Some of the benefits of escorted tours are the presence of an experienced guide and the chance to meet fellow travelers with similar interests. The next time a major holiday rolls around, sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery from the comfort of a tour bus.
Although not an official holiday, many businesses, including banks, municipal offices and schools, close on the second Monday in October. Fortunately, this holiday coincides with the time of year when autumn leaves are reaching their peak colors. Two places that are awash with the reds, burnt oranges and deep yellows of nature's fall display are northern New England and the upper Great Lakes region.
Boston, Massachusetts, and the Twin Cities of Minnesota are two good starting points for a fall foliage tour, but many tours to these scenic places are also available from more distant points like Chicago and New York City. Canadian travelers should take note that the Canadian Thanksgiving falls on the very same weekend and as a result, escorted tours are also available for Eastern Canada. Some of the more popular and established tour companies are Caravan, Cosmos, Insight and Trafalgar.
The Fourth of July is a special time to be in the nation's capital, for the District of Columbia puts on an extravagant celebration that attracts tourists from all over the world. Britain alone has several tour companies that visit the capital city during the first weekend in July. Special activities include a concert at the National Cathedral, an afternoon parade and a colorful fireworks display at nightfall.
Avoid the hassles of driving and join a bus tour to the shores of the Potomac. Other possible stops near Washington include Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed, Baltimore's Fort McHenry, where the words to "The Star-Spangled Banner" were written, the Naval Academy in Annapolis or the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania. Popular tour companies include Anderson Coach & Travel, Fun Tours, Good News Travels, Hawthorne Tours, L & M Tours, Perkiomen Tours, Rockport, Sunrise, Thomas, TLC and Tye's.
National Geographic is a worldwide organization recognized for its monthly magazine that features some of the world's best photographers. This large conservation group also has produced many television documentaries about wildlife around the planet.
National Geographic also offers escorted tours to all corners of the world, including Antarctica. Wildlife lovers can opt for a winter journey to Yellowstone National Park to observe the wildlife. Escorted tours to the Wyoming park happen several times every winter, often coinciding with the Christmas or the New Year's holidays. Tours last six days, beginning from Bozeman, Montana.
Try one of this group's combination escorted tour--photography workshops. One of these educational events might take you anywhere from New Orleans to New York City.
