The Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington DC was one of the most amazing experiences I had in that city. So I’m thrilled, if you haven’t heard of it yet, to tell you about an equally moving educational center in the Midwest. Based on what you’ll learn here, I guarantee you will want to visit this center immediately, and you’ll definitely want to include it in Chicago educational tours.

Though a well-established educational center, this museum is located in a  new facility. Each new story, exhibit, and educational center – all dedicated on Sunday, April 19, 2009 – represent a brand new focus on the Holocaust and the lessons we must take away from it. President Bill Clinton gave the key note address at the opening. His prominent endorsement was only fitting for a museum and learning center that should become a centerpiece for the education of students everywhere.

Remembering the Holocaust brings with it all kinds of opportunity for teaching. Administrators can focus on compassion and empathy, on bigotry, and how these things look in our world today. This museum embraces each of these learning opportunities, presenting them in fascinating exhibits, through the words and pictures of survivors. Students will even understand the lessons in the context of genocides that have taken place more recently and those still happening today.

One prominent section of the Illinois Holocaust Museum is designed specifically for younger children. You can confidently share this exhibit with your middle graders, who will appreciate its interactive and hands-on activities, which help students place themselves in the world and literally view their impact on it. Through these exhibits, students will be inspired to “Make a Difference.”

A beautiful facility, an incomparable learning experience, and an important time of remembrance, the Illinois Holocaust Museum is one of Chicago’s newest and brightest features for students. Don’t forget it when planning your next educational tour.

Photo by kongtemplation on Flickr.

I’m still saving back all kinds of details about my New York City visit – things I’ve written about for years but just this spring experienced for myself. I’m drawing out the thrill of it – my thrill in sharing it, not so much your thrill I know. And that’s why I haven’t dumped all the goodness out on the blog yet. Today, though, I’m highlighting a little NYC treasure that I did not see in person but will definitely be on the list for the next time I go. It’s a great choice for all kinds of educational travel, including educational tours in art and architecture.

This is a picture of the inside of it. I sometimes describe the outside as a giant dollop of concrete sour cream. Do you know it? Never fear if you don’t. You know I’m going to tell you.

This unique photograph is the inside of the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. It is both a gallery of art and an artistic masterpiece itself, designed with a sprawling downward spiral for the art lovers who view the amazing collection within. And it’s one of the premier art museums in the world.

The Guggenheim was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most prominent architects in American history, which is why the building makes a great stop for students in architecture.

The Guggenheim was made (and filled) by people with beautiful philosophy. The pieces inside come from private collections and so they are arranged not chronologically or really any kind of logically. They are arranged in groupings as they might be displayed and showcased in a home. Similarly, the architect designed his buildings with thoughts far bigger than bricks and mortar. Frank Lloyd Wright believed that beautifully designed buildings make a difference in our lives. And this certainly seems true of the Guggenheim.

Photo by Evelyn Proimos on Flickr.

I have a thing for art – not just pieces on a wall but the whole experience of creating or experiencing beautiful creativity. I think travel is a great inspiration for it, which makes art one of the most obvious of our  educational theme tours.

Art lovers would travel almost any distance for a famous art museum. And they wouldn’t really need any other attraction beyond the beautiful pieces they love. New York City is one of our favorite choices for all kinds of student travel, including art tours. Visitors to Manhattan could easily spend more than one day in the breathtaking Metropolitan Museum of Art. This attraction displays art from all over the world, from many different cultures, and from many different historical eras. You’ll find larger-than-life modern pieces on the terrace, temporary exhibits on fashion, pop culture, and more, plus the class pieces you’ve come to expect and many that will surprise and move you. The Met also has restaurants inside and everything you need to spend hours studying the magnificent pieces – from paintings and drawings to musical instruments, costumes, and so much more.

Beyond this attraction, New York City offers still more. The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMa, is another popular art museum in the city. Its focus is on modern and contemporary art, and some of the exhibits here will truly astound you. And then there’s the Guggenheim, which is as much a wonder on the outside as in. The building spirals from its wide bottom to its narrower top. To view the displays, you ride an elevator to the top, then descend the spiraling walkway through the amazing exhibits.

You can see what I mean about New York City’s environment for art. A tour there could include at least these three museums, and there are many other attractions to round out your itinerary. But there are art museums throughout the country that will surround you with beautiful pieces as well. All of them were founded with the same goals in mind – to connect people to art for education, inspiration, and to develop a better understanding of our world.

