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.

StudentTravel.net is devoted to the places you want to go for leisure, and specifically the places you want to choose for spring break. This usually means beaches as they offer the perfect climate, low-stress days, and exciting nights. But the beaches I’m talking about today are even more low-stress than those.

“A haven for recreation and reflection,” the National Park Services has said of these beaches known as “OBX”, or the Outer Banks of the North Carolina coastline.

These narrow barriers present great opportunity for some water sports like kayaking and wind surfing. But they are perhaps best known for leisurely strolls, exploration, and quiet escapes to serenity. They’re dotted with a lighthouse or two, some as authentic and original as any in the nation. They offer a couple amazing historical landmarks – the site for the first flight by the Wright brothers and the location for the first English Colony.

The Outer Banks are also filled with pleasant wildlife, from nesting sea turtles to the endangered piping plover (it’s a little bird that nests on sandy beaches – I know you were wondering). And they’re unpredictable. Thanks to their narrow topography and nearness to the ocean, these barriers are constantly changing from wind and storms, ocean currents, and the rise and fall of the sea. Spend a day on them, and you’ll surely notice even subtle differences yourself.

The ocean is generally conceded to evoke great thought, reflection, and a general awareness of our relative insignificance in a massive universe. The Outer Banks are no exception, and added to that sense of the ocean’s vast existence comes the uncertain reality of standing on a narrow, changing space almost at the whim of the ocean’s power.

Still, if you tire of reflection – if you actually walk on these sandy shores and brilliant dunes long enough that you’ve decompressed from all the stress of work and school and home and have no more thinking left to do – there’s always the surf. This beautiful National Seashore is equal parts reflection and adventure, and you’ll love both activities for Outer Banks student tours.

We’re working to bulk up the fabulous content on our home page for fun and exciting student travel, and I’ve been looking around for some of the most popular, most-searched-for destinations for spring break trips.

Cancun is one of our favorite destinations with its warm hospitality of Mexico and breathtaking Caribbean waters. The snorkeling and diving are almost unmatched in the beautiful coral reefs around Cancun. The beach is gorgeous, and the nightlife some of the most innovative in the world. You can read more about it from our homepage and see all there is to discover in this popular destination.

Europe offers some of the most popular experiences and once-in-a-lifetime destinations for students as well. We love London and Paris, and we especially love a combination of the two. With the efficient Eurostar, a train that carries passengers between the two wonderful cities, including through the English Channel tunnel (or “chunnel), a trip that includes both destinations is well within your reach. Start from Heathrow airport with a guided driving tour of some of London’s highlights (Windsor Palace and Big Ben for instance), spend a couple days exploring them up close and then ride the train to Paris for a cruise on the Seine or a view from the Eiffel Tower. Of course, we have lots of other European tours on our site as well – all of them to amazing destinations any student would enjoy.

Coming soon we plan to feature Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Panama City, Florida, as two highly popular spring break destinations. We’ll also fill you in on Cocoa Beach (near Orlando), the emerald coast (along the Gulf of Mexico and covered in brilliant white quartz sand), and Miami.

But where else? Let us know some of the destinations you’re curious about. What’s the first place you think of when you consider that all-important spring break escape. And what’s more important to you? The beaches? The nightlife? Or both?  Either way, we’ll have the info you need to choose plenty of exciting beach and European tours, from Cancun spring break trips to European travel – all perfect for spring break and beyond.

Where do you suppose a school goes for its eighth grade educational tour if the school’s already located in Washington D.C.? I mean, those kids have probably seen the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial a few million times, right?

At least I hope so. The nation’s Capital is so full of treasures for student travel that I’d like to think the students who live there take advantage of them. I have to wonder, though, if they feel that same surge of pride and inspiration that the rest of us feel when we visit for the first time. If you grow up there, I wonder if you take these beautiful attractions for granted like the rest of us take for granted our local department stores and parks. Surely not.

After all, what local attraction of our own can compare to the government buildings in D.C., the White House, the National Mall, and the amazing wealth of museums in Washington D.C. for just about every interest you can imagine? None of them really.

Maybe those born and raised in the Capital expand their historical tours to cities nearby. Washington D.C. and New York City are actually close enough to combine into one great educational tour. Throw Philadelphia student tours into the mix, and you’ve got one of our favorite three-city combos for student travel.

