Like many people – though I’m sure not all of you – I usually have several books nearby, one or more to read, some to be read later. Even in the digital age, with video games, movies, music, Facebook, and You Tube vying for our attention, reading continues to be a favorite American pastime.

Fortunately, considering another of our shared passions, reading and travel have always gone well together. Both introduce us to new experiences, new worlds, a broader perspective. It therefore seemed natural to consider literature tours for our student and group travel that’s theme-based. Themes are a great way to plan and take a trip. It’s fun to discover what attractions perfectly complement your focus. And it’s exciting to try and create an entire itinerary that stays within the theme.

One of my favorite literature tours we offer includes attractions centered around some of my favorite authors. Still, this tour has so many beautiful locations in it, that I know you’ll like the idea with or without the theme. The tour is in London (and beyond) and takes you to several literary scenes.

The world of Shakespeare

The tour includes a visit to the Globe theater where the works of Shakespeare have been performed live since the famous bard still lived. To further search out Shakespeare’s world, you can also visit his childhood home and that of his wife Anne Hathaway.

Following Austen

Jane Austen is beloved by many readers, past and present. Her fans – and I think she finds new ones still today – often read them over and over. Her stories have been made into films that are beloved by a whole new audience, even those who haven’t read the books. Jane Austen’s life was spread throughout England. She grew up near Basingstoke. You can still find the church there where her father held the position of preacher. There’s no memorial here or banner flying in her honor, but fans still love to find this place so prominent in Austen’s life.

Bath is another classic Austen attraction. The city has a wealth of history and is famous for its Roman bath houses. Many of Austen’s novels feature scenes in and references to this city. Chawton is perhaps the best Austen site as a museum exists in a home where she once lived with her mother and sister. It’s a charming tribute to the author, including a book and gift shop. Jane Austen’s final resting place is in Winchester. You’ll find her grave in the city’s beautiful cathedral.

The Brontes

While searching out scenes of literature in and around London, you’ll have to consider Haworth as well. This is where the Bronte sisters lived, and of course several great novels came from their respective talents. Interesting aside: Their father was a clergyman as well. A preacher’s home must make great inspiration for novel-writing.

Besides actual author sites, a literature tour in England will also include a visit to Oxford with its many colleges. Plus, maybe you have an attraction based on one of your favorite books or the authors who wrote them. The more the merrier with theme tours and other educational travel in this historic and inspiring locale.

Photo by mckaysavage on Flickr.

Whatever your reason – frustrating gas prices, concern for your carbon footprint, or just the need to slow down and actually take in the world around you – biking is the new leisurely drive. This popular activity satisfies each of these goals. It certainly cuts down on the fuel expense. It’s also the greenest way to travel and therefore a popular choice for ecotours. And for slowing things down? There’s almost nothing better.

America’s coastlines are some of the best choices for cycling tours in the nation. With beautiful seashore on one side and a variety of activities and landscapes on the other, these tours are the perfect way to really see the destination around you. Ocean City, Maryland, is one such coast – one you may not have thought of before. On the other side of this seashore you’ll find both nature and charm. There are hundreds of miles of bike trails in the area, along both Maryland’s and Virginia’s coasts, through forests, along rivers, and beside and through historic towns.

Ocean City itself offers a three-mile boardwalk visitors love. Even the side streets are worth exploring here, with Ocean City’s historic downtown offering restored glory and classic boardwalk activities. The Viewtrail is a 100-mile loop in rural Worcester County. The loop is highly scenic, low-impact, and perfect for group travel, students, and romantic getaways. It offers the perfect respite from the daily grind and the perfect way to enjoy Maryland’s natural beauty and historic charm. This is just one example – one area in the country that caters to cyclists and those who want to try a tour on bicycle. There are many more – probably some near you, definitely scenic routes throughout the United States that create the perfect vacation getaway. Next time you discover a new place, rent a bicycle. It’s a beautiful way to go.

The poor Chrysler Building. For eleven months, it was the star. Just under a year. That’s how long the Chrysler Building in New York City held its place a the world’s tallest building. You can imagine who took over – the Empire State Building, like the little sibling born into the family just at the peak of the first child’s role as center of the universe. It’s so unfair. Now, although it’s one of the most recognized points on on the New York City skyline, without an observation deck, it doesn’t usually make it to group travel itineraries.

