Student Travel Planning Guide 2017

9.95

$

2017 EDITION

-The Daily Telegraph

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT I BOOK YOUR GROUP S TODAY

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-Evening Standard

-The Times

9.95

$

2017 EDITION

in

Fun USA the

A state-by-state guide to discovery Travel Insurance Don’t let a crisis spoil your next student trip

Scavenger Hunts A classic activity enters the digital age A Premier Travel Media publication StudentTravelPlanningGuide.com

VOL. 8 • 2017 EDITION

contents

SPECIAL SECTION 18 50 States of Great A 42-page, state-by-state section loaded with crowd-pleasing attractions and activities ideal for student travel groups.

Students love exploring North Dakota’s Badlands at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

(North Dakota Tourism/Dan Koeck)

19 20 20 21 21 22 22 24 25 26 27 27 28 28 30 30 31

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Washington, DC Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas

31 32 33 33 34 34 36 37 40 41 41 42 42 43 43 46 47

48 48 49 49 50 50 51 51 52 52 54 54 55 56 56 57 58

Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina

North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

FEATURES 10 Student Scavenger Hunts

BY VANESSA

DAY

Looking for a great team building activity for your student trip?

Try a scavenger hunt! It may sound old-fashioned, but companies today have taken this classic game to the next level.

13 Travel Insurance and Crisis Response for Student Travel Groups

BY VANESSA

DAY

Anything can happen when you’re traveling with students, from illnesses to injuries to natural disasters. Make sure your group is covered.

10

6

BY

DAVE BODLE

Performer and producer Jimmy Osmond, owner of Branson, Missouri’s Andy Williams Performing Arts Center, has developed an exciting new student internship program.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

swisshippo/Bigstock.com

ON THE COVER: America abounds with star-spangled discoveries for students on the go. (©iStockphoto.com/ stevanovicigor)

16 The Business of Show In Branson

13 studenttravelplanningguide.com

There’s something for everyone in your group, including you.

From our homestyle cooking that satisfies the pickiest eaters to our country store filled with gifts and games for everyone.

With our designated tour bus parking*, dedicated group phone line, and large party seating accommodations, it’s like we were custom built just for you. And as always, a meal for your driver and guide is on the house. It’s just one of our ways of making sure everyone on the road is taken care of.

crackerba el.com/tourgroups • 1-800-576-7693 Sunday–Thursday 6 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday & Saturday 6 a.m.–11 p.m.

All locations company owned and operated. *DESIGNATED TOUR BUS PARKING AT MOST LOCATIONS. ©2016 CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC. “CRACKER BARREL OLD COUNTRY STORE” NAME AND LOGO ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF CBOCS PROPERTIES, INC., REG. USPTO.

Randy Mink

Celebrating 50 States of Great E

ducational tours, as we all know, are

Editorial Office 621 Plainfield Road, Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527 P 630.794.0696 • F 630.794.0652 info@ptmgroups.com

Columbus, Ohio.

eye-opening experiences that con-

Also in 50 States of Great, you’ll find

tinue to impact students long after their

dozens of outdoor places that combine

school days are a distant memory. They’ll

learning and fun. You can take your group

Publisher – Jeffrey Gayduk

always remember that band trip to Disney

whale watching or lobstering in Maine, or

jeff@ptmgroups.com

World or big-city adventure in New York or

shrimping on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

Washington—not just for the sightseeing

They can see wild horses on Maryland’s

Managing Editor – Randy Mink

and history lessons but for the camaraderie

Assateague Island or Western wildlife

randy@ptmgroups.com

with their classmates.

at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg,

Every state in the Union has something

Idaho. Students can sleep among the

special to offer student groups, and this

critters courtesy of the Wild Nights program

year’s Student Travel Planning Guide

at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado

covers every single one, plus the District of

Springs. Or how about llama trekking in the

Columbia. We call our collection 50 States

mountains of Montana?

of Great. Looking for great places to take

For pure escapism, schedule a day in

students? This 42-page section is a gold

amusement zones like Wildwood Beaches

mine of ideas. Perhaps one or more will

on the Jersey Shore or Cedar Point in

spark your imagination and lay the basis for

Sandusky, Ohio. In these pages you’ll find

your next big outing.

theme parks and other attractions that

Even for students with little interest in history, America’s past comes alive when

provide ready-made audiences for school A project of this nature is no small

ships and battlefields—and they certainly

endeavor. Overseen by staff writer Miles

have plenty of choices all across our land.

Dobis, a cadre of student interns this past

The issues of civil rights and slavery spring

summer scoured websites, travel literature

to life at the Underground Railroad National

and guidebooks in compiling information

Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Atlanta’s

on student-friendly points of interest, both

Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site

popular and obscure. We hope you enjoy

and other places mentioned in 50 States

poring over the results of their work.

of Great. Chapters in the lives of leaders

While the guide is jam-packed with

like Harry Truman, Dwight Eisenhower

ideas for student trips, space here is limited,

and John F. Kennedy inspire students at

so we direct you to our online counterpart,

presidential sites around the country.

StudentTravelPlanningGuide.com. You

Lessons in literature also captivate

will find hundreds more engaging options

touring student groups. Peek into America’s

for student travel groups. Log on today to

literary past, for example, at the Mark Twain

start brainstorming.

necticut. Or engage your young travelers

Science Center in Shreveport or COSI in

Student Travel Planning Guide

miles@ptmgroups.com

Contributing Writers Dave Bodle Vanessa Day Deanna Charkewycz Alexandra Mahoney Caroline Rabin Sara Stokes

Director, Design & Production – Robert Wyszkowski rob@ptmgroups.com

Advertising Sales Office Phone: 630.794.0696 advertising@ptmgroups.com www.PtmGroups.com

The publisher accepts unsolicited editorial matter, as well as advertising, but assumes no responsibility for statements made by advertisers or contributors. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information published, but the publisher makes no warranty that listings are free of error. The publisher is not responsible for the return of unsolicited photos or manuscripts.

Student Travel Planning Guide (ISSN 2154-4905) is published annually by Premier Travel Media, Inc., 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527. Postage paid at Willowbrook, IL and Lebanon Junction, KY. The magazine is distributed free to youth group travel organizers and travel suppliers catering to the market. Single copies for all others is $9.95.

Send Address Change to: Premier Travel Media, Inc. 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406, Willowbrook, IL 60527

Happy traveling,

A

through hands-on exhibits at dynamic science museums like Sci-Port: Louisiana’s

Staff Writer – Miles Dobis

performance groups.

they visit museums, monuments, battle-

House and Museum in Hartford, Con-

8

Vol. 8, No. 1, 2017 Edition

Randy Mink Managing Editor

publication All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher.

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Student Scavenger Hunts Educational, Interactive and Super Fun Team Building Looking for a great team building activity for your student trip?

Try a scavenger hunt! It may sound old-fashioned, but companies today have taken this classic game to the next level.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

studenttravelplanningguide.com

By Vanessa Day n class, phones are discouraged, against the rules, and must be kept out of sight. It would be odd for an educator to ask a student to use their phone while in school because it might distract them from the lesson. But what if a phone could become the lesson? With a digital scavenger hunt, it can.

Smartphones are tools that can lend themselves to an educational purpose, especially when traveling. A number of companies have leveraged the power—and abundance—of technology to create instructive and entertaining hunts for students.

Founded in 2008, Stray Boots has brought the traditional scavenger hunt into the digital age, creating mobile hunts in over 40 cities around the world. Your students can enjoy these interactive and exciting games. They not only encourage teamwork and quick thinking, but also allow students to get to know a city in a different way.

“With our scavenger hunts, students will explore some of the city’s most interesting sights and streets,” says Ido Rabiner, CEO of Stray Boots. “While learning and working together, all through an easy-to-learn interface on their very own cell phones.” This is a new bonding experience; a detour from the classic trust falls of old.

It works like this: You assign students to teams—and you can have as many teams as you want—and each team has a captain, perhaps a chaperone. The captains will receive a link on their phones that will access the scavenger hunt tour. Maps and instruction sheets are provided as additional tools. Teams explore the city through a series of challenges that take them to major landmarks and places a little off the beaten path, says Rabiner. Students must solve clever riddles, find inscriptions and take goofy photos in order to make it to the finish. After completing a challenge, teams earn points and receive an interesting fact about the city.

“It’s not just about walking from one place to another until the tour is over,” says Rabiner. “It’s about learning the history of the city, getting to know places they will not regularly visit, and it’s about working together as a team.” For group organizers, it’s a perfect addition to a student trip.

In order to arrange one of these scavenger hunts for a student group, all you have to do is a fill out a form on the Stray Boots website with all the details of your trip—location, number of participants, date and personal details. The Stray Boots event planners take care of everything else.

Scavenger hunts can accommodate groups of all sizes, from 15 to 300-plus, and the price is based on the number of participants you have. Student groups receive special discounts. There are pre-made hunts in dozens of cities, and most organizers opt for these. You can, however, also have them customized for your student trip or have a new one built.

Romario Ien/Bigstock.com

I

Using smartphones, students work together while learning about a city in a fun way. Stray Boots is one of many companies that offer digital scavenger hunts, a great addition to any student trip.

Groups can number anywhere between 15 and 300.

studenttravelplanningguide.com

Student Travel Planning Guide

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©iStockphoto.com/franckreporter

“It’s not just about walking from one place to another until the tour is over. It’s about learning the history of the city, getting to know places they will not regularly visit, and it’s about working together as a team.

For group organizers, it’s a perfect addition to a student trip.

—Ido Rabiner, CEO of Stray Boots 12

Student Travel Planning Guide

“We have many groups asking us to add specific challenges or themes to their scavenger hunts,” says Rabiner. “And our team works with them to make sure their hunt will be adjusted to their needs.”

There are many other companies that offer digital scavenger hunts you can play on your phone. Urban Adventure Quest has hunts in nearly 40 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Similar to Stray Boots, the quests are designed to engage students through fun and interactive activities, helping them with critical thinking and social skills. Students can be divided into teams of 3-5, and each team competes against others to solve clues while learning about the city. Student groups receive a 20% discount on the price of the scavenger hunt.

Even if you decide not to go for the mobile format, you can still plan a scavenger hunt for your student group. Many convention and visitors bureaus offer hunts around their cities, and museums often have hunts specific to their exhibits.

Regardless of the platform you choose, a scavenger hunt provides students with an interesting and fun way to explore a city. It not only introduces them to new places, but it allows them to work together with their peers, building trust and encouraging teamwork. ■ studenttravelplanningguide.com

Travel Insurance and Crisis Response for Student Travel Groups Anything can happen when you’re traveling with students, from illnesses to injuries to natural disasters. Make sure your group is covered.

By Vanessa Day ravel is something every student should experience, but it can be unpredictable, especially with young children or teenagers. If something goes wrong on a student tour, you want to be sure you’ve taken every precaution to ensure the safety and well-being of your students. That’s where travel insurance and crisis management come in. They offer student tour organizers peace of mind on the road, assisting with small inconveniences like lost luggage or missed flights to major emergencies like physical injuries or natural disasters.

There is still some confusion around exactly what travel insurance is and what it covers, and the difference between it and crisis management services. In many cases, student travel planners will opt for just travel insurance, thinking it will provide all the coverage they need, when, in fact, it might not. Other times, planners will choose emergency coverage, but not standard travel insurance. The worst case scenario is an organizer that decides to forgo coverage altogether, thinking there is no need to spend the money.

Experts in the travel insurance industry have seen almost every possible dangerous scenario, and when it comes to student travel, they say coverage is a necessity.

T

Depending on the policy chosen, travel insurance covers your group for various contingencies, from trip cancellations and interruptions to medical expenses and lost luggage.

You can purchase a plan that covers your specific trip. argus456/Bigstock.com

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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It may seem like an obvious question, but many people are not sure what travel insurance is, what it covers or if they really need it.

According to Allianz Global Assistance, travel insurance offers financial safeguards for a range of different scenarios, such as nonrefundable tickets or hotel stays, travel interruptions and even lost luggage. The features of travel insurance are broad, depending on the company providing the package and the policy you select for your student group.

Travel insurance is there to protect the economic side of travel— trip cancellations or interruptions, medical costs, etc. If a student tour has to be canceled last-minute or in the middle of the trip for any reason, a good travel insurance plan will cover the costs of the cancellation. If a student gets sick and needs to go to a hospital in a foreign country, many policies will offer coverage for the medical expenses.

Students and their parents may already have health insurance, but more often than not, those plans won’t cover you when you’re traveling outside the U.S.

What Are Travel Crisis Management and Response Services?

It’s important to draw a distinction between travel insurance and crisis management because many people think they are one in the same. As mentioned, travel insurance is an economic security blanket, covering costs if something goes wrong. Crisis management and response services, such as Global Rescue, provide medical support, advisory services and evacuation at the point of crisis.

These services, according to Global Rescue President and CEO Dan Richards, should absolutely be part of a student group’s coverage. “The problems that can occur in their most extreme form are life and death,” says Richards. Purchasing travel insurance for your student group is a judgment call, and sometimes it might be worth the economic risk not to buy it. “The bet you shouldn’t be willing to take,” says Richards, “is the one with your life.”

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How Does Travel Insurance Work?

effective in responding to whatever the emergency may be.” Crisis response services provide you with people who have medical and security expertise, and who know what to do in dangerous and lifethreatening situations.

In addition, schools or youth groups that organize student trips have a legal obligation to get coverage. This is called a Duty of Care, and if an institution does not meet that Duty of Care, they could be at risk for litigation if something were to go wrong.

There have only been a few extreme cases where a school or youth organization didn’t take the proper precautions and had to deal with legal issues and settlements. However, it can happen, and it’s a good idea for schools to have some level of protection no matter what kind of trip they are planning. That action plan could ultimately save a student from a harmful disease or assist in a serious physical injury or provide aid in the case of a natural disaster.

For example, a group of 15 students were traveling in South America when over half of the group fell ill from food poisoning. AIG Travel provided medical referrals to local facilities for treatment, monitored

Why Should You Purchase Travel Insurance or Response Services for Your Student Group?

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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If you’re planning a student trip, travel insurance is a component you need to think about. “Including travel insurance in your school’s risk management plan can be an important step to help mitigate risk,” says Jeff Rutledge, CEO of AIG Travel. A comprehensive insurance plan will assist you with all kinds of concerns, from flight delays that interrupt travel to medical issues that could arise.

While the economic side of travel insurance is important, what is more imperative is the safety and comfort of the students. “If you’re taking a group of minors somewhere, you have a moral obligation to provide for their well-being,” says Richards. “If something were to happen, and you don’t have a plan in place, you’re not going to be studenttravelplanningguide.com

Checklist of Important Steps to Take ecuring an insurance plan for your student group is an important part of the travel preparation process. There are a few other important steps to take before the trip begins.

S 1.

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Be sure to gather all relevant information from your students.

Be sure to check if all students are physically fit to go on a trip (depending on the level of physical activity that is planned). You also need to find out about any allergies or health issues they might have, so you can be prepared on the trip and your insurance is aware of any potential hazards that could occur.

the students to ensure proper treatment was received, and then determined the students were medically cleared to continue on the trip.

In another incident, a group of students was in Egypt when the Arab Spring occurred. Global Rescue deployed security personnel and special operations veterans to Egypt to get the students to a safe location and ultimately evacuate them from the country.

It’s clear from these cases that a range of things can go wrong, and it’s smart to take all the necessary precautions to avoid dangerous situations and keep student travelers safe, healthy and secure.

Purchasing an Insurance Plan for Your Student Group Now that you’ve learned a little more about travel insurance and crisis management, it’s time to select a plan that works for your student trip. There is a variety of different plans that vary in coverage.

One of the first things you should do before you even look into insurance is research the destination you want to visit. “Determine whether or not it really is a good idea to take a group of young people there,” says Richards. You need to consider the stability of the country or city, the kinds of activities the students may partake in, and also look at the health profile of the country.

Once you’ve done your research and you’ve determined the destination for your student trip, you should then look into the different kinds of insurance plans and crisis management services you might need. Whether you’re traveling international or staying within the U.S., it’s smart to retain a company like Global Rescue because at the minimum there is a number to call and an expert on the other end should something go wrong. Natural disasters and medical emergencies can happen anywhere, even while traveling within the states.

As far as travel insurance, there is a variety of options with different levels of coverage. There is a large consumer market for travel insurance, and if students and their parents feel more comfortable purchasing individual coverage, that is perfectly fine. As a trip organizer, you can provide them with resources to help them find a plan that works for them. studenttravelplanningguide.com

.

3.

Have all students sign a waiver that discloses the possible risks associated with traveling and by signing it they agree that these risks exist and acknowledge any potential dangers.

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Set up a clear communication plan with your students. Make sure they know where and who to go to in an emergency, and they have a good way to send a message or get in touch with that contact if necessary. If you are purchasing communication devices (cell phones, walkie talkies, etc.), you need to have enough of them so in case your group is splitting up for an afternoon, or one gets lost or a battery dies, your students still have a way to communicate.

Many emergency services companies have tools to help track where everyone in your group is. Global Rescue, for instance, offers a service called Grid, a mobile app that people can download on their phones. As a group organizer, you can keep track of everyone in your group, which will come in handy in an emergency.

You can also purchase a plan that covers the specific trip you’re planning and all the student travelers. You want to find “a comprehensive travel insurance plan that includes coverage for trip cancellation and interruption, trip delays, missed connections, lost baggage, medical expenses, emergency medical evacuation and security evacuation,” recommends Rutledge.

Many companies offer an annual plan or a membership, which covers you on all the trips you organize, not just one. Global Rescue offers annual memberships to schools, so there is a standing emergency action plan in place, and you don’t have to purchase a new plan each time your institution organizes a trip.

