time getaway to the City that Never Sleeps. We include it on almost all our New York City educational student tours, and hopefully it’s on your list as well. You can probably imagine the feel of the area, and you’ve seen images of Times Square at least a hundred times. But what will you actually experience there?

The short answer is a lot. You’ll see familiar stores and restaurants kind of unique-fied in a way only Times Square can accomplish. And you’ll see new things as well. You’ll find classic brands to shop and cheap, completely unoriginal I Heart NY souvenirs in hundreds of popular forms. Here’s a more detailed look at some of the fun.

Hershey Store

You know you can find chocolate just about anywhere in the world, and Times Square does it big. The Hershey Store offers all your favorites. You’ll find white chocolate, dark chocolate, and the classic milk chocolate that first made Hershey’s famous. You can design your own giant Hershey’s Kiss and make your own delicious candy combination with the Original Automatic and Gravitational Chocolate Machine. It’s a chocolate and candy lover’s heaven.

M&Ms World

This store offers so much more than candy. The favorite characters (as seen in commercials on televisions across America) stand tall and proud dressed as Lady Liberty, Elvis, and – of course – themselves. There’s a kid center, souvenirs galore, and M&Ms colors and items you won’t find anywhere but here.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not

You’re probably familiar with this museum where Indiana Jones meets the truly bizarre. Gathered from around the world, these items are unique, gross, delightful, amazing, and absurd. Not unlike a lot of what you’ll see on Times Square.

Madame Tussaud’s

Madame Tussaud’s is really the only place I can promise you’ll rub shoulders with celebrities. These wax figures are famous not just for the people they impersonate but how life-like they appear as they do it. Some exhibits are interactive as well. And unlike most museums, you’re encouraged to take pictures here.

Toys R Us

What’s the best part of Times Square’s Toys R Us? The giant ferris wheel, the life-size Barbie exhibit, the Candy Land area for visitors with a sweet tooth, or something else entirely? You think I’m going to tell you? No way. You’ll just have to see it for yourself.

Broadway

Perhaps the best known part of Times Square is the theaters and the larger-than-life billboards that represent them. There’s nothing quite like a Broadway experience in Manhattan. Absolutely nothing like it.

Television

Several television shows film on or near Times Square, and you just might end up in the live audience. You have to do a little planning, but stand-by tickets/opportunities are available for most of them. Check the Times Square website or that of the show you want to be a part of (Good Morning America, David Letterman, and MTV’s Total Request Live, for instance) to find out all the details.

And you know what they call a blog post like this, right? TIP of the iceberg. There’s no place on earth like Times Square. And that is really the only thing you need to know. Prepare to be surprised, to be amazed and possibly to be overwhelmed. I’ll be there myself in a few weeks and I’ll definitely rehash my own first and final impressions. Until then, I hope somebody will share theirs in the comments section! I’m anxious for more opinions about this unique New York City neighborhood.

Photo by wallyg on Flickr.

I’ve worked at a student travel company for a couple years now. I have been to the beautiful, the incomparable, the please-don’t-dismiss-this-place-as-only-for-honeymooners-and-old-people, Niagara Falls. And yet, I’ve only recently sealed in my mind that second “a”. It’s not NIAGRA, people.

What is it about water? It’s such a pure, simple element. And yet it has such power when you see it moving and crashing in an ocean or stampeding over cliffs like those at Niagara. Water can be such a perspective changer. It’s symbolic of refreshing and making things new. It reminds us that we don’t take up nearly all the space on earth, or even most of it. And despite our free will, our ability to use and abuse the planet without much regard for the immediate or the future, it definitely puts us in our place.

If you’re one of those who’s taken the Falls for granted as something for only those other types of vacationers, you’re not alone. I did the same thing until I was there. And all I did was stand there and look at them. So although I can tell you how amazing they appear, how small you might feel next to them, and how far away you can still feel the mist from their splashing, I can only tell you in theory all the amazing things there are to do there.

Helicopter Tours

I thought Niagara, USA, was pretty amazing from where I stood, but I can imagine it’s absolutely breathtaking from a helicopter in which you can see it from several powerful views. This is just one of the many, but perhaps the most thrilling, ways to view the Falls.

From a Boat

Niagara offers several boat tours of the Falls. Maid of the Mist is a popular one in which you’re taken close enough to need a poncho for the mist. For an even more thrilling experience, though, the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tour is an exciting choice for Niagara Falls student tours. On it you’ll travel the lower Niagara River through Class Five Rapids – a very wet and very fun experience.