But let’s take a moment to give this iconic building its due. Though no longer the tallest, it certainly has its own shining unique factor. The Chrysler Building is so easily recognized because of its beautiful art-deco design. It is still listed by many New Yorkers as one of their favorite buildings in the city, largely due to the seven-story pinnacle, perfectly and beautiful tiered, though made of steel. Who doesn’t love a thing built more for beauty than for function? The Chrysler Building is an artistic masterpiece albeit wrapped around a whole lot of empty space.

Plus, the functioning floors of the Chrysler Building are as majestic as its crown. They have a spacious design and pleasing light fixtures, beautiful murals and a marble interior. So let’s not worry about the Chrysler’s fall from grace in the height category. Who needs to be the tallest when they are in all other ways one of the most beautiful? As a winner in all categories of artistic design, the Chrysler Building certainly deserves a place in New York City student tours. It serves as a landmark to remind you where you are. And it certainly beautifies the view from both the Empire State Building and Top of the Rock. It really doesn’t matter what happens inside. The New York City skyline would be nothing without the tiered and breathtaking Chrysler Building.

(Photo by jorbasa on Flickr.)

I usually focus here on the fun of student travel – the senior class trips, beach-escape, spring bring kind of fun. But what I also believe about travel is that it can help students figure out who they want to be. I wonder this, anway. As a former 17-year-old, I don’t think I was alone in not having a clue where I really wanted to go in life when I graduated high school. So, I think many of us tend to stumble around college, and often for several years after it, before we realize where we belong in the larger picture. I’m a fan of never giving up that feeling of endless possibilities. I think we should all be open to new goals and new dreams, at any moment. But, frankly, in today’s economy – a degree is an expensive thing to waste. And you’re way ahead in the game if you graduate with one that lines up with a very real plan.

So consider student travel not just as an escape but like a career fair multiplied. It could give you the chance to see more places, discover your aptitude for travel and for navigating the unfamiliar. It opens your eyes to the streets and workplaces that hundreds and thousands of people walk every single day, which opens your mind to possibility. And besides all that vague stuff – it can give your a firsthand look at actual careers. That should be a part of any student travel tour.

Some great ideas for career observation might include fashion or art in New York City, architecture in Chicago, or creative innovation in Orlando. (Seriously, Disney has some cool things to teach along these lines.) But for a career in law enforcement, Washington D.C. might just have the best and most interesting attractions to consider. That’s the thought, anyway, behind Law and Order tours to our nation’s capital.

Consider, for instance, the National Cryptologic Museum where you can learn all about codes and code breaking. That should spark some interest in the field of investigation. There’s also an entire museum dedicated to the Drug Enforcement Administration, another worthy career choice. Other highlights on the Law-And-Order tour include The Supreme Court, the National Museum of Crime and Punishment – one of our personal favorites, and the International Spy Museum.

The Newseum is one of my favorite attractions. It’s a celebration of journalists and the amazing headlines they’ve captured. An entire wall here projects current front pages from around the country. There’s a beautiful 9/11 memorial, a portion of the Berlin Wall, and a really popular exhibit for students, dedicated to those who deliver the news as comedy. Any number of career inspiration could be sparked in this varied, comprehensive museum.

Washington D.C. is a wonderful city and has featured in several major films and television shows for its place in the fields of government, law, and order. There’s tons to take in there pertaining to crime and punishment and several different careers in the field. This is definitely an exciting theme tour to consider.

This week I’m suffering from oh my gosh, I’ve been there. I just keep looking at the pictures from my spring-time trip to New York City and Washington DC. I’ve been reading my journal entries about it and just soaking it in.

Since our trip was jam-packed with attractions we typically include in Washington DC educational travel, NYC grad trips, and some of our themes like NYC fashion tours, I thought you might like a sneak peak at some of the obvious and not-so-obvious attractions we fit in. Maybe it will give you ideas for you trip to the big cities when it’s your turn.

