NTA Student Trip Planner 2012-2013 : Page 11

I Want to Go There 21derful Compiled by Pat Henderson ATLANTA Tara Spann, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, +1.404.521.6638, www.atlanta.net Student Destinations What makes Atlanta such a great destination for student groups? Student groups can learn from Atlanta’s history and icons by walking in the foot-steps of two Nobel Peace Prize winners at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Atlanta also is home to the Georgia Aquarium, the Inside CNN Studio Tour and the World of Coca-Cola. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Wren’s Nest features African-American folklore and storytelling at the home of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus stories. The Atlanta History Center also caters to students with hands-on and interactive exhibi-tions covering the Civil War and the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most visited attraction and a must-see for visi-tors to Atlanta. Stone Mountain is the world’s largest exposed mass of granite, and students can hike 1.3 miles to the top or ride in the Summit Skyride to get panoramic views of the entire city from the top of the mountain. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Nearly $2 billion in new development will open in Atlanta over the next three years. This spring, LEGOLAND Discovery Center will open at Phipps Plaza, and Stone Mountain will unveil a water-based ropes course called Geyser Towers, which is the first attraction of its kind in North America. THERE’S A GREAT BIG WORLD OUT THERE TO EXPLORE , and thanks to all of you student travel planners, your school groups can expand their horizons. Whether it’s as part of a science-themed itiner-ary in Chicago, a culturally focused trip to Toronto or a theater-based program in New York City, students can get a taste of the rich cross sec-tion of places and experiences that await them across the globe. Here’s a look at 21 iconic cities that boast hundreds of attractions, tours, events and performance options. NTA members representing each of these des-tinations provided their thoughts on what makes their city so compel-ling when it comes to delivering top-notch experiences for students. Diving in Nassau BOSTON Larry Meehan, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, +1.617.867.8231, www.BostonUSA.com BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM What makes Boston such a great destination for student groups? Boston offers the student tour planner a diverse set of historical, cultural, www.ntaonline.com 11