Peace of Mind Travel is something that all students should get the chance to experience, and the fear and worry about potential dangers shouldn’t hold them back from exploring the world. A travel insurance policy and emergency services plan give you, your students and their parents peace of mind. These are safety measures you hope you never have to use, but if something does go wrong, you will be thankful you have them. ■ Student Travel Planning Guide

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The

BUSINESS Of

SHOW In BRANSON

Performer and producer Jimmy Osmond, owner of Branson, Missouri’s Andy Williams Performing Arts Center, has developed an exciting new student internship program.

His commitment to education and to the theater’s namesake is a story of dedication.

By Dave Bodle

isten to Jimmy Osmond for more than a few minutes and you’ll be struck by his humility. However, there is that twinkle in his voice as he shares (and likes to remind his brothers) that at five years old he was the first in the family to receive a Gold Record. Even with that gentle jab of humor, he talks about his remarkable achievements almost casually.

As the youngest of the Osmond siblings, Jimmy began his performing career at the age of three. As a solo performer and with his siblings, he has 59 Gold and Platinum records along with numerous other entertainment awards. In 1972 Jimmy’s “Long Haired Lover From Liverpool” occupied the Christmas No. 1 spot. He still holds the record for being the youngest person to top the UK charts.

Jimmy continues to perform today. His latest release, “Moon River & Me,” has enjoyed success in the United States and United King-

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Student Travel Planning Guide

dom. Its continued popularity in the UK has resulted in tour stops throughout September and October 2016.

The variety of Jimmy Osmond’s entertainment and business background has laid the foundation for what was to become “The Business of Show,” a program open to all students regardless of their entertainment industry career path.

A lifelong friend and mentor Jimmy Osmond speaks of Andy Williams with respect and fondness. Williams’ father saw The Osmond Brothers performing on a Disney television special and encouraged his son to book them on his show. They were regulars on Williams’ show from 1962-1969.

“Andy Williams stuck his neck out for the family and me. He’s blessed my life,” Jimmy says. studenttravelplanningguide.com

His friend and mentor sparked Jimmy’s interest in producing shows. “He showed me how to produce and that’s led to more than 400 performances,” Jimmy stated. Jimmy is an award-winning producer for BBC, PBS, ABC and the Disney Channel. Both the “Moon River & Me” Branson and touring productions showcase Jimmy Osmond’s immense talent. “Andy Williams has seen me through the tough times and the good times,” Jimmy says.

Branson love affair In 1991 Jimmy and his new bride visited Branson to see their friend and the Andy Williams Moon River Theatre, then under construction. “I fell in love with Branson,” Jimmy states. It wasn’t long before Jimmy leased a theater with magician Harry Blackstone, Jr. headlining and doing more than 300 shows a year. Blackstone fell victim to cancer and the theater was left without a performer.

That’s when family can be depended on for help. The call went out to the brothers. Jimmy produced the show and joined his brothers performing. The show was a hit. “Branson has been good to me,” Jimmy says.

In 2014 Jimmy purchased the Moon River Theatre and renamed it the Andy Williams Performing Arts Center. His commitment: “Provide quality programs, the type of quality Andy stood for.”

It’s all about the students Although there are no official standards to earn a Performing Arts Center (PAC) designation, there are some unwritten guidelines. The Andy Williams PAC nicely fits the bill and that’s good news for students.

A 2,100-seat venue with a large stage is perfect for performances.

For full productions, from drama and orchestra to dance and vocal groups of all sizes, there’s plenty of space available. Although performers take center stage, there are countless skill sets needed—sound, lighting, set design and construction, wardrobe, stage manager—before the curtain goes up. And we haven’t even touched on the front of the house.

A full look at the Andy Williams PAC is an education in itself.

Many student performers will never become professional musicians, vocalists, actors, or dancers. However, the “Business of Show” may very well be in their blood. Exposing that student to the varying skills needed to produce performances is a great start, but Jimmy Osmond is going even further. Again, it goes back to family.

The first two children born to Jimmy’s parents, Olive and George Osmond, were born deaf. For her love of all children struggling, Olive established the Osmond Foundation, now recognized as the Children’s Miracle Network (CMN). In addition to raising funds for children’s health issues, there was always an educational component. Today, Jimmy serves on the CMN board of trustees and the studenttravelplanningguide.com

importance his mother attached to education is still with him.

In May 2015 Jimmy Osmond was granted an honorary doctorate of arts and humanities from Iowa Wesleyan College. In his acceptance comments he referenced his mother’s legacy of education and service. The doctorate provides Jimmy Osmond an opportunity to teach young people. Iowa Wesleyan has a strong music curriculum with an important element being service learning. Through internships and work study students are able to connect real world experiences with the classroom.

A partnership between the Andy Williams PAC and Iowa Wesleyan College has resulted in a dynamic internship program that’s new to the offerings educators have come to expect in Branson. Already more than a dozen students have completed the “Business of Show” program, earning classroom credit for a paid internship while exploring numerous career options beyond and including performance.

One of the 2016 summer interns was Matt Myers, a junior majoring in theater and arts administration at Drury University. He learned of the Andy Williams PAC internship program through the university. Matt’s glad he did. With his interest in the vocal and stage side of performance and the business side of theater, the program was perfect for his summer.

“It’s a great thing to learn how things work in a professional setting,” he said. “It can be so much more fun and educational when combined with classwork.”

From late May to the middle of August when classes resumed, Matt had worked directly with customers in the box office and behind the scenes with performers and production staff. Along with the experience, he earned credit towards his degree while enjoying a paid summer job. At the end of his internship he wrote a reflective paper about what he learned and the overall experience. It was a very positive story. ■

“Andy Williams stuck his neck out for the family and me. He’s blessed my life.”

—Jimmy Osmond

50

Discover unforgettable student adventures across the USA

States of Great ##### very state has something great to offer student groups, and our team has uncovered hundreds of fresh new ideas for your students across all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Enjoy our selections in 50 States of Great Student Adventures and Activities. If you’re a performancebased group, look for the special icon that outlines student performance opportunities throughout!

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Historical Sites with a Heartbeat

ALABAMA

Students can stretch their legs and their imaginations as they explore the 12 decks of the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial in Mobile. Stop by USS Drum submarine, where students can climb into the engine room and imagine what it would be like to live and work in such a small space. Students can travel back in time at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. This multimedia museum will help students understand the civil rights movement and the ongoing struggle for equality today. Students can also see history on the banks of Mobile Bay at Fort Morgan. As an instrumental military stronghold used by both Union and Confederate soldiers during the Civil War, it has plenty of history.

The perfect destination for students interested in anything from space travel to marine biology and everything in between.

Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville is a wonderful place to experience one of the most breathtaking natural wonders northern Alabama has to offer.

Guided tours allow students to gaze at the cathedral-like caverns and get a close look at the surreal stalactites dangling from the roof of the cave while learning about the history and science of the rock formations.

Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge houses endangered species and plays a huge role in the migration of many species of birds. Located in Gulf Shores, the refuge has lush forest landscapes and beautiful lagoons as well as long stretches of sand dunes and some of the country’s last undisturbed coastal barrier. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville houses one of the most impressive collections of shuttles, missiles and rockets used in missions, including one of only three Saturn V rockets. For the brave, there are simulators - like the Space Shot and G-force Accelerator - that allow students to feel like they’ve just been State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com launched out of this world.

GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

Courtesy of faungg/flickr

Walks on the Wild Side

Taste of the Good Life Bellingrath Gardens and Home in Theodore is a beautiful spot for a picnic. Students can take a guided tour to learn about the historic estate and how the gardens are maintained. Flowers bloom year-round, and the Christmas light displays are right out of a fairy tale.

The artisan goat cheeses of Belle Chèvre have won dozens of prizes, and students will have the chance to taste them all on a guided tour of the creamery. For those not so thrilled by the cheese, there is a lovely outdoor space where students can interact with the goats that Belle Chèvre (literally “beautiful goat” in French) is named for.

Belle Chèvre isn’t the only culinary treasure in the state; just outside of Birmingham, a small bakery is making history. Dreamcakes has been winning awards for baked goods since 2009 and recently won the award for The Best Little Cupcake in Alabama, according to AL.com.

ALASKA

ARIZONA

Planning a trip to the Last Frontier may seem like a daunting task, but pristine national parks and heritage sites make Alaska an ideal destination for students.

Arizona’s breathtaking landscapes, cultural attractions and attention to preserving history make it the perfect destination for fun and educational student trips.

Seasonal Stops

No student trip to Arizona is complete without a stop at Grand Canyon National Park. In the spring and fall, the park’s Environmental Education Branch offers 2.5-hour and 5-hour park ranger-led field trips for students in grades 3 through 12 where students learn about the canyon’s geology, ecology and human history.

Students won’t be disappointed with a hike along the Munds Wagon Trail southeast of Sedona.

Students will marvel at wonders unique to Sedona, such as Cow Pies, which are large red rock formations that extend into the valley. After spending the morning hiking the Munds Wagon Trail, head seven miles north of Sedona to cool off at Slide Rock State Park. The park is home to a natural water slide formed from red sandstone that descends into a swimming hole where students can cool off, play and relax.

At the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix’s Papago Park, students have the chance to see a colorful assortment of wildflowers and arid plants of the world.

Wilderness Adventures

The Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix houses more than 15,000 instruments and musical objects bound to interest students. The Experience Gallery invites guests of all ages to touch, play and hear instruments from many cultures, while the Conservation Lab gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse at collection maintenance and preservation. The Pueblo Grande Museum in Phoenix offers students a look at the Hohokam people who populated the area from A.D. 450 to 1450. Students can explore a prehistoric Hohokam village ruin that includes a platform mound, ball court and irrigation canals.

Places in Arizona to Re-live History

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Attractions with Tradition and Culture

Students looking for the quintessential Wild West experience will find it at Rockin’ R Ranch in Mesa. The Rockin’ R Ranch is a real pioneer ranch with a history that dates back more than 125 years. Here, students can celebrate Arizona’s Wild West heritage by learning how to pan for gold, rope a steer, make their own cattle brand and be a blacksmith. The Old Tubac Schoolhouse, part of the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park, gives students the opportunity to experience a school day in the 19th century Southwest. The “Day in the 1885 Schoolhouse Program” immerses students in the experience from the clothes they wear, the chalkboards they use, the homemade lunch pails they carry and the rules on the chalkboard they must follow. Located in Bisbee, a copper, gold and silver mining town, Queen Mine offers students a look into the lives of miners in the 19th century. On tours given by former miners, students don hardhats and headlamps and descend by mine car into an underground copper mine.

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Courtesy of Bill Morrow/flickr

Museums in Arizona You Won’t Want to Skip

Kenai Fjords National Park near Seward will give students a taste of the Ice Age. Boasting over 40 glacier flows from Harding Icefield, this national park is an incredible place for students to learn about the changing environment and effects on the glaciers and the wildlife.

With six million acres of wild lands, there is no shortage of activities for students in Denali National Park. Hikes of varying degrees of difficulty encourage students to get out into the wilderness, and cycling paths make it easy for students to traverse a piece of the park on their own. Students can take a guided bus tour to learn about the park’s history and the wildlife that call it home.

Located within the Inside Passage, Glacier Bay National Park is a World Heritage site and one of the world’s largest internationally protected areas. Rangers lead interpretive activities from Bartlett Cove that include films, educational talks and guided hikes.

Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage offers students the opportunity to dive into native culture and connect with 11 different cultural groups representing 21 Alaskan languages. Students can study the distinct differences between each of the Native peoples, visit traditional dwellings and see Native artwork.

Discover the Alaskan frontier on the Alaska Railroad, a traditional mode of travel in the United States with a unique twist. The railroad runs between Anchorage and Fairbanks, and a variety of tours allows student groups to stop for sightseeing and hiking in places like the Spencer Glacier and Seward or enjoy jaw-dropping views of North America’s highest peak: Denali.

Courtesy of Karol M/flickr

Natural Wonders to Explore Courtesy of John Pennell/flickr

Known as the last great race, the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an event that every student has learned about, but few have actually been able to see the race. The race starts in Anchorage with a ceremonial start on the first Saturday in March, and visitors crowd the streets for a chance to cheer on the mushers as they embark on the journey to the official start of the race in Willow.

Embark on an Aurora Adventure in Fairbanks to see the Northern Lights with Northern Alaska Tour Company. Students can learn about the Aurora Oval and why the colorful lights appear overhead while bonding on an overnight camping trip.

Sitka is home to the Alaska Raptor Center, and between May and September students can tour the facility to get a close look at many rare species of raptors.

The center is designed to protect endangered species and heal injured birds, and hundreds of raptors now in permanent residence include bald and golden eagles, hawks, falcons and owls.

ARKANSAS

CALIFORNIA

From minerals to magic, the state offers educational destinations that are rich in history, culture, fun and excitement.

Unparalleled natural beauty, quintessential adventure activities and historical hubs come alive in California and make it perfect for student travel.

Art and Entertainment

Students can explore America’s criminal past at Alcatraz Island.

The island grants students a candid view of the infamous federal penitentiary. The National Park Service offers guided tours that cover a variety of topics, including escapes, military history and natural history. The island is easily reached by ferry from San Francisco’s waterfront. On a mission to inspire the innovator in students, the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose gives a glimpse of the most inventive place on Earth: Silicon Valley. The museum features a variety of exhibits ranging from BioDeign Studio, where students can explore and design the building blocks of life, to Cyber Detectives, designed to help visitors learn about internet safety. At Hearst Castle in San Simeon, students can explore the nooks and crannies of the mansion’s 115 rooms. Designed in 1919 by newspaper publisher William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan, the 127-acre estate dubbed “La Cuesta Encantada” includes terraces, pools and walkways built to display Hearst’s legendary art collection.

Parks and Recreation

Experience the Past Located in Mountain View, Ozark Folk Center uses traditional music, crafts and herblore to preserve the heritage of the Ozarks. Students can explore Craft Village to see craftspeople demonstrate blacksmithing and pottery-making. They can even participate in educational programs to learn skills and crafts that the pioneers of the Ozark region used. Rohwer Japanese American Relocation Center offers students the chance to learn about the history of Japanese American internment in the United States between 1942 and 1945. The museum showcases first-hand accounts and pieces of art that were created by internees during their confinement. Students can explore the Clinton Presidential Center and Library in Little Rock to learn about the former president.

There is a replica of the Oval Office where students will sit behind the desk and imagine their future as a president, and tours allow students to see the presidential limousine and the Cabinet Room.

Natural Wonders

Courtesy of Jason Hollinger/flickr

Buffalo National River flows freely for 135 miles, making it one of the last undammed rivers in the contiguous United States. Students can spend the day on the water with activities such as kayaking through whitewater or floating in an inner tube down the calm portions of the river. Blue Springs Heritage Center in Eureka Springs allows students to connect with a spring known for its emotional and physical healing powers. The spring acted as a respite for American Indians during their forced migration along the Trail of Tears. Students can also explore Bluff Shelter to learn about artifacts discovered there from 8000 BCE, or they can walk over a mile of trails through the gardens to see flowers blooming year-round.

Berryville’s Cosmic Cavern proudly boasts two bottomless underground lakes.

One of the most jaw-dropping parts of the cave, “Silent Splendor,” was discovered in 1993 and features beautiful and fragile pristine white soda straws and helictites so pure that they are nearly transparent.

Home to the largest trees on earth, Redwood National Park stretches along the coast of northern California.

The park’s vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways and nearly 40 miles of rugged coastline are unforgettable. Students can hike marked trails of varying difficulty and take in the beauty. Abundant with giant sequoias, expansive valleys and majestic waterfalls, Yosemite National Park offers students a great way to connect with California’s ecosystem.

Guided hiking tours led by national park rangers include information about the park’s history, plants and animals.

Adventurous Destinations Home to over 3,500 animals, the San Diego Zoo works to save species worldwide while spreading knowledge about the world’s ecosystems. Located in Balboa Park, the zoo spans 1,800 acres and features a botanical garden, giant panda exhibit, Tasmanian devil sanctuary and snow leopard habitat. Monterey Bay Aquarium in Monterey showcases a plethora of aquatic species that open students’ eyes to Earth’s most abundant ecosystem and its wonders. Species featured include jellyfish, algae, eels and sharks.

At Walt Disney’s original theme park of Disneyland in Anaheim, students can explore the world of Alice in Wonderland, discover how animation has evolved and shaped the way Disney movies are made, set sail with the Pirates of the Caribbean and brave the Haunted Mansion. Another theme park that guarantees a good time is Universal Studios Hollywood, located in Los Angeles. Home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Waterworld and Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, Universal Studios promises a magical experience for students of all ages.

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Courtesy of SparkFun/flickr

Bask in History

Photo courtesy of Maxwell Blade

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville offers themed tours focused on art, architecture and nature.

Educational tours include the Frank Lloyd Wright House, and the museum features work by Andy Warhol and Norman Rockwell’s Rosie the Riveter.

Fayetteville’s TheatreSquared is a groundbreaking troupe of actors that performs and hosts events for students. From recent Tony Award-winning drama All the Way to a world premiere stage adaptation of Great Expectations by Charles Dickens, the plays are meant to educate and entertain young people.

Maxwell Blade’s Theatre of Magic and Curiosity Museum is one of the most popular attractions in Hot Springs. Indulge in student-friendly magic and comedy shows that will amaze and mystify students of any age.

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COLORADO

CONNECTICUT

Whether exploring indoors or venturing out into nature, students will be amazed by the action-packed history and lush landscapes of Colorado.

From dinosaurs to puppets, Connecticut is overflowing with attractions student groups will love.

Slices of History

Places to Brush Up on Ancient History Students can observe real scientists at work at the Rocky Mountain Dinosaur Resource Center in Colorado Springs. The displays of fossilized dinosaur bones, prehistoric marine reptiles and other creatures of North America’s Cretaceous period provide an unforgettable learning adventure. Step back in time at Mesa Verde National Park, where students can explore ancient homes carved into the side of a mountain. These tribal dwellings were home to the Ancestral Pueblo people, and some homes date back as far as 600 A.D.