Mount Vernon

With so many famous attractions on the National Mall in the heart of Washington D.C., you may not think just outside of it to beautiful Mount Vernon, President Washington’s beloved home and an amazing part of our history. I was amazed, though, at the many pieces preserved and showcased on this tour, from the kitchen and its history of hospitality to the slave quarters and the view from Mt. Vernon’s famous cupola. Mt. Vernon was frequented always by a large number of guests, and that spirit of giving, plus the inspiring resourcefulness of our first President, is still present throughout the estate.

Old Post Office Tower

This attraction was unfamiliar to me as well. I knew about the famous memorials, of course, Capitol Hill, and the White House. I also knew a long list of Smithsonian facilities and other popular museums. The Old Post Office holds a prominent place in the city as well though, capturing history, stunning architecture, a spirit of innovation, and even more, since it offers a food court as well. Most notable, though, is the clock tower from which you’ll see one of the best tall views in the city.

Illuminations Tour

I’ve written about this DC brilliance before, probably, but I can’t help including it today. Don’t make your days so full that you can’t take a little time to enjoy the beautiful Lincoln Memorial, and those around it, in their illuminated beauty after dark.

Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss

Next up, New York City where we took in all the classics like the Met, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. But I was also surprised and delighted by these attractions which are often added to our New York City fashion tours. These themed tours take guests inside a fashion powerhouse to learn all about and experience the world of the fashion industry.

Blue Man Group

When I thought of New York City and entertainment, I leaned toward rock concert or Broadway. Blue Man Group I’d heard of and knew to be somewhere in between. But now I can say from experience: This show is a crazy, theatrical party that employs comedy, innovation, lights and color, music, and so much more to create an experience like no other.

Now, this was a first-time trip for some of us, so we didn’t exactly explore off the beaten path. After all, for first timers, the beaten path is pretty satisfactory. Here are some of the other biggies we put on our list and loved just as much as you’d expect from their fame and popularity.

In D.C.

Arlington National Cemetery – The changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most moving part of the Arlington tour and a favorite for student groups.

Capitol Hill – We’re one company that will arrange a meeting with your member of congress for your tour of Capitol Hill, and having done it a less personal way – I absolutely recommend the more personal experience.

Smithsonian – So many museums, so little time. I’ve got some advice for you on choosing the Smithsonian museum for your taste. Maybe that will help.

In New York

Top of the Rock – Though the ESB may be more nostalgic, Top of the Rock is an amazing experience and was one of my favorites.

Broadway – You must, must, must see a Broadway play in New York. I won’t argue with you. It’s just the truth.

American Museum of Natural History – We spent hours too few in this amazing museum. The show in the Planetarium, however, was worth our entire trip. Amazing.

And that’s a roundup of just some of the highlights of our NYC/DC combination tour. Hope it gives you lots of ideas for yours!

I know. The title to this post is just really bad. But it does make the point.

I’m fresh off a spring-time visit to Washington D.C. for a look at some of the attractions we often include in itineraries for educational student tours. And this – the topic of this post – is one of the things I noticed on my visit. Throughout Washington D.C. there are famous grave sites, sometimes expected – like those at Arlington – and sometimes completely unexpected, like that of Helen Keller, which I’ll get to later. Some are famous because they are empty, and the ongoing discussion about whether or not they will remain so, is completely inspiring.

Washington D.C. is known for its many places of reflection, namely its beautiful monuments and memorials. And the reason, I guess, for a memorial is to keep the person alive and a part of the world in some way. Similarly, the famous grave sites in Washington D.C. draw our attention to people who’ve gone before. And they often make us desperate to learn more about the person’s life and all they left us. Suddenly, students are driven to their history books and to research. They want to know about the person they’ve seen memorialized and the events that made them famous.

Here are some Washington D.C. grave sites – empty and not – that inspired me to greater understanding about the lives they memorialized.

George Washington

This guy’s burial history is a fascinating story. At Mt. Vernon, the home he owned and loved, you’ll hear all about it. You’ll see his original tomb and his newer one that’s a beautiful memorial holding both his and his wife’s caskets.  A ceremony occurs there daily. The other fascinating thing you’ll be told there is that a catacomb was also built in the United States Capitol meant to hold George Washington’s body. Martha Washington at one time agreed with this plan. But as it stands now, the discussion is still (technically) open, and the family maintains Washington’s body should remain at Mt. Vernon.

