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.

One of the most exciting Disney opportunities for Orlando educational tours isn’t exactly a place. It’s a program and one every teacher should consider when planning student travel. 

The Disney Y.E.S. program stands for Youth Education Series. And few educational programs are quite so exciting as this. Walt Disney was passionate about creativity, invention, and technological innovation. He loved to inspire through entertainment. But he also loved to educate through inspiration – to open the eyes of his viewers and visitors to a world of possibility. The Disney parks and studios celebrate this spirit every day as they bring science and imagination together in every film, attraction, and entertainment experience.

The Disney Y.E.S. program takes this vision another step, having created an educational series focused on popular subjects and infused with Disney magic. The program connects student groups to a specially trained Disney facilitator for a behind-the-scenes Disney experience that highlights exactly how learning and education have been put to use to create Walt Disney’s dream.

These amazing educational experiences can be focused on one of four areas of interest: Humanities, Life Management, Natural Sciences, and Physical Sciences. This has to be the most exciting way to study any one of these subjects. This is one learning experience to which every one of your students will gladly say yes. 

Photo Credit: CCRcreations on Flickr

Our company has been sending students all over the country for over a decade now, and Philadelphia educational tours are still very popular, especially with an emphasis in history. In fact, as mentioned a while back, Forbes Traveler found Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia to be one of the top 25 visited attractions in the nation. Which brings us to the beautiful fountain we’re featuring today, surrounded by some of Philadelphia’s most popular attractions and rich with tradition: The Swann Memorial Fountain.

Dr. Wilson Carey Swann was the founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society, and this beautiful centerpiece was designed in his honor, complete with sculptured swans – a play on his name. Large native American figures also grace this landmark and are symbols of the three major rivers in the area.

Swann Memorial Fountain is located in Logan Circle. It stands as the midpoint for Ben Franklin Parkway where both City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art tower nearby. This fountain is therefore bound to figure into your Philadelphia tour whether you plan for it or not. In the past, it has been popular for swimming in the summer, which was eventually banned – by security and everything. But there are still traditions in the city – which make the local news – that include celebrations by emersion in this popular city landmark, including annual end-of-the-school-year jubilees.

This is a beautiful centerpiece to any Philadelphia tour – and yet another gorgeous fountain in our week of celebrating those refreshing, traditional city landmarks we cannot help but love.

Photo Credit: michaelwm25 on Flickr

Yosemite was one of the first wilderness areas to become a national park, and it is a beautiful choice for student travel destinations. The waterfalls are perhaps the most famous natural wonder in this area and reason enough to walk, hike, or bike the famous paths. But there is more to Yosemite than the falls.

For a comprehensive look at all it has to offer, bus tours might be the way to go – at least the first day. Students can get an overview of the many different aspects of this amazing area – the falls, the meadows, the deep valleys and giant, ancient sequoias. These are the reasons Yosemite will take your breath away.

To make the most of the educational opportunities in the park, choose a ranger-guided tour, rich with information about Yosemite and its history. “A shrine to human foresight,” the National Park Services declares, and the “strength of granite,” and “the persistence of life.” Yosemite can teach students all kinds of valuable, life-changing lessons. 

For an even richer experience, after a day of exploring, consider a few hours of volunteering. You won’t find a more wonderful work environment nor a place that more fully inspires the preservation of our beautiful earth.

Photo Credit: Rob Inh00d on Flickr

There is one thing all national parks have in common: They have been preserved because someone at some point recognized their amazing beauty and stood up for them, realizing they must be treasured, that they must remain as places of ultimate inspiration. For some, they are reminders of what nature provides us all on its own and our responsibility to it. For some, they point to a deliberate Creator. For almost everyone, they are a wake-up call to our own small place in a vast and beautiful universe. 

National Parks, like this one – the amazing and incomparable Grand Canyon – are therefore the perfect environment for educational tours. They are learning centers all on their own without any human hand. And yet, they are usually rich with guides who can steer the inspiration toward an interest in nature, conservation, and history. 

The Grand Canyon has made it to world wonder lists for a reason. It’s simply breathtaking – a play of light and color and deep caverns that cannot be properly reproduced on film. Standing above this amazing footprint of nature is something so moving you simply have to experience it for yourself. There are all kinds of accommodations just minutes from this amazing US attraction, making it both possible and a must-see. It’s just one more gorgeous landscape carefully preserved and honored by the National Park Services. But you have to admit once you’ve seen it, this park kind of stands alone.

Photo Credit: mandj98 on Flickr