Where do you suppose a school goes for its eighth grade educational tour if the school’s already located in Washington D.C.? I mean, those kids have probably seen the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial a few million times, right?

At least I hope so. The nation’s Capital is so full of treasures for student travel that I’d like to think the students who live there take advantage of them. I have to wonder, though, if they feel that same surge of pride and inspiration that the rest of us feel when we visit for the first time. If you grow up there, I wonder if you take these beautiful attractions for granted like the rest of us take for granted our local department stores and parks. Surely not.

After all, what local attraction of our own can compare to the government buildings in D.C., the White House, the National Mall, and the amazing wealth of museums in Washington D.C. for just about every interest you can imagine? None of them really.

Maybe those born and raised in the Capital expand their historical tours to cities nearby. Washington D.C. and New York City are actually close enough to combine into one great educational tour. Throw Philadelphia student tours into the mix, and you’ve got one of our favorite three-city combos for student travel.

Philadelphia actually offers an attraction that has been the number one visited tourist attraction in the United States on the Forbes list. It’s the Independence National Historical Park and includes Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and the famous Liberty Bell, which students and other groups have enjoyed visiting for years. Whether or not the bell was used for some of the most important events attributed to it through legend, it still represents our country’s greatest principles of liberty, equality, and freedom.

So maybe the students who live in Washington D.C. have paid homage at Lincoln’s statue since they were very young and perhaps they’ve seen the view from Washington Monument enough to have it memorized. But they can’t have seen it all. And if they do need to spread their touring wings, there are many great historical and educational sites in Philadelphia to add to the itinerary.

Photo by MCS@flickr.

Franklin D. Roosevelt Memorial

I wonder which generation was the first to complain that our government was out of touch? Has it been in my lifetime? Or did it begin at least in some corners when George Washington himself took office? It’s an unfortunate dilemma that the officials meant to represent us seem to live and work in such a different world than our own.

One President seems to have convinced his fellow Americans that if he wasn’t exactly like them, at least he was in touch. They respected him so much he was elected to four consecutive terms as President – a feat not even allowed today. His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and when I think of his Fireside Chats each week and the two difficult eras through which he led our nation – The Great Depression and World War II – I have to assume there was something in his words and in his voice that comforted his listeners and left them feeling that the speaker understood their needs.

Itineraries for Washington D.C. educational tours are usually filled with US Presidents. So many of the beautiful monuments and memorials are dedicated to those who’ve held that prestigious office. The memorial for FDR is just one of many – and certainly not the most familiar or most commonly reproduced on film or television. But it spans more years than any other as it celebrates the man who held the office for the longest amount of time.

Each room of the FDR memorial is dedicated to one of his four terms in office. Each holds a statue of the President in a different pose from the others. Each displays his words. Each provides a serene, refreshing atmosphere with running waterfalls.

Outside the memorial you’ll find a replica of a 1930s breadline, a common sight during the Great Depression when President Roosevelt’s fireside chats began. Many of the President’s famous words are displayed in his memorial as well, including one of his most popular topics: The Four Freedoms. Roosevelt declared these to be the four basic freedoms every human should enjoy: freedom of Speech, freedom of Religion, freedom from Want, and freedom from Fear.

The Great Depression certainly threatened the third freedom listed, and World War II undoubtedly threatened the fourth. How comforting Roosevelt’s words must have been that we could expect and should hope for and work toward a day when every human could enjoy each of the freedoms he declared. The FDR memorial is a cool retreat on a hot day with its flowing water, and it’s a reminder of a man who brought refreshing words in troubling times. It’s just one of the many great presidential memorials on the National Mall, but it’s certainly one worth visiting.

Photo by by matt.h.wade on Flickr.

Walkway to Cocoa Beach

I entered Cocoa Beach by a walkway very much like this one (by hyku on Flickr). In fact, this could be the wooden steps I took toward my favorite day in Florida.