The Kennedys

John F. Kennedy’s grave site in Arlington is a popular memorial in this city filled with them. It is marked by an eternal flame, around which surrounds the interesting trivia that we’re not exactly sure where the idea of the flame came from. Gettysburg says it was them, Jackie Kennedy maintained it was inspired by a similar flame to unknown soldiers in Paris. Robert and Ted Kennedy are buried nearby, providing more interesting dialogue about what it takes to be buried in this prestigious cemetery.

The Unknowns

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is probably the most famous grave site in Washington D.C. (Technically, Arlington, of course). And students love its basic history – that it contains the remains of soldiers from several wars, remains that could not be identified, and that it therefore symbolizes all the men and women who die in battle but cannot be identified. Yet, still more interesting facts must follow. For instance, there is no soldier’s remains to represent the Vietnam War, because those that were there at one time have since been identified. This is a great chance to connect one educational attraction to another when students can see this soldier’s name on the Vietnam wall, once marked as missing, now found. Our guide went so far as to suggest we should never have an unidentified fallen soldier again, thanks to the marvelous strides in DNA testing.

Helen Keller

I was pleasantly surprised to see a statue of Helen Keller in the United States Capitol. Her life and accomplishments fascinate me and the idea that her hard work and embrace of life even as a child made her such a memorable figure that there is a statue of her – as a child – in our most revered public building. In the same way, I was moved and amazed that her final resting place is in the breathtaking National Cathedral. If students haven’t learned much about this woman before their visit to these two places, they’ll certainly want to know of her now.

It’s an amazing thing to imagine giving something to the world so great that it remembers you after you are gone. These places of reflection and inspiration make a wonderful addition to any educational tour.

The Blue Man Group is one of the more mysterious of the live performance formats so popular for educational student tours. And if you’re thrown by the word educational in that term, I’ll clear that up a little later.

I’d researched Blue Man Group in order to describe it on travel websites, and I will say the words I found turned out to be very true, words like high-energy, a party, and innovative. I also read something about their purpose toward inspiring their audience to be more creative and innovative as well. And that turned out to be my favorite part.

Now that I’ve experienced Blue Man Group for myself, I feel I can talk about it with a little more authority. It’s a surprising show – you really never know what’s coming next, or how far it will go. The audience is part of the show several times throughout it. If you have any trouble letting go, this isn’t the show for you.

Here are some things to expect in this amazing show.

Music

Blue Man Group is famous for the percussion they beat out on PVC pipes. It’s truly awe-inspiring. You’ll also hear all kinds of familiar rock music and popular tunes throughout the various parts of the show. Expect dance lessons, humor, and the inability to remain quiet and unmoving in your seat.

Comedy

You’ll absolutely laugh as you watch the incredibly creative skits played out on stage by cast-members who never speak. When you mix wet paint, various food items, the tools from which to shoot them, and any number of creative inventions, you’re bound to get some surprising and hilarious results.

Inspiration

Blue Man Group uses all these tools – comedy, innovation, music, and storytelling – to inspire its audience to always do the same. Many times in the show the audience realizes through electronic images, or simple skits and storyboards, that we can be participants in the world of creativity. We see how life happens to us, and how reading or hearing other people’s stories can take away from creating our own. We marvel at the amazing things that can be achieved through talent, hard work, and innovation, and we are inspired to pursue them in our own life.

Because of this, Blue Man Group is perfect for educational tours. Student groups will find themselves a part of the show. The energy, noise, and visual thrills in this performance will intrigue every member of a student group, keep their attention, and help the message of innovation get across. I guarantee it will be one of the most exciting parts of any student tour.

Photo by Roger Smith on Flickr.

I was fascinated recently by this article declaring New Orleans the perfect spot for a one-stop, not-so-expensive, nor so international, version of the inspiring journey of self-discovery described in EAT, PRAY, LOVE. I adore this idea.

I love the challenge to celebrate all three of these concepts in any city and in our own lives. We can’t all take a year-long sabbatical to explore them in the international locations featured in the book and described as the pinnacle of each (eating in Italy, praying in India, loving in beautiful Bali). But we can look for them all around us all the time. And certainly, our travels should be fairly well-rounded with representation from all three, don’t you think? And is it just me, or would this be a fabulous theme for graduation trips?

