It’s fun to take movie tours to Washington D.C. and New York City, because of the bus and walking tours available to actual movie locations around the city. New York, for instance, brings you outdoor settings from several favorite sitcoms plus tons of popular movies. Washington D.C. does as well. But really, if you want to focus on Hollywood, is there really any more natural destination than Los Angeles?

Hollywood itself has all those classic move-land sights that film lovers will enjoy, like the big white letters on the hill, Grauman’s Chinese Theater, and the Kodak Theater, which is sort of a new classic. It was built as a permanent home for the Annual Academy Awards but also holds several other shows throughout the year, including the American Idol Finale. And in 2011, Cirque du Soleil finds yet another permanent U.S. stage when it brings a movie-themed production to the Kodak for regular performances.

The Hollywood Museum is another must-see for movie lovers, with pictures, trivia, exhibitions, and memorabilia from film. You’ll see things here like Rocky’s boxing gloves and that distinguished coat or dress that so-and-so wore in that one amazing film…. Stuff like that.

Studios – Another way to celebrate Hollywood is to go behind the scenes and experience it. Studio tours are popular attractions for Los Angeles tours, especially if you choose the right ones. Some can be kind of on the boring side. You aren’t likely to see actual stars, they’re a little long. And getting led from empty sound stages to locked warehouses and all the alleyways in between can get kind of old. Some, like Paramount above, are far more impressive in just a drive-by in which you can just imagine all the magic that takes place beyond the gated entrance.

But some of the movie studios are beautifully designed for exciting tours. Universal Studios, for instance, is all about entertaining you even as it takes you behind the scenes for special effects, what it’s like to film on location, and all kinds of fun info and memorabilia in their backstage tours. Warner Brothers studios falls somewhere in between the two. It’s hardly a theme park, but it does have some interesting sights.

Stalking Tours – Did I say stalking? I mean walking. Only I don’t, because these tours usually take place on a bus. Gray Line, for instance, offers some fun bus tours in which you’ll drive by the homes of actual celebrities. The tours also include some of the classic Hollywood stuff I talked about above.

Theme Parks – Los Angeles is a world leader for most theme parks within a manageable radius. Disney Land is a popular place for LA tours of course. Plus, Universal – as mentioned – has made itself one of the most exciting destinations for the area. Six Flags Magic Mountain has an X-treme theme in this part of the world, and Knotts Berry Farm rounds out the list for coaster mania.

Together, all these attractions make L.A. an exciting tour, but especially for movie lovers.

Photo by Marcos Santiago on 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

There’s a magical time for every person sometime during or after college when the school years are winding down but one has yet to begin a career or family. You can imagine I’m past this period myself. Otherwise, I would have used words like anxious or panicky instead of magical.

It can feel that way. You probably thought your identity and your plans would be perfectly formed by now, not to mention all the skills you need to bring those plans to pass. It actually can be a stressful time. But if you can look past the stress and see instead the possibility, there are some wonderful opportunities at your fingertips.

For instance, this transitional season is a perfect one for international tours.

Traveling internationally can open your world in a dramatic way. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself and about your perspective when thrown into an environment that has completely different ones. Logistically this is a good time for travel, because you’re not as confined by the various commitments of work and family. But it’s also a good time because you’re forming so much understanding about politics, your interests, and the world. It’s a fun process, an exciting one. And international travel gives you a much broader stage for the journey.

Now, if you really want to take advantage of this season, and get as much international perspective as you can in one stretch, have I got an idea for you. Consider this: You and your friends, one month, and beautiful Europe.

It’s totally possible, and the possibilities are endless. The tour I’m talking about is going to give you time first in London. Then you’ll travel Eurostar to Paris for a few days in the City of Lights, exploring the Eiffel Tower, Windsor Castle, and the Louvre. The tour includes several half-day tours with expert guides but also hours to explore these amazing cities on your own.