Now, you have to know a couple things about me. First, I’m a Disney girl. I see very little reason to be in the Orlando area without being on a Disney resort spending as much time as possible either in one of the major theme parks or on the monorail between them. I heart Disney. Also, I’m not a fan of hanging out in my swimming suit. Being raised in conservative, land-locked Missouri, it’s just not how I roll. These things combined to equal a sort of “meh” attitude towards discovering what all the fuss was about when it came to Cocoa Beach.

I had a new baby at the time. He was only a few weeks old (obviously, I wasn’t there for spring break), and I quickly thanked heaven he was able to experience the ocean at such a young age.

It’s not like I hadn’t experienced it before, but this time was different. I’d just been through a tumultuous year, having been pregnant and diagnosed with cancer. I’d just finished by final treatment, and the world really seemed brand new. The ocean felt like heaven.

Cocoa Beach is indeed a popular place for spring break trips. But don’t rule it out for families as well. There’s plenty of space for all kinds of vacationers on these miles of Florida coastline. Apparently the waters here are some of the best for surfers on Florida’s east coast. Yet the waves lapping at the shoreline are perfect for children as well. The beach offers several volleyball nets for a favorite sand sport as well as, again, plenty of room for sunbathing, lounging with friends and family, and sandcastles for the kids and kids at heart.

One of my favorite parts of our day at Cocoa Beach was the pier. We browsed souvenir shops and ate at Marlins Good Times Bar & Grill where we could see dolphins out the window as we ate. The Cocoa Beach Pier stretches over 800 feet over the ocean. At least two bars can be found beyond Marlins. They offer live entertainment and a great view of the Florida sunset. Several venues around the Cocoa Beach area fit into the exciting nightlife category, but what could be more exciting than drinks on the Pier?

Cocoa Beach is one of America’s classic seaside destinations. It’s great for families, romantic getaways, and college breaks. You can’t miss with this popular beach and its entertaining pier.

The most I used to know about Bath came from Jane Austen novels. And I have to say, the author didn’t seem all that impressed with the city. Now I know a bit more. The city features in some of our sample itineraries, and it’s a great addition to Europe student travel tours.

Getting There

Bath is about one hundred miles west of London and a perfect day trip if you’re staying in the jolly capital. Day tours to Bath sometimes include a stop at Windsor Castle first and a visit to Stonehenge. Even without a guided tour though, with the price of fuel in the UK you’ll probably find that bus or motor coach is the best way to travel – especially in groups.

The Bath Experience

Bath is built over England’s only natural hot spring. The Romans built their famous bathhouses at the springs, and today’s Bath still embodies the great architecture and ancient luxury of Rome. When visiting the Roman Baths you’ll walk in the same luxurious halls the Romans once frequented for relaxation (all of them but the Christians and philosophers – apparently Bath wasn’t so popular for them). In the Pump Room you can actually sample the spring water. This is a luxurious room with seating for breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea.

The ancient rooms and treasures don’t end with the famous pools. You’ll find remnants of what used to be some of the most luxurious surroundings the Romans knew, filled with colonnades, vaulted ceilings, marble, and mosaics. Of course, even though Bath is a World Heritage Site for its long and famous history, you can also enjoy it with all the modern luxury of the twenty-first century.

Thermae Bath Spa makes use of the same natural hot spring the ancient Romans used but now in modern style, including a warm, roof-top pool. The visitor’s center here is free, though you can pay for various spa experiences as well – including aroma steam rooms, waterfall showers, and the open-air pool on the roof.

Bath is an amazing natural wonder with a history of man-made pomp and circumstance as well. It’s a great day trip for London tours and can be combined with any number of popular landmarks in the UK.

(Also: Consider Bath for literature tours in Europe. The city featured often in the novels by Jane Austen.)

Photo by Meygun on Flickr.