I only had to think for a moment to realize how these concepts played into my recent tour of New York City. Of course, the praying was a big one for me. I’d been dreaming of a visit to New York City for many years. The experience was almost wholly spiritual for me as I prayed it wouldn’t disappoint me, that I wouldn’t feel like a stranger there or somehow unqualified to be a part. And then once I was there, I spent every moment so grateful, so filled with love for this amazing city, that I felt much more on a spiritual plane than not. Still, I can point to certain experiences that really embodied the concepts,  eat, pray, and love.

Playwright Irish Pub III

We only ate delicious food on this trip, but I can hardly call myself a food critic. If you make it and serve it to me, I’ll probably be pretty thrilled already for the simple fact that I didn’t have to cook it myself. We ate pasta, burgers, cheesecake, and salad – all to die for. But my favorite restaurant experience by far, the one that truly was an experience and not just food on a plate, happened at the Playwright Irish Pub not far from Times Square.

I ordered a salad for my meal there, so I balked a bit when they brought me a salad as my first course as well. Determined to please, they swept the offending (hardly) salad away when I mentioned the dilemma and replaced it with a soup called simply vegetable but which I enjoyed so thoroughly that I whipped out my camera and took a picture before I finished. See the homey stoneware bowl and the delicate doily? If only you could taste it, though. that vegetable soup was the smoothest, richest, most deliciously Irish vegetable soup I’ve every sipped from a spoon. I soaked my bread in it, I drank it in, I oohed and ahed, and generally lapped up every last drop with a delight surely even Julia Roberts couldn’t top in the recent film adaption of the memoir on topic.

After the soup and two more delicious courses, we stepped out on the patio for drinks and found ourselves in the most relaxing, the most delightful moment of our trip thus far.

This was my Eat. And I so did.

St. Paul’s Chapel by the World Trade Center

I’ve already mentioned the overwhelmingly spiritual attitude I maintained throughout my experience, but there were a couple spaces that were far more pray than not. And one was at St. Paul’s Chapel just past the World Trade Center Site. This part of Manhattan still maintains a certain reverential hush, remembering the tragedy of 9/11. Even the construction site seems quieter, more respectful than most. And just past that, you’ll find St. Paul’s, an antique church, standing unobtrusively among the skyscrapers and glass-sided buildings of the financial district all around. This church miraculously still stands despite the spray of rubble, smoke, and debris on 9/11.

Inside, memorials stand to that day, stories of love and loss and of heroism. I stood beside this bench a long time, imagining the hundreds of rescue workers lying there throughout the day, their tool belts still gripped to their waist, tearing and scratching at the paint on St. Paul’s pews, as the workers struggled to rest between shifts. What a story they tell.

As if the memorials, the chapel, and the pretty cemetery outside are not enough to evoke prayer, the chapel actually held a small service while we there. Many gathered for it, a daily Prayer for Peace, that began during the aftermath of 9/11. If you’re looking for a peaceful outlet to your emotions surrounding the World Trade Center Site, or if you’re looking for a time of prayer for any reason during your day, The Little Chapel that Stood is just the place to find it.

Top of the Rock for Romance

Every street in New York City offered romance for me in one way or another. I felt I was experiencing the opening scenes to every NYC romantic comedy I had ever loved. I enjoyed being there alone but constantly imagined being there with my spouse. And still, it seemed like a great city to be single, that it hade limitless possibility for those chance kinetic meetings of which single people dream.

But for me the greatest feeling of romance came on Top of the Rock. First of all, let’s face it, I was having a love affair with the City, and Top of the Rock offered the best experience with it. I could touch it; after all, I was standing on one of its most iconic attractions. But I also viewed it from a distance, the better to take in all its glory and just admire every street and parkway. Top of the Rock is also so well-designed. Its observatory is highly inviting, spacious, and modern. It offers two levels, the higher one completely open-air. And it’s just screaming for couples. This would be my choice for love, the place I’d want to stand beneath the arm of someone I loved as we talked and talked while gazing over the City. I’m sure there are more intimate places for a date, places to combine the eating and the love. But of the New York City places I experienced, Top of the Rock was the one where I felt this third concept the most.