After London and Paris, how about Amsterdam and Holland for amazing shopping and atmosphere? After that you’ll take the Aerial Cableway over Mount Pilatus in Switzerland and then travel to Germany to tour a brilliant castle and an authentic concentration camp from World War II.

Austria and Bavaria come next, including Mozart’s birthplace. Then, Italy, with hours to explore ancient Rome and the Colosseum, as well as Vatican City and its amazing museum. From Brindisi, Italy, you’ll take a ferry crossing to Igoumenitsa, Greece, for the remainder of your time in Europe.

You have to admit, it’s sounding a little more magical now. A month in Europe is once-in-a-lifetime, if that, for most people. And now is the time for you to do it.

How cool is this photo?

It was taken by chrisbastian44 on Flickr, and it’s an amazing image of the Guggenheim in New York City.

This attraction has something of interest for everyone. You’ll find the fascinating building on Fifth Avenue just across from the southern part of Central Park. It rises among other more typical skyscrapers like a giant dollop of concrete sour cream.

I have to wonder what Frank Lloyd Wright would think of that description though. Wright was the amazing designer for the Guggenheim. This year an anniversary exhibition was arranged at the Guggenheim in honor of this legendary American architect. You can find his work throughout the United States and even visit his own homes and studios in places like Chicago and in Scottsdale, Arizona. Still, the Guggenheim is perhaps his most unique design.

The Guggenheim’s shape is not merely for the aesthetic wow factor, though. The design of the Guggenheim is first and foremost to enhance the viewing experience of the galleries. You’ll find collections of modern and contemporary art in the Guggenheim, so it’s only fitting that the space is thoroughly modern as well. Upon entering the building, you’ll see the layers of galleries like you do in the photo here. You then begin your journey in the elevator. It carries you to the top of the unique structure. And from there, you stroll the downward spiraling walkway through the galleries.

What you’ll see there is, in the words of the Guggenheim administrators, “at once a vital cultural center, an educational institution, and the heart of an international network of museums.” It’s a tall order, but the Guggenheim certainly delivers. The artwork at the Guggenheim was acquired from extensive private collections. The modern and contemporary artwork is assembled as such, the pieces displayed in pleasing but eclectic variety as they might be hung in a glorious home. Though not arranged by historical era, the Guggenheim continues to acquire pieces, hoping to erase any chronological gaps.

But the Guggenheim is far more than artwork on a wall. You might find any number of thrilling exhibitions at any given season at the Guggenheim. For this reason, you may want to check their website before visiting. You may want to arrange your tour around a specific event. Besides the exhibitions, the Guggenheim offers lectures by art critics and even by the artists themselves. You may be able to attend a film screening or a live performance. And for students, the Guggenheim offers classes, both youth and adult. Plus, you can view the galleries with the guidance of an experienced docent if you prefer.

With its brilliant collection, the Guggenheim is perfect for art tours – New York City offering so many amazing collections in its various art museums. But the Guggenheim is also a must-see attraction for theme tours in architectural design. It’s a living study of Frank Lloyd Wright’s amazing eye and purpose. And it’s a powerful look at how function and beauty go hand in hand.

You know what words I like? Heritage and Legacy. One describes an understanding of where you’ve been, or at least of the people and events behind you that led to who you are. The other describes something left behind, either for you, or by you. I know neither are something most students sit and ponder for much of the day. But they should certainly figure in to student travel and educational tours.

Black history tours are some of our most popular along these lines. African-Americans have had an intense journey as US citizens. All US citizens come from a long line of independent thinkers and fighters of freedom. But for black Americans, that fight hit its peak in much more recent history. Students of black history are often very familiar with the stateside heritage of black Americans even before they travel. But how much more will that heritage come alive when they visit the places where civil rights heroes were birthed, the places where they spoke to thousands or to the places where African-Americans built churches, schools, and businesses that gave black Americans a place in the New World as well.

Boston, Massachusetts, is one exciting city for student travel that lends itself beautifully to a black history tour.