Up Close and Personal

Cave of the Winds is a hike to the base of the Falls and to Hurricane Deck where the Falls cascade right over you. If the Falls look powerful from the observation decks above, imagine how powerful they feel when you’re standing under them.

For Educational Tours

Try the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center for history and interactive exhibits about the Falls through time or Power Vista to see how the Falls are used to create hyroelectric power.

And For More Fun

There’s still an amazing amount of fun in the Niagara Falls area. There’s a snow park for year-round snow-tubing, ice-skating and more. You can take a two-hour boat cruise through the Erie Canal and its lock system. There’s a cave tour with an underground boat ride, a theater adventure, and history tours with everything you ever wanted to know about Niagara Falls.

This area is a great choice for students. Both the US and Canada side have something to offer. If you see both, you’ll join in the company of those who can say which one they find prettier. But on either side, you’ll find tons of adventurous ways to discover this beautiful natural wonder.

Photo by James Marvin Phelps on Flickr.

I’d love to be somewhere someday when a flash mob happened. It cheers me up just watching some of those on You Tube, so I’m pretty sure the real thing would thrill me right to my toes.

In a few weeks I’m hoping to discover firsthand what it’s like to travel in a mob. I thought the idea of a mob dance would inspire you while I offer some of my own ideas on how to make it work. And once I get back, I’ll try and let you know if I managed to follow my advice. We specialize in group travel tours around here, so I’m thinking my firsthand advice could be useful.

GO WITH THE FLOW

This is definitely my first order of business. I discovered it long ago but wasn’t really able to put it into practice without lots of trying. Being hungry, cold, too hot, tired, or tired of walking – any of these used to throw me into the depths of despair. I’d need relief immediately or prepare for the black cloud of my emotions to eat alive anyone within arm’s length. This kind of personality will not work in a large group. Period. If this is you, I’m not saying you have to change who you are. I AM saying you have to change who you are for this trip.

Learn to keep moving while you’re tired; maybe just talk a little less. Trust that food and drink are always just around the corner. Just because it takes longer in a large group to decide on specifics and therefore longer to get things accomplished, doesn’t mean you’ll never find nourishment again. Hang in there. Meal times will find you.

Be a Decision-Maker

Mostly, you probably just need to go with the flow, as above. But every now and then large groups find themselves without a prominent decision-maker. This Is Trouble. If your group tour is customized by a professional, a brilliant itinerary will hopefully make all the decisions for you. But every now and then, it rains. Things get cancelled. Buses are late. Etcetera. And when it’s pushing an hour or so past lunchtime, and what stands between you and food is just for one person to name the place already, then name it. Be willing to put yourself out there as the person who suggested that little hole-in-the-wall diner, because at least it was close by. Sometimes the holes in the wall turn out to be delightful finds.

Lower your expectations

Listen, we all have plans and dreams. We all picture how we want a thing to go, the attractions we most want to see and how long we want to take at each one. Let go of that. Consider Flash Mob Travel your chance to get an overview of places you’d like to explore on your own in the future. Don’t expect to stand several hours in front of one gorgeous painting at the Met. Don’t plan on half a day to meditate at the Lincoln Memorial or a quiet, leisurely stroll through Central Park. Get excited simply that you’re seeing these things at all. Go along for the ride, so to speak. When the group needs to move on, don’t fret.

One thing I plan to do is take a journal and a pen. I’m going to jot down my first impressions or the things I’d like to explore at another time. I won’t stress when I’m inspired but the group needs to move on, because at least I was there to capture a first impression. Without this opportunity, I wouldn’t have even had that.

Traveling in a group can be a challenge, and it requires compromise – like being in a family only magnified. Choose to go with the flow, make decisions when you need to, and be grateful for small opportunities, and group travel can be an experience almost as perfect as getting everything your own way.

Photo by leuan Jenkins on Flickr.

I bet you’ve heard a few speeches like this one recently (or that you soon will). I actually love this Dr. Seuss book, and I kind of judge you if you don’t love it. It’s such a delightful, poetic summary of life.

So today, in the spirit of that book and of all the inspirational graduation speeches you’ll hear around this time, I’m waxing philosophical.

