Around the country, you can find tons of great attractions perfect for black history tours. If your group has an interest in this area, consider Atlanta, Washington, D.C., or Boston for a wealth of historic sites chronicling the role of African-Americans in our nation’s history.

Or, if you’re looking for a black history tour with a different kind of energy, a hip-hop tour in Harlem might be just the ticket. H3 Tours (that’s, Harlem Hip-Hop) offers tours and experiences all about hip-hop, Harlem history, and African-American culture that can be customized into amazing black history tours. Here are some of the attractions that can be customized into your tour.

The Apollo Theater – One of the most famous stages in America, the Apollo has launched the careers of Michael Jackson, Lauren Hill, Stevie wonder, and so many more. A tour here showcases the history of the theater and memorabilia from its legends. You may even get a chance to perform onstage.

DJ Scratch Lessons – Technically, it’s called turntablism. Did you know that? With this experience, you’ll learn that and so much more about this iconic sound in authentic hip-hop music.

Hip-Hop On / Hip-Hop Off tour – A live DJ and a rapping MC are your guides for this hip-hop filled, official H3 Tours bus as you discover all the Harlem sites intrinsic to the history of hip-hop.

Music Studio Tour – Visit recording studios that are prominent in the world of hip-hop. You can even rap or sing for a souvenir recording of your own!

HOT 97 Experience Tour  - It’s the hottest radio station for the hip-hop scene in New York City and famous around the nation, and this tour lets you get behind the scenes.

Graffiti Hall of Fame – A part of the hip-hop on and off tour, the Graffiti Hall of Fame will make any guest a fan – or at least, an admirer of the art.

This is just the beginning. H3 Tours also offers shopping on the famous 125th Street in Harlem, hip-hop dance lessons, a classic Soul Food Lunch, and inspiring workshops in entrepreneurship at both the Applebees franchise and with the H3 Tours founder and CEO herself, Adrienne Smith. Harlem Hip-Hop Tours is a great way to go for fun and exciting tours with a high-energy focus on black history.

Photo by JJ & Special K on Flickr.

I have a crush on New York City. And I have a crush on the movies. Film, motion pictures, the talkies.

Fortunately there’s a company that indulges both my crushes in a big way with their movie tours. It’s On Location Tours, and they’ve created guided tours around the city based on locations from favorite film and television. Here’s a glimpse at the goods. There’s no way you can’t find at least one thing of interest here.

T.V. and Movie Sites

Recognize the building in this photograph? It’s from a little 90s classic titled simply and poignantly, Friends. This building was used for the exterior of Monica’s apartment. Us Friends lovers would know it anywhere, and on the T.V. and Movie Sites tour we can take a closer look and get an awesome (incredibly staged) photo op in front of it. Other sites on this tour include the front stoop from the Cosby Show plus sites from Will & Grace, Law & Order, and The Devil Wears Prada. (But you know that’s not all, right?)

Central Park

The more than 800 acres that make up this New York City landmark are a beautiful place to explore on any day for any reason. But throw in some actual film locations from your favorite pop culture, and it becomes one of the most exciting things to do on a first time visit to the city. There’s something for everyone on this tour as many great films – both legendary and recent – have been filmed near the fountains, bridges, boathouse, and walkways of famous Central Park.

Gossip Girl, the Sopranos, and More

Three of the On Location tours are based on classic television. Ever want to discover the cupcakes from Sex and the City? There’s a whole tour built around that fashionable show. It’s the perfect choice for a girls trip to town, but absolutely any fan will love it. The Sopranos lent itself to some great NYC locations as well, and one tour focuses on those. The newest tour centers around the edgy new teen show, Gossip Girl. If you’re a fan of any of these popular shows, you’re going to love the tours that celebrate them.

Now, these are the five the company has created thus far. I do have a suggestion for them, though. Having stalked On Location Tours for some time, because well – I love what they do, I feel I can address them personally and suggest two words: Nora Ephron. I definitely think they should create a tour based on this self-proclaimed fan of the city. Ephron is a screenwriter and essayist who loves New York City as much as anyone can, and she paints it so well into her writings. She’s highlighted tons of great locations in the city, and there should definitely be a tour in her honor.

Not that I’m not completely thrilled with the choices they already offer! I’ll take a walk to Monica’s apartment any day of the week. And frankly, I’m just really happy this very cool company exists.

Photo by Smart Destinations on Flickr.