The upside to the size of our country is how many seaside escapes it has to offer. You can pretty much choose your climate, nightlife, and texture of sand and find the perfect beach destination somewhere in the country. The downside? It would cost some major travel bucks to visit all of them, and it’s almost impossible to even know how many wonderful beaches exist.

If what you’re looking for in a seaside destination is charm, lots of natural beauty, historical sites nearby, and an authentic wooden boardwalk, Ocean City may be just the place.

It’s located along Maryland’s coast and its authentic wooden walkway flanked by games, activities, and classic boardwalk attractions is perfect for spring break trips, family getaways, and group travel of any kind.

Any time you choose a lesser-known beach location, you choose some obvious upfront benefits. The trip is likely to be more cost-effective than destinations with a higher tourist density, and that lower density is something many people consider its own benefit.

A beach in Maryland may not be where you’ll choose for getaways in the dead of winter. But for late spring and summer, Ocean City is the perfect choice. Besides the ten-mile beachfront in the area, the three-mile boardwalk in Ocean City, and tons of old churches, schools, and museums highlighting American history and black history within it, the area also has nature trails, forests, and a nearby island where you may spot actual wild ponies from one of the two herds known to graze there.

It’s a great place to return to the simple life and to travel green as you can spend almost all your time hiking on foot or biking on over one hundred miles of bike trails. This pretty east coast area has definitely rolled out the – well- wooden carpet for all its guests. After just one visit, you’ll certainly add Ocean City to your list of beaches worth escaping to.

Photo by surrfred on Flickr.

Palazzo del Priori, Volterra

There are a couple new cities of interest in Italy. They’ve had a spike in tourists since one featured in a sequel to the breakout novel, Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and the other was used as the location for the film version. Italy is a popular choice for Europe student travel anyway. For some, the added allure of Edward and Bella having met the famous Volturi in its historic streets and underground makes this area completely irresistible. Pictures like this one, though, convince me that with or without vampire fever, these cities would make a romantic addition to any European tour.

Volterra is the city of the sequel, New Moon. In the book, it’s the dark, underground hallways of this very building that the Volturri make their home. The Volturi is the name given to the vampire royalty in the book, and the walled cities that make up a perfect New Moon tour have a touch of royalty about them as well.

Volterra offers a New Moon tour twice a week (only once a week in winter). It includes the dark hallways, actors in robe, a miniature reenactment, and the whole works. You won’t find a fountain as depicted in the book and in the movie, but these narrow streets, historic buildings, and shops have all the aesthetic appeal to stand completely on their own.

I don’t know if diehard fans will be disappointed or not, but Volterra is not where New Moon the movie was filmed. Let’s think of it in the positive, though. It gives tourists (and film and literature fans) yet another Italian city to explore. The movie was filmed in Montepulciano. Its square is almost identical to the one in Volterra, including the clock tower that features in both the book and the film. The all-important fountain doesn’t exist here either, however. An artificial one was built for the movie location. Again, though, fans won’t be disappointed in this locale either. Pure medieval charm.

It’s a dream for most students – the whole backpacking across Europe thing with a stop in Venice, Florence, and the beautiful cities in between. Throw in the location from a favorite film, and the dream gets even bigger. The thing is, now’s your time. Europe may only be a once-in-a-lifetime experience, but at least make it that. And the land of the Volturi is just one of the many beautiful places to consider.

Photo by AJanssen on Flickr.

Emerald Coast, Florida

What makes the roads red in Canada? One of my favorite children’s books addresses this question. The main character asks it and then later in the book declares that she finally knows the answer. But the reader isn’t let in on it. Still, I’ve always loved that part. I love the amazing variety in our world – the variety of colors. Why would anyone travel if there wasn’t something new to discover wherever they went?

Beaches are a favorite destination for all kinds of student tours. But it can be difficult to decide which one to choose. Here are three favorites divided by – you guessed it – their variety in color. It’s a figurative jewelry box of beaches, jasmine, emerald, and pearl.