Ways to Get Involved with Government At the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, students will have the chance to take a guided tour of the spectacular rotunda and government offices. At the end of the tour, they have the option of climbing up to the dome for views of downtown Denver, the Rocky Mountains and Eastern Plains. The U.S. Mint in Denver is one of only four places in the United States where coins are made. Students touring the Denver Mint will get to learn about the history of the U.S. Mint and watch the presses that produce more than 50 million coins each day. Explore the Molly Brown House Museum and participate in a scavenger hunt through Denver’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. The Molly Brown House commemorates the life of political activist, philanthropist and Titanic survivor Margaret Tobin Brown.

Connecting Students to Nature Student groups can walk in the footsteps of dinosaurs at Dinosaur State Park in Rocky Hill, home to one of the largest dinosaur track sites in North America. Underneath a geodesic dome lies an expansive display of fossils and 500 dinosaur tracks that student groups can explore along with other interactive exhibits highlighting dinosaurs, evolution and Connecticut geology. Kellogg Environmental Center & Osborne Homestead Museum in Derby celebrates the life of Frances Osborne Kellogg, an accomplished businesswoman and conservationist who was dedicated to preserving land for future generations. Student groups can learn about the Osborne family, women in history and agriculture, and the environment through touring the Osborne Homestead Museum. In 1853, actor and playwright William Gillette built what is now known as Gillette Castle State Park in East Haddam, a 184-acre estate with a 24-room mansion reminiscent of a medieval castle at its center. The grounds surrounding the castle are wooded and full of hiking trails student groups can explore.

Outdoor Explorations Students can spend the day outside at the renowned Denver Botanic Gardens.

Guided tours start at just $3.50 per student and are tailored to give the group the best experience possible based on their age. Students can explore the wetlands, get lost in the corn maze and see a working historical farm. For a little fun, visit the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo in Colorado Springs. It’s America’s only high-altitude zoo, and students can learn through guided educational tours. The Wild Nights program allows students to spend the night at the zoo and see the animals in a whole new way. Students will bond over pizza and s’mores while they learn about the animals and fawn over newborn lion cubs or sleep close to small animals in The Loft.

Connecticut Art Hot Spots

Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the most beautiful places in Colorado.

Ranger-guided tours are free, and students can learn about the park through programs focused on science, liberal arts or history. Head to Colorado Springs and stand in awe of incredible rock formations in the Garden of the Gods. The visitor center offers inexpensive educational tours that focus on geology, ecology or history.

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Courtesy of Brandon Satterwhite/flickr

Destinations Worth the Hike

Located on the campus of the University of Connecticut in Storrs, the Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry has one of the greatest collections of puppets from around the world. Students can come learn about the history, culture and making of puppets as well as enjoy a puppet performance.

The Barnum Museum in Bridgeport is the only museum dedicated to P.T. Barnum, an American showman and businessman remembered for promoting celebrated hoaxes and for founding the Barnum & Bailey Circus. With exhibits ranging from a 4,000-year-old mummy to a 1,000-square-foot miniature replica of his circus, this museum will enrapture students from start to finish. The Mark Twain House and Museum in Hartford has a permanent gallery of Twain’s life and work, plus an exhibition hall with rotating exhibits.

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Courtesy of Rain0975/flickr

Located in Wilton, Weir Farm National Historic Site is one of two parks devoted to the visual arts in the National Park Service.

Commemorating generations of American artists, the site allows student groups to get in touch with their creativity through 16 historic buildings and 60 acres of beautiful landscape. With a museum, an outdoor adventure park and a discovery depot, Montville’s Nature’s Art Village has something for any kind of student group.

Students can pretend they are paleontologists with life-size dinosaurs with touch-andlearn stations and educational displays at the Dinosaur Place, a 65-acre adventure park designed to replicate the Mesozoic era. Built by Warner Brothers Studios and opened in 1931 as a movie palace, the Warner Theatre is now a performing arts center and deemed the finest surviving Art Deco-style theater in Connecticut.

Student groups can explore the theater in a behind-the-scenes tour before watching a performance.

WASHINGTON, D.C. Fascinating museums, free educational hubs and historic destinations make a student trip to our nation’s capital a must.

Museums and Monuments The Smithsonian, which is made up of 19 museums and galleries, offers free admission to each of its institutions. They include the National Air and Space Museum, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, and Renwick Gallery. Most Smithsonian museums are on or near the National Mall, within walking distance of each other. Spend a day exploring the monuments on the National Mall. The many memorials and monuments commemorate the efforts of American troops, celebrate the heroic and influential leaders of our nation’s past and pay homage our nation’s history. Enjoy the breeze off the Potomac River while exploring some of America’s national treasures, including the Washington Monument, the National World War II Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The ideal student trip to Washington, D.C. includes tours of the White House and the United States Capitol, but to gain access it is necessary to contact your representative or senator and request a tour at least six months in advance. The National Archives, located north of the National Mall, houses various exhibits that feature important documents concerning America’s history and legacy.

Highlights of the District Dedicated to the tradecraft, history and contemporary role of espionage, the International Spy Museum sheds a light on the impact espionage has had on world events, politics and the current state of our nation. The museum houses seven permanent exhibits where students uncover the stories of espionage throughout the ages.

Located between the Capitol and White House, the Newseum is devoted to showcasing free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment: religion, speech, press, assembly and petition. Exhibits include the Berlin Wall Gallery, which features eight 12-foot-high sections of the original wall, the News Corporation News History Gallery, which covers over 500 years of news history, and the Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery, which displays every Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph since 1942. Be sure to catch a performance of “Pershing’s Own,” which has performed for civilians and the military since 1922. For an alternative to history tours, plan a visit to Madame Tussauds, which features hundreds of wax replicas of actors, musicians and athletes.

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Step Into the Past The home of founding father George Washington, Mount Vernon is located just 40 minutes from Washington, D.C. in Mt Vernon, Virginia and is a must-visit destination for students of all ages.

Students are welcome to walk the grounds of the estate and explore the gardens, farm, distillery, gristmill and final resting place of George and Martha Washington.

Frederick Douglass’ legacy is preserved at his final home, Cedar Hill, at the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site, located in D.C.’s southeast quadrant. Guided group tours of the home are offered and are led by national park rangers who discuss Douglass’ efforts in fighting for justice and equality.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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DELAWARE From the performing arts to military forts and maritime lore, the First State offers plenty to students.

Unravel History’s Mysteries Transport students to the Civil War era by visiting Fort Delaware in Delaware City, an 1859 Union fortress that once housed Confederate prisoners. Students can help the blacksmith hammer out new parts for a cannon or work with the laundress, watch a Columbiad gun fire a live charge and see artifacts from Pea Patch Island.

Explore the coastal habitats of the Atlantic Ocean, from pine forests and back bays to dunes, at Cape Henlopen State Park in Lewes.

On guided tours, students can learn about the pirates that sailed off Delaware’s shoreline and hike through fresh and saltwater marshes to learn about coastal ecology. With its 60-acre naturalistic garden and 175 rooms, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library in Wilmington is a museum where the history of its creation is as important as the artifacts it houses. Students go on guided tours that examine decorative arts and furniture styles, the science of how art conservators keep historic objects safe and the social and historical repercussions of tea in colonial America.

Museums and More The Air Mobility Command Museum in Dover is dedicated to military airlift and air refueling aircrafts, and the men and women who flew and maintained them.

The museum houses over 30 aircraft such as cargo haulers, a bomber and a presidential aircraft that students can explore.

With a long history in opera, symphonies and other types of musical performances, The Grand Opera House in Wilmington strives to cater towards different learning styles by using the performing arts as a guide. Students can go on a behind-the-scenes tour and learn about the process of putting on a performance and the history of the building and the shows. Named and created in honor of Delaware’s first European settlement, the Zwaanendael Museum showcases the maritime, military and social history of the Lewes area. Student groups can explore the museum’s exhibits and participate in a program that introduces students to the world of a sailor, letting them investigate items that were used or manufactured by 18th and 19th century sailors.

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FLORIDA Student groups can ride roller coasters, explore cool museums and journey through the swamps.

Courtesy of Alan Wilson/flickr

Enjoy fun in the sun at CoCo Key Hotel & Waterpark Resort in Orlando. The facility features 14 water slides, three heated pools and a 6,500-square-foot arcade with adjoining party rooms. For a taste of surfing culture, visit Ron Jon Surf Shop in Cocoa Beach. The Surf Museum showcases famous Florida surfers and the history of the sport. Not only is Universal’s Islands of Adventure in Orlando home to five roller coasters and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, but it also boasts a number of educational tours. The Special FX tour teaches students how the arts and sciences are used to create special effects in motion pictures. Music ensembles can apply to perform onstage at the theme park. Built within a historic tropical garden of exotic plants, the Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens is full of animals and activities. The zoo offers tours that take groups through many exhibits such as the Primate Expedition Cruise, where passengers get to see apes living in natural habitats.

Courtesy of Tim Menzies/flickr

Thrills and Spills

Pirates and Pilots Student groups will be transported back 300 years into the Golden Age of Piracy while visiting St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum, learning about the lives of infamous pirates in North America through artifacts and audioanimatronics. The largest naval aviation museum in the world, the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola is dedicated to teaching groups about flight and combat. Students will get a chance to experience air-to-air combat simulators and the 4D theater. Built by circus impresario John Ringling, The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota is home to a vast collection of photography, paintings and sculptures. Student groups can go on docent-led tours of the State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com museum.

Map Pointer: Microvector/Bigstock.com

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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GEORGIA

HAWAII

Visiting student groups will find plenty of educational fun whether it’s in the heart of Atlanta or along the shores of Tybee Island.

With a unique blend of cultures and history, Hawaii is paradise for groups eager to learn.

Adventures across Hawaii’s Islands

Discovering the Natural Gems of Georgia A Tybee Island Beach ecology trip offers participants the opportunity to explore marine life along the southeastern U.S. coastline. Throughout the day, participants will learn more about the tide pools along the Rock Jetty and how to examine sand layers. They will search for fossils, look for dolphins and hear more about current research. In Athens, just a short drive from the University of Georgia campus, visitors will find the Botanical Gardens of Georgia. This horticultural hub houses a range of trails, gardens and greenhouses for visitors to explore. Guests can stroll through the Tropical Gardens or venture along the Hummingbird Trail free of charge. Okefenokee Swamp Park serves as a point of entry for the largest Blackwater swamp in America and features an observation tower with panoramic views, special educational programs and a swamp park tour.

Step Into the Spotlight Dubbed “ATLwood,” Atlanta, Georgia has become a destination for film and television production. The Blind Side, Remember the Titans, The Vampire Diaries, and The Walking Dead have been a few favorites produced in the Atlanta area. Atlanta Movie Tours offers fans the opportunity to explore the sites where it all began. The three-hour tours, led by extras and actors, can be personalized based on the group’s entertainment preferences. Headquartered right in the capital of Georgia, the Atlanta-based CNN Center offers an Inside CNN Studio Tour. Guests can choose between the standard 50-minute Inside CNN Studio Tour or the extended VIP experience. Both offer visitors a look through the newsroom, control room and more, while students learn the ins and outs of news production along the way. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Founded in 1974, Captain Zodiac Raft Expeditions in Kailua Kona was the first ocean rafting company in Hawaii. The outfit takes groups on excursions to some of the best snorkeling sites in Kealakekua Bay, through key historical locations and close to lava tubes and blow holes. Student groups will journey through Hawaii’s unique cuisine with Hawaii Food Tours in Honolulu. The North Shore Food Tour takes groups through the countryside of Oahu, showcasing genuine Hawaiian food, roadside grinds and decadent pastries. See Haleakala National Park from new heights with the Haleakala Bike n’ Zip Tour in Maui. Students groups start their day by biking down switchbacks on the world’s largest resting volcano that lead to the start of the zip line course. Then, they will fly over 90-foot drops and canyons and swing from a pendulum line that reaches over 45 miles per hour.

Hawaiian Culture Iolani Palace in Honolulu is a place of opulence and history that tells the story of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani. As gift-giving is an important aspect of Hawaiian culture, it is suggested that student groups present a chant, song or gift wrapped in a bundle of leaves. As the only state to grow coffee, the Kona Coffee Living History Farm in Captain Cook is the only living history coffee farm in the nation. Student groups can take a tour where they participate in activities that include hand-washing clothes, game-playing and picking and grinding coffee. The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is designated as Hawaii’s state museum of national and cultural history and is a must-see attraction. Student groups learn about the history of Hawaii and the Pacific on the “N Mea Makamae a Kahiko, Treasures of the Past” guided tour.

Awe-Inspiring Nature Parks With cliffs ending abruptly at the sea, deep narrow valleys and an abundance of waterfalls, the Napali Coast State Wilderness Park in Kauai offers some of the most dramatic scenery in Hawaii.

The Kalalau Trail is strenuous, but it is the only way to access the legendary Kalalau Valley. The Kalaupapa National Historical Park and Guided Mule Tour takes groups through the formerly forbidden village of Kalaupapa on the island of Molokai. When groups arrive in the town of Kalaupapa, they will meet a guide who will educate them on the history of the community that was hidden from the world. Volcanoes are evidence of the inner workings of the earth and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park grants groups an up-close look at those processes. Student groups can go on ranger-led tours where they learn about the creation of volcanoes, lava and after-effects of volcanic activity.

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Courtesy of Heath Cajandig/flickr

Courtesy of David Berkowitz/flickr

The Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site is located in Atlanta, the very place Dr. King grew up, preached and formed much of his legacy as the leader of the Civil Rights Movement. Among its many features, the 35-acre property includes the Freedom Hall, King’s childhood home, a museum commemorating his life and work, and the church where he was both baptized and later served as pastor. The Albany Civil Rights Institute commemorates Albany’s historic influence in the Civil Rights Movement with its museum and research center. The ACRI also offers guided tours for schools, meetings, convention participants and other groups.

The Fort Pulaski National Monument, located between Savannah, Georgia and Tybee Island, includes several hiking trails and a visitor’s center with exhibits on Generals Casimir Pulaski, David Hunter, Robert E. Lee and the Civil War. The state of Georgia has strong agricultural roots and the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village gives visitors a true taste of this 19th century lifestyle. The facility includes 35 preserved or restored structures across its 35-acre land in Tifton.

Courtesy of Rob Shenk/flickr

Blast Through Georgia’s Past

IDAHO

ILLINOIS

Abundant with wildlife, adventure, scenic mountain ranges and a unique history, Idaho is a perfect location for student group travelers.

Providing everything from nature parks to historic sites, Illinois is a state students will not want to miss.

Elk and Wolves, and Bears, Oh My!

Nature Meets Adventure Built in honor of J. Sterling Morton, the founder of Arbor Day, and recognized around the world for its magnificent collection of plants, the Morton Arboretum in Lisle is ripe with opportunity for students.

Activities include pulling invasive plants, collecting seeds and hiking off-trail. A visit to the Prairie State would be incomplete without seeing Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie. Located north of Wilmington, it represents a major effort to restore 20,000 acres of land to its original state. Home to a herd of bison, the prairie has a self-guided trail down the pasture fence where you can see the animals grazing. The charm of Starved Rock State Park lies largely in the fact that the flora and fauna remain in the same state when it was home to Native American tribes and European colonists. A two-hour hike takes groups through the canyons and waterfalls of this unspoiled sanctuary in north-central Illinois.

Reserve a day at Bagley’s Teton Mountain Ranch in Victor and gaze at Idaho’s exotic wildlife or go horseback riding through the Big Holes, Palisades or Teton Crest. In operation since the late 1800s, the ranch offers tours where students have the chance to observe elk, buffalo and bulls in their natural habitat with stunning backdrops of Idaho’s most beautiful mountain ranges.

The Wolf Education and Research Center (WERC) in Winchester is a perfect destination for a one-of-a-kind educational experience for student group travelers.

Tours are given by world class biologist Jeremy Heft, who cared exclusively for the Sawtooth Pack: Wolves of the Nez Perce. Students that visit can take the “Owyhee Pack” tour and learn about wolf history, threats they face and the ecological benefits they provide or stroll through the “Wolf Camp Trail” and explore the area where the Owyhee pack lives. Experience Idaho’s fauna like never before at Yellowstone Bear World in Rexburg, a drive-thru wildlife park. Tours offer students the chance to get up-close and personal with Rocky Mountain elk, bison and American black bears.

Essential Chicago Stops

Off-the-Wall Destinations Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in central Idaho offers a unique educational experience to student group travelers. A vast ocean of lava flows with cinder cones and sagebrush, this unusual natural landscape is unlike any other.

The Museum of Clean in Pocatello was established by Don Aslett, an Idaho native who turned his understanding of cleaning into a 75,000-square-foot interactive museum. Students can tour the museum and gander at military helmets soldiers used for washing, bathing, cooking and shaving or a collection of over 1,000 vacuums dating from 1869 to 1969. The Basque Museum and Cultural Center in Boise is a unique museum devoted to Basque culture and history. Bursting with educational opportunities, the museum offers students geography and culture lessons where can learn about Basque influence on Idaho culture.

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Courtesy of Bureau of Land Mgmt./flickr

Managed by the United States Forest Service, Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (HCNRA) in western Idaho is filled with adventure for those adrenaline-seeking students. This 650,000-acre recreation area is home to the deepest river gorge in North America and offers some of the most exhilarating whitewater rafting and jet boating in the nation.

Student groups can also camp at the edge of Black Lake or enjoy a bird’s eye view of Hells Canyon by taking the short hike up to Heaven’s Gate National Recreation Trail. The Salmon River, also known as “The River of No Return,” is arguably Idaho’s best location for whitewater rafting. Mountain River Outfitters in Riggins offers student groups half-day to five-day rafting trips, highlighting some of the most popular rapids of the Salmon River.

Courtesy of Todd Fahrner/flickr

Adrenaline Junkie Hot Spots

Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, which spans 5,000 years, is one of the most expansive in the world. Docent-led tours elaborate on the historical and stylistic importance of selected works and help students understand the meaning behind each piece.

