Since working for a travel company and discovering great educational attractions around the country, like the USS Constitution, I’ve become fascinated with the many ways to support our troops as we travel. This ship amazes me because of its history and its amazing status today. The USS Constitution is a museum ship now, as are many retired battleships throughout United States waters. It’s located near Boston, and unlike other museum ships, the USS Constitution has never been decommissioned! This ship’s original commission was given by George Washington himself – that’s how old it is. Yet it is still afloat today. Still in commission and still afloat – and the oldest ship with those stats in the world.

This ship is often referred to by its nickname, Old Ironsides. It got the name because of the way enemy fire seemed to bounce right off of its strong metal sides. Because of its status as a still-commissioned ship, the guides on board are all active-duty officers – part of the special units all around our nation. I love that. It seems like the perfect way to celebrate our rich history and the heroes of our past as well as show support for our military today.

You can view the USS Constitution through Boston educational tours and graduation trips. There is a ton of history to add to any student tour in the Boston area, and the USS Constitution is a thrilling place to begin.

There’s something that has fascinated me since researching educational sights for students that fits nicely with Veteran’s Day coming up. That phenomenon is the special assignments for our military right here on our own soil. They offer a beautiful way to honor and celebrate our military past and present.

I was able to experience one of these in June of this year. It’s the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, sometimes called the Tomb of the Unknowns, as it has never been officially named. You can find it in Washington D.C., and it really must be added to all educational tours in that direction.

The remains in the tomb are of soldiers from World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. (The soldier from the Vietnam War has now been identified and his former place in the tomb remains empty). But these remains represent every member of the armed forces who fell unnamed. The inscription reads, “Here Rests In Honored Glory An American Soldier Known But To God.” While visiting with a tour guide, our group learned that hopefully that Vietnam soldier, now identified, represents that last unknown soldier to die in action.

The most moving part of this attraction is the changing of the guard. The tomb is guarded 24 hours a day by a member of the US 3rd Infantry. This infantry has been in combat for every war and conflict, including the war in Iraq. Members of the Infantry stand guard over this tomb as the ultimate symbol of brotherhood and respect for our fallen heroes.

The soldier on duty walks before the tomb for 21 steps. He then stands in a salute for the same number of seconds before returning to a pace. The number 21 is symbolic of the 21-gun salute, which is the highest honor bestowed on any dignitary or military official. Also fascinating is the white glove inspection given to each soldier as he takes his place at the tomb. It is all a very beautiful gesture and an amazing example of the excellence of our trained military men and women.

I think it’s so beautiful the many ways our military serves us and the ways its members honor each other, and this is the perfect attraction to see this in person.

Well, it’s settled. I have to go back to New York City as soon as possible. I visited in the spring, for the first time, and immediately made every intention to go again as often as possible in my lifetime. But I’m discovered a dilemma today that won’t be solved until I’m there again.

New York City is, of course, one of the top five US destinations for student travel. We love it for all kinds of tours, group travel, museum tours, even for themed travel since it offers so many attractions for any interest, including art, architecture, theater, film, and any number of historical themes. When we went in the spring, we determined to see for ourselves many of the attractions often included in itineraries for students. Of course, a couple observation decks made the list.

Before I went, I understood there to be some debate about which observation deck was the best – the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock. I knew the ESB probably held the most sentimental draw but had heard that Top of the Rock actually offered the better user experience. I couldn’t wait to decide for sure.

Since returning, I’ve given my opinion several times that the above is basically true. I had a wonderful and personal experience at the ESB. We were given the VIP tour. We were able to avoid the lines and see things most groups won’t. But here’s the sadness: I only took three pictures. THREE. (You can see one of them above). And I’ve learned that when you are taking in so many new and unfamiliar attractions at once, your only chance at remembering them in detail and truly reliving the experience is if you write down every moment and/or take a ton of pictures. Therefore, the truth is, my ESB experience has almost left me.

At Top of the Rock, I took pictures of every possible view, including – and this is the important part – the observation deck itself. Now I can relive not just what the city looks like from Top of the Rock but I can relive Top of the Rock itself – the wide and spacious deck with its clear safety glass for protection and the slots between them perfect for sticking a camera lens through to take unobstructed pictures.

These are the details I cannot remember from the Empire State Building. I’ve been describing the photo above as the observation deck there, because I’d forgotten one very important detail. This is a photograph of the observation deck on the 102nd floor. It’s completely enclosed with the metal you see in the photo and it requires an upgraded ticket for admission. The more common 86th floor observatory is more open, and I wish I’d taken a picture of it – of people standing on it, leaning over to view Manhattan from its height.

I have to confess that even with my foggy memory, I do remember the ESB observation deck to be quite a bit more crowded and more narrow than the one at Top of the Rock. It was difficult at the Empire State Building to find space at the ledge for an unobstructed view. But I’ve definitely done it an injustice to remember it only as the one in the picture. And I’ve been told since that it’s open late and that the view is absolutely incomparable at night.

