I’ve written about a lot of places since working for a student travel company, and many of them I couldn’t wait to see for myself. One of these attractions is a favorite for Washington DC student tours. So of course it made my list when I visited DC last spring.

It’s called the Illuminations Tour, and I had understood it to be somewhat of a drive-by. I thought groups were loaded on buses and driven around the National Mall and the rest of DC’s famous spots, so that they could view the pretty sights lighted up after dark. My Illuminations experience was quite a bit richer and more personal than that. But I did learn some things along the way.

Our first stop was the Lincoln Memorial, and the sun went down while we were there. We didn’t see it in its fully lit beauty until later. It wasn’t fully dark yet when we reached the Vietnam War Memorial either. The full effect – the first memorial I witnessed after dark – and only after dark was the Korean War Memorial.

Do you know much about that one? It’s perfect for educational travel and it’s a part of the National Mall, so I’m sure you’ll see it if you ever visit. And it’s nice to know a bit about what you’re getting into. This memorial has several parts, most notably the larger-than-life soldiers which appear to be walking through a field of juniper. They represent several races, several branches of the army. And their faces truly are haunting, perhaps especially after dark while lit from below.

A second portion of the memorial is a wall with images engraved that represent many, many other jobs in the military. (Our guide helped us engage with the images by listing things to find and discover – I definitely recommend this for student groups). And here’s where I will introduce the tip.

While at the Korean War Memorial, though it was beautiful and haunting in the lights, I wished – well – that I could see better. That feeling was reinforced at the World War II Memorial with its beautiful pillars and fountains and decorative wreaths and so much detail. I felt certain I was missing some of that detail by only seeing them in the dark.

My final feeling was that the Illuminations Tour of the Washington DC monuments and memorials is absolutely not to be missed. Still, I think the best way to experience this most moving part of Washington DC is to view them during the daylight as well. There’s too much here to only view after dark.

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.

This week I’m suffering from oh my gosh, I’ve been there. I just keep looking at the pictures from my spring-time trip to New York City and Washington DC. I’ve been reading my journal entries about it and just soaking it in.

Since our trip was jam-packed with attractions we typically include in Washington DC educational travel, NYC grad trips, and some of our themes like NYC fashion tours, I thought you might like a sneak peak at some of the obvious and not-so-obvious attractions we fit in. Maybe it will give you ideas for you trip to the big cities when it’s your turn.

Mount Vernon

With so many famous attractions on the National Mall in the heart of Washington D.C., you may not think just outside of it to beautiful Mount Vernon, President Washington’s beloved home and an amazing part of our history. I was amazed, though, at the many pieces preserved and showcased on this tour, from the kitchen and its history of hospitality to the slave quarters and the view from Mt. Vernon’s famous cupola. Mt. Vernon was frequented always by a large number of guests, and that spirit of giving, plus the inspiring resourcefulness of our first President, is still present throughout the estate.

Old Post Office Tower

This attraction was unfamiliar to me as well. I knew about the famous memorials, of course, Capitol Hill, and the White House. I also knew a long list of Smithsonian facilities and other popular museums. The Old Post Office holds a prominent place in the city as well though, capturing history, stunning architecture, a spirit of innovation, and even more, since it offers a food court as well. Most notable, though, is the clock tower from which you’ll see one of the best tall views in the city.

Illuminations Tour

I’ve written about this DC brilliance before, probably, but I can’t help including it today. Don’t make your days so full that you can’t take a little time to enjoy the beautiful Lincoln Memorial, and those around it, in their illuminated beauty after dark.

Tommy Hilfiger and Hugo Boss

Next up, New York City where we took in all the classics like the Met, the Empire State Building, Times Square, and Rockefeller Center. But I was also surprised and delighted by these attractions which are often added to our New York City fashion tours. These themed tours take guests inside a fashion powerhouse to learn all about and experience the world of the fashion industry.

Blue Man Group

When I thought of New York City and entertainment, I leaned toward rock concert or Broadway. Blue Man Group I’d heard of and knew to be somewhere in between. But now I can say from experience: This show is a crazy, theatrical party that employs comedy, innovation, lights and color, music, and so much more to create an experience like no other.

Now, this was a first-time trip for some of us, so we didn’t exactly explore off the beaten path. After all, for first timers, the beaten path is pretty satisfactory. Here are some of the other biggies we put on our list and loved just as much as you’d expect from their fame and popularity.

In D.C.

Arlington National Cemetery – The changing of the guard ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is the most moving part of the Arlington tour and a favorite for student groups.

Capitol Hill – We’re one company that will arrange a meeting with your member of congress for your tour of Capitol Hill, and having done it a less personal way – I absolutely recommend the more personal experience.