Groups will be introduced to the Chicago of the Prohibition Era on the Untouchables Tour. Groups see old gangster haunts and gambling dens and learn about the exploits of Al Capone, Bugsy Moran and John Dillinger. Located 94 stories above downtown, the 360 Chicago Observation Deck offers thrilling views of four states from the John Hancock Center. The new TILT platform gives students a vertical view of the Magnificent Mile over 1,000 feet below. As the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry is a must-see attraction. Groups can participate in learning labs that give opportunities to analyze DNA, design and learn how to launch a rover to land on Mars and work with a human patient simulation robot while completing real medical tests.

Uncover Illinois History In Collinsville, Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is the largest prehistoric Native American city north of Mexico. The Interpretive Center has a recreated village that students can explore and displays that focus on the Cahokia site as a religious, political, economic and cultural center. Student groups can visit the home of the nation’s 16th president at Lincoln Home National Historic Site in Springfield. During a ranger-led tour, student groups learn about Abraham Lincoln's rise as a successful lawyer and politician and his 1860 presidential campaign. American author Ernest Hemingway was born and raised in Oak Park, and today students can visit his childhood home and learn about his life at the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace and Museum. Guided tours lead students through a museum dedicated to the life and works of Hemingway and to the home he was born in.

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It’s More than Educational Travel.

It’s Inspirational Travel.

From visits to the White House to performances on a Broadway stage, Brightspark is all about creating travel experiences that inspire. The world is a huge place with countless learning opportunities for students of every subject. Our goal? To bring education to life by connecting students with eye-opening attractions, activities and events.

Learn more about Brightspark.

Visit:

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INDIANA

IOWA

With history museums, tucked-away art colonies and magical caverns, Indiana is an exceptional travel stop for student groups.

Popular museums and offbeat attractions promise educational fun and exploration.

Unique Iowa Attractions

Science Central in Fort Wayne provides students with 30,000 square feet of interactive learning.

Students can learn about gravity by riding a high rail bike, participate in electricity demonstrations or learn about different Atlantic Ocean sea creatures through the tidal pool exhibit.

Named after the influential Revolutionary War hero who discovered the site over two centuries ago, Squire Boone Caverns in Mauckport provides students with both a scientific and historical look at these hollow wonders. In the surrounding village, students can learn the science behind how lye soap was made or how pioneers used animal fat to make candles.

Courtesy of Ewan Traveler/flickr

Fast-Paced Physics

The charming town of Nashville is home to the Brown County Art Colony, a must-see destination for any art enthusiast. Established in 1907, the colony served as a permanent home to artists such as T.C. Steele and Carl Graf. Shortly after the art colony was founded, one of the oldest art galleries in the United opened in 1926: the Brown County Art Gallery. Students can explore the works of Brown County artists such as Gustave Baumann and William Zimmerman.

The Midwest Museum of American Art in Elkhart grants student groups the opportunity to explore over 3,000 painting, sculpture, ceramic and fiber works from 19th and 20th century American artists such as Grandma Moses and Norman Rockwell. The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in Bloomington is continuously ranked amongst the best music schools in the nation and offers over 1,100 performances per year. Students can attend a variety of ballet, orchestra and band, chamber music, jazz, world and percussion performances.

Journey Into Iowa’s Past The Amana Colonies of east-central Iowa are a grouping of seven villages founded by the Amana Society in 1855 that has maintained an almost completely self-sufficient local economy for almost 80 years. Groups can walk through a variety of historical museums, visit artisan shops and immerse themselves in nature on the Kolonieweg, a 3.1-mile trail connecting the villages of Amana and Middle Amana. Experience the history of Iowa at Living History Farms, an interactive, 500-acre outdoor museum in Urbandale that tells the story of how the prairies were turned into the most productive farmland in the world. At the RailsWest Railroad Museum in Council Bluffs, students can pretend that they are conductors, passengers and engineers while learning about the rich history of trains in America. A restored depot originally built in 1899, the museum displays items like ticket stubs, porter uniforms and dining car silverware.

Platforms of History Previously occupied by some of the earliest Amish settlers in Indiana during the late 1800s, Amish Acres Historic Farm and Heritage Resort in Nappanee is the only Amish farm listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Students can expand their knowledge of the traditional Amish way of life, watch a play at the 115-year-old Round Barn Theatre, or hop on a buggy ride and wander through the dusty dirt roads of the 80-acre facility. Known as one of the most visited outdoor museums in the country, Conner Prairie Interactive History Park in Fishers offers its visitors an exclusive hands-on experience with a historical outlook on Indiana during the 19th century. Staff members in traditional clothing recreate different eras of history and encourage participation with certain household chores of the time. Recognized as the Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad, the Levi Coffin State Historic Site in Fountain City was a significant stopping point for those trying to escape slavery during the early to mid-1800s. Students who visit the home can see the various rooms and locations where the Coffin family hid and protected runaway slaves.

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Courtesy of Derek Jensen

Courtesy of Serge Melki/flickr

Stops for Art Aficionados

See Iowa a little differently by visiting The Kaleidoscope Factory.

Located in Pocahontas, the factory is made to resemble Santa’s workshop, lending it a magical vibe. Not only are students able to learn about different kinds of kaleidoscopes and see how they’re made, but they have the option to “make and take” their own kaleidoscopes. Matchstick Marvels in Gladbrook is a museum filled with highly detailed and intricate models created entirely with wooden matchsticks.

Some of creator Pat Acton’s most popular models are Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Two-Headed Dragon.

Adventures of a Lifetime Float along the upper Mississippi River and travel through wooded islands, marshes, open water and backwater sloughs of the largest river wildlife refuge in the United States with Mississippi River Explorer Cruises. Departing from Lansing, the cruise not only gives groups a behind-the-scenes look at the Mississippi River but also, with the help of qualified experts, teaches the ecology of the Mississippi River. Located in Altoona, Adventureland is by far one of the most entertaining destinations in Iowa, offering a wide array of rides and attractions. After riding their way through the theme park section, students can dive deep into Adventure Bay, a large water park. At Davenport’s Putnam Museum and Science Center groups can explore exhibits dedicated to natural science, history and cultures of the present day and ancient world.

State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

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KANSAS

KENTUCKY

A Midwestern gem, Kansas offers students a variety of unparalleled experiences, from adventures in nature to eureka moments at unique museums.

With its rich history and interactive museums, the “Horse Capital of the World” is guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on students.

See Kansas’ Natural Beauty

Located in Louisville, Churchill Downs is one of the most famous horse racing venues in the world and the home of the iconic Kentucky Derby. Students can stroll through the Kentucky Derby Museum to learn about derby traditions and historic races involving well-known horses such as Secretariat and American Pharaoh. Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington offers students the chance to meet horses up-close, including thoroughbred legends in the Hall of Champions, stocky draft horses and other interesting breeds at the Breeds Barn Show. History’s great horses are immortalized through statues and memorials located throughout the park.

Courtesy of Jeff Kubina/flickr

Equine Encounters

Courtesy of Joanna Gilkeson/flickr

Located in the Flint Hills of northeastern Kansas, the Konza Prairie Biological Station encompasses a grassland region of steep slopes overlain by shallow limestone soils unsuitable for cultivation.

Tall grasses, endless sunflowers and roaming bison give students an authentic look at Kansas’ natural state. Suitable for students young and old, the Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead in Overland Park features a wide variety of animals and offers an educational glimpse into the fauna of Kansas. The farmstead houses over 200 animals in a structure designed to depict a typical 19th century Kansas family farm.

Mammoth Cave National Park in south central Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, with over 400 miles explored and more to find. Ranger-led activities and programs change with seasons, and special events like wildflower walks, preservation workshops and the traditional Cave Sing are open to students throughout the year. Located in Daniel Boone Country, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park stretches across 24,000 acres in southern Kentucky into Tennessee and Virginia. With tours of the famous Gap Cave and Hensley settlement, this park is a paradise for hikers and historians alike. Louisville’s newly renovated amusement park Kentucky Kingdom is the perfect place for students to have a little fun. The park offers roller coasters, water slides and other thrill rides. There are daily music performances and live shows as well as special events and group competitions.

The Cosmosphere in Hutchinson is a STEM education center and museum where students can observe over 13,000 spaceflight artifacts. Early space exploration is detailed through exhibits about Germany’s V-1 and V-2 rockets and Russia’s Sputnik program. It is important for students to celebrate the steps taken towards racial equality, and at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site in Topeka they can make emotional and intellectual connections with the Supreme Court case. Students can explore the exhibits and tour the historic Monroe School building. Wichita’s Museum of World Treasures boasts artifacts like mummies, statues from the Ming Dynasty and dinosaur bones. Students can have a sleepover among the treasures through the Midnight at the Museum program, which accommodates groups of over 30 students.

Connect with History

When in Kansas, students must visit the Oz Museum in Wamego. Dedicated to keeping the enchantment of The Wizard of Oz alive, the museum invites students to experience the story’s magic by exploring over 2,000 Oz artifacts and movie set memorabilia, including jeweled ruby slippers, character masks and original MGM 1939 movie production notes. At the Old Cowtown Museum in Wichita, students will discover a replica of a late 19th century Midwestern town that serves as a living history museum. A staff made up of buffalo hunters, traders, cowboys, blacksmiths, carpenters and farmers depicts life on the frontier. Students are welcome to explore part of one of the world’s largest rock salt deposits at Strataca-Kansas Underground Salt Museum.

At the museum, students will take an elevator down 650 feet underground into a working salt mine and learn about the geology and history of mining.

Courtesy of StephenW/flickr

Quintessential Kansas Stops

Group tours at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory are tailored to focus on each group’s favorite baseball team and era and can include a personalized bat for every student. Groups can visit the Grand Slam Gallery to lay their hands on the bats used by baseball legends including Mickey Mantle, Cal Ripken and David Ortiz. Babe Ruth’s record-setting Louisville Slugger is on display for students to count the notches made in the wood to represent each home run hit with the bat. The Stephen Foster Story is the musical story of the life and legacy of America’s first great composer.

The performance takes place in an amphitheater at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown. Students will love the elaborate costumes and familiar songs “Oh! Susanna,” “Beautiful Dreamer” and “Camptown Races.”

State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

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Courtesy of Joe Shlabotnik/flickr

The Great Outdoors Education Experiences

LOUISIANA

r w ld c ng y rs

From New Orleans food to the Civil War, student groups love exploring the culture of the bayou.

Movie and Ghost Tours

Z , Aqu ium, T‫ה‬at , Insect ium AudubonNatureInstitute.org 800-774-7394 | air@auduboninstitute.org New Orleans, LA

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wild field trips

Acting as the backdrop for over 200 films and television shows, New Orleans is a movie mecca. On the Original New Orleans Movie Tour, student groups can visit the filming sites of beloved movies such as Jurassic World, Streetcar Named Desire and 12 Years a Slave. Cruise deep into the heart of the swamp on Dr. Wagner’s Honey Island Swamp Tour in Slidell. Student groups may even get a chance to see some of Louisiana’s famed wildlife such as alligators, bald eagles and feral hogs. The French Quarter Food and History Tour will introduce student groups to Creole and Cajun cuisine and the differences between them. Guides will talk about food history, special spices and preparation, and tell anecdotes about some of the local restaurants and their chefs. Escape into the grim past of New Orleans’ French Quarter in the French Quarter Ghost & Legends Tour, which takes groups to sites of documented hauntings taken from police records, city archives and professional paranormal investigations.

Louisiana Museums Located in Ferriday, the Delta Music Museum takes groups on a journey through the history of music in the Mississippi River Delta region. Covering Memphis to New Orleans, the museum explores the works and life of some of the greatest country and blues singers from the South. Located in New Orleans, the Audubon Nature Institute is a family of zoos and nature parks dedicated to conservation. Students will spend hours exploring facilities such as the Aquarium of the Americas, Butterfly Garden and Audubon Zoo. Louisiana’s Civil War Museum at Confederate Memorial Hall in New Orleans houses one of the largest collections of Confederate memorabilia in the United States. Student groups can explore the Civil War through exhibits featuring events like the Red River Campaign, which was fought on land and in the waterways of north and central Louisiana in 1864, as well as collections of weapons and the soldiers’ personal effects. Learn about life in the antebellum South at Oak Alley Plantation in Vacherie. Often featured in movies, it offers interactive and educational tours designed specifically for student groups. The tour covers topics including sugarcane, French Creole culture, slavery and the Civil War. State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

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MAINE

MARYLAND

In addition to lobster and lonesome lighthouses, Maine offers students nature and history destinations.

Although small in size, there is no limit to the history, culture and beauty of Maryland.

Be One with Mother Nature

The Historic St. Mary’s City has since been restored to model the original colonial settlement and is a mix of history encounters, hands-on activities, archeology and nature trails. Student visitors can check out the St. John’s Site Museum or see what it was like to work on a colonial farm at the Godiah Spray Tobacco Plantation. The Antietam National Battlefield Site was where Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North ended. Located in Sharpsburg, this Civil War battleground invites students to learn more about the historic battle by visiting the Pry House Field Hospital Museum, participating in the park ranger-led battlefield talk or taking a self-guided hike along Bloody Lane. The Allegany Museum was designed as a way of preserving the history and culture of Allegany and Cumberland Counties. It features exhibits on the region’s first occupants, the Paleo-Indians, as well as popular displays on glassmaking, the Kelly Springfield Tire Company and Appalachian folk art.

First operated in 1791 under the approval of President George Washington, Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth was the first lighthouse constructed after the founding of the United States and remains one of the oldest lighthouses in the country. History buffs will be blown away by Pownalborough Courthouse in Dresden, the very location where Founding Father John Quincy Adams once tried a case before he became president. Students can tour the museum and learn about its history, picnic on the grounds, hike the newly developed trail system or visit the cemetery. Student groups can visit the cottage where the Roosevelt family vacationed at Roosevelt Campobello Park in Lubec. While touring the home, stationed guides answer questions and provide interpretation of the home and artifacts. Students can explore President Roosevelt’s office and bedroom, Eleanor Roosevelt’s writing room and the communal dining room.

Galleries to Explore

Courtesy of Pat Hawks/flickr

Only in Maine

The Baltimore Museum of Art began in 1914 with just a single painting and has since grown its collection to 95,000 works of art. Now the 210,000-squarefoot space houses the largest selection of Henri Matisse’s work and includes 13 different galleries of 19th century, modern and contemporary art. Located in Solomons, the Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center features a quarter-mile wooded walking trail where guests will find the site’s permanent and visiting sculptural works. The trail includes loans from the Smithsonian and National Gallery of Art. State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

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Courtesy of David McSpadden/flickr

Uncover Maryland’s Past

A Few Good Men

See humpback, finback, minke, pilot and sei whales with Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch in Boothbay. The company’s vessels offer 360degree decks for supreme viewing of Maine’s wildlife. Student groups can take the scenic cruise, puffin cruise or whale watch tour.

Rugosa Lobster Tours in Kennebunkport are a great opportunity for students to learn about Maine’s distinctive lobster history. Students will hop aboard a classic New England wooden lobster boat touring the Kennebunk River while the crew demonstrates the complexities behind a lobster haul.

Assateague Island welcomes visitors each year for camping, hiking, hunting and horseback riding, but those aren’t the island’s real attractions. Assateague is one of the few places in the country to view wild horses.

Folklore has it that the horses’ descendants were survivors of a shipwreck off of the Virginia coast.

Known as the Chincoteague Ponies, they have remained on the island since. Nicknamed the “Everglades of the South,” Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge is a natural wonder of Maryland and sanctuary for birds migrating along the Atlantic flyway. All different kinds of species and animals can be found at Blackwater, including the largest remaining population of the endangered Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrels. Educational programs are available for visiting student groups and include a refuge orientation, guided tours, habitat explorations and mobile exhibits.

Courtesy of m01229/flickr

Experience Maryland’s Wild Side

Courtesy of Hayden Williams/flickr

Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor is the oldest American national park east of the Mississippi River and home to the tallest mountain on the U.S. Atlantic Coast, Cadillac Mountain. The park contains over 40 wildlife species, including white-tailed deer, moose and black bears. Leave your iPhones, MP3 players and radios at home when visiting Baxter State Park in Millinocket. The park is dedicated to preserving its wildlife by eliminating any sort of man-made distraction to its inhabitants and visitors. Throughout the park, students can enjoy hiking, fishing, hunting, picnicking, swimming, boating and snowmobiling. Known as one of the northernmost National Wildlife Refuges in the Atlantic Flyway bird migration route, Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge in Baring is a mustsee destination for nature-loving student groups. The refuge holds a variety of activities including hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, environmental education and interpretation, where staff conduct programs to educate and inform students about bird migration, seasonal habitat changes and invasive species.

MASSACHUSETTS

MICHIGAN

Full of art and history, the Bay State is educational and fun.

Coastal splendor awaits student groups in the Great Lakes State.

Learning Environments

Arts Attractions

The Detroit Institute of Arts has revived the downtown area and helped turn Detroit into the creative, passionate city that stands today. From classical to contemporary, DIA has numerous displays of art and culture on permanent exhibition. Students will love the immersive learning experience at The Henry Ford. Located in Dearborn, this all-inclusive museum, historic village and working factory is a great educational destination. Explore Greenfield Village, where students can ride in a Model-T automobile, see a working farm and learn about the struggle for women’s suffrage through fun, educational activities. Head to northeast Michigan to enjoy Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Students can venture out on Lake Huron to explore shipwrecks and see protected wildlife from an educational glass-bottom boat tour.

The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston takes groups on interactive, object-based tours through worldrenowned collections that feature works of art ranging from contemporary to classical. The “What Artists Do” tour incorporates an art-making activity that encourages students to reflect on the pieces they learned about earlier. A patron of the arts, Isabella Stewart Gardner traveled the world to amass a collection of master and decorative arts. Her Boston home, where she displayed her collection, is now the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Groups are able to choose between many themed tours that encourage students to talk and think about art by asking open-ended questions.