So, you’ve convinced the powers-that-be to approve that New York City student tour, but you only have two days? A destination this exciting can overwhelm you with its sheer possibility. You can probably think of several days worth of NYC attractions just from movies you’ve seen, blogs you’ve read, or the friend of a cousin of a friend who’s been there and says you absolutely MUST see such-and-such. So what do you do with only a TWO days?

For starters, stay somewhere nice, within easy distance either to the attractions you want to see most or to the transportation. It’s just one night, so consider how well you want to be able to sleep considering the energy you’ll need for all that sightseeing.

Next – here are some attractions we put in our shorter itineraries for New York City student tours. Some of these give you a great overall glimpse of this amazing city. Others put you right in the midst of its fascinating energy. 

The Beast – The Beast is an exciting (and gigantic!) speedboat that zips you around the NYC harbor so you can take in the sights from the water. You’ll get close to the Statue of Liberty with a great opportunity for photos.

Top of the Rock – What better way to see most of the city at once than from standing way above it? Top of the Rock is a modern alternative to the traditional Empire State Building. The lines are easier to take (with time-stamped tickets), the climb more interactive, and the view every bit as breathtaking. Plus, it’s part of the amazing Rockefeller Center, a favorite New York tradition.

NY SkyRide – Don’t think we’re dissing the good ol’ ESB though. The Empire State Building has an attraction quickly becoming a New York favorite, and it might make a great addition to a quick tour. It’s a virtually simulated flight over New York City. It may be slightly less authentic than a rooftop view, but you’ll get a much closer look.

Times Square – This famous intersection is something most NYC visitors want to see at least once. Broadway shows, a television studio, Hershey store, wax museum, and Ripley’s Believe it or Not are just some of the attractions on it. And that’s not even to mention the huge billboards known around the world, which make this a fun attraction after dark.

Central Park – Who can resist those open spaces where you can stroll or picnic with skyscrapers towering just beyond the pretty trees? Central Park is rich with attractions too, and there are some really fun tours available for it – like the one showcasing previous movie locations from films we know you’ll recognize. Central Park is a New York City icon, and a great stop for even the shortest tour.

If you have any time left in the day, you might want to hit one of NYC’s museums – like Ripley’s or Madame Tussaud’s (mentioned above) or the more traditional Met or Museum of Natural History. In the evening, there’s nothing like catching a show. If you can squeeze in a Broadway performance, we guarantee you won’t regret it.

Check out our pages for more NYC ideas, but hopefully this gives you just a taste of what to do with only a little time.

Photo Credit: jillclardy on Flickr

New York City is such a popular city for students, and it has so many choices for beautiful fountains, that we had to choose at least one of its attractions this week. The Bethseda Fountain is beautiful and just part of one of the best reasons for New York City student tours: Central Park.

These varied and beautiful acres in the midst of this giant metropolis are a favorite part of New York City for residents as much as for tourists. Bethseda Fountain is one of its most prominent landmarks, and some even call it the centerpiece for Central Park.

The Bethseda Fountain is a popular place to find cool refreshment on a hot, summer day. And it has a rich history of providing refreshment. The same aqueduct that fed the fountain finally provided a clean water supply to a city previously plagued by disease. The famous sculpture on top is titled Angel of the Waters and was designed to celebrate that accomplishment. 

Besides being a beautiful, refreshing stop on your tour, students might actually recognize Bethseda. Thanks to its pretty setting, it has been featured in more movies than almost any other landmark in Central Park. And that’s saying a lot – there are entire tours devoted to the movies set on location in Central Park and the landmarks that have been featured.

We don’t expect many student groups to take a tour of various US fountains, but when in the city of your choice, be sure to look up popular sites like Bethseda. People gather around them for a reason, and they are a great way to begin to get to know the city.

Photo Credit: hobbs_luton on Flickr

Forbes Traveler online has compiled the top 25 most visited tourist attractions in America.  And tons of sites made the list that we send students to all year long!  We’ve been recognizing their value for educational and student tours since our company was founded – and for the next couple weeks we’ll highlight them.  If you don’t have them on your list of must-see student attractions already, you will soon.  

The number one most visited tourist attraction in America (although I’m really not sure how they calculate this one; it’s not like there’s a ticket gate) is Times Square in New York City.  The Big Apple made the list three times, and I’ll highlight each of these great NYC attractions this week.