Smithsonian – So many museums, so little time. I’ve got some advice for you on choosing the Smithsonian museum for your taste. Maybe that will help.

In New York

Top of the Rock – Though the ESB may be more nostalgic, Top of the Rock is an amazing experience and was one of my favorites.

Broadway – You must, must, must see a Broadway play in New York. I won’t argue with you. It’s just the truth.

American Museum of Natural History – We spent hours too few in this amazing museum. The show in the Planetarium, however, was worth our entire trip. Amazing.

And that’s a roundup of just some of the highlights of our NYC/DC combination tour. Hope it gives you lots of ideas for yours!

Planning any upcoming travel to Washington D.C. or maybe Boston student tours? I’ve got a great entertainment idea for you. It’s called Shear Madness, and it’s perfect for groups.

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.

I have a great idea for your next trip with friends; it’s the perfect ending to an international tour or just a trip across the country. And I can tell you from experience, it’s a wonderful choice for group travel tours of any kind.

We recently visited Washington D.C. with a group from work. The goal was sightseeing basically, and our itinerary was packed from morning to supper with as many museums, landmarks, and memorials as we could muster the time for (though not necessarily the energy). We wanted to have firsthand knowledge of some of the places most popular for our student groups, and that’s definitely what we got. I especially enjoyed every detail of our first impressions, our favorite places, and those that maybe didn’t live up to our expectations, because I write about these experiences on several blogs and websites. I couldn’t wait to capture these details for my writing.

Still, the packed itinerary sometimes exhausted us. And though I never felt so tired that I couldn’t enjoy our destination (I was pretty much happy about that from start to finish), the exhaustion did keep me from savoring long moments in any one place. It kept me from taking in as much as I would have liked at each exhibit and landmark. The wealth of information in each Washington D.C. museum became overwhelming. I would walk into the building and not know where to go first, whether to read or watch the video presentations. It was exhausting just to take stock of the numerous exhibits and try to figure out which ones to experience before we had to leave for the next attraction.

By the end of our time in D.C., we loved the city, but we were tired. Enter the Odyssey Dinner Cruise with Spirit Cruises of Washington D.C.

This experience, for which I can’t seem to upload a photograph right now, was just what any of us would have ordered if we’d had the sense to do so. The days in Washington D.C. had been long and hot with miles of walking. The dinner cruise was restful, air-conditioned, and absolutely beautiful out on the deck as the water cooled the air. As we walked on the deck and dined, our view included the beautiful city with its amazing monuments and memorials. We had seen them up close and fallen in love with them, and now we could take them in at a glance, relishing our last few minutes in this new and now-familiar city.

Sometimes our time together had been strained as we rushed from one attraction to the next, but now we sat for hours, enjoying the food and the service, celebrating with the live musicians, dancing, applauding various anniversaries, birthdays, and graduations. It was as if the entire trip came together on one delightful cruise.

I’ve written about water cruises a hundred times (maybe fewer). And I’ve always said things like, “It’s a refreshing break from the heat”, “A great way to take in all of the skyline at once”, and “A fun and exciting way to take in the city’s most popular sights.” And now I know for certain, I was right about all of it. A dinner cruise is the perfect choice for large groups or small. It’s the perfect ending to a wonderful tour, and something everyone should consider when they finally visit the city they have longed to see.

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.

I’ve been looking at pictures like this all week. And I don’t want to write any more words about them, really, I just want to look.

I thought you might like to look too. It’s a picture of the blossoming cherry trees in Washington D.C. with the Jefferson Memorial just beyond. It’s probably during or very near the two weeks designated each year as the National Cherry Blossom Festival in our nation’s capital – filled with activities, fireworks, cultural performances, street celebrations, and more.

Do you know the trees were a gift from Japan? Two different times they befriended us with a gift of at least three thousand cherry trees. The first time we reciprocated with flowering dogwoods. In the eighties we offered them cuttings from the cherry trees themselves, to replace those they had lost in a flood. It’s a beautiful story of friendship between nations, really. (Though I confess to being a bit confused about the events of a certain World War right in the middle years of all that giving).

Think of the most beautiful moments in your life. The biggest moments, whether with people, surrounded by nature, or both. Now think of the pictures you took at the time. Do they compare?

Not even a little bit.

If you’re looking for the perfect destination for student tours, look no farther than Washington D.C. with its myriad museums, monuments, memorials, statues, parks, and history and culture galore. There’s no better place on the planet for educational travel. And if you’re looking for the best time of year to be there, the most breathtaking time, the time when nature’s framework for some of the most beautiful architecture in the world is at its very best. Consider the spring, the few weeks somewhere near the end of March and the beginning of April when the cherry blossoms bloom, and a festival is thrown in their honor.

(Amazing photo by ghbrett on Flickr.)