Overlooked Museums John Hays Hammond, Jr. built the Hammond Castle Museum in Gloucester in the mid-1920’s to serve both as his home and his collection of Roman, medieval and Renaissance artifacts. Guided tours take students on a journey through Hammond’s life and inventions in addition to his collection of artifacts. Dive deep into the history of the whaling industry at the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Groups studying Melville’s Moby Dick have the option of the museum’s Moby Dick program, which enhances students' understanding of the adventures and trials of whaling. Built in 1807, the Boston Athenæum is one of the oldest independent libraries and cultural institutions in the country. Students are encouraged to explore exhibits of prints, paintings and rare manuscripts while being educated on their importance and use.

March student groups to the site of the opening battle of the Revolutionary War at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord. Amid many historic sites, structures and landscapes, students can go on ranger-guided expeditions to the North Bridge battlefield and discuss what happened there. The Pilgrim Monument commemorates the landing of the Mayflower Pilgrims in Provincetown before they sailed on to Plymouth Rock. Next to it stands the Provincetown Museum, which focuses on the arrival of the Pilgrims, the town’s maritime history and the early days of modern American theater. The Hocus Pocus Tour in Salem covers the town’s infamous Witch Trials, the story of Salem's most notorious murder and how author Nathaniel Hawthorne spent much of his life trying to escape the legacy of a hanging judge.

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Courtesy of Lee Wright/flickr

Sites of Historical Significance

For one week every May, the Tulip Time Festival takes over Holland, Michigan. The entire town transforms into a carefully landscaped tulip garden where students can experience Dutch culture through authentic markets and elaborately costumed dancers. Take a trolley tour of the city to see the tulip paths or explore Windmill Island Gardens, aptly named for the large tulip garden in the shadow of a vintage windmill. King Orchards in Central Lake allows students to stretch their legs and explore the rows of fruit trees. From Michigan cherries and raspberries to nectarines and apples, King Orchards offers a changing list of U-Pick fruits as the season goes on.

On the Water Ludington, Michigan is home to the landmark Big Sable Point Lighthouse. Groups of all sizes are welcome to tour the tower and learn about the 12 shipwrecks off the coast of Big Sable Point, as well as the history behind its distinctive black and white color. Brave the freshwater seas aboard Tall Ship Manitou. Sailing out of Traverse City, this replica 19th century cargo schooner allows students to see Lake Michigan in a new way. They will have the chance to explore the ship and learn the basics of sailing on a short cruise. Make the trek to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to see Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Students can hike along the sandstone cliffs and explore the forests around the famous landmarks or relax on a guided cruise to see these natural wonders from a new angle.

Pictured Rocks is a great place to learn about erosion, sedimentation and other natural processes by which the strange rock formations were created.

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Seasonal Activities

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MINNESOTA This beautiful state offers offers students a look into the natural wonders of the “Land of 10,000 Lakes.”

Outdoor Options

Courtesy of Campero/flickr

Students wanting to connect with nature will love Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, located in the northern third of the Superior National Forest in northeastern Minnesota. It contains over 1,200 miles of canoe routes, 12 hiking trails and over 2,000 designated campsites where students will become infatuated with Minnesota’s untouched beauty. At Voyageurs National Park, students can see and touch rocks half as old as the world, understand the lives of French-Canadian fur traders called voyageurs, immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of a boreal forest, view the dark skies or explore water routes. The Minnesota Zoo, located in Apple Valley, is home to a wide variety of native Minnesota and exotic animals. Students can experience a natural ecosystem at the Medtronic Minnesota Trail exhibit, which houses a beaver pond, raccoons, coyotes and gray wolves.

Courtesy of bhs128/flcikr

Culture and History Amid the prairie grasses of Minnesota are islands of uncovered rock where American Indian ancestors left carvings called petroglyphs. At Jeffers Petroglyphs, students can study the carvings that depict humans, arrows and thunderbirds and learn about the 7,000-year-old stories they tell.

Students can explore all aspects of the state at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Exhibits include “Minnesota’s Greatest Generation,” which tells the story of the people who created Minnesota’s lasting legacy following the end of World War II, and “Grainland,” which traces the journey of soy and corn from farm to town to grain elevator.

The Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul focuses on technology, natural history, physical science and mathematics education. Students can take a cultural and scientific look at race throughout history and discover the many reasons we should celebrate our differences and embrace our shared histories in “Race: Are We So Different?”

Experience Adventure No student trip to Minnesota is complete without a stop at Mall of America in Bloomington. America’s largest mall, the Mall of America contains an abundance of stores, eateries and experiences such as Nickelodeon Universe indoor amusement park and the SeaLife Aquarium, where students can snorkel with tropical fish.

Students searching for thrills will find them at Valleyfair, a 125-acre amusement park in Shakopee. As the Upper Midwest's largest amusement park, Valleyfair is home to a variety of rides suitable for students of all comfort levels.

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MISSISSIPPI Student groups find Southern charm and educational adventures.

Indianola’s B. B. King Museum offers students the chance to discover the life and legacy of the man whose music played a key role in the development of the blues. Thousands of rare artifacts and award-winning films tell the story of the blues, while group tours and educational programs honor B. B. King’s community outreach work.

Students will marvel at the size of Tupelo Automobile Museum. With over 150 rare and collectible cars on display, its collection is valued at more than $64 million. It includes cars driven by celebrities like Elvis Presley, famous movie cars and vehicles that are so rare they’ve never been driven.

Explore Outdoors

Taste Tests Biloxi Shrimping Trip offers 70-minute educational tours aboard the Sailfish where students will learn about marine life and the shrimping history of Biloxi. While sailing, the members of the crew drop trawls along the bottom of Mississippi Sound to catch shrimp, crab, stingray and squid. With locations in both Ocean Springs and Gulfport, The Shed is a Mississippi original known for its barbecue and blues. Founded by a fun-loving family, the hole-in-the-wall barbecue joint was built from strange, scavenged materials, and unique items cover the walls and parking lot. Live music is featured every Friday and Saturday and paired with “100% Old School, Sweet Southern, Down-home BBQ.” State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

Courtesy of Valerie Everett/flickr

Vicksburg National Military Park commemorates one of the most significant battles in the Civil War. At the visitor center, students can learn about the lives of Vicksburg citizens who took refuge in caves during the fighting and the struggles of soldiers living and fighting in the trenches. There are exhibits about wartime hospitals and field officers’ tents, as well as historical monuments and cannon displays throughout the park. Located near Cleveland, Dockery Farms is known as the birthplace of the blues. Students can learn about the history of American music and discover the life and legacy of great American musicians such as Henry Sloan, Charley Patton, Howlin’ Wolf and Honeyboy Edwards. Exhibits help them trace the impact of the Mississippi Delta blues from B. B. King to Led Zeppelin and the White Stripes. Beginning just east of Biloxi, Gulf Islands National Seashore stretches 160 miles across Florida and Mississippi. Guided tours take students on educational adventures through diverse ecosystems, barrier islands, salt marshes and historic forts. Students will love playing in the white sand or snorkeling in the emerald-green waters at America’s largest national seashore.

Courtesy of Kees Wielemaker/flickr

Memorable Museums

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MISSOURI Students find top-rated museums, outdoor adventure and plenty of political history.

Outstanding Museums Outranking the rest, the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City landed Yelp’s spot as best U.S. museum. Over 500,000 visitors each year flood through this free museum with roughly 35,000 works of art.

Collections include European Painting, Asia, American Painting, Photography and Native American Art. The sculpture park planted on campus grounds holds the United States’ largest bronze monument compilation by Henry Moore, as well as Shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.

Visitors arriving at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson may just be fooled into thinking they’re boarding the RMS Titanic itself. The structure was built to model the iconic ship’s shape and appearance while standing at half-scale. Through over 400 real artifacts and countless interactive features, students will learn about the ship’s history, the sinking in 1912 and tales of individual travelers aboard.

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Outdoor Wonders Along with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain published five other novels referencing what is now known as Mark Twain Cave in his hometown of Hannibal. The Show Me State’s very first show cave holds a long history, even serving as a hideout for the 19th century’s most notorious criminal, Jesse James.

Students learn more about the fascinating history behind this natural gem on onehour guided tours. Grant’s Farm, the historic home of the Anheuser-Busch family, is now an animal reserve and park. It houses an array of animals, including the company’s trademark Clydesdales. Surrounded by Ozark highlands and the expansive Table Rock Lake, Branson is a wonderful base for outdoor exploration.

Students can kayak on the lake, hike through Dogwood Canyon Nature Park and go on a zip line adventure through the forest canopy.

Political History Jefferson City, home of the Missouri State Capitol, is the optimal place for students to learn about state government. Guided, 45-minute Capitol tours introduce students to all of the ins and outs of Missouri’s political system. At the Harry S. Truman National Historic Site in Independence, tours are offered for guests interested in visiting Truman’s home, and audio tours are available for downtown Independence and Truman’s neighborhood. Missouri’s original state capital until 1826, St. Charles offers guided costume walks and tours through the Federaliststyle old capitol building.

State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com

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NEBRASKA

From whitewater rafting to llama trekking, Montana is full of adventure-packed experiences for traveling students.

Noteworthy Museums

The Cornhusker State teems with educational opportunities for student travel groups.

Courtesy of Tim Evanson/flickr

Discover law in the Wild West at the Old Montana Prison Complex in Deer Lodge. The complex houses five museums inside the prison walls, including the Old Montana Prison, which was the first territorial prison in the western United States. Student groups can tour the maximum security cells and enclosed courtyard.

The complex also offers ghost hunt tours. The Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman houses one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur fossils and also has a living history farm and planetarium. The C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls displays the work of this early 20th century artist who captured the Old West on canvas.

Included is Russell’s home and studio.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

Cowboys, Explorers & Pioneers Explore what it was like to live in the Wild West during rugged times at the Tri-State Old-Time Cowboys Memorial Museum in Gordon.

To better understand how cowboys lived in the rustic countryside of Nebraska, students can explore exhibits displaying old saddles, tools, spurs, chaps and gear used from early ranches in the late 1880s. The Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail in Nebraska City highlights the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on their expedition to find a water route across the western half of the continent. Students can choose from five different trails and walk in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, observing some of the same plants and animals the explorers came across in the early 1800s. Demonstrations involve leather preparation, tomahawk throwing, hunting and blacksmithing. The Knight Museum and Sandhills Center in Alliance features pioneer memorabilia, Native American artifacts and railroad history. The museum houses a classroom and orientation room with a complete audio and visual system perfect for presentations to student groups.

Fun Tours Located in Swan Lake, Swan Mountain Llama Trekking takes groups on day-long and overnight trips. Each tour member gets paired up with a llama on treks through the Swan and Mission mountain ranges.

A guide educates groups on the region’s flora and fauna. The World Mining Museum in Butte features an inactive silver and zinc mine named the Orphan Girl and exhibits on mining history. An underground tour takes students on an adventure back in time as they are lowered 65 feet down into the 2,700-foot-deep mine. Student groups can pan for garnets to bring home. Fly through the trees on Big Sky Resort’s Zipline Tour. Begin with a whitewater rafting trip down the Gallatin River before harnessing up and racing down mountains on a zipline that hovers above the forest floor. Groups can opt for a nature tour that begins with a 20-minute hike up Lone Mountain and consists of three ziplines.

Just for Fun

Courtesy of Joshua Bousel/flickr

Communing with Nature Montana’s largest state park, Makoshika State Park in Glendive, has everything from an archery site to a dinosaur trail.

The visitor center houses interpretive exhibits featuring findings like the fossil remains of a triceratops and a tyrannosaurus rex. On guided tours at Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center in West Yellowstone, students observe how wolves socialize with their pack members and learn about grizzly bear eating habits by accompanying the naturalist into the bear habitat to hide food for the bears. The center also features birds of prey, such as hawks and eagles. Not only does Glacier National Park have forests, meadows, mountains and lakes, but it also has Native American and early settler history. Ranger-led tours show the wildlife and ecology of the park.

Whitewater rafting tours are offered by Glacier Guides Montana Raft.

Regarded as one of the top collections of strategic aircrafts, the Strategic Air Command and Aerospace Museum in Ashland focuses on aircraft and nuclear missiles of the U.S. Air Force through hands-on exhibits, presentations and workshops. Educational experiences include field trips, science fairs, overnight stays and camps. The Cody Park Railroad Museum in North Platte boasts rare steam and diesel locomotives. The Museum of American Speed in Lincoln contains a huge selection of one-of-a-kind cars, engines and memorabilia representing America’s fascination with racing.

Although some may consider roller skating to be a forgotten sport, the National Museum of Roller Skating in Lincoln strives to share the history and uphold the importance of roller skating. Its collection of roller skates, which dates back to 1819, is the largest in the world. Students can watch highlights of roller skating competitions. Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium offers student groups a variety of guided tours, including “Wildlife Safari Park,” where North American native wildlife, prairies, wetlands and Nebraska history are explained, or “Desert Discovery,” where students learn how reptiles, birds and mammals adapt to life in the desert. Take a break from educational touring and enjoy a relaxing day at Antelope Park in Lincoln. Offering basketball courts, a baseball diamond, tennis courts, hiking trails and picnic tables, the park gives students a chance to unwind.

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Courtesy of Jim Landon/flickr

MONTANA

Student Travel Planning Guide

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NEVADA

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Western history, scenic beauty and unusual attractions captivate curious students.

Student-friendly destinations encourage creative learning in a beautiful New England environment.

Outdoor Classrooms Students will never forget zip lining through the White Mountains with a Bretton Woods Canopy Tour at Mount Washington Resort. Students will brave nine zip lines, some of which are 830 feet long, and take in jaw-dropping views while dangling 200 feet above the ground. At Franconia Notch State Park in White Mountain National Forest, students can hike the famous Flume Gorge or take a dip in Echo Lake. Rangers lead environmental workshops and guided hikes. The park is also home to an aerial tramway with sweeping views. Canobie Lake Park in Salem offers 85 thrilling rides and a variety of live shows from music and magic to science and fireworks. Educational programs and presentations link the rides to science and math curriculums.

Cottonwood Guest Ranch, a family-run horse and cattle ranch, is located in the remote northeastern corner of Nevada.

Guests get an authentic cowboy (or cowgirl) experience with horseback riding, roping, arrowhead hunting, fishing and cattle herding.

For overnight visits, students can stay in the ranch lodge or outdoors in teepees. On the site where Puebloan Indians lived, the Lost City Museum in Overton was built to showcase Pueblo Grande de Nevada archaeological artifacts and educate visitors on the ancestral Puebloans. Nevada is home to countless ghost towns from the Gold Rush era, including Gold Point Ghost Town, a former mining camp in Esmeralda County. Originally built in 1868 and later restored, the town of 30 residents welcomes visitors to explore its history.

The Blue Man Group combines mime, musical theater and painting into a day-glow colored experience students will never forget. The Las Vegas production at the Luxor Hotel offers group sales and seating. The High Roller is a standout Las Vegas feature, literally. At 550 feet tall, the city’s famous Ferris wheel rises above the Vegas Strip and has earned its title as the world’s largest observation wheel. Students can ride in glass-enclosed cabins for a 30-minute spin. Safe Haven Wildlife Sanctuary isn’t your typical town zoo. Located in Imlay, it welcomes animals in need and provides permanent placement. Many of Safe Haven’s residents were former exotic “pets” and a part of illegal pet trading. Tours allow students to see the animals and learn about the sanctuary’s mission.

Arts and Science Mount Washington Observatory and Weather Discovery Center is a weather and climate change research center that is dedicated to educating the next generation of environmental scientists. Students can explore the 6,288-foot-tall peak known to have some of the world’s most extreme weather and views extending from the Atlantic Ocean to the Adirondack Mountains on a clear day. Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness allows students to hike nature trails that wind through animal habitats to get a close look at black bears, bobcats and mountain lions. Students can explore Big Squam Lake on a guided cruise to learn more about the area’s wildlife and history. Concord’s Capitol Center for the Arts offers performances targeted toward a younger audience. From The Giver and Peter Rabbit Tales to Romeo and Juliet and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, CCA’s shows are the perfect way to introduce students to the performing arts.

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Courtesy of Doug Letterman/flickr

Tourist Attractions with a Twist

Situated about an hour west of Manchester, Stonewall Farm is a 250-year-old working farm open year-round for activities such as nature hikes and animal encounters. In winter it becomes a snow-covered dreamland with sleigh rides and snowshoe adventures; students can try ice harvesting with antique tools or take a maple sugaring tour. Sand castles are not an unusual sight at Hampton Beach, but the Master Sand Sculpting Classic takes it to the next level. Every June, 200 tons of sand are imported to the beach, and competitors gather to turn it into an unlikely art museum. Students will marvel at the skill of artists vying for the $15,000 prize and can even try their hand at sandsculpting through free classes.

Courtesy of Jennifer Bailey/flickr

Local Legends

Located along the east shore of Lake Tahoe is Sand Harbor, a 55acre stretch of white sandy beach originally used by the Washo tribe for fishing, hunting and gathering. Students can hike along Sand Point trail for views of Lake Tahoe, snorkel in its crystal clear waters or take a boat ride. Between 1931 and 1936, the Hoover Dam was built on the border of Arizona and Nevada, requiring the labor of thousands of workers and taking over 100 lives in the process. A onehour tour gives students a look at the history and significance of this landmark. As both the largest and oldest state park in Nevada, Valley of Fire State Park has become a popular destination for hiking and camping. Characterized by its red sandstone formations, areas of petrified wood and 3,000year-old Indian petroglyphs, it offers plenty for students to explore.

Courtesy of Daniel Ramirez/flickr

Courtesy of arbyreed/flickr

Scenic Spots

Courtesy of Woodleywonderworks/flickr

Hands-on Historical Experiences

NEW MEXICO

Offering captivating educational destinations and places for sheer fun, New Jersey is ideal for student travel.

With a unique culture and history, The Land of Enchantment is sure to impress student groups.

Unforgettable Educational Destinations Battleship New Jersey in Camden allows students to board and explore the most decorated battleship in American history.