I know you’re familiar at least with the concept of Times Square.  It’s the most recognizable intersection in the entire country with its giant digital billboards famous around the world.  Whether or not you dream of being here on New Year’s Eve for the famous ball drop could easily separate one personality type from another.  Still, throughout the year Times Square is a great attraction for New York City student tours.  Good Morning America films there each morning.  It’s home to several Broadway theaters, Toys R Us, Virgin Records, and a Hershey’s store.  You’ll also find two unique and amazing museums in Times Square, Ripley’s Believe it or Not and Madame Tussaud’s wax museum – the one place in New York City you’re guaranteed to get a photo with your favorite celebrity.  All of this makes it extremely popular for student travel and, according to Forbes, the number one choice for American travel in general!

(photo by OliverN5 on Flickr)

It’s one of the top ten visited attractions in the whole United States and certainly at the top of the list for amazing museums.  The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City has everything you want in New York City student tours – educational value, history, inspiration, culture, relevance, and art.

First and foremost an art museum, the Met puts its pieces in the context of history, giving you a two for one in educational value.  Its collections span the ages and the globe with pieces from Ancient Egypt, Europe, and more.  You know to expect world famous paintings inside, but the museum has other extensive collections as well, including sculptures, an armor gallery, costumes, and a historical display of musical instruments.

The Met is beautifully situated next to Central Park.  Together they have enough to offer for an entire day of activity – and much more than one if you’re thorough.  It’s simply one of the best museums in the world and absolutely perfect for student tours.

(Photo by OliverN5 on Flickr)

The American Museum of Natural History was featured in the Ben Stiller film, Night at the Museum.  In it, the figures in the exhibits come alive at night.  Although you needn’t worry that will happen on your visit (since it only happens after hours and all), this museum is the place for making history come alive to you.

If you’ve seen the movie – well, you haven’t seen anything yet.  There is so much more contained in this complex than any one movie could feature.  As expected (and briefly described in the movie, the museum contains all kinds of dioramas with mammals, ocean life, and everyone’s favorite prehistoric mysteries.  You’ll find a whale suspended above your head and stand next to a stampede of elephants from the savannah.  And that’s just the beginning of the amazing animal displays throughout.

The museum also tells the stories of human cultures throughout our rich and varied history.  The museum is four floors, each giving yet another glimpse at how much we’ve discovered about our earth and how we’ve lived in it throughout time.  Temporary exhibits keep the museum’s collection fresh and unique throughout the year.

Another exciting thing about this museum is the Rose Center for Earth and Space with the Hayden Planetarium.  The power of this visual masterpiece – combined with sound and lights – transports you to the depths of space where you can learn about astronomy, experience the developing of our earth from the theoretical Big Bang to now, and live right in the midst of all kinds of other scientific understanding about earth and space.  It’s not a movie theater – it’s a sound, lights, and virtual effects cocoon, and you’re going to want to be here for every single experience it offers. 

The American Museum of Natural History also has an IMAX theater – another thrilling way to experience the educational wonders offered by this amazing museum.

I haven’t tipped the iceberg as far as the sheer amount of displays in this museum that will astound and inspire you.  This museum is absolutely perfect for New York City student tours and should be added to any list of must-see U.S. museums.

(photo of Rose Center by adam.riggall on Flickr)

We’re headed into baseball season for my little leaguers, which I guess explains the on-deck analogy – the point being that I wanted to give you a heads up on what the blog will highlight next week.

This is a picture (by Boobooo on Flickr) of the amazing Guggenheim art museum in New York City.  This building is a masterpiece in and of itself.  You begin your tour on the elevator that takes you to the top.  From there you descend this spiraling hallway to view the various galleries.  As you read our blog, you’ll notice over and over again how different creative and scientific teams work together to create the places we all love to see.  I can just imagine the artistic bent in the designer and architect of this building – it probably rivals that of the artists featured inside.

There are so many fields in which you can excel if you find interest in them, grow in knowledge about them, and pursue them with all your heart.  Student tours are a great way to get out there and discover what it is about the world that excites and inspires you.  in which glorious corner of it do you want to play a part?  Will you paint or write songs?  Will you invent tomorrow’s greatest innovation or make awesome scientific discoveries in medical research?  When you travel you open your mind to it all, leaving room for all kinds of inspirational magic.

Next week on the blog we’ll highlight some of the most inspirational museums in the country.  They’ll span several great cities for educational tours.  You’ll soon discover there are very few things you can’t learn more about in some museum somewhere.  Hopefully, we’ll change your entire perspective on them!