Not that reading didn’t open my eyes to some pretty cool things. As I read about the different parts to each memorial, I was amazed. Before then I hadn’t realized there were so many parts to any given memorial and that each part held significance. E.g., Oh, it’s not just a statue of the guy, his words are inscribed behind him! Very cool.

So I read, and I felt inspired, and then I wrote about every bronze and granite piece and the artistic design and inspirational words that make up each of the amazing monuments and memorials on and around the National Mall.

THEN I WENT TO THEM.

I stood at President Lincoln’s feet and marveled at how much more larger than life he seemed in real life. Then I saw the sun set over the reflecting pool beyond it. I walked around the soldiers in the Korean Memorial, moved by the intense expressions on their faces (pictured above). I ran my hand along the pillars that make up the World War II Memorial. And, it only took me a moment to realize, no reading can compare to actually being there.

The thing that struck me the most was the amazing detail in every memorial we visited. Suddenly I wanted both the experience of being there and the written literature on everything I looked at. Why did they use that material and what was the process like to choose the design? Why the wreaths at the World War II Memorial? Does every face on the Korean Memorial Wall mean something specific or were some themes repeated? I was astounded over and over by these details. I’d read enough to know that the designers of these memorials put thought into each and every aspect, and suddenly I was fascinated to know each and every one.

The monuments and memorials on the National Mall are practically a given for Washington DC group travel tours of any kind. And all I can say is, look closer. Don’t rush through these deeply inspiring scenes. I would even recommend you take a guide with you or interesting literature, because there’s so much more in every detail than you can imagine just by looking.

Related posts:

1. The Memorials Illuminated
2. A Fountain and a Memorial in Washington D.C.
3. A Reflective Memorial for President’s Day

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.

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1. Don’t Forget the Chrysler
2. Only Two Days in New York City?
3. Ideas for NYC and Washington DC combination tour

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.

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1. New York City Colleges
2. Only Two Days in New York City?
3. Travel Tips for Cruisers

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.

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1. On the Boardwalk: Ocean City, Maryland
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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.

Related posts:

1. Group Travel: Making it Work
2. Exploring Culture Through Food
3. Group Travel: Some Help with the Follow-Through

Maybe you’re an eighth grade administrator looking for a fresh update to the annual Washington DC educational tours. You might be a high school junior dreaming of next year’s senior class trip. Or maybe you’re in college or something else altogether. If you’re planning group travel of any kind, here are some pointers on how to know which type of trip you’re planning and what to consider.

Educational Tours

1. The name basically says it all. This type of student travel should highlight something the students are learning or have learned.

2. It could also open their eyes to a new subject, event, or theme, which is an amazing kick-start for any lesson.

3. A theme brings focus when you’re headed to cities like Washington D.C. or New York City with so many attractions to choose from. Ideas for educational theme tours include: Black history, Art & Culture, American History, or Literature.

Graduation Trips

1. Start with where you’d all most like to go. Plot out whether your time for fundraising will get you there. Pick the next favorite choice if not, plot again. Repeat until all the pieces fit to make it happen.

2. Pick a Goal: See lots and lots of amazing things and stay busy? Or just be together? Choose a destination fitted to the goal. For instance, NYC for lots to do, the beach for relaxing time together.

3. Have you considered a cruise? Many destinations, one-time unpacking.

Making it Great

With so many considerations – your goals, your budget, security, and the number of people traveling – a travel professional is your next step. Once you’re in contact with a person who can help, keep these things in mind as well:

1. Build space into your itinerary. (For rain delays, crowds, and just plain mishaps plus to allow breathable moments to actually take in what you’re seeing).

2. EVERYTHING TAKES LONGER WITH A GROUP. Don’t ever forget how many people you’re planning for. It affects everything.

3. Give recommendations a chance. You probably have a list of things you want to see, but don’t be afraid to add attractions you hadn’t thought of but that your travel professional (or even better, a local) recommends. The surprises are sometimes the best part of a trip.

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1. Group Travel: Making it Work
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This live stage show is a classic – well, maybe not-so-classic – whodunnit with a twist. Audience participation is a must as your questions and guidance actually determine how the criminal is made to confess and subsequently apprehended. Your job is to figure out who the mastermind is.

Shear Madness begins in a salon as your group and the rest of the audience is introduced to the hilarious, colorful, and sometimes outrageous cast of characters. You’ll be eased into the story like the transition from the opening credits of a sitcom to the lines that eventually bring you the meat of the episode. New characters are introduced as the salon receives customers and the two employees talk.

Somewhere in the middle, there’s a scream and running and police sirens – or something like that. The victim has been found right upstairs from the salon, and the suspects are limited to those in the vicinity. That means you’ve seen it all; you just have to put together the pieces.

The audience is brought into the action shortly after the victim is found and the police begin their questioning. After all, you’re all witnesses. If you’ve brought a large group, don’t be surprised if the investigator calls you by name from the stage! And hopefully you were watching closely, because there were all kinds of clues, and it’s up to you to point them out to the investigator. You can even question the suspects!

Because of the audience participation, Shear Madness is a different experience every time you go. You’ll find yourself tapping your foot to the music and laughing at the humor from the first few seconds of the show. You’ll probably even catch different jokes each time around. Shear Madness offers much more fun on stage than just the lines delivered. The show is currently playing in Washington D.C. and Boston in the states plus overseas in Seoul, Korea; Athens, Greece; and Poland. More shows are opening around the world as well.

If you’re planning group travel tours to any of these destinations, consider Shear Madness for just that – it’s sheer fun, sheer excitement, intrigue and – yep – a whole lot of madness.