This is why I absolutely have to go back. I can’t truly write about New York City group travel without another glimpse, without better photographic evidence of the experience on the 86th floor observation deck at the Empire State Building. And at night. It’s an absolute must.

I haven’t yet written much about our trip to New York City in June. It was such an exciting trip, stuffed full with the attractions we often include in New York City educational travel. And somehow I’ve wanted to draw out the thrill of sharing it on the blog. Whenever I write about New York City now, I can do it from experience, and that’s such a wonderful feeling.

Before I went, I had to learn as much as I could from other people’s experiences or from locals willing to share their tips online. This led me to some great advice on how to approach a first-time trip there. We had an expert guide for most of our tour, so I wasn’t too concerned about navigating the metro or knowing the names of the attractions I passed and how to get to the next one. And frankly, some of the tips I was a bit powerless to implement since they involved not looking like a tourist. We traveled, after all, with the specific purpose of researching the many NYC attractions use for group travel and we did it in a group with a guide-slash-narrator. Sticking out was an inevitable part of our experience.

Still, they were some great tips, and I thought I’d reproduce them for you here based on my experience with whether or not they held true. These tips could get you through your own first New York City tour without annoying even one authentic New Yorker!

1. Don’t Be Obvious – If you want to annoy a New Yorker, be as obvious as a tourist as you possibly can. Wear a tropical shirt, sling a camera around your neck, gaze and point, look up a lot and drop your jaw…you get the idea. I have to admit, though, I stood in front of a web cam on Times Square and waved to my family, and I swear no one even noticed. It was easier than I thought in New York City, to blend. And all this leads me to the next point.

Don’t Get in the Way. I knew this in theory before, and now I know it for sure. In New York City, people are constantly on the move, and they’re on the move in a crowd. If you stand still in the midst of them, they get annoyed. Even if you don’t mind standing out as a tourist, try not to stand out as inconsiderate. When you see a photo op you just have to grab, step outside the moving stream of people rushing to or from their deadlines and appointments. Remember, though you are on vacation, these people are busy living their everyday.

Do Consider Attractions Off-the-Beaten-Path. This might be a hard one if it’s your first trip and you think it might be your last. In that case, you’re going to want to hit the biggies – Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, and the Met (for starters). These were certainly the attractions that made our itinerary. But if you can, consider some quiet corners of Central Park, the High Line Park (made on an abandoned, elevated railway), the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, or other out-of-the-way spots where you can truly experience the City and what makes it great.

I accomplished this on my last morning with a stroll to Riverside Park and the location for a favorite (and the final) scene from You’ve Got Mail. It was one of my favorite New York City experiences.

Wear Comfortable Shoes – If you’re like me, you hesitate stepping foot on these streets at all for fear you’ll be immediately judged for your fashion sense or lack thereof. Instead of trying to imitate Carrie Bradshaw, think comfort. No one will notice if you wear jeans, a black or solid t-shirt and walking shoes. They will definitely notice if you’re hobbling around, blistered, in high heels from attraction to attraction. I compromised between heels and tennis shoes by purchasing some pretty and comfortable flats. It worked perfectly.

But Don’t Be Afraid to Rock the Heels for Evening – One night I carried heels in my bag and changed into them after supper and before the Broadway Show. IT WORKED LIKE A CHARM.

Over-the-Shoulder It. Similarly to the shoes thing, online tips strongly advice you don’t try to haul a giant bag around or anything that can’t be strapped around your neck and over your chest. And I tried to follow this advice. I really did try. I looked for a new bag, a lighter-weight one. In the end, though, I settled on my own bag – the one I’d been carrying for a little over a year. And you know what? It’s giant and it couldn’t be strapped around my neck and over my chest. And I totally didn’t care. I think the spirit of this tip is: Take the bag you’re comfortable with.

Chill. One thing I determined before I went and that was to take in every moment of the experience without stressing too much over what I did or didn’t see. I knew that was always the death of happiness in group travel tours. And I can honestly say, it happened. Don’t wear yourself completely out, or you won’t really enjoy being there. Take in what you can, and really take it in. Spend as long as you need to at each amazing attraction. Make sure you eat and stay hydrated. And be there. Sometimes I accomplished this best with a camera and sometimes just by breathing in.

And that’s some New York travel advice that should be a good start to a first time tour of your own.

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.

Food is my favorite part of traveling. I look forward to eating out, not having to cook, and savoring dishes I haven’t thought of before. I live in a small town and can’t wait to eat at any number of places I can’t go to at home.

This is a picture of my favorite restaurant experience on this year’s New York City tour, and the fact that it’s my favorite suggests a couple tips I thought I’d pass on to you for your next group or educational travel.

Don’t Always Choose Commercial

Places like Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood are always popular for student travel tours. We recommend them, and we use them a lot. I’ve been to both myself. Hard Rock is loud and energetic – it does celebrate Rock & Roll after all. Each restaurant is like a pop culture museum that comes with the price of a meal, and the menu is all-American and all your favorites. I found Planet Hollywood more spacious but also packed with memorabilia. This museum celebrates film, and you’re sure to sit beneath costumes or props from classics you love. You can even put your hand in the handprints of your favorite celebrities. These restaurants are places to enjoy all kinds of things you love.