The St. Louis Art Museum embraces this purpose so thoroughly that they want any person to be able to enjoy the experience they offer. Designed as part of the 1904 World’s Fair, this museum is free to all its guests. It offers displays and exhibitions, plus a variety of educational tours. If this museum could give every person in the world an understanding of the gift of art, I’m sure they would do it. St. Louis is a fascinating city, the Gateway to the West and marked as such by the sleek, familiar Arch – a beautiful St. Louis attraction in its own right, resting on a peaceful park. A tour of St. Louis might include any number of fascinating attractions besides the Art Museum, and it’s a great choice for student travel because of it.

Of course, there are many other cities with art museums. Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Los Angeles all have popular art museums, as well as MANY cities in between. Find one near you, and consider a theme in art for your next educational tour. The inspiration is priceless.

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.

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.

Since I’m finally going to the nation’s Capital to discover for myself the beautiful monuments and memorials, the surge of patriotic emotion, and the glory of the National Mall, I’ve learned about other attractions as well. Attractions like this one at right. (Photo by robsv  on Flickr.)

It’s called the Old Post Office, and I kept hearing that eating there was a must on our itinerary and that it was extremely cool. The name – which could be applied to any number of one-story, brick buildings in large and small towns across America – doesn’t exactly do justice to this building, though. And at the same time, now that I know what it is, the name has entirely new and prestigious meaning to me.

Just from the picture, you can see the Old Post Office has a rich history. It’s an official government building, tucked in between the Capitol and the White House, and making the list as one of Washington D.C.’s top attractions. Free tours are offered of its Clock Tower, just one of the magnificent pieces of architecture that make up this fun Washington D.C. site.

So, thus far, you’re thinking tours, narration, and history, right? So why do my fellow group members (some of whom have already been) keep referring to the food?

Because inside the Old Post Office you’ll find an international food court flanked by delicious cuisine from around the world. That’s why. You’ll find Greek fare, sushi, plus menus from India, America, and more. And besides the food, there’s shopping. Local retailers offers gifts, souvenirs, and merchandise of all kinds.

The Old Post Office is a beautiful building. It was cutting edge when it was built and is now a blend of history and modern spirit. It’s a prominent part of almost all the itineraries we create for Washington D.C. educational student tours. It’s a great place to surround yourself in American history while enjoying exciting refreshment with your group.

When it comes to student travel, you’re probably looking for a destination that offers a good mix of history and modern thrills. Several US cities will work for that, but how about someplace warm? (Since it’s the first part of 2010 and no matter where you live today, you’re probably cold). And since the east and west coasts are such obvious choices for must-see destinations, let’s go south instead.

I haven’t narrowed it down much, but there’s a beautiful city that fits this criteria and that reveals history, beauty, culture, and thrills in its many varied attractions. The city is San Antonio, and I think you’re going to like what it has to offer.

Group travel to San Antonio should first of all include a stroll and perhaps a cruise along the Rio del Paseo. This San Antonio River Walk still has the classic beauty that’s purely Spanish colonial, and it’s an unforgettable part of any San Antonio tour. Another can’t-miss-it destination is, of course, The Alamo, especially if you’re looking to put a little educational in your tour. Certainly the Mexican-American War and the specific history surrounding the Alamo will come alive for anyone who visits this amazing site. Once a Spanish Colonial mission, the Alamo and the River Walk go hand in hand for a historic tour of San Antonio.

But this city has so much more to offer as well. And the thrills only get bigger from here on out. True to Texas style, bigger seems to be a theme in this city that holds both the largest Sea World and one of the world’s largest water parks.

San Antonio’s Sea World has three parks – one for the shows for which the brand is best known, one for rides, and one with classic water park attractions like a lazy river. Schlitterbahn is the amazing water park that’s over sixty-five acres of wet and wild thrills. And as if that wasn’t enough, Six Flags once anchored here as well, creating Six Flags Fiesta Texas with aggressive rides channeling Tony Hawk, Superman, Goliath, and other worthy legends.

Of course, there are some who need a little shopping to go with their southern experience, and San Antonio can certainly deliver. You’ll find everything from high end designers to authentic flea markets, packed with the culture of Mexico.

Consider San Antonio. It’s a great city for students and groups of any age or size.

