| There is a picture in a maroon binder somewhere in | | | | Arlington National Cemetery is one of the greatest |
| the world of me standing with a friend in Colombia, | | | | places to visit in Washington D.C., and student groups |
| South America. I am barely standing in my own | | | | will never forget the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier |
| strength, being so consumed by my own dramatic | | | | and its traditional changing of the guard, which occurs |
| feelings of teenage homesickness. I had rarely endured | | | | every half hour in warm months and every hour in |
| 500-mile youth group trips until then, and here I stood | | | | winter. |
| across the ocean and several degrees closer to the | | | | Most visitors will not feel their D.C. tour is complete of |
| equator from everything I had ever known. By the end | | | | course without visiting the White House itself. In an |
| of that photo album, I'm a new person. I have learned | | | | election year, student tours can be planned for the |
| to love a culture so different from my own. I care | | | | following year's grand inauguration. What a memory |
| about another language. I have friends here, I've | | | | for any student to be there for the swearing in of their |
| learned to cross the street bravely and audaciously in | | | | new president! But a trip to our capital city in any year |
| the city of Ibague, and I never slam the door of a cab - | | | | will certainly awaken in anyone an appreciation for our |
| the drivers really hate that. I have learned more than I | | | | government and the branches that work together to |
| could have known I wanted to. Travel is loaded with | | | | uphold it. |
| discovery, and students - in school and of life - should | | | | New York City |
| do it as often as possible. The experience I describe | | | | New York City holds ready-made thrills for almost any |
| above was out of the country, but there are so many | | | | young person in America. Art, history, culture, science, |
| treasures for learning right here in the United States. | | | | and commerce all make New York City a prominent |
| These are five of the most popular destinations for | | | | hub of activity. The Metropolitan Museum of Art can |
| educational tours in the United States. | | | | take two days to fully appreciate. The Statue of |
| Philadelphia | | | | Liberty and Empire State Building are famous symbols |
| This is an obvious one. Our nation's first capital and the | | | | of American culture, although Top of the Rock - at the |
| site for the Second Continental Congress who | | | | top of Rockefeller Center offers a more interactive |
| famously signed the Declaration of Independence | | | | journey and beautiful view of the city. Time Square |
| during the American Revolution is also the resting place | | | | has become a more modern symbol of the various |
| for Benjamin Franklin and the memorial home of Betsy | | | | aspects of New York City culture, and Broadway is of |
| Ross. Benjamin Franklin was crucial in the | | | | course famous for live shows and theater certain to |
| industrialization and improvement of Philadelphia. His | | | | dazzle any New York visitor. |
| biographer, Carl Van Doren, said of Franklin's burial, "No | | | | Like the other cities, New York City of course offers |
| other town burying its great man, ever buried more of | | | | various tours already designed for you in order to help |
| itself than Philadelphia with Franklin." | | | | navigate this overwhelming metropolis. Circle Line |
| Other historical attractions in Philadelphia include the | | | | Tours does it in a boat ride, Central Park offers one |
| famous Liberty Bell, Valley Forge National Park, and | | | | based on popular movies, and the city offers several |
| Old City Hall. But don't only visit Philadelphia for the | | | | other walking tours as well. |
| history. This city, which is currently the sixth most | | | | Orlando |
| populated in the United States, is every bit the modern | | | | Walt Disney was passionate about "general mass |
| metropolis. It is home to Adventure Aquarium as well | | | | education" and he loved to accomplish the goal |
| as of course the birth place for the Philly Cheese | | | | through his fantasy worlds designed as showcases |
| Steak sandwich. Don't forget to watch National | | | | for technical innovation, cultural diversity, and sheer arts |
| Treasure before you go to both inspire you for some | | | | and entertainment. The parks in this city are more than |
| of the historical attractions you will see and to remind | | | | tributes to popular cartoon characters. They are rich |
| you how engaging history can be. And don't miss the | | | | with sights and sounds and service that will thrill |
| Philadelphia Museum of Art where art, history and pop | | | | students and adults alike. Don't expect to only learn in |
| culture converge as your students will no doubt want | | | | Epcot Center, famous for its tribute to science and |
| to attempt the famous run up the steps first | | | | innovation. There is something to discover in all of |
| immortalized by the fiction hero, Rocky. | | | | Disney's theme parks. In this generation, the mere |
| Boston | | | | inspiration behind an entertainment giant of such |
| Very similar to Philadelphia in historical significance, | | | | magnitude can shape the hearts and minds of |
| Boston, Massachusetts, is also rich with American | | | | tomorrow's leaders in arts and science. |
| foundations. Here you can visit Paul Revere's house, | | | | I will never think of Disney World again without thinking |
| the Museum of Fine Arts, Museum of Science, or the | | | | of Randy Pausch, the professor and scientist whose |
| Children's Museum. You can walk the Freedom Trail, a | | | | dreams as a child came true when he was offered |
| tour of Colonial and Revolutionary Boston and the | | | | the chance to be a Disney imagineer. Today, Pausch's |
| famous sites related to America's fight for freedom. In | | | | lessons from that reality have been included in one of |
| the Faneuil Hall Marketplace you'll find eateries, | | | | the most inspirational lectures and books of our time |
| boutiques, and street vendors crowded with Boston | | | | about the value of our dreams and the effort it takes |
| culture. And if you need a quieter tour, consider the | | | | to achieve them. Orlando is rich with this kind of |
| traditional swan boats in the public garden lagoon. | | | | inspiration - the kind people discover on their own |
| Boston is nestled in the heart of America's first | | | | when you just give them the chance to imagine what |
| colonies and serves as an excellent destination for | | | | could be. |
| student groups. | | | | The choices for amazing student tours are really |
| Washington D.C. | | | | endless, but these are five of the most popular cities |
| Don't forget our country's current capital, not that | | | | for any student group. There is a world for them to |
| anyone would. Washington D.C. is arguably one of the | | | | see and discover and so many things for them to |
| most visited destinations in the country. Capitol Hill, the | | | | invent and create. These cities can open the door at |
| Lincoln Memorial, and all kinds of museums of art and | | | | least for their inspiration. |
| science make up this classic American focal point. | | | | |