There are lots of unique ways to approach student travel. As you’ve seen, we’ve been building a lot of tours from themes. And this is a really fascinating one that opened my eyes to attractions I didn’t even know existed. Ever considered a travel theme of Law and Order?

One of the best cities for law and order tours, is Washington D.C. It’s the setting for crime and intrigue in the movies all the time. And there’s a reason. Home to the defense department, countless museums, our federal government, and attractions of espionage, crime, and punishment – this city’s just asking for plots of classic conspiracy. Take a look at some of the attractions that let you be a part.

International Spy Museum – You’re going to be so surprised how much espionage has played into many pivotal moments in history. You’ll see the tools, hear the stories, and catch at least a glimpse of what this business requires.

National Museum of Crime and Punishment – Pretty much what it sounds like only put the term crime and punishment in pirate gear, cowboy chaps, and numerous costumes through history. The museum tells stores from every era plus takes you to the set of America’s Most Wanted.

National Cryptologic Museum – Like the picture above, this museum helps you crack the code. You’ll learn how codes are made and how they are broken, the tools required for this amazing profession, and stories of success from cryptological history.

The Pentagon – A tour of this uniquely-shaped building takes you over one mile of hallways through the intricate design. It’s home to the headquarters for every branch of our military and a fascinating tour with an expert guide, amazing trivia, and inspiring memorials.

This is just the beginning. You’ll discover so much about law enforcement, the judicial system, and more on a law and order tour throughout the nation’s capital. It’s a fascinating theme for any student and a serious look into many valid and worthy professions.

Washington D.C. is well-known for its monuments and memorials. Throughout the national mall, you’ll find meaningful tributes to our national heroes from founding fathers to war veterans. You can see their own words inscribed in history, learn more about their lives, and find in their memorials quiet places to reflect and refresh. 

The National World War II Memorial is just such a place, and it is frequented by residents and tourists alike for its artistic setting, soothing fountains, and powerful tribute.

The soothing yet powerful design of this memorial was very deliberate. Its architects wanted to blend a modern feel with the neoclassical architecture in so many structures around it, like the Lincoln Memorial nearby. The Washington Monument towers directly above it, and together they create perhaps the most prominent landmark in the city.

The memorial has several parts besides its refreshing fountains. The freedom wall is a beautiful tribute to the more than 400,000 American lives lost during the war, each represented by a raised gold star. Pillars within the memorial’s design represent the Atlantic and the Pacific. Between those rest smaller pillars representing each of the 48 states in 1945, plus the territories of Hawaii and Alaska and the various commonwealths of the United States.

All of these components flow together as effortlessly as the water from the fountains. And yet, great effort went into the design and strength of the memorial. That effort is a tribute itself to the lives that are honored there. And the joy and refreshment visitors gain from the memorial every day is yet another way to honor those who died.

Washington D.C. student tours are some of the most popular in the nation. And the National World War II Memorial is just one of the many reasons why.

Photo Credit: Mo Kaiwen on 莫楷文 on Flickr

Today’s exciting student travel attraction is NUMBER THREE on the Forbes Traveler list of most visited attractions in the nation.  But with a name like “the National Mall,” that seems only fitting.

Hopefully you know what the National Mall comprises – at least in part – or that you at least recognize this photo (by morrissey on Flickr) as the beautiful stretch of Washington D.C. flagged by the powerful Washington Monument (that tall thing in the middle), famous for monuments and memorials of great prominence, and famous as the scene for some of the most important demonstrations in history, including the famous speech by Martin Luther King, Jr.

The National Mall is the name given to a space of D.C. even bigger than pictured here as some people use it to encompass Capitol Hill, the White House, and other D.C. government and historical sites.  This prominent rectangle is the gist of it though.  This picture was probably taken from somewhere on the grounds of Capitol Hill.  You can see the statue of Ulysses S. Grant in the foreground.  In front of the Washington Monument, you may be able to make out the flag poles at the beautiful World War II Memorial.  Beyond the tall pillar-like monument (did you know the shape is technically obelisk? And that due to zoning rules it will probably remain the tallest structure in the city forever?), you can see Lincoln’s prominent, famous memorial as well.  

These grounds also contain memorials to the Vietnam and Korean wars as well as the Jefferson memorial and that of Franklin D. Roosevelt.  They are all beautiful in their own right, powerful glimpses of history and of America’s amazing heritage, and you should see them illuminated at night!  This destination is a popular one for a reason.  There is so much to see here and celebrate about our amazing country, its successes, conflicts and heroes.  Plus, just beyond its pretty historic spaces rest our modern-day government facilities in all their own historic glory but with powerful prominence still today.  

The National Mall is an extremely moving experience – beautiful, powerful, and inspiring – and it should be number ONE on your list for excellent educational tours.