The Black Heritage Trail includes the African Meeting House, which served as both a church and a school until integration allowed students to be educated at the Phillips School – also part of the trail. These sites and others showcase the efforts of black Americans in Boston to build a legacy for their families, their children, and their future. All African-Americans in Boston were free by the year 1790, and the Black Heritage Trail lets that history shine.

The George Middleton House tells the story of black Americans in the American Revolution. Boston is rich with American Revolution history, and students will love learning about the role of black Americans in it. Middleton was said to have led the all-black company known as the Bucks of America. This site is part of the Black Heritage Trail. It’s located on Beacon Hill, a thrilling historic neighborhood in Boston that all groups should include in Boston tours.

The Harriet Tubman House is not just a tribute to that amazing icon of black history but to the architect who designed it. He was one of the few African-American architects at the time and won awards for his work.

Boston is filled with American history. It makes American heritage come alive for any student. And as you can see, students of black history can find extra value in this popular city for student travel.

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

There are lots of unique ways to approach student travel. As you’ve seen, we’ve been building a lot of tours from themes. And this is a really fascinating one that opened my eyes to attractions I didn’t even know existed. Ever considered a travel theme of Law and Order?

One of the best cities for law and order tours, is Washington D.C. It’s the setting for crime and intrigue in the movies all the time. And there’s a reason. Home to the defense department, countless museums, our federal government, and attractions of espionage, crime, and punishment – this city’s just asking for plots of classic conspiracy. Take a look at some of the attractions that let you be a part.

International Spy Museum – You’re going to be so surprised how much espionage has played into many pivotal moments in history. You’ll see the tools, hear the stories, and catch at least a glimpse of what this business requires.

National Museum of Crime and Punishment – Pretty much what it sounds like only put the term crime and punishment in pirate gear, cowboy chaps, and numerous costumes through history. The museum tells stores from every era plus takes you to the set of America’s Most Wanted.

National Cryptologic Museum – Like the picture above, this museum helps you crack the code. You’ll learn how codes are made and how they are broken, the tools required for this amazing profession, and stories of success from cryptological history.

The Pentagon – A tour of this uniquely-shaped building takes you over one mile of hallways through the intricate design. It’s home to the headquarters for every branch of our military and a fascinating tour with an expert guide, amazing trivia, and inspiring memorials.

This is just the beginning. You’ll discover so much about law enforcement, the judicial system, and more on a law and order tour throughout the nation’s capital. It’s a fascinating theme for any student and a serious look into many valid and worthy professions.

They’re beautiful, full of educational value, and powerfully refreshing. Our country’s national parks are ready-made for student travel.

They’re also economical. There are lots of exciting destinations around the country filled with theme parks, live performances, and innovative restaurants. But with these tours, every attraction requires more money. This can put the final bill far beyond a student group’s budget. Even after the Saturday car wash and bake sale. If the school is funding any of the trip at all, they may be less likely to pitch in for expensive attractions as well. National Parks don’t cost much more than the price of travel and a few sensible meals.

But the take-away is awesome. You’ll find you don’t have to spend extravagant money to induce awe and wonder. Nature has consistently done a pretty powerful job of this all by itself. Our national parks were chosen as such because somebody stood in awe and said, “We can’t let this get paved over for roller coasters.”

The impact is highly individualized. While man-made entertainment typically produces a similar reaction in all its participants (e.g., “That ride is thrilling,” “This restaurant is colorful.”), nature has a way of affecting its visitors personally. Some are moved toward faith, others to action, still others to a sense of quiet unmatched by the daily grind. Visiting national parks guarantees a unique and powerful response in almost every person. Nature and wildlife – they move people.

They inspire participation. National parks are also a great choice for student volunteering. Many have programs already in place for this. A two-day tour could easily include one half day of eco-friendly volunteerism. The most beautiful spots on earth are of course the most inspiring for taking care of the planet. Students not only feel encouraged to join global efforts for the environment, they participate in practical ways to do it.

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).