Tours are interactive, and students can expect to maneuver through passageways just as the officers and crew of the USS New Jersey did when the ship was in use.

Within walking distance of the Battleship is Adventure Aquarium, where students can get up close with penguins and check out massive Nile hippos in Hippo Haven.

Students interested in the works and legacy of inventor Thomas Edison will be thrilled to visit the Thomas Edison Center at Menlo Park. For a learning experience that covers all the bases, Liberty Science Center in Jersey City is an interactive museum with nearly 20 exhibits. Eat and Be Eaten is filled with real animals and teaches students the workings of the food chain. The Bugseum of New Jersey in Toms River works to teach and motivate visitors to discover the lives of insects and offers tours and educational programs.

New Jersey’s Natural Beauty For the quintessential Jersey Shore experience, students will enjoy Wildwoods Beaches. Key features include wide expanses of white sands and swimmer-friendly waters. The Wildwood Boardwalk has rides, shops, eateries, arcades and other attractions. Cape May Whale Watch offers a sea safari during which students will learn to spot whales, dolphins and other animals. For an artistic experience that highlights New Jersey’s natural beauty, students won’t be disappointed by the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton. The former home of the New Jersey State Fairgrounds is adorned with sculptures that complement the flora of the Garden State. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Delve into the history of Native American tribes, such as the Puebloans and the Navajo, and the early colonists at the Aztec Museum and Pioneer Village. Tours begin at Aztec Ruins National Monument, which preserves ancestral Puebloan structures in northwestern New Mexico. Take students on an adventure through the lands of the Apache tribe with WolfHorse Outfitters, a Native American guide service specializing in horseback riding adventures into the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Tours teach groups the plant and animal identification methods of the Apache tribe as well as seasonal foraging techniques. One of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, Petroglyph National Monument, west of Albuquerque, exhibits designs and symbols carved into volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. The site has several hiking trails and a visitor center with exhibits that explain petroglyphs.

Let’s Explore A combination of a jungle gym, haunted house, children’s museum and immersive art museum, the Meow Wolf Art Complex in Santa Fe takes students on a journey into the diverse realms of storytelling.

Exhibits are created with multimedia art and are designed for groups to touch and play with. The site offers open studio space for student groups to create their own art. Anderson-Abruzzo International Albuquerque Balloon Museum displays the history of ballooning in New Mexico and the United States. Classroom learning activities include art projects and teamwork exercises where students can explore the science of balloons.

Student groups can explore the Rio Grande with Far Flung Adventures, a whitewater rafting company in Taos. One of the courses takes groups through the lower gorge of the river, with beautiful scenery and mellow rapids, and through the historic village of Pilar.

Courtesy of NASA/flickr

Students seeking thrills will find them at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson. Home to North America’s tallest and fastest roller coaster, Kingda Ka, Six Flags offers students a full day of excitement, including rides at Hurricane Harbor water park.

Located just an hour’s drive from Manhattan, Zoom Ziplines in Vernon offers guided canopy tours for students of all experience levels. As part of Mountain Creek Ski Resort, Zoom Ziplines is one of many activities available; students can also enjoy Mountain Creek Water Park and Mountain Creek Bike Park. Sparta’s Tomahawk Lake Waterpark is conveniently located just an hour from New York’s George Washington Bridge and offers a variety of waterslides, a tube ride and the Apache Plunge group raft ride. Tomahawk Lake itself offers boat rides, swimming and picnicking along New Jersey’s largest white sand beach.

Native American Culture

Federal Lands Student groups can see rocky canyons, ancient sea ledges and Chihuahuan Desert wildlife before descending into some of the 119 caves at Carlsbad Caverns National Park.

On ranger-led tours, students can see bats, natural rock formations and old mining excavation sites. Encompassing some of the most dramatic volcanic landscapes and archaeological ruins in New Mexico, Bandelier National Monument in Los Alamos is a mustsee destination. Ranger-led hikes go to the top of mesas and around petroglyphs and ancient cave dwellings.

Located in southern New Mexico is the world's largest gypsum dune field, White Sands National Monument. Rangers show students the site’s unique geology. “Teacher Resource Bags” contain binoculars, guidebooks and a field notebook full of discussion questions.

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Courtesy of Tim Adams/flickr

Adventures Await

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NEW JERSEY

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Making Memories a Communal Effort roup Travel Videos lets students, teachers and chaperones contribute photos for a storytelling keepsake video.

When Jamye Richmond, the Texas History teacher for Pilot Point Middle School, plans her annual 8th grade trip to our nation’s capital, she already has plenty on her mind. Though many of her lodging and tour logistics are taken care of by her tour operator, there are special challenges she faces, such as keeping students engaged with the area’s history and making sure they can navigate the Metro system. Taking pictures and storing them for posterity can be an afterthought.

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The Group Travel Video App allows any member of your travel party with a phone, tablet or laptop to take and upload photos during the trip, and administrators can edit the pictures later for slideshows and keepsake purposes. Social media settings allow administrators to share the photos in real-time on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and friends and family can view them back home. And when your trip is finished, the company will provide a keepsake DVD video—complete with special effects, music and titles—to last a lifetime.

Student group travel is all about the things we learn, the moments we share and the memories we create. The last thing anyone wants to do is risk losing any of these experiences! With the Group Travel Videos, you can truly capture and

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Student Travel Planning Guide

share these moments, whether it’s with access to the app, displaying a curated collection on social media or watching the video online or the keepsake DVD version.

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Locations in the Northeast to Amaze Your Groups!

NEW YORK

BALTIMORE

ATLANTIC CITY

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s Marvelous Mirror Maze Ripley’s Impossible LaseRace groupsales@ripleysnewyork.com Ripley’s 4-D Moving Theater baltimoregroups@ripleys.com 212-398-3133 443-615-7878

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Laser Maze Challenge ripacac@aol.com 609-347-2001

TORONTO

NIAGARA FALLS

Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada groups@ripleysaquariumofcanada.com 877-773-1497 x2642

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks. Guinness World Record Museum cammelli@ripleys.com. 905-356-2238

For nearly 100 years, Ripley Entertainment has been a world leader in family fun. Built on a foundation of a tiny daily newspaper cartoon which debuted in 1918, the company now operates more than 95 world-class attractions on four continents.

Each attraction is UNIQUE in its architecture, its collection and presentation. Every Ripley’s attraction is built with interactivity in mind, from LaseRace adventures to underwater viewing tunnels … the longest one in North America being at the Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto!

Ask About our Special Trade and Group Rates: Book Your Groups Today!

NEW YORK Fascinating discoveries await students in America’s largest city and upstate New York as well.

New York City Experience Manhattan and Brooklyn in style on a doubledecker City Sightseeing tour, which passes by iconic locations such as Central Park. Be sure to explore the Times Square outpost for Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, which features a spinning vortex tunnel, shrunken heads exhibit and a Captain America made of iron. Students can see and learn about what life was like for immigrants in the early 20th century when visiting the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. One of the largest museums in the world, the American Museum of Natural History is dedicated to examining human cultures, the natural world and the universe.

The museum offers a “Night at the Museum” tour where groups can see the exhibits featured in the movie. One of the world’s theater hubs, Broadway has tremendous new offerings for its new season, including a revival of Miss Saigon and the American debut of the West End hit Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Must-See Museums The Corning Museum of Glass displays the world’s best collection of art and historical glass. School tours offer groups the opportunity to learn the history and chemistry behind glass with handson activities. The “Fun with Glass” program allows student groups to try different glass-working techniques and create their own glass objects. Guides in 18th century military dress lead groups around Fort William Henry Museum in Lake George, a military fort during the French and Indian War. See demonstrations of musket- and cannon-firing and musket ball-molding. At the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, student groups can go on a 75-minute tour exploring pre-selected pieces before going to the museum’s State Graphic: chekman/Bigstock.com, GPS: Scanrail/Bigstock.com art studio and participating in an art project.

Time for Adventure One of the country’s top aerial adventure parks, Adirondack Extreme Adventure Course in Bolton Landing offers groups a treetop challenge obstacle course and six aerial adventure courses of varying difficulty. At Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the country, the Maid of the Mist boat tour takes groups around the falls as tour guides discuss their history. The Niagara Gorge Discovery Center features interactive displays and a rock climbing wall complete with fossils and geological formations. The first amusement park in Coney Island in over 40 years, Luna Park in Brooklyn boasts over 30 rides. For student groups that come to study physics or engineering, the park has created a 10-question STEM quiz that can be answered by observing or going on rides.

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NORTH CAROLINA

Fun in the Outdoors At Cape Hatteras National Seashore, students will marvel at one of North Carolina’s most stunning beaches. Run by the National Park Service, the seashore stretches the 72 miles of the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Students can climb the 248 steps of the nation’s tallest lighthouse, swim, explore sand dunes, fly kites and ride in off-road vehicles. There is no better way for students to see North Carolina’s mountain vistas than by visiting Chimney Rock State Park. Trails of varying levels of difficulty let students to take in the natural beauty. At Sliding Rock in Pisgah National Forest, students can cascade down a 50-foot, naturally formed slide into a 7-foot-deep pool. Two observation platforms with lifeguards ensure a safe visit.

Breathtaking scenery and historical hubs make North Carolina the perfect destination for student travel.

Historical Experiences

North Carolina Must-Sees

Courtesy of David Berkowitz/flickr

Courtesy of Ed Bierman/flickr

Battleship North Carolina in Wilmington invites students to explore a highly decorated American battleship. Start by viewing the introductory movie and then browse through the exhibit hall before heading up the gangway. The Wheels Through Time Museum in Maggie Valley presents a large collection of rare motorcycles and related memorabilia from 1903 to the present. At the Airborne and Special Operations Museum near Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, students can explore life-size dioramas, rare aircraft and interactive displays that celebrate this sector of the U.S. Armed Forces. Exhibits include a war-stricken French village after the 1944 Normandy invasion and a 24-seat motion simulator that places students in the midst of parachute jumps, helicopter gunship attacks and daring missions. The North Carolina Maritime Museum in Beaufort depicts the state’s maritime and coastal natural history. Students will see artifacts from Blackbeard’s ship, a sperm whale’s heart and skeleton, and displays on the U.S. Life Saving Service.

The NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte showcases the heritage of NASCAR with artifacts, stick cars and the Hall of Honor where the most recent Hall of Fame inductees are enshrined. Over 50 interactive exhibits include the Pit Crew Challenge and racing simulators that invite students to engage with the sights and sounds of racing.

Asheville is home to the 250-room Biltmore Estate, America’s largest home. Built by the Vanderbilt family in 1889, the mansion features amazing architecture and artwork from the Gilded Age. On this sprawling estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains, students can enjoy hiking, picnicking and walks through the gardens.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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NORTH DAKOTA

OHIO

Students won’t have to look far to find great adventures in the Badlands and vast prairies.

From theme park thrill rides to quiet museum galleries, Ohio offers student-friendly attractions and educational adventures.

Presidents and Noblemen

Outdoor Education

Set in the rugged landscape of the Badlands, Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota has rich history and a diverse ecology. Ranger-led tours show students Roosevelt’s cabin from when he was a rancher, take them to observe wild prairie dogs and explain active geological processes. Just southwest of Medora, Chateau de Mores State Historic Site memorializes the life of the Marquis de Mores, who found his fortune in the cattle ranching industry.

Groups can view exhibits in the interpretive center and walk around the 26-room hunting cabin that houses original artifacts. Wander around the ruins of On-A-Slant Mandan Indian Village and Fort Abraham Lincoln cavalry posts at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park in Mandan. Students can go on hikes through prairie terrain and visit reconstructions of the commanding officer's house, commissary storehouse and the enlisted men's barracks.

Wildlife and Wild Rides At Columbus Zoo and Aquarium students can take a Wild Encounters Tour that provides a closer look at the Discovery Reef, Manatee Coast, Giraffe Barn or Animal Health Care Center. The zoo offers programs for groups that want to stay overnight, explore after hours and meet animals up-close. The Wilds, located in Cumberland, is an affiliate of Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.

Students can take a safari on horseback or in an open-air vehicle to see free-roaming giraffes, rhinos and other endangered animals. With 18 world-class roller coasters and a water park, Cedar Point in Sandusky is the perfect stop to let students burn off energy. They can put on a performance or get involved in any of the festivals and competitions that take place throughout the year.

Museums and Cultural Centers

The Dakota Zoo in Bismarck is home to more than 600 animals.

Student groups can see and touch certain animals and participate in activities designed to teach them about animal behaviors. Take a step out of America and into Scandinavia when visiting Scandinavian Heritage Park in Minot. See replica houses and other artifacts from each of the five Scandinavian countries: Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Student groups can stop at the Gol Stave Church Museum, a replica of the Gol Stave Church in Norway, and the Sigdal House, the oldest house in North Dakota. Learn about Native American, folk and contemporary art of the region at the Plains Art Museum in Fargo. Student groups can take a guided gallery tour and participate in an art project.

At the Columbus Museum of Art students can take part in a variety of themed tours, from a hands-on artistic materials exploration to a French connection program that focuses on Impressionism. In a studio thinking class, students create their own masterpieces, write poetry and prose, and work together to adapt to creative challenges. COSI Columbus, the city’s premier science attraction, abounds with interactive exhibits and has labs that engage students in scientific experiments. Also see the planetarium and a National Geographic documentary in the giant-screen theater. Located in Neil Armstrong’s hometown of Wapakoneta, the Armstrong Air and Space Museum tells the story of the first man to set foot on the moon and the achievements of other astronauts. Students can experience the thrill of landing a lunar module or space shuttle or attempt to dock the Gemini capsule in any of three simulators. End the visit with a screening of Apollo 11’s lunar landing in the 56-foot dome theater. Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center celebrates the history, geography and economics of the Underground Railroad and the people who risked their lives to help end slavery in America.

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Great Adventures

Student Travel Planning Guide

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Courtesy of Joe Ross/flickr

Courtesy of Jeremy Thompson/flickr

History Lessons A trade center for Native Americans and fur traders, Knife River is now home to Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton. Students will explore a full-scale reconstruction of an earth lodge and interactive exhibits. Learn about the state’s history and culture at the North Dakota Heritage Center and State Museum in Bismarck. Students can explore the state’s current energy and petroleum development, experience planting crops from the seat of a modern tractor and visit a 1950s soda shop. Take a step back in time when entering The Frontier Village in Jamestown, a recreated prairie town. The village features the Kirkpatrick Gallery, studio of artist James A. Kirkpatrick, and Louis L'Amour’s writer's shack. It also has stagecoach rides, re-enactments of Wild West-style shootouts and the world’s largest buffalo monument.

Courtesy of Ted/flickr

Situated on the banks of the Great Miami River in Dayton, Sunwatch Indian Village and Archaeological Park is the original site of an 800-year-old American Indian village. Students can visit Fort Ancient to explore re-creations of traditional dwellings, talk to an archaeologist and observe ongoing excavation projects.

Located a half-hour north of Columbus, Olentangy Indian Caverns offers students the chance to learn about the caves’ geology and the American Indians who took shelter in them.

OKLAHOMA

OREGON

Oklahoma’s natural attractions and fascinating culture provide an educational journey that students will never forget.

From towering mountains to flat beaches, Oregon offers students the chance to get outside and learn about their environment first-hand.

Must-See Museums

Located in northwestern Oklahoma, Alabaster Caverns State Park is home to the largest gypsum cavern in the world. Students will descend over 300 feet below the earth’s surface on a guided tour and learn about the cave’s alabaster rock formations and bats. At Turner Falls State Park, an oasis hiding in the shadow of the Arbuckle Mountains, students can enjoy swimming at the base of a 77-foot waterfall and water slides in natural swimming holes. Endangered Ark Foundation in southeastern Oklahoma is home to America’s second-largest herd of endangered Asian elephants, many of which are retired from the circus.

Students learn about the care of the animals, assist in bathing and even hand-feed the gentle giants. Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge near Lawton provides a home for wild buffalo, longhorn cattle, prairie dogs and elk.

Local Flair Tucked away in the Kiamichi Mountains, the Honobia Bigfoot Festival is held in an area known to have the most Bigfoot sightings in the state. Visitors are encouraged to ask questions and gather around the Friday night campfire to listen to researchers and their stories of encounters with the legendary forest-dweller. For skeptics and enthusiasts alike, there are live music performances, nature walks and games. Woodward Elks Rodeo is a weeklong event held every summer since 1929. Students will love the combination of history, Western heritage and high-adrenaline rodeo events. studenttravelplanningguide.com

Columbia River Gorge Region Educational hikes at Mount Hood, a short drive from Portland, are available through the Zigzag Ranger District Offices and can include ranger talks, Timberline Lodge tours or history talks. Adventurous students can brave the Mount Hood portion of the Pacific Crest Trail for a day hike on one of the most famous footpaths in the world.

Students will stand in wonder at the base of the second-highest waterfall in the United States, Multnomah Falls. They can enjoy splashing in the cool waters or hike up to Benson Bridge to get a better look at the waterfall. A paved path in the base area affords views of Multnomah Falls, Horsetail Falls, Oneonta Gorge and Bridal Veil Falls. Wet Planet Rafting and Kayaking near Hood River offers student groups the chance to see untouched wilderness along the waters of the White Salmon, Hood and Klickitat rivers.

Stunning Locations in Southern Oregon Crater Lake National Park, home to the deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet), boasts some of the most pristine blue water imaginable. On educational programs based at Rim Village, students can study the water’s properties or the area’s geological history. Located in the northern Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon Caves National Monument offers ranger-led tours that explain why the bats in the caves have white noses and the bat-specific disease that is threatening the species across North America.