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But we have a boatload of info and tips to help us serve our groups better. And I’m starting with this one: Public Transportation Rocks.

Often for student tours, it’s customary to rent a motorcoach to reach the destination. And we’d recommend hanging onto that convenience for Washington D.C., especially if you stay at a hotel a little outside the city. The attractions are sometimes a good distance from each other in this area, and it helps to have transportation between them that keeps the group together.

However, after about five minutes in New York City, as our bus sat trapped between double-parked vehicles on either side and a kind passerby attempted to wave us through one half-inch forward and one inch back at a time, we knew motorcoach simply isn’t the way to go in Manhattan. Shortly after checking into our hotel, we walked one block to a subway station, made it onto the train and to our destination with zero hassle and a grateful heart for the wonderful inventors of the metro.

Our expert guides agreed that Metro is the way to go for group travel tours. As the seven of us and our guide squished onto a crowded subway car one afternoon, I wasn’t so sure about the merit of the metro for very large groups. But our guide disagreed. It’s still the way to go. As long as you organize, have enough chaperones, and communicate clearly about the each stop, groups can navigate the subway system just as easily as an individual.

So that’s my first tip. Grab yourself an any-time metro pass, learn the trick of not pulling the wrong side of the entry gate, and take full advantage of this amazingly cost-effective and convenient mode of transportation in the amazing city of New York.

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1. The Metro for NYC Groups
2. Tips for First-Time New York City Tours
3. New York City Colleges

I’d love to be somewhere someday when a flash mob happened. It cheers me up just watching some of those on You Tube, so I’m pretty sure the real thing would thrill me right to my toes.

In a few weeks I’m hoping to discover firsthand what it’s like to travel in a mob. I thought the idea of a mob dance would inspire you while I offer some of my own ideas on how to make it work. And once I get back, I’ll try and let you know if I managed to follow my advice. We specialize in group travel tours around here, so I’m thinking my firsthand advice could be useful.

GO WITH THE FLOW

This is definitely my first order of business. I discovered it long ago but wasn’t really able to put it into practice without lots of trying. Being hungry, cold, too hot, tired, or tired of walking – any of these used to throw me into the depths of despair. I’d need relief immediately or prepare for the black cloud of my emotions to eat alive anyone within arm’s length. This kind of personality will not work in a large group. Period. If this is you, I’m not saying you have to change who you are. I AM saying you have to change who you are for this trip.

Learn to keep moving while you’re tired; maybe just talk a little less. Trust that food and drink are always just around the corner. Just because it takes longer in a large group to decide on specifics and therefore longer to get things accomplished, doesn’t mean you’ll never find nourishment again. Hang in there. Meal times will find you.

Be a Decision-Maker

Mostly, you probably just need to go with the flow, as above. But every now and then large groups find themselves without a prominent decision-maker. This Is Trouble. If your group tour is customized by a professional, a brilliant itinerary will hopefully make all the decisions for you. But every now and then, it rains. Things get cancelled. Buses are late. Etcetera. And when it’s pushing an hour or so past lunchtime, and what stands between you and food is just for one person to name the place already, then name it. Be willing to put yourself out there as the person who suggested that little hole-in-the-wall diner, because at least it was close by. Sometimes the holes in the wall turn out to be delightful finds.

Lower your expectations

Listen, we all have plans and dreams. We all picture how we want a thing to go, the attractions we most want to see and how long we want to take at each one. Let go of that. Consider Flash Mob Travel your chance to get an overview of places you’d like to explore on your own in the future. Don’t expect to stand several hours in front of one gorgeous painting at the Met. Don’t plan on half a day to meditate at the Lincoln Memorial or a quiet, leisurely stroll through Central Park. Get excited simply that you’re seeing these things at all. Go along for the ride, so to speak. When the group needs to move on, don’t fret.

One thing I plan to do is take a journal and a pen. I’m going to jot down my first impressions or the things I’d like to explore at another time. I won’t stress when I’m inspired but the group needs to move on, because at least I was there to capture a first impression. Without this opportunity, I wouldn’t have even had that.

Traveling in a group can be a challenge, and it requires compromise – like being in a family only magnified. Choose to go with the flow, make decisions when you need to, and be grateful for small opportunities, and group travel can be an experience almost as perfect as getting everything your own way.

Photo by leuan Jenkins on Flickr.

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2. Group Size and Airfare
3. Group Travel: Some Help with the Follow-Through

This picture (by David Berkowitz on Flickr) is a brilliant example of innovation – the creative ability to make every space count – and I love it. The location is New York City. The mood is chill.

You’re looking at High Line Park, a walkway with seating and observation decks, made from an abandoned elevated railway in Manhattan. It’s a brilliant way to get a little above the city streets to a quieter, more relaxing level, without quite so many throngs of NYC tourists hitting the pavement for all the big attractions and taller, more famous, observation decks.

High Line’s artistic seating and cement walkways naturally complement the rambling foliage reminiscent of a wild meadow more than a tailored garden. As you can see, residents take full advantage of this charming park in the sky, and it’s the perfect addition to New York City group tours – something you can be proud to show off when everybody needs something just a bit removed from the beaten path.

High Line Park is located on Manhattan’s West Side between 10th and 11th and running from Gansevoort to 34th Streets. You’ll find access points every couple of blocks. All the points have stairs to the park above. Some have elevators. You can find out more about which access points have that feature, bike racks and more by visiting it’s website, The High Line (dot.org.). Hopefully you’ll take the chance to find this unique part of Manhattan the next time you’re exploring the amazing City for yourself.

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