Philadelphia actually offers an attraction that has been the number one visited tourist attraction in the United States on the Forbes list. It’s the Independence National Historical Park and includes Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the famous Liberty Bell, which students and other groups have enjoyed visiting for years. Whether or not the bell was used for some of the most important events attributed to it through legend, it still represents our country’s greatest principles of liberty, equality, and freedom.

So maybe the students who live in Washington D.C. have paid homage at Lincoln’s statue since they were very young and perhaps they’ve seen the view from Washington Monument enough to have it memorized. But they can’t have seen it all. And if they do need to spread their touring wings, there are many great historical and educational sites in Philadelphia to add to the itinerary.

Photo by MCS@flickr.

Why only visit an exciting city when you can be part of the attraction?

Performance groups, pay attention. There are several amazing destinations in the country that welcome high school students throughout the year to specific festivals and performances. Imagine you and your group traveling beyond the four walls of the band room and taking all your hard work and practice to the streets of a city you’ve always wanted to visit. You’ll be the performers, the action, the show. You’ll meet other performers your age and get to tour some of the attractions that make the destination so exciting in the first place. Here’s a glimpse at what I’m talking about.

New York City – Among others, you’ll find the Festival of Music where you can perform in the Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall in Newark Symphony Hall. Then catch a classic Manhattan attraction and eat at Planet Hollywood, Hard Rock Cafe, or the popular and dramatic Mars 2112.

Atlanta – In this vibrant city you’ll perform at the Alton Keith Performing Arts Center. You’ll want to do your best for the awards ceremony that follows, and you’ll enjoy a truly southern picnic as part of this Festival.

Boston – Boston is an exciting, modern city with loads of historical sites as well. Its Back Bay is a must-see section for any visitor. Bands and orchestras will perform their pieces for the Boston Festival of Music at the Duxbury Performing Arts Center. Choirs will be at the Silver Lake Performing Arts Center.

Chicago – This city will have you thrilled from your first glimpse of its world-famous architecture to every step along the Magnificent Mile. Performance tours will split up in Chicago between Harper College and Elgin Community College. For an added attraction in this city, how about a meal and theatrical tournament at Medieval Times?

Orlando – For performance tours that put all the rest to shame, you’ll love four days in Orlando, Florida at Disney World’s Magic Music Days. You know there’s plenty to do in this exciting location. You’ll get a hopper pass to enjoy all the Disney major theme parks at your leisure and you’ll enjoy the time of your life as young performers gather for some of the most fun you’ll ever experience.

Traveling with your band or choir is a once-in-a-lifetime experience (if not once-a-year, which sounds even better). You’ve spent hours together working and sweating your way through songs you’ve now perfected. It’s time to let them see a stage prepared just for you and groups like yours, and then let your hair down for some fun.

Photo by pdxjeff on Flickr

If you watch ABC, you may notice your favorite characters volunteering during their storylines this week. It’s part of ABC’s push toward “a better community” through giving back.

There are lots of destinations that lend themselves best to student volunteering around the country. National parks offer cleanup and maintenance opportunities that bring you close to nature. Zoos, wildlife preserves, humane societies, and other organizations let you volunteer with animals. And there are any number of habitats for humanity and Red Cross projects  grateful for the extra help from teens. These tours can be exciting because you can bookend the volunteering with fun theme parks or other popular sites.

But ABC and other volunteer organizations are hoping to get the word out that there are many volunteer opportunities right where you live. Before raising the travel money for Yellowstone, why not call your own Parks and Recreation department? I’m sure they could put a group of teens to work. Though volunteering tends to be its own reward, you’ll sometimes find other benefits when you get in touch with community leaders. My friends and I once cleared a cemetery of fallen acorns then took them to the conservation department for cash. It helped us raise money for other projects we were working toward.

Besides working with nature, many organizations provide help to your peers and neighbors through their various services. You can probably find a local chapter of the Red Cross or even a Habitat for Humanity home in your area. Check around and you may also find ways to help homes for battered women and children, youth in foster care, or a food depot.

Remember that we are all connected, and when we help each other, we really do help ourselves. Open your eyes to the community around you. Listen for the needs that might be right next door. And start volunteering now to begin a lifetime of giving back.