In and Around Portland Portland Japanese Gardens offer guided tours specifically designed for students. Tours allow students to visit the five distinctly different gardens and learn about the Shinto, Buddhist and Taoist traditions that the gardens are founded on. Zenger Farm in Portland is a working farm that offers educational programs to promote environmental stewardship and community development. World Forestry Center is divided into two parts, with a Discovery Museum in downtown Portland and the Magness Tree Farm in nearby Sherwood.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Parks and Refuges

Discover vibrant marine microcosms in tide pools while enjoying a day at the beach at Cannon Beach, just 90 minutes from Portland. Haystack Rock, a large monolith protruding from the shallows, offers views of rare birds in a protected habitat, including tufted puffins. A pod of gray whales calls the waters near Depoe Bay home from March until December, and students can watch them from the Whale Watch Center or board a boat for a closer look.

Courtesy of Richard Fraley/flickr

A Piece of the Pacific

Oklahoma City’s National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is home to the largest collection of rodeo photographs, barbed wire and saddlery in the world. It has works by such Western artists as Frederic Remington and memorabilia from Western movie stars including John Wayne. Galleries offer students a look into the daily life of working cowboys and the history of rodeo clowns, trick riding and women in rodeo. Chickasaw Cultural Center in Sulphur has interactive exhibits on Native American history and culture, a 360-degree stomp dance room with an artificial bonfire and the Spirit Forest where students can understand the bond between the Chickasaw people and nature. Stomp dances and other events are held in an amphitheater. Oklahoma Aquarium in Jenks offers guided behind-the-scenes tours, shark feeding tours and educational programs that allow students to learn about the handling and care of marine animals.

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PENNSYLVANIA

RHODE ISLAND

The state’s rich history and friendly residents make it the ideal location for an educational excursion.

As one of the 13 original colonies, our smallest state brims with historical treasures for student group travelers.

American History

Local Gems

Courtesy of Adam Jones/flickr

The Wolf Sanctuary of PA, 20 minutes north of Lancaster, is an animal-lover’s paradise. Tours showcase the sanctuary’s history and the wolves that inhabit it. Mount Jewett is home to the Kinzua Sky Walk, where students can brave the remaining portion of the Kinzua Viaduct, the tallest, longest rail viaduct when it was constructed in 1882. Students can still follow the railroad tracks for about 600 feet, peer down through a glassbottom observation deck to see the destroyed parts of the bridge 301 feet below and take in views of the forest.

Historic Homes A trip to Rhode Island wouldn’t be complete without visiting some of the Newport mansions. The Breakers, the most opulent, is the Vanderbilts’ 70-room European High Renaissance home designed by American architect Richard Morris Hunt in 1895.

Established in the 1890s by Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle as their summer vacation getaway, Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum in Bristol is a great location for student groups to enjoy views of Narragansett Bay and explore several acres of gardens with species of wildlife from North America, Europe, Japan and China. For a compelling history lesson, take student groups to the General Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry. Built in 1770, it served as Green’s home during the Revolutionary War.

Arts and Culture Midtown Scholar Bookstore in Harrisburg offers students the chance to explore a beautiful collection of old, rare and new books in a renovated 1920s movie theater. At Pennsylvania State University’s famous Berkey Creamery in central Pennsylvania, students can taste the legendary ice cream and learn how their favorite dairy products are produced. The creamery is a landmark on the Penn State campus, and the two-story viewing area guarantees students a glimpse of production in action. Introduce your students to the arts at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The 2016-2017 season includes performances of The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland. Students will be awed by extravagant costumes, beautiful music, classic stories and, of course, talented performers. At the Martin Guitar Factory and Museum in Nazareth, students can watch rough wood be transformed into beautifully crafted acoustic guitars by skilled craftsmen. They see over 170 guitars spanning six generations and follow the development of music through the lens of the 175-year-old company.

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The Aquatic Life

Courtesy of Kathryn Yengel/flickr

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Into the Woods

Brown University in Providence, one of the nine colonial colleges established before the American Revolution, offers students the chance to tour its campus and learn about degree programs, such as the first Ivy League engineering school, established in 1847. While in Providence, check out Roger Williams Park and explore its seven lakes, the Roger Williams Park Zoo or Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. Discover a piece of religious history at Touro Synagogue in Newport. Dating back to 1763, the oldest synagogue building still standing in the United States is filled with educational experiences for student groups. A National Historic Landmark, the hand-carved Looff Carousel at Crescent Park in Riverside was built in 1895 by Charles I.D. Looff, one of the earliest carousel designers. With decorative panels, beveled mirrors, glass jewels and original band organ music, it is kept in a hippodrome building featuring Looff’s trademark onion dome and contains 61 horses, one camel, two single coaches and two double chariots.

Biomes Marine Biology Center in North Kingstown is the only private marine education facility in New England and offers hands-on learning experiences. The center has been providing interactive marine biology programs to students for 27 years and specializes in the animals of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, with over 100 species of marine life in more than 80 exhibits. Dedicated to the history of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company, yachting and the America's Cup competition, the Herreshoff Marine Museum in Bristol spotlights the region’s maritime heritage. Structured visits for student groups focus on history, science, engineering, technology, innovation and mathematics through hands-on activities. Frances Fleet Whale Watching in Narragansett is an excursion boat company offering student groups a once-in-alifetime opportunity to catch a glimpse of Rhode Island’s whale population.

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Courtesy of Chateau Sur Mer

The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, the largest museum dedicated to the Civil War, prides itself on presenting a balanced account of the war through exhibits on both the Union and the Confederacy. Gettysburg National Military Park offers guided battlefield tours, evening campfires and free ranger-led educational programs. The Liberty Bell is not the only landmark in Philadelphia's Independence National Historic Park. The park offers students the chance to learn about the bell’s famous crack and the signing of the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution at Independence Hall. The Ben Franklin Museum has interactive exhibits on Franklin’s life and legacy. On guided tours at the historic Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, students can explore Al Capone’s cell, learn about the everyday lives of inmates and hear stories about their daring escape attempts. In evenings throughout the fall, the prison turns into a haunted house.

SOUTH CAROLINA

SOUTH DAKOTA

Brimming with adventure, history, culture and art, South Carolina is a mustsee destination for student group travelers.

With attractions like treasure hunts and zip lining, South Dakota promises excitement for student groups.

Getting in Touch with Nature

Monumental Nature Sites

Students who visit Lake Jocassee have the chance to discover its enchanting waterfalls and abundance of wildlife and try their hand at scuba diving, kayaking and paddle boarding. The lake, located in northwest South Carolina, is included in National Geographic’s “50 of the World’s Last Great Places.” Concentrated elliptical depressions known as the Carolina Bays are considered geological phenomena and serve as a perfect science lesson for student travel groups touring the Atlantic Coast.

The mystery behind how they originally formed remains unsolved. The Palmetto Trail—South Carolina’s longest hiking path at 425 miles and one of only 16 cross-state trails in the United States—allows students to learn the culture, history and geography of the Palmetto State while reveling in the breathtaking natural landscapes.

Explore the rugged beauty of Badlands National Park in western South Dakota. By booking a tour through GeoFun Trek Tours, students can enjoy day-long hikes through the Badlands while learning about the land’s geology and people native to the area. Summer night sky viewing is offered at the Cedar Pass Campground Amphitheater. Go deep underground at Wind Cave National Park while journeying through a labyrinth of caves. Located in the Black Hills near Hot Springs, the park offers educational tours that focus on the relationships between the prairie, pine forest and caves. Custer State Park in the Black Hills is home to a free-roaming herd of 1,300 buffalo that often stops traffic along the 18-mile Wildlife Loop Road. The Buffalo Safari Jeep Tour takes student groups off-road in search of pronghorns, elk and buffalo.

War…What is it Good for?

Founded in 1773 and opened to the public in 1842, the Charleston Museum is recognized by the American Alliance of Museums as America’s first museum. Known for its collection of armory, including Revolutionary War- and Civil War-era swords and equipment from World War I and World War II, the museum also houses the only known fossil of the largest flying bird ever discovered. Home to one of the most important battlefields of the Revolutionary War—the Battle of Huck’s Defeat—Brattonsville Historic District in McConnells features over 30 structures from the 1760s to the late 19th century. It educates students about about ScotsIrish and African-American history in South Carolina, with staff members in period clothing demonstrating how people farmed the land, cooked their food and entertained themselves. At Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston, the site of two significant Civil War battles, the National Park Service provides student groups with scavenger hunt opportunities and lesson plans pertaining to the American Revolution and Civil War.

Big-Time Adventures Strike it rich in Keystone at Big Thunder Gold Mine. Student groups can tour the authentic 1890s mine and pan for Black Hills gold.

Deadwood, a well-preserved Wild West town, will transport student groups straight into Gold Rush territory. With re-enactments of famous shootouts in the streets and of the shooting of Wild Bill Hickok and the trial of his murderer, the town brings the past to light. Through a treasure hunt offered by Double Key Treasure Hunt, student groups search for clues as they hop from monument to museum, learning about the history of Deadwood along the way. At Rushmore Tramway Adventures in Keystone, zip lining and scenic chair lifts let student groups see the Black Hills from new heights. Students can also climb through the rope courses.

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The Columbia Museum of Art has collections ranging from American, European and Asian artworks to modern and contemporary pieces. Student groups can partake in lesson plans designed for grades K-12. Known as the Official State Theatre of South Carolina, the 107-year-old Abbeville Opera House served as a stopping point for road companies traveling between New York and Atlanta. It holds performances 36 weekends a year. The Peace Center performing arts center in Greenville comprises a 2,100-seat concert hall, a 400-seat theater and an amphitheater. It has four resident companies: Greenville Symphony Orchestra, Carolina Ballet Theatre, South Carolina Children's Theater and the International Ballet.

Visit the homestead of the Little House on the Prairie author with Laura Ingalls Wilder Historic Homes Guided Tours in De Smet.

After Wilder’s life story is discussed in the Surveyors’ House, continue to the First School of De Smet and the Discovery Center. Students can dress up as pioneers did and learn how the clothes were made. The tour offers groups the option of a writing workshop focused on the style of Wilder. The 1880 Train in Hill City ventures through a 20-mile stretch of the Black Hills and includes an Old West shootout and a lively narration on railroad history. Containing the remains of fauna and flora preserved in a sinkhole during the Pleistocene era, the Mammoth Site in Hot Springs is a museum and paleontological site with one of the largest concentrations of mammoth remains in the world.

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Courtesy of Chris Favero

Travel Back in Time

Art and Culture at Your Fingertips

TENNESSEE

TEXAS

Tennessee’s vibrant music scene and Southern hospitality make it a welcoming destination for student groups.

Lasso your way into historical and cultural locations only to be found in Texas; it’s like a whole other country.

Music History

Powerful Presidents At the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas, students can sit in a full-size replica of the Oval Office or check out the “Responding to Sept. 11” exhibit with the bullhorn President Bush used at Ground Zero and his impromptu speech notes. Student groups can also visit the George W. Bush Childhood Home in Midland.

Situated in the exact location where Lee Harvey Oswald shot and killed President John F. Kennedy, the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza in Dallas examines the life, death and legacy of JFK. Exhibits include “A Time for Greatness: The 1960 Kennedy Campaign” and “John F. Kennedy and the Memory of a Nation.” Tour Dwight D. Eisenhower’s childhood home at the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site in Denison. Born on Oct. 14, 1890, Eisenhower was the first president to be born in Texas. The neighboring visitors center highlights his accomplishments as president and World War II hero. At the Lyndon B. Johnson Ranch District, located within LBJ National Historic Park in Stonewall, students can explore the Texas White House, LBJ’s birthplace, Johnson family cemetery, a one-room school and LBJ’s grandparents’ home.

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Originally built as a center for worship, Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium is now known as the “Mother Church of Country Music.” It is most famous as the home of the Grand Ole Opry for more than 30 years, and students are welcome to tour the fully renovated space. Behind-the-scenes tours allow students to stand center stage, record their own album and create a poster. Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville hosts a variety of performances from major Broadway musicals to indie rock concerts. Its four theaters are available for student performance groups.

Nashville’s Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum celebrates country music heritage. Students are immersed in music history through film and audio clips, interactive displays and trivia games. The museum’s educational programs allow students to work with a professional songwriter, record a song at RCA Studio B or showcase their talent at a public performance. Graceland Mansion in Memphis was home to Elvis Presley. Students can walk in the footsteps of the King on an interactive guided tour that features commentary and stories from Elvis and his daughter Lisa Marie. They will stand in awe of Elvis’ Grammys and Platinum records in the Trophy Buildings and have a moment of quiet reflection in the Meditation Garden where Elvis is buried. Student groups are invited to perform at Graceland Plaza.

Made in Texas

Big Fun

Courtesy of Stuart Seeger/flickr

Spanning 150 acres in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Dollywood theme park offers more than 40 thrill rides, the world’s fastest wooden roller coaster and a waterpark. Dollywood is home to some of the biggest music festivals in the South, and daily performances will wow students. Bands and choirs are invited to perform at the Park Plaza. Located in Sweetwater, Lost Sea Adventure will take students into the depths of Craighead Caverns to explore America’s largest underground lake. They will learn about the rocks and minerals on an educational tour that ends with a glass-bottom boat tour of Lost Sea.

Music is All You Need

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Courtesy of Michael Hicks/flickr

These Hills Sing The Mountain Opry is an authentic piece of Americana tucked away in the outskirts of Signal Mountain near Chattanooga. Bluegrass, folk and mountain musicians gather every Friday night, as they have for decades, to perform at a small, familyfriendly venue. Arrive early to see the musicians gather outside for a picnic and a pre-show warm up. Talented musicians from banjo pickers and upright bass players to old-time harmonizers and fiddlers perform for three hours.

The Alamo in San Antonio, a 300-year-old former Spanish mission turned fortress, was the site of the Battle of the Alamo in 1836, a critical turning point in the Texas Revolution; teachers are provided lesson plans.

Saddle up at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, where honorees include pioneers, businesswomen, educators, ranchers and rodeo cowgirls. Women featured in the Hall of Fame include Annie Oakley, Georgia O’Keeffe and Sacagawea. Discover the state’s oil history at the East Texas Oil Museum in Kilgore. An interactive elevator ride travels 3,800 feet below earth’s surface where oil deposits can be found.

Devoted to preserving and presenting a wide range of Texas music history, the Texas Music Museum in Austin is a great destination for music lovers.

Exhibits include “Texas Country Classics,” “Tejano and Conjunto Music” and “The Many Faces of Texas Blues.” The Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, a visual and performance arts center, is dedicated to the life and legend of influential rock and roll musician Buddy Holly.

Students can take photos atop an enormous sculpture of Holly’s trademark horn-rimmed glasses. The Heart of Texas Country Music Museum in Brady features artifacts, photographs, stage costumes, posters, instruments and other memorabilia from over 100 country artists.

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UTAH

VERMONT

With five national parks and an abundance of state parks, Utah is the perfect location for students to get outside and explore.

Culinary delights and enriching educational hubs make the Green Mountain State a great student destination.

Into the Wild Sweet Stops

Salt Lake City Tabernacle is home to a magnificent, 11,623-pipe organ and the renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Students can sit in on choir practices or attend a performance. Guided tours of the landmark explain how the building was built and the science behind the acoustics. Situated on the University of Utah campus overlooking Salt Lake City, the Natural History Museum of Utah features interactive exhibits, handson displays and multimedia presentations that allow students to engage in explorative learning. The Highlights Tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at some of the most popular areas of the museum.

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Courtesy of Steve Jurvetson/flickr

Miscellaneous Must-Sees Vermont’s rural heritage is celebrated at Billings Farm in Woodstock. Students are invited to celebrate the state’s rural beginnings by taking part in hands-on activities such as milking cows and feeding livestock.

Students will experience an authentic sampling of actual farm work and agricultural processes. Tours at Rock of Ages Quarry in Graniteville take students to an overlook of Smith Granite Quarry. At nearly 600 feet deep, the quarry is the largest operating granite quarry in the world. Students will observe the production process of granite goods from extraction to sale. Hildene Estate, home of the Robert Lincoln family, is a Georgian Revival home in Manchester that features 23 rooms and portrays how the elite lived in the early 20th century. History and elegance work in tandem to create an unforgettable experience at the home of Abraham Lincoln’s son.

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Courtesy of Harvey Barrison/flickr

Courtesy of Brett Neilson/flickr

Learn a Little

The Vermont Marble Museum in Proctor tells the story of the state’s marble industry. In exhibits such as Earth Alive: From Dinos to Fluorescence, students will see the history of our planet and its ongoing geological evolution. ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center in Burlington is home to more than 70 species of fish, amphibians, invertebrates and reptiles native to Vermont’s Lake Champlain Basin. The center offers daily animal encounters and hands-on activities. The Vermont History Museum and Vermont Heritage Galleries in Montpelier work to teach students about the state’s rich history and heritage. Students interested in art will enjoy the Shelburne Museum in Shelburne. The museum allows students the pleasure of discovering American history, art and design.

Courtesy of Patrick Breen/flickr

4 Educational Hotspots

Just for Fun Located in Park City, Utah Olympic Park was the site of the 2002 Winter Olympics and is now a U.S. Olympic training facility. Students can watch Olympic qualifiers train on Nordic ski jumps, bobsled tracks and competition hills year-round. Guided walking tours teach students the history of the Olympics, or they can feel the thrill of the games first-hand on a Comet Bobsled ride. Park City’s Gorgoza Park is the perfect place for students to play in the famous Utah powder. It offers seven lighted tubing lanes on which students can do extreme sledding in an inner tube. Heated yurts are available to rent.

A Vermont classic, Ben and Jerry’s gives students a look into the ice cream-making process at its factory headquarters in Waterbury. Students can take a factory tour and learn about the business side of ice cream, including the manufacturing process, while tasting the iconic flavors that made Ben and Jerry’s famous. Any student with a sweet tooth will love visiting the Lake Champlain Chocolate Factory in Burlington. Students will learn how chocolate is made and packaged and can taste the wide variety of treats, including craft truffles, caramels and almond butter crunch. At Sugarbush Farm in Woodstock, students will observe the maple syrup process on the sugar house tour, walk the nature trail to see the sugar maple trees and talk to the farmers who make it all happen.