What about you and your city? Or perhaps, if you have more NYC experience than me – which wouldn’t be difficult – you have different ideas for the eat/pray/love experience there. And after this post, don’t you agree that this would make a wonderful theme for your last great trip with friends?

Planning any upcoming travel to Washington D.C. or maybe Boston student tours? I’ve got a great entertainment idea for you. It’s called Shear Madness, and it’s perfect for groups.

This live stage show is a classic – well, maybe not-so-classic – whodunnit with a twist. Audience participation is a must as your questions and guidance actually determine how the criminal is made to confess and subsequently apprehended. Your job is to figure out who the mastermind is.

Shear Madness begins in a salon as your group and the rest of the audience is introduced to the hilarious, colorful, and sometimes outrageous cast of characters. You’ll be eased into the story like the transition from the opening credits of a sitcom to the lines that eventually bring you the meat of the episode. New characters are introduced as the salon receives customers and the two employees talk.

Somewhere in the middle, there’s a scream and running and police sirens – or something like that. The victim has been found right upstairs from the salon, and the suspects are limited to those in the vicinity. That means you’ve seen it all; you just have to put together the pieces.

The audience is brought into the action shortly after the victim is found and the police begin their questioning. After all, you’re all witnesses. If you’ve brought a large group, don’t be surprised if the investigator calls you by name from the stage! And hopefully you were watching closely, because there were all kinds of clues, and it’s up to you to point them out to the investigator. You can even question the suspects!

Because of the audience participation, Shear Madness is a different experience every time you go. You’ll find yourself tapping your foot to the music and laughing at the humor from the first few seconds of the show. You’ll probably even catch different jokes each time around. Shear Madness offers much more fun on stage than just the lines delivered. The show is currently playing in Washington D.C. and Boston in the states plus overseas in Seoul, Korea; Athens, Greece; and Poland. More shows are opening around the world as well.

If you’re planning group travel tours to any of these destinations, consider Shear Madness for just that – it’s sheer fun, sheer excitement, intrigue and – yep – a whole lot of madness.

I’ve written about Times Square quite a bit since working for a student travel company. New York City remains (and always will be, in my opinion) a favorite choice for students. And Times Square is a must for the New York City experience. Actually, that’s how I’ve always said it before, “a must,” as if whether you want to or not, whether you’ll like it or not, you just have to see crazy, brilliant, crowded, unique Times Square at least once.

The truth is, though, you probably will. Times Square is not just an intersection to make a point to visit. It’s the convergence of so many streets and the location for so many favorite NYC attractions that you’ll almost definitely end up basking in its modern glory at some point in your visit.

One of the many ways I’ve written about Times Square is to list its stores and museums as well as its prominence in the theater district. We found ourselves in Times Square several times on our recent visit. We ate there, toured its museums, returned to it for the evening’s broadway show, and even waved to our families on Times Square web cams.

As promised, I was overwhelmed by the mass of billboards, colors, information, and sights towering over us in each direction. I was fascinated by how many people crowded the sidewalks at any given time of the day. And I was amazed by the variety of shopping, food, and entertainment just in this little corner of the world.

But my favorite part, by far, was something I hadn’t known about before. I felt vindicated for every time I complained to myself about trying to write about a place I’d never been. If I hadn’t been there myself, I don’t know when I would have realized the recent (as in, over the last year or so) change in this famous intersection.

Once as crowded with vehicles as with people, Times Square now has a section blocked off for its pedestrian plaza. I loved it. The plaza began on a trial basis. Nearby business owners weren’t sure how how the change would affect their restaurants and shops. The city wondered how it would affect the overall flow of traffic. Since the plaza is permanent now, I guess all concerned decided it was a good idea.

And I have to agree. What a perfect meeting place for groups! Students on New York City graduation trips can spread out to shop and enjoy the sights for a couple of hours and meet again at the metal chairs and tables or in front of the ticket center or by the bleachers. I could imagine grabbing coffee and a snack and just sitting in the plaza for the ultimate people-watching adventure. I like to gain perspective by the ocean or under sturdy trees, but in the midst of a world that’s busy and eclectic and one exciting sight after another can be a great place for perspective as well.

The Times Square plaza has made this iconic intersection even more amazing than before. It’s symbolic of several efforts by this amazing city to open its arms to visitors and provide a safe and friendly place for them to be.