Photo by Rafael Resendiz on Flickr.

The purpose of an educational tour is to take learning on the road. Or rather, it is to take students on the road to greet the amazing learning you can find there.

New York City is a great choice for student travel because of its wide variety of experiences. And, hands down, one of the most popular NYC attractions for visitors is the amazing wealth of live and Broadway performances.

The arts in schools across the nation are sometimes the first area to lose funding in difficult times. But, often, supporters of the arts are some of the most passionate in the district. It’s been proven that music and the arts can increase the brain’s ability to soak in all kinds of information – from math and science to literature and beyond. All of this is why a Broadway performance is in itself a valid attraction to add to any Manhattan educational tour. The inspiration of seeing one of these amazing performances live, is by itself a powerful reason to put it on the itinerary.

But there’s more. If you truly want to connect the inspiration to the learning potential, Broadway offers its own classrooms for just that purpose. This is one of the amazing attractions perfect for NYC theater tours.

Broadway Classroom is an amazing opportunity to complement the powerful inspiration of a Broadway performance with a corresponding workshop for your group. There are several different workshop themes to choose from. Your group can focus on the performance itself, the acting, singing, dancing, and choreography. You can see what it’s like to audition, to rehearse, and to put it all together. If you prefer to consider the business side of things, there are workshops for that as well. Here are some things you can count on no matter which workshop you choose.

Length – All workshops are approximately ninety minutes, with some exceptions.

Flexibility – Your group attends a workshop without any others. The workshop, then, works with your schedule to find a time that works for you.

Star Power – The workshops are taught by actual Broadway performers, or sometimes they’re the surprise guest at the end. For all the workshops, though, you’ll know you’re learning from someone who’s part of the biz.

Location – The workshops are held in actual theater rehearsal studios.

Affordable – The price of the workshops is extremely reasonable and two chaperones are included for free per 25 students.

Quality – Broadway Classroom is taught by qualified teaching artists and actual Broadway performers, and they are based on the National Standards for Art Education.

Context – Except for some instances, your workshop is paired with the actual performance itself. This means if you take the Movement and Song workshop for Billy Elliot, you’ll get to see the professionals perform the very numbers you have worked so hard to learn. This is perhaps the best part of the Broadway Classroom experience.

I think most of us can agree, the arts are a beautiful addition to the world and something none of us want to do without completely. Therefore, we need to spend at least some of our time and other resources to give the next generation the chance to be inspired. And Broadway Classroom is just one of the many ways to do it.

Photo by CST 13 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.

The other day I discovered an exciting destination whose existence I had barely acknowledged before. This is just one of the many wonderful things about working in student travel – or travel of any kind – you’re always discovering how many places you’ve yet to discover.

There are lots of big cities in this country, famous for their skylines, their culture, (and their crowds). They’re popular for students, which is why we send so many groups each year to New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, and other well-known destinations. But some of our groups want to discover the wealth of amazing attractions right next door. Regional travel saves money on transportation and lodging, so you can use your hard-saved cash for the attractions themselves (or perhaps some really great food). And, believe us: There are plenty of thrills in these charming locations just off the beaten path.

Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is just such a location. Though the Smoky Mountains don’t get mentioned as much as their Rocky Mountain counterparts in the west, you’ll never forget them again after visiting this charming destination nestled right in the midst of their beauty. And besides the breathtaking landscape, this area offers fabulous attractions for student travel.

On Gatlinburg student tours you can find yourself surrounded by the amazing, the thrilling, and the bizarre as only the Robert Ripley legacy can provide. This city offers Ripley’s first museum, Ripley’s Believe it or Not. But you’ll also be amazed by Ripley’s Haunted Adventure and explore the exotic in Ripley’s Aquarium of the Smokies. And this dynasty isn’t done thrilling you yet. You’ll find even more to love in Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror, Maze, and Candy Factory.

There’s still more from Ripley beyond that, but he isn’t the only excitement in Gatlinburg. You’ll also find a sky-high observation deck and space needle plus a thrilling ride appropriately named Earthquake.

Surely I’ve convinced you, right? That Gatlinburg is a wonderful choice for student tours? But what about where you live? If you think you’ve seen it all, we’d like to challenge that belief! There’s far more to discover all around us than most of us have dreamed. Customized educational tours can take place anywhere in the nation. Give your region a chance, and take a look at all it has to offer. You may be  surprised by what you find.