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With over 2,000 natural arches, impossibly balanced boulders and slickrock domes, Arches National Park will give students the impression that they’re exploring a different planet. Just five miles north of Moab, the entrance road will lead groups on a jawdropping 18-mile scenic drive. They will be able to marvel at the Garden of Eden, enjoy a vast expanse of arches near Delicate Arch and take time to walk through the formations at Double Arch. Canyonlands National Park in southeastern Utah boasts other-worldly rock formations and red rock mountains. Students will stand in awe at the Grand View Point Overlook with views of Monument Basin’s towering stone columns hundreds of feet below. Join Moab Adventure Center for an off-road Hummer tour or a hot air balloon ride. Zion National Park is most popular for hiking trails. Some of the most well-known trails lead hikers to Angel’s Landing and Hidden Canyon with no shortage of scrambling up mounds of boulders and navigating steep drop-offs. Don’t miss the opportunity to chat with an artist-in-residence at the historic Grotto House to learn more about the national park system and the importance of arts in education.

VIRGINIA With mountains, museums and historical landmarks, a student trip to Virginia will be packed with educational opportunities.

Historic Virginia George Washington’s childhood home at Ferry Farm in Fredericksburg offers students a look into the first president’s past. They can observe a working archaeological lab on site and see displays of colonial and Civil War artifacts that were discovered on the property. A replica of Washington’s home is currently under construction. Colonial Williamsburg transports students back to the 18th century. A walk through the city allows students to trace history from the tumultuous time leading up to the Revolutionary War to Benedict Arnold’s siege of the city and the Battle of Yorktown. The visitor center at Richmond National Battlefield Park has Civil War artifacts that tell the history of Richmond-area battles.

Tours of the battlefield are led by rangers, or students can explore the trails on their own.

Thomas Jefferson’s beautiful Charlottesville estate, Monticello, offers students the opportunity to explore life on a working plantation and learn about America’s third president.

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Must-See Museums Richmond’s Poe Museum is a wonderful way to introduce students to the creative and macabre genius of Edgar Allan Poe. It houses the world’s finest collection of Poe’s personal letters, belongings and manuscripts. The Nauticus in Norfolk is a maritime museum with hands-on exhibits that focus on American naval history. Located near Quantico Marine Base in Triangle, the National Museum of the Marine Corps documents Marine Corps history from 1775 to the present. Students can see uniforms, medals, weapons, vehicles and aircraft.

Just for Fun Shenandoah National Park in western Virginia offers over 500 miles of hiking trails, including 101 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail. Students can follow a ranger into the mountains to learn about the park’s history, plants and animals. Historic Ferry Plantation in Virginia Beach, a center of paranormal activity, is one of the most haunted places in the state. Students can learn about the home’s former owner, Grace Sherwood, the infamous Witch of Pungo, who was found guilty of witchcraft and tried by water in 1706. The estate hosts ghost tours and Friday Night Frights in the fall. At Kings Dominion Amusement Park in Doswell, a few miles north of Richmond, students will love spending the day riding roller coasters and water slides. The park offers education and engineering days where students can learn the math, physics, and mechanics behind the rides.

WASHINGTON

WEST VIRGINIA

Sprawling state parks, engaging tours and inventive museums make Washington a state students will never forget.

This mountainous state is brimming with history and adventure for student group travelers.

Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in southwestern Washington allows visitors to watch the rebirth of forest from the devastating eruption of 1980. The Mount St. Helens Forest Learning Center educates visitors about forest recovery, reforestation and conservation. Located on the Olympic Peninsula, Olympic National Park invites student groups to explore three distinctly different ecosystems. The “Quinault Rainforest Tour” explains the history of the Quinault Indian Nation and plant life native to the rainforest. On overnight trips, student groups sleep in brush lodges and cook over a campfire.

The Columbia River Gorge cuts through the Cascade Mountain Range and forms the boundary between Washington and Oregon. Adventure options for student groups include whitewater rafting with All Adventures Rafting and the Skamania Lodge Zip Line Tour.

Fun Tours in Seattle Students will learn local history on the hilarious Seattle Underground Tour. This walking tour through subterranean passages that once were the main roadways of downtown Seattle reveal old storefronts while offering a humorous view on how the city reinvented itself after the Great Seattle Fire.

Pretend you’re in Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory when you visit Theo Chocolate in Seattle. The tour begins with a presentation detailing the transformation of the cocoa fruit into chocolate, ending with a look at the chocolate-making process. Chocolate samples are given throughout the tour.

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Lose yourself at Lost World Caverns in Lewisburg. It is filled with stalagmites, flowstone, curtains, rimstone, dome pits, waterfalls and giant formations like the Snowy Chandelier compound stalactite.

Discover West Virginia’s breathtaking scenery at Cass Scenic Railroad State Park, where a steam-driven locomotive will transport students into the wilderness. Groups can choose a twohour journey to Whittaker Station, a five-hour round trip to the ghost town of Spruce or a five-hour round trip to Bald Knob, the third highest point in West Virginia. At Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area, students can go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, camping, boating, fishing, hiking or cross-country skiing. Points of interest include Seneca Rocks, a 900-foot eroded quartzite sandstone; Smoke Hole, a gorge formed by the Potomac River; and Spruce Knob, the highest point in West Virginia at 4,861 feet.

Local History Harpers Ferry National Historical Park contains historical museums and sites, including the location where John Brown led his famous raid in 1859, Brown’s fort, the John Brown Museum, Civil War Museum and Industry and Restoration Museum. The Cultural Center in Charleston provides students with educational experiences pertaining to West Virginia’s artistic, cultural and historic heritage. It houses the West Virginia State Museum, which provides teachers with lesson plans such as “A Sense of West Virginia” and “Time Warp from Frontier to Prehistory.” The Congressional Bunker in White Sulphur Springs is sure to fascinate any history buff. During the Cold War, a time when the country lived in constant fear of nuclear bombing, West Virginia sheltered a top secret survival bunker built with U.S. tax dollars in order to protect members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives. The bunker remained a secret until 1992 and began providing educational tours in 1995.

Only in West Virginia At the 1876 West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, students learn why the prison was built and see the original “Old Sparky” execution chair.

Besides the daily tour, student groups can take the 90-minute “Twilight Tour,” which gives students historical and paranormal information and a chance to independently roam the halls of the so-called haunted prison. With sightings, strange sounds, mysterious voices and reports of paranormal activity, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Museum in Weston appeals to adrenaline junkies. Established in 1864, this Kirkbride psychiatric hospital served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill for over 100 years. Tours highlight medical procedures and the history of the treatment of the insane.

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Courtesy of Taber Andrew Bain/flickr

Wonders of Washington

Courtesy of Shelby Bell/flickr

Seattle’s EMP Museum, focusing on music, visual arts, language arts and science and technology, encourages the kind of risk-taking needed to make art a part of popular culture. The Students Training in Artistic Reach (STAR) program, open to school music ensembles, involves coaching from professional artists and public performance opportunities. Nothing will generate more excitement than a trip to the Spark Museum of Electrical Invention in Bellingham. Students can see early radios, magnets, Edison light bulbs and vacuum tubes as well as explore interactive displays and the Static Electricity Laboratory. For performances or science fairs, the museum rents out the Spark Performance Center to school groups. The Museum of Glass in Tacoma lets students explore the danger, intricacies and beauty of glass blowing. Initially intended to display only the work of glass art pioneer Dale Chihuly, the museum eventually opened up to glass artists from all over the world. Students can participate in an art project and witness glass-blowing demonstrations.

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The Great Outdoors

Can’t-Miss Museums

WISCONSIN

Commune with Mother Nature

Out of the Ordinary Attractions

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Courtesy of Tom Eubig/flickr

The Logic Puzzle Museum in Burlington has mechanical and 3-D logic puzzles and brain teasers. Ingenious and diabolical puzzle types include geometrics, tangrams, disentanglement and packing puzzles. The museum also has a “Vintage and Unusual Brain Puzzles” exhibit with hundreds of vintage puzzles and Victorian-style parlor toys and games. Students won’t run out of things to do at Discovery World in Milwaukee, a museum focusing on innovation and technology. Students can operate the controls of the retractable domes of Miller Park and the Milwaukee Art Museum in the “Rockwell Automation Dream Machine” exhibit. Discover Frank Lloyd Wright’s personal architectural laboratory at the Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin in Spring Green. The location served as the renowned architect’s primary home base for almost 50 years and helped breed some of his most important innovations. With more than 175 interactive activities, the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory in Wisconsin Dells is a perfect destination for student groups looking for hands-on educational experiences, including virtual reality adventures, simulator excitement, mirrors, magic, puzzles and holograms.

At Door County’s Peninsula State Park in Fish Creek, students can climb the 76-foot Eagle Tower to catch a panoramic view of the park, surrounding islands and the Michigan shoreline or tour the 1866 Eagle Bluff Lighthouse.

The Northern Sky Theater presents comedic plays. Students can learn about stalactites, stalagmites and other crystallized rock formations at Cave of the Mounds in Blue Mounds. In Wisconsin Dells tour with Original Wisconsin Ducks on refitted amphibious vehicles used in World War II to deliver troops and supplies from land to water.

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Aesthetic landscapes and endless outdoor activities provide one-of-a-kind educational experiences.

Blasts from the Past For a comedic look into the past of the life of a lumberjack, Fred Scheer’s Lumberjack Shows in Hayward are sure to amuse and entertain student travel groups. As seen on ESPN’s Great Outdoor Games, the lumberjack shows combine sport, history and comedy. The Aztalan Museum in Lake Mills is rich with history and learning experiences for student groups. The archeological site was home to hundreds of Native Americans between 1000 and 1300 A.D. Previously home to the prominent H. Louis Dousman family, Villa Louis in Prairie du Chien is a Victorian mansion. Student groups can participate in “Behind the Scenes,” “Restoration” and “Decorative Arts” tours. This historical site was where American and British troops fought at the Siege of Prairie du Chien, a War of 1812 battle.

THERE’S A SHARON IN EVERY GROUP. She’s been a chaperone elsewhere and isn’t looking forward to it. Luckily “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” has countless group and individual activities, from waterslides to boat tours and everything in between. With that kind of variety, even the Sharons of the world are bound to have fun. Contact one of our destination specialists for complimentary planning assistance.

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WYOMING

Geography Lessons…

With some of the most scenic landscapes in the country, Wyoming is a state that students won’t want to miss.

Ace your next destination with in-depth Site InSpection reports on over worldwide destinations and sample itineraries (no baggage fees)

Lure of the Old West

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Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum houses collections of carriages and historic clothing, plus memorabilia associated with the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days celebration, which features one of America’s most famous rodeos. Formerly a federal penitentiary, Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie is a restored prison where student groups can see the cell blocks and other facilities. Experience the Wild West at Old Trail Town in Cody. Student groups can tour the original cabins used by outlaws Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a saloon frequented by Cassidy's Hole-inthe-Wall Gang and the log cabin home of a Crow Indian army scout who helped guide Lt Col. George Custer.

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Teacher’s Lounge…

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Exploring Nature With mountains rising 7,000 feet and a rich cultural history reflected in old homesteads and cattle ranches, Grand Teton National Park offers breathtaking landscapes and educational fun. Ranger-led hikes focus on geological processes of the Teton Range. Float down the famous Lunch Counter and Big Kahuna rapids on the Snake River with Barker-Ewing Whitewater in Jackson Hole. America’s first national park, Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming, is home to colorful hot springs, mud pots and one of the world’s largest collections of geysers. Ranger-led tours take groups on hikes through the park to explore and learn about its ecological processes and the diverse wildlife. With geological wonders like Old Faithful and Mammoth Hot Springs, many adventures await student groups.

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History Museums

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Learn about the history of the Rocky Mountains fur trade at the Museum of the Mountain Man in Pinedale. Exhibits explore the era of the Plains Indian, the Oregon Trail and the mountain man. Every May, the museum has a living history month where students can see demonstrations on black powder firearms, Native American sign language, beaver skinning and tepee construction. With five different museums dedicated to aspects of the West, the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody has many options for student groups. The Buffalo Bill Museum is the flagship museum and tells the story of William F. “Buffalo Bill” Cody, the noted frontiersman and showman. Groups also find much to discover at the Plains Indian Museum, Draper Natural History Museum, Whitney Western Art Museum and Cody Firearms Museum. Explore exhibits related to names that are truly legendary in Western history, and learn about the Oregon, California and Pony Express trails at the National Historic Trails and Interpretive Center in Casper.

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Student Travel Planning Guide

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Thanks to our team of student writers for unearthing all that’s great in the 50 states.

MILES DOBIS Staff Writer Premier Travel Media “Our interns have done an excellent job researching the attractions, natural areas and performance spaces for student groups, and we hope we’ve made planning your trip easier. I have enjoyed working with them on this project.”

DEANNA CHARKEWYCZ George Washington University, Washington, D.C. Major: Journalism and Mass Communication “Unearthing the treasures hidden across America has been an eye-opening and exciting experience. Initially I was under the impression that foreign lands made for more memorable trips, but in writing for this magazine I have realized the states offer unexpected and invaluable travel destinations. I am excited to travel the U.S. with this magazine as my guide!”

ALEXANDRA MAHONEY Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana Major: Journalism “After living in Europe for two years, I almost forgot all of the wonderful things there are to see and do here in the United States. Working as an editorial intern on the 50 States of Great allowed me to constantly improve and grow as a writer while teaching me about so many new places that are now on my travel bucket list.”

CAROLINE RABIN Emerson College, Boston, Massachusetts Major: Writing, Literature and Publishing “Over the past couple months I’ve spent at Premier Travel Media not only have my writing and research skills been strengthened, but I’ve learned incredible things about states I hadn’t known much about. My bucket list just got a few states longer.”

SARA STOKES The American University of Paris, Paris, France Major: Literary Studies and the Creative Arts “My internship at Premier Travel Media was an incredible opportunity to indulge in both my passion for writing and my desire to travel. I have trekked all over Europe, but I really haven’t seen much of the United States. Now, I feel like I have an extensive knowledge of the states I researched, and I truly look forward to exploring this country.”

Bunting Photo ©iStock.com/ginosphotos Bunting Photo ©iStock.com/ginosphotos studenttravelplanningguide.com

Student Travel Planning Guide

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Instant Info Center Let us help you plan a memorable student journey! Instant Info connects you directly with qualified destinations, attractions and tour providers that specialize in student travel. Tell us a little about your group, then select specific suppliers of interest to you, or choose by region or category. Send to us via email or fax, or tear off and return via reply mail.

We’ll reach out to suppliers on your behalf, however you prefer to be contacted!

❐ ❐

Check off destinations or suppliers that interest you:

❐ Northeast/New England ❐ Southeast ❐ Southwest ❐ Midwest/Great Lakes ❐ Frontier/Mountain West ❐ West Coast/Alaska/Hawaii ❐ Canada ❐ Asia ❐ Europe ❐ Caribbean ❐ Send me information on Student Tour Operators

Advertiser Name Please continue to send me Student Travel Planning Guide and InSite on Student Travel E-Newsletters

❑ 360 Chicago Observation Deck, Chicago, IL ❑ Audubon Nature Institute, New Orleans, LA ❑ Blue Man Group

No thanks, remove me from your list

❑ Branson Lakes CVB, MO ❑ Brightspark Travel

Name ___________________________________________ Title ______________________

❑ City Sightseeing, New York, NY ❑ CoCo Key Hotel & Waterpark Resort, Orlando, FL

School or Group Name ________________________________________________________

❑ Country Music Hall of Fame, Nashville, TN ❑ Cracker Barrel Old Country Store

Address ___________________________________________________________________

❑ Earl Enterprises ❑ Greater St. Charles CVB, MO

City ____________________________________ State _________ Zip _________________

❑ Lake George Area in New York's Adirondacks, Lake George, NY ❑ Madame Tussauds, Washington, D.C.

Phone ____________________________ Email _____________________________________

❑ Mall of America, Bloomington, MN ❑ Miss Saigon (Broadway Inbound), New York, NY

REQUIRED Signature ___________________________________________ Date ___________________

I prefer to be contacted via

❐ phone ❐ e-mail ❐ mail

❑ PhotoVision/Group Travel Videos ❑ Ripley’s Believe it or Not!, Northeast ❑ Ron Jon Surf Shop, Cocoa Beach, FL ❑ Sea Life Aquariums ❑ Smithsonian Enterprises, Washington, D.C.

RESPOND TODAY!

❑ Universal Orlando Resort, Orlando, FL ❑ U.S. Army Band "Pershing's Own", Washington, D.C. ❑ U.S. Space & Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL

● E-mail to: ReaderServices@PtmGroups.com ● Fax to: 630.794.0652 ● Mail to:

❑ Visit Mississippi ❑ Visit Norfolk, VA ❑ Wisconsin Dells VCB, WI

Premier Travel Media 621 Plainfield Rd., Suite 406 Willowbrook, IL 60527

Please send me more information about the following specialty student tours:

Size of Group Proposed Dates (year/month)

2017 EDITION

-Magic FM

Miss Saigon returns to Broadway in March 2017 for a limited time only. This acclaimed new production opened in London to record-breaking box office sales. The epic love story tells the tragic tale of young bar girl, Kim, orphaned by war, who falls in love with American GI, Chris—but their lives are torn apart by the fall of Saigon. Featuring the gorgeous anthems “Sun and Moon,” “Last Night of the World,”

B Lmbee ;^eb^o^% B ] @bo^ Fr Eb_^ _hk Rhn Zg] Ma^ :f^kb\Zg =k^Zf% mabl bgm^kgZmbhgZe l^glZmbhg is coming back to Broadway for a limited time. Book tickets for your groups today.

COMING TO BROADWAY SPRING 2017

C A M E R O N M A C K I N T O S H ’S NEW PRODUCTION OF

TM © 1988 CML

B O U B L I L & S C H Ö N B E R G ’S

FOR TICKE T S FOR GROUP S 12+ CONTAC T YOUR PREFERRED GROUP SALES AGENT

SaigonBroadway.com