And besides these, you can always stick with the chains you know so well, your favorite fast food or breakfast faves like Dennys. We promise we won’t judge. Although, we might have a better idea. And, more importantly (if you’re planning a trip on your own), the locals probably do. After all, if you’re like me, when you travel you don’t want to eat just any old place you could visit at home.

Think Atmosphere and Hospitality

Playwright Irish Pub III was one of my favorite meals for a couple of reasons outside of the food. Though the food was delicious. At least, I think the atmosphere was more conducive to actually noticing the food. I felt like I was sitting in a family environment, enjoying the best that household had to offer. It helped that we met the owner and spent some time with him on his outdoor rooftop terrace, hearing his story, the differences between our country and his home in Ireland. Though quite obviously a New York City favorite, and offering more than one location in the city, Playwright felt local. It didn’t have a hint of those things that make critics cry “tourist trap.”

I felt similarly about our experience at Stage Door Delicatessen in the financial district. No experience, eating or otherwise, felt more truly New York than our lunch there. Here too we received our food – sandwiches and sides – over-the-counter from the owners themselves. It was such a family atmosphere, yet it was the most streamlined, and group-friendly, family restaurant I’d ever seen. They moved us through that line fast. It’s an excellent choice for group travel tours, partly because of that, and partly because it’s alive with the atmosphere visitors expect from their New York City tour.

So the next time you head to one of the major cities to which we customize  tours, take a chance and ask us if we’ve heard of anything new, anything local, any dining experience that will turn into one of your favorite, most authentic experiences in the city. We promise to do our best, because we know how it feels when restaurant magic hits.

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.

It’s not like I’ve tried very hard. But there’s just no fall show that replaces LOST in how much I care about it. I loved that lonely bunch of people with their emotional baggage and shockingly eventful pasts and, most of all, the way they came together. Maybe you’re settling into The Event just fine or perhaps finally discovering there are shows that make you laugh instead of stress over hatches and others and people who just can’t decide whether they’re good or bad already. But if you’re having trouble letting go at all, if your life doesn’t seem complete without a weekly tropical excursion – try this: Some thoughts on how you could take your own trip to The Island, albeit one much less frightening, only mysterious in a nice, exotic way, and on which all but four scenes of the famous television show were filmed.

Hawaii student tours are a bit on the pricey side. There’s no way around that. But if you can come up with the money (car wash, anyone?), we can customize the itinerary. Here are some of the attractions we like to include in first-time trips to Hawaii.

Traditional Greeting with a Flower Lei

Speaking of television, for me it was Growing Pains that first introduced the idea that Hawaii greeted you from the very first moment with exotic hospitality and a flower lei. Whatever that moment was for you, never fear. This tradition is a part of every Hawaii itinerary we create.

Waikiki Beach

It’s the best-known shore in Hawaii, and you’ve probably seen a picture of its sand stretched in a curve around the clear blue water with resorts along it and Diamond Head towering above. This will be home for the duration of your Hawaiian tour. We allot several blocks of time to relax on the beach or, for the bargain-inclined, shop at International Marketplace nearby. Also, as you may know, Waikiki is on Oahu, the island where LOST was filmed. Actually, there are even tours available that take you to several tv and movie site locations you’ll recognize.

Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial

This historical landmark and memorial should be a part of every student tour to the Hawaiian Islands, especially for groups looking to put their visit in the category of educational travel. The USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Missouri together offer a powerful history lesson and are a tribute to this tragedy in US and world history.

Sightseeing

There are lots of beautiful historic sites on Oahu you might not have heard about that we include in your itinerary as well. You’ll see the Iolani Palace, from where the Hawaiian kings reigned.

Germaines Luau

The only thing more traditional than a flower lei greeting is to receive one as you enter a traditional Polynesian Luau. There’s nothing like the feeling you’ll get when the pig is roasting over the fire, and the royal court of Polynesia enters. A romantic hula and a traditional dance follow the dinner for a Hawaiian experience you’ll always remember.

Hanauma Bay

This pristine marine preserve is an educational center, offering you a snorkeling adventure with its aquatic lessons.

Dinner Cruise

The Germaines is a luau on land. On a dinner cruise, you’ll take all that Polynesian culture to the water for a scenic tour on a giant catamaran. You’ll love the delicious food, the atmosphere, and the beautiful sun-streaked views off Waikiki and Honolulu.

Diamond Head

The summit is not the only thing to discover on a hike up Diamond Head. You’ll find rich history here and a gorgeous landscape throughout. You’ll enjoy the entire hike after which the view is in fact incomparable.

I can’t make LOST return for another season. Nor can I hurry up that book in which its creators finally tell us what the heck was going on with the four-toed sculpture and when exactly everyone died and why in the world they were all brought to the island at all. But I do work for some people who could put together a pretty beautiful island adventure which should go a long way in helping to ease your pain. And with this Island adventure, we promise you get to come home.

Photo by jgarber on Flickr.