One of my favorite graduation speeches ever went like this: Life is short, so enjoy every single moment. Drink it in. But at the same time, you’ve got more time than you think. So relax. Don’t rush the big decisions in life or think you should always be farther along than you are. It will happen. Just enjoy the ride.

Oh how I adore the balance of that message! BUT IT’S SO DIFFICULT TO FOLLOW! Have you noticed?

For instance, right now – if you’re one of the many college graduates in the world – you face an interesting realm of possibility. And that advice that I love so much can both inspire you and raise the question, So what then do I do next?

On the one hand, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of your recent degree and fresh ideas and enthusiasm, put your resume out there, nail some interviews, and find the perfect job to jump start a lifelong career.

But you know what happens after the job that starts a career? A thing they call Life. You begin to grow more and more settled with various work and family responsibilities. And you know what’s  harder to do when you’re in that stage? Pretty much everything.

It’s harder to go places, harder to take risks, harder to try something when you have absolutely no idea how it will turn out. In that sense, this is the perfect time for those things. It’s the perfect time to take risks, because theoretically you’ve got a lot less to risk and a lot more to gain. It’s a great time to travel, because you only have to worry about yourself. It’s the perfect time for Europe student tours, backpacking through France, Spain, and Germany. And it’s the perfect time to spend several months in a place you’ve always wanted to discover.

I guess the question is, what is the appropriate balance today? Is this your chance to visit some place you’ve always wanted to see? Or is it time to get established and trust that exciting things lie somewhere farther in the future.

It’s your choice, every day. Life is short…but you have more time than you think. How will you make the most of today?

Photo by Leonard John Matthew on Flickr.

Well, you can guess our opinion on this.

After graduation, unless you’re an older graduate already settled with a home and family, then this is your moment. It’s the perfect time to travel.

A trip you take after graduation won’t fit the technical definition for student tours, but as you know, traveling is always an education. You have hopefully caught the bug to become a student of life, and travel is a wonderful way to do it.

So consider this our congratulations for your amazing accomplishment. Then take a moment to browse our sites and discover the fascinating places and international tours we can arrange for you.

Don’t miss this chance to spread your wings and truly discover your place in the world.

Photo by MarinaAvila on Flickr.

Friends of mine (also from Missouri) were scuba diving in Hawaii one year, raving about the experience, when the instructor told them there was great snorkeling in Florida and Mexico. “You should just pop down there on the weekend every now and then,” he added in complete sincerity.

And when a natural disaster hit one part of Australia, we worried for the one person I actually knew in the country, until we discovered she was hours away from the situation. Hours and hours away.

The point is, things look closer on a map sometimes than they are in reality. And few of us can comprehend the distance from one place to another unless we’ve experienced it.

On that note, we do create several student tours that encompass more than one exciting destination. Here are three combos we often arrange and that students always enjoy. These locations actually are close enough to include in one brief trip!

New York City and Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is a flight away for many of the groups we work with, but New York City is only a bus ride from there. These are easily the most popular cities for students, and groups love to combine them. Choose D.C. for the powerful inspiration of the monuments and memorials throughout the National Mall or for just a few of the many exciting museums there, including those comprising the Smithsonian. Then travel to New York city for the final days of your tour and enjoy Top of the Rock, Broadway performances, Central Park, and all the amazing walking tours New York City has to offer.

D.C., Williamsburg and Jamestown

Or, if you want to keep the historical/educational theme going, you may prefer adding these stops to your Washington D.C. tour. Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia is a fascinating community where costumed residents live and work as they would in colonial times. Visitors love this authentic look at life in the early 1800s. Jamestown (and Historic Jamestowne) offers reenactments and costumed guides as well showcasing the efforts of Jamestown colonists. Visitors can also see the original Jamestown as it is unearthed by archeologists. These three stops together are perfect for Washington D.C. educational student tours.

D.C., Philadelphia, and NYC

Another popular combination involves two great favorites, New York City and Washington D.C., plus the most visited spot in the nation (according to the 2009 Forbes list). Every year Americans flock to the Liberty Bell, to Independence Hall, and to Franklin Court in the city that represents the birth of our nation. And, fortunately, Philadelphia is close enough to allow for a tour that includes all three of these go-to choices for student and educational tours.

These combos are all on the east coast. Do you have other favorite destination combinations that can fit easily in 5 to 7-day tours?

Photo by wallyg on Flickr.

