Educational Travel Blog | From Sea to Shining Sea

Hawaii. More than just Aloha Spirit

Here in Boston (where Smithsonian Student Travel offices are located), we’ve been getting quite a bit of snow.

So to take my mind off cold, I’ve been thinking of warmer destinations and one in particular:

Hawaii.

The word may bring to mind lazy days on sun-drenched beaches, colorful leis and that warm, welcoming “Aloha.” But Hawaii has more to offer than just relaxation and hospitality. Hawaii has a rich history, a stunning array of wildlife and some of the most spectacular natural landscapes on earth. Here’s some of the not-to-be-missed highlights.

Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park

Some of the most active volcanoes on the planet are located in this national park. The glut of seismic activity makes this a prime spot for visitors and scientists alike. Don't worry though. Because of the composition of these volcanoes and their location, the Hawaiian volcanoes don’t erupt with the power and force of say, Mount St. Helens. You’re more likely to experience a lava flow from a safe distance.

Iolani Palace

Hawaii has a rich Polynesian heritage and fascinating history. Restored to its original opulence, the Iolani Palace offers insight to Hawaii’s royal past. The palalce was home to Queen Lili‘uokalani until her overthrow in 1893 and then served as capitol to the short-lived Republic of Hawaii.

The Pearl Harbor Memorials

Though Hawaii was not actually a state, but a U.S. territory at the time, one of the most decisive events in American history took place here. Several memorials, including the submerged U.S.S. Arizona, pay tribute to the men who lost their lives in the Pearl Harbor attack. Last month, the 69^th Commemoration was observed and a new visitor center was dedicated.

Dole Plantation

While there’s a lot to learn in Hawaii, you can have quite a bit of fun, too. The Dole Plantation boasts the world’ largest maze—pineapple-shaped, of course. You may want to study-up before heading in!

There’s another reason that I’ve had Hawaii on the mind. Sure, thinking about an island paradise is a great way to forget the winter weather, but Hawaii is also the newest Smithsonian Student Travel destination. Check out the itinerary and get into an island state of mind!

Visiting Mount Vernon

Scott Staiti is a tour consultant for Smithsonian Student Travel.  Scott enjoys writing, traveling, history, and any opportunity he can get to merge the three.  Here he talks about his experience visiting Mount Vernon during a recent tour to Washington, D.C.    

Many of us can recite from the same book of universally accepted George Washington facts:  He led the Colonial forces in the Revolution.  He was a native Virginian.  He was our first president.  His vice president was John Adams.  He had bad teeth.  None of these facts amounted to much for me personally until I had an opportunity to tour the grounds of Mount Vernon where he lived, worked, and took his respite from years spent fighting for and governing over a country that would still be taking baby steps for years after he left the office of presidency.    

Walking through the rooms where George and his wife Martha lived and entertained guests and travelers created a sense of connectivity to our country’s first president that no amount of history books had ever managed to evoke.  I peeked inside every guest room, saw the smithy where bellows were still being worked and the forge kept hot.  And all of that was brought home by a visit to the incredibly informative and comprehensive Reynolds Education Center, where you can see everything from a pair of Washington’s infamous dentures to videos that provided an exciting overview of the general’s successes during the Revolutionary War – complete with snow!    

It’s a common act, especially among children, to scratch one’s name upon a wooden surface with the message, “I was here.”  I think that, subconsciously, we do this as an act of marking our presence in history – a message to the future, that once we roamed the same halls that they do.  As I walked through the rooms of Mount Vernon, I could not help but think that every chair, every floorboard, every painting hung upon the walls were screaming out, “George Washington was here,” as though etched in a flourish of brightly scratched words.  George Washington was here.

 

Golden Boarding Pass

 
 Have you heard about Smithsonian Student Travel’s Golden Boarding Pass?  It’s your ticket to win! 

We’re giving away a new prize every week until March 25, 2011.  What prize will you win?  A Nikon Coolpix digital camera, Golden Trip Student Travel Scholarship, pair of domestic airline tickets, behind-the-scenes Smithsonian museum tour or, best of all, a free tour?  Enter today for the most chances to win!  

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

This Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a holiday marking Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday.  Always observed on the third Monday of January, King's actual birthday was January 15.  King was a true activist and leader in African American civil rights.  Did you know that in 1964 King was the youngest person to receive a Nobel Peace Prize?  Here are some other interesting facts about Martin Luther King, Jr.

• King skipped both ninth and twelfth grade, entering Morehouse College at fifteen without formally graduating high school.

• He received a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from Morehouse College, a Bachelor of Divinity from Crozer Theological Seminary and a doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University.

• In 1957 Dr. King helped establish the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and he became its president.

• King was Time magazine's "Man of the Year" for 1963.

• King led a Civil Rights Rally in Washington on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, attended by a quarter of a million people. King's "I Have a Dream" speech became an iconic plea for equality.

• Many changes have taken place in America because of the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1986 when Ronald Reagan was president, Congress passed a law establishing a national holiday, Martin Luther King Day.

To learn more about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and to visit the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site and Center for Nonviolent Social Change, take a look at our class trips to Atlanta.

Photo Credit: Yoichi R. Okamoto, White House Press Office

This day in history: Golden Gate Bridge

Did you know construction began on the Golden Gate Bridge on January 5, 1933?  Here are some interesting facts on the San Francisco landmark:

• San Francisco’s city engineer, Michael M. O’Shaughnessy, is credited with coming up with the name “Golden Gate Bridge.”
• When the bridge officially opened on May 27, 1937, it had the longest span in the world.
• Consulting Architect Irving Morrow selected the Golden Gate Bridge’s color because it blends well with the surrounding land as a warm color, and is distinct from the ocean and sky.  In addition the color provides enhanced visibility for passing ships.
• It cost $35 million to construct the bridge in 1933, but if it was built today the cost would be closer to $1.2 billion (the exact cost would depend on various factors).

Want to visit the Golden Gate Bridge yourself?  Take a look at our San Francisco tours!

 

New Year's Eve 2011

Welcome to 2011! 

This year's Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2011 celebrated with star performers including Jason Derulo, Jennifer Hudson, Mike Posner, Willow Smith and Train.  Below is the official countdown to midnight, led by Dick Clark. 

How did you celebrate the start of the new year?