Cancun

For jasmine, I’m choosing one of the many gorgeous destinations that can boast the clear, delightful blue waters of the Caribbean. You may not realize that of Cancun since it’s also known for its Mexican hospitality. But Cancun rests on the Yucatan Peninsula, and its waters are indeed Caribbean. They also offer some of the best snorkeling in the world as part of the Great Mayan Reef (world’s second largest coral system). These blue waters will keep you busy all day with jungle tours, beach lounging and volleyball, cave and wreck diving, and much more. But if you go to the beach for an exciting nightlife, Cancun definitely delivers on that as well, offering some of the most innovative nightclubs in the world.

Emerald Coast

The green to turquoise color of the waters is what gives this Florida coast its name. But technically it’s the sand that’s so unique here. The Emerald Coast stretches along the Gulf of Mexico from Pensacola, Florida, to Port St. Joe. The sand along this brilliant coast has actually worn off of the Appalachian Mountains and traveled through the waterways to the ocean. It’s pure quartz. Each grain is almost perfectly round, and their color is clear. This makes them as a whole appear as white as sugar, amazingly soft and fine. Perhaps its the contrast of this brilliant white that gives the water such striking color. There are many, many destinations to choose from along the Emerald Coast. It’s perfect for families, for students, for romantic getaways – for any kind of getaway at all. The minute you sink your toes in that sand, you’ll be extremely glad that you came.

Cocoa Beach

Other Florida beaches – and let’s face it, this is one of the best U.S. states for beach time – may have slightly less brilliant white sand and not quite such jewel-toned water. We’ll call this off-white, blue-gray blend the pearl of the ocean jewelry box. Cocoa Beach is one of my favorites. It’s not far from Orlando, so there are plenty of on-land activities (can you say Disney and Universal?), but the beach itself is an amazing respite all by itself. You’ll find all the normal activities – volleyball, water sports, sand castles, swimming, and good old-fashioned lounging. The pier offers classic beach-y souvenir shopping and delicious food. Plus, it’s out there that you’re most likely to catch dolphin sightings – always one of the happiest parts of being at the beach.

Anytime’s a good time for the beach

No matter which jewel tone you choose, the beach is always a brilliant choice. There’s no place like the ocean. Many of the destinations here are perfect for spring break trips. Parents should keep that in mind. After all, these beaches are also a great choice for family, but best for little kids on either side of the March madness typical for the spring break season.

Photo by lotopspin on Flickr.

Attention, CVBs…

Valkommen (only with the correct symbol above the “A”) is, I believe, Swedish for “Welcome.” I chose the picture because we’re rolling out the welcome mat for YOU to roll out the welcome mat to your destination by using our web space.

We’re looking for fresh content, and you’re looking to promote your small town in Maryland or fairly unknown tourist site in the midwest, and you need more ways to do it.

Our websites draw students, educators, and organizers looking to arrange group travel. And the only thing keeping them from knowing about your destination is if we don’t have it featured on our site. That’s where you come in.

We’ve got some specific instructions and guidelines for your content. We’re looking for well-written, original content that details your destination, why it’s a must-experience location, and what attractions it features. You can contact me at serenity [at] adventurestudenttravel.com to receive our guidelines.

We also have a deadline of March 1, 2010, so don’t wait. Content received by then will be included on our website with NO COST to you. (Normally, content like this is considered ad space). Make students and other travelers aware of the wonders available in your amazing destination. Maybe the only reason they haven’t visited yet, is because they didn’t know you were there.

Photo by Let Ideas Compete on Flickr.

This post is late, except that it’s never too late to celebrate the man who brought us, “I have a dream.” It’s never a bad time to acknowledge his amazing contributions. And his life is always a perfect thing to showcase in black history tours, which are always a great choice for student travel – February or not. In that spirit, here are two great cities for black history tours with special tributes to the King himself and his beautiful inspiration.