Photo by laura.ouimette on Flickr

Besides educational tours and graduation trips, some high school students might want to focus their student travel on researching destinations for their future. More specifically, they want to answer the question, “Where am I going to go for college?”

Fortunately, great universities and colleges around the country are located in exciting destinations near some of the more popular attractions for student tours anyway. This way, you can turn your New York City student tours into a discovery of New York University and pretty Washington Square where much of the campus is located. Or consider Boston student tours. Stroll the walkways on one of the most famous campuses in the nation at Harvard Square, then fill out your itinerary with The Freedom Trail, the Boston Museum of Science and Omni Theater, plus other beautiful Boston sites like the Back Bay and Boston Public Garden.

Of course, there may be colleges in lesser known locations you’d like to tour. Chances are, you’ll find hidden treasure around almost any college campus. One of our travel writers recently wrote about Truman State University campus tours in Kirksville, Missouri. Having made the campus his home for several years, he knows all the best food and shopping locations nearby. In fact, this may be just the ticket for campus tours no matter where you are: Trust your guide. Get a hold of the campus ahead of time (or arrange these details with a travel professional) and find out what you may find nearby and how long you could plan to spend in the area. You may be surprised what you discover nearby, and imagine what it could add to your decision making.

(Photo of an outdoor hall on the Truman State University campus by TommyNguyen on Flickr).

So, that first step can be intimidating. You’re interested in a trip – after all, who isn’t? But you don’t know for sure if you can get it approved through the powers that be. You have no idea what to expect as far as cost is concerned. (Will your group need to do fundraisers? Can the school pay for it?) And you don’t know where to begin.

My advice? Don’t wait. Travel professionals are trained for this. They take your hm-maybe-kindas and turn them into actual places, an educated estimate, and a specialized itinerary. This is a proposal, and at that point it’s in your hands to decide. You don’t lose anything by making that first call or filling out the initial travel request form.

Here are some tips to put you ahead of the game for that first contact with your travel professional. These are things they’re going to want to know about you and your group, so they can customize your tour.

Who are you? The professional needs an idea on the size of your group and the age range. If you have specific interests (Ooh, we adore history! Or art. Or parks and gardens. Or perhaps, Just show us the food…).

What do you want most? Besides your interests, what does your group expect as far as the pace is concerned or the theme? Are we thinking theme park city? Or do you prefer relaxing beaches? Perhaps you’re looking for a steady series of educational sites and tours. If you can be specific here, you’re more likely to get exactly the tour you desire.

What can’t you do? Here’s where you tell the professional if you have a specific time frame, budget, or other special requirements.

What’s it going to take to make this happen? It will be good if you have at least a small idea about the red tape. With whom do you need to approve this trip in order to make it happen? With student tours, this usually includes at least the school’s administration and often the parents. Tell your professional what you need and when. Their ability to comply at this stage will give you even greater confidence about the tour itself.

So gather a little information and then take the plunge. Finding out whether you’ve got an exciting destination in your future? It’s just a click away.

It’s September, and I hope you seniors especially are right in the middle of all that fast-paced planning that comes with getting out of high school and moving on with your future. Hopefully, between planning the announcements, organizing the parties, signing yearbooks, and paying for it all – you’re getting the details lined out for the trip. You probably should have thought of it before now, but it is NOT too late to plan student beach trips and other popular student travel perfect for celebrating gradation.

Student travel can seem overwhelming at first. But here are a couple of things that will put you ahead of the game and maybe help you convince the powers that be to just plan the awesome trip already!

Numbers

When getting organized for student travel, think numbers, especially if you’re traveling my motor coach. These buses typically hold a maximum of 55 passengers. If you’ve got 58 people signed up for the trip, it’s time to do some recruiting. If you’re going to have to rent that second coach anyway, it will be much more cost effective for everyone if you get more people to fill it. More people in the seats equals more people footing the bill. The more people you have footing the bill, the less any one person has to pay.

Chaperones

Along those lines, keep this in mind: With most tours, one chaperone travels free per ten students. So figure those parents and teachers in with your final count. Also, consider them in your recruiting process.

Bottom line: Numbers matter. It’s just one of the many reasons you need to plan ahead!