It happened to me in college. It came out of nowhere, hit me with something more like a matter of fact than a life-changing epiphany, and has stuck with me ever since as an unfortunate but very possible truth. I may never see the Eiffel Tower in person.

It didn’t exactly break my heart, but it was sobering. I realized as a girl from a small town in Missouri without high pursuits in fashion or entertainment or investments, there probably wouldn’t be much in my life to require me to be in Paris. And I wasn’t exactly on track to make the kind of money that makes that sort of travel easy.

And I guess it was kind of like that old saying, if a tree falls in the woods will anyone hear it? Because I sort of wondered if I never saw the Eiffel Tower in person, was it real?

Of course it is. I know that. But you have to admit in this life filled with special effects and media bias and all the things that color what actually is, you can’t really be sure of something until you see it in person for yourself. Even though it would be ridiculous not to believe in the Eiffel Tower, I can’t really know if it’s beautiful or not. I can’t know how it feels to stand next to it, to experience the view from the top, to even be in the city over which it holds court, unless I go there for myself.

So, that was years ago. Have I been yet? To the Eiffel Tower? No. I’ve written about it while describing international student tours that literally make me swoon with hope and delight. And yet I haven’t been.

But it’s on the list. I keep a list – actually, I change it all the time. Its title? What I Want. And on it I put the places I want to see, the things I want to accomplish, and the things I want to do every day. For me, the problem in the past was  that the Eiffel Tower just wasn’t high enough on the list. And that’s okay. New York City is higher on the list for me than Paris, and this June? I’m going there. It’s part of a trip for work but will include all the sightseeing I could possibly want minus only the extended hours to explore and take in all I’ve seen. I can’t wait to go there armed with a camera and a journal as I capture all the things I have up to that point only heard about.

After that trip, I’ll come home to my husband and children. For me those things are at the top of the list all the time, especially the list that includes what I want to experience every day. The Eiffel Tower comes somewhere after that on a list of things I hope to do but which I will only pursue when the daily things and the family things are all beautifully in place.

Do you have a list? Have you decided what you want to see or do so much that if you only had one day to live, that’s what you would choose? Do you know the things that matter most to you? Do you have a jar where you save for the Eiffel Tower types – the things on your Someday-if-I’m-lucky list? Because I guarantee you, if you don’t – you’ll never see the Eiffel Tower either.

Photo by Marcio Cabral de Moura on Flickr.

I live within fifty miles of the town my dad grew up in, the one where my mom was raised, and the one where they raised me. I go to all three of them at various times. So I’ve lived and relived those drive-by moments in which the parents tell us where they were born, where Mom lived the night Dad picked her up for their first date, the house where they first lived together. And I’ve done it to my children too, pointing out the house where I was raised, the porch where I sat with their dad when we were little kids together and friends, that same porch where we were married one day.

It’s definitely anchoring to have so much personal history nearby. Sometimes I wonder what it’s like to start fresh in a brand new state far away from all that family heritage and not have a single, “Oh that’s where such-and-such happened” to hear or to share with your kids. I think that would have its own thrills. But there’s something about knowing where you come from, seeing where it all began. It’s usually moving to say the least. There’s an entire reality television show built around the concept now.

That’s the reason Americans through time have planted sign posts and engraved bronzed plaques to hail the places of our beginnings as a nation. Look, they’re saying, here’s where it began. If Paul Revere hadn’t… If the founding fathers had given up … If the Liberty Bell never had a reason to ring…we wouldn’t be here today. We wouldn’t be the same.

It’s a relatively new country we have. Sometimes we fight among ourselves about where it should go from here and how exactly to get there. Always, we’re grateful the founding fathers knew those days would come and established a system that would hopefully help us navigate the disagreements and somehow continue united. The rustic homes and simple buildings and quiet battlefields where Americans have hung those plaques and pounded those sign posts – those are the places where we can remember the hard work behind our foundation, the determined effort, the powerful inspiration.

This is what student travel is all about. This is why Boston educational student tours begin with the Freedom Trail to the Old North Church, the site for the Boston massacre, and more. It’s why Philadelphia still hails the Liberty Bell (its actually ringing history the stuff of myth or no) and why we’ve memorialized Independence Hall and so many of the other prominent spots in American history. It anchors us and reminds us that all great things have a beginning.

**Photo of Old State House in Boston by wallyg on Flickr.