Atlanta

It’s the city of his birth and therefore a great place to begin. Here you can visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic site and the African-American Heritage Tour, which features many historic sites, including those dedicated to King. See where he was born, where he lived and worked, where he experienced a positive upbringing and a difficult era – each working together to develop the man who helped to change a nation.

Atlanta has plenty of other sites to make it worth your time as well. This southern metropolis offers the CNN Studios, the World of Coca Cola, and Underground Atlanta – a popular shopping district and Atlanta neighborhood. And another good stop for black history tours is the APEX Museum, shining a light on African-American culture, its role, and its prominent  contribution to our society.

Washington D.C.

Perhaps in black-and-white it seems cliche to suggest for black history tours the city where Martin Luther King, Jr., actually marched and gave his famous, inspiring speech that gave us all a dream. But a few steps into the vibrant, educational and fully fascinating city that is our nation’s capital and you will never find it cliche again.

The famous “I have a dream” words were spoken at the Lincoln Memorial, which is just one part of the National Mall and a definite must for D.C. tours. Inspiring day or night, they will leave you truly awestruck when illuminated after dark.

The Frederick Douglas National Historic Site is another great one for black history tours. An escaped slave, Douglas spent the remainder of his life educating Americans on the horrors of slavery. He is known as one of the first great black speakers on American soil. This memorial pays tribute to Douglas as the prominent American he was.

The Mary McLeod Bethune House celebrates another great contributer to the civil rights movement. In 1932 she founded the Council of Negro Women. That’s only one small part of her efforts, and this memorial captures many more.

Other D.C. attractions perfect for black history tours include the Smithsonian’s Museum of African Art, the African-American Civil War Museum, and the Anacostia Museum & Center for African-American History and Culture. Washington D.C. is a city filled with amazing attractions; these are just to name a few. It’s a great city for student tours of any kind and perfect for themes in black history.

Photo by BlatantNews.com on Flickr.

Bow Bridge, Central Park

Did you notice a whole lot of pink and red cards and decorations only hours after Christmas morning? Oh, wait, it upset you? Because I couldn’t be happier. Life should be measured in holidays really – always either living one or getting ready for the next. Besides, I especially adore Cupid’s holiday – partly because of delightful lists like this one that popped up in my inbox recently. It was put out by the Central Park Conservatory, and it’s the sites in the Park rated most romantic. Certainly many of them top my list as places to see when I finally visit the amazing New York City.

Conservatory Water

First up is the body of water surrounded by some of Central Park’s most beautiful foliage and usually graced with the miniature (though some not that small) sailboats for which it was built. Nearby you’ll find plenty of benches on which to rest side by side as well as the lovely, famed statues of Alice in Wonderland at her tea party and of Hans Christian Andersen.

Belvedere Castle

This building straight from a fairy tale offers panoramic views of other Central Park greats, like Turtle Pond and the Great Lawn. It provides the official New York City temperature, and it’s frequented by bird watchers, naturalists, and apparently couples in love.

Bow Bridge

Is anything needed but the beautiful picture above to convince you of the romantic possibilities of Bow Bridge? This cast iron archway is one of Central Park’s most popular meeting places. It offers a great view of the Lake and of the buildings of Fifth Avenue towering above the tree line. It’s a beautiful transition from Cherry Hill to the Ramble, and – well, it’s simply beautiful itself.

Conservatory Garden

Few surroundings are quite so perfect for romance as a peaceful, fragrant garden. Conservatory Garden is the only formal garden in the Park, and it’s a beautiful respite from the bustling city outside.

Bethseda Terrace

What better place for love than at the attraction known as the heart of the park? Bethseda Terrace offers the beautiful Bethseda Fountain, intricate ornamentation, a view of the Lake and the Ramble, and a walk on the tree-canopied Mall – one of the prettiest walkways in the park.

Central Park has many favorite sites. It’s the perfect attraction for group travel of any kind. But for these sites and many others, it’s perhaps best of all enjoyed in pairs.

Photo by Lucius Kwok on Flickr.