I Want to Go There

Pat Henderson

21derful Student Destinations THERE’S A GREAT BIG WORLD OUT THERE TO EXPLORE, and thanks to all of you student travel planners, your school groups can expand their horizons. Whether it’s as part of a science-themed itinerary in Chicago, a culturally focused trip to Toronto or a theater-based program in New York City, students can get a taste of the rich cross section of places and experiences that await them across the globe. Here’s a look at 21 iconic cities that boast hundreds of attractions, tours, events and performance options. NTA members representing each of these destinations provided their thoughts on what makes their city so compelling when it comes to delivering top-notch experiences for students. ATLANTA Tara Spann, Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau, +1.404.521.6638, www.atlanta.net What makes Atlanta such a great destination for student groups? Student groups can learn from Atlanta’s history and icons by walking in the footsteps of two Nobel Peace Prize winners at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Atlanta also is home to the Georgia Aquarium, the Inside CNN Studio Tour and the World of Coca-Cola. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Wren’s Nest features African- American folklore and storytelling at the home of Joel Chandler Harris, author of the Uncle Remus stories. The Atlanta History Center also caters to students with hands-on and interactive exhibitions covering the Civil War and the Centennial Olympics in Atlanta. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? Stone Mountain Park is Georgia’s most visited attraction and a must-see for visitors to Atlanta. Stone Mountain is the world’s largest exposed mass of granite, and students can hike 1.3 miles to the top or ride in the Summit Skyride to get panoramic views of the entire city from the top of the mountain. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Nearly $2 billion in new development will open in Atlanta over the next three years. This spring, LEGOLAND Discovery Center will open at Phipps Plaza, and Stone Mountain will unveil a water-based ropes course called Geyser Towers, which is the first attraction of its kind in North America. BOSTON Larry Meehan, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau, +1.617.867.8231, www.BostonUSA.com What makes Boston such a great destination for student groups? Boston offers the student tour planner a diverse set of historical, cultural,performance, sports and college-visit tour options. Between the JFK Presidential Library and Museum, the Adams National Historical Park and the most extensive set of water tour options— from whale-watch tours to Boston Duck Tours—planners can design extraordinary itineraries that will be remembered by students for their entire lives. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Boston is well known for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Pops, but less well-known is the largest high school jazz festival in the United States. Planners know Harvard but may not know it hosts the largest Model UN event for high school students, the Harvard National Model UN event, each February. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? Boston’s Faneuil Hall Marketplace offers the most popular outdoor performance venue and, just steps away, groups can board fast ferries to the Boston Harbor and its islands for ranger-led tours. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? The African Meeting House, the oldest black church still standing, has been restored and reopened. The Kennedy Greenway in downtown Boston has completed a small Chinatown Heritage Park next to its 30-year-old Chinatown Gate, which is a perfect place for a group lunch. An Armenian Heritage Park on the Greenway opens in April, and the Museum of Fine Arts Boston has opened two new wings. BRUSSELS Annette Choynacki, Belgian Tourist Office– Brussels and Wallonia, +1.212.758.8130, www.visitbelgium.com What makes Brussels such a great destination for student groups? Belgium has a rich history and numerous cultural attractions. Brussels alone has more than 80 different types of museums—many of the most popular ones are located on the Mont des Arts—covering everything from art nouveau architecture and Jewish history to ancient art and comic-strip art. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? For students looking to learn French, CERAN offers language immersion programs in Brussels and other French-speaking cities in Belgium for individuals and groups during the summer months. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Bozar, the Belgian Center for Fine Arts in Brussels, hosts a variety of exhibitions showcasing the performing arts, including an arts education program for students, children and young adults. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? One of the highlights of the year is the annual Heritage Days weekend, aimed at offering young visitors the opportunity to go behind the scenes of many cultural monuments and institutions. This year, Heritage Days weekend will be Sept. 15 and 16. CHICAGO Gina Marcellino, Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, +1.312.567.8458, www.choosechicago.com What makes Chicago such a great destination for student groups? There are endless learning opportunities and fun to be had for students in Chicago. Whether your group is interested in a hands-on museum experience, world-renowned theater or learning about the history and architecture of the city from a river cruise or stories high in the sky, Chicago has it all. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Students love tours of Wrigley Field, where they can sit in the same room that was visited by Babe Ruth. Wrigley Field Tours offers an educational and discounted tour for students on most weekdays from April to September. Another great place for fun and learning is the Brookfield Zoo. What is one of your top outdoor attractions for student groups? Millennium Park is a must-see. Students will love to get their picture with one of Chicago’s most famous works of art, Cloud Gate, and splashing around in Crown Fountain. They also can take a tour through the Lurie Garden, learn about Chicago’s rich history while on a Segway or bike, or even eat a boxed lunch while listening to musicians warm up for an evening concert. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? One exhibit that will be a hit with students is the world premiere of MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry. Students can engage in hands-on experiments, just like the ones done by the “MythBusters” crew. DALLAS Dave Krupinski, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau, +1,214.571.1097, www.visitdallas.com What makes Dallas such a great destination for student groups? Dallas offers a unique experience to students combining the Western heritage of our city and state with the cosmopolitan edge that excites them to discover more. Our world-class performance halls offer directors and students places to be educated and entertained, or perform in acoustically perfect surroundings. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Dallas offers a one-of-a-kind history lesson at The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Most people know facets of the JFK assassination, but very few will ever get an opportunity to hear about it from professional journalists and photographers who actually were [there]. Another lesser-known attraction is Zero Gravity Thrill Park, where students get the chance to actually feel 4 Gs and free fall several stories in a safe environment. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? The Dallas Symphony Orchestra offers groups a pre-concert public performance opportunity in the beautiful Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. Masters classes with musicians and green-room opportunities also are available. In addition, the Dallas Arts District and Dallas Stars/American Airlines Center offer student performance opportunities with the advantage of high-profile events with large public audiences. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? In 2012, we open The Park, which is a multi-acre deck park with beautiful public performance opportunities and rest areas adjacent to the Dallas Arts District. In 2013, the Perot Museum of Nature & Science will open. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND Amy Sutherland, VisitScotland, +44.131.472.2062, www.visitscotland.com What makes Edinburgh such a great destination for student groups? When visiting Edinburgh, students will see a modern, dynamic capital where 12 international festivals attract the world’s leading performers; galleries display cutting- edge art; and restaurants and plazas create a lively cosmopolitan atmosphere with a Scottish twist. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? A trip to Edinburgh would not be complete without visiting The Real Mary Kings Close, which allows students to walk along these underground paths and hear about 17th-century life in plague-ridden Edinburgh. Also Camera Obscura is a fascinating way to see Edinburgh from inside this mysterious Victorian rooftop chamber. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? One of the top venues for student performance groups would have to be St. Giles’ Cathedral, which has been at the heart of Edinburgh for almost 900 years. This is where Queen Elizabeth II received the Scottish Crown Jewels in 1957. Outside Edinburgh in the heart of glorious Dumfries and Galloway, Threave’s internationally acclaimed gardens and beautifully restored Victorian country house combine to make a spectacular venue for performance groups. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? The Year of Creative Scotland 2012 is the perfect time for students to experience world-class events hosted around the country. They can experience the unique atmosphere of Edinburgh in August during the Edinburgh International Festival, an unforgettable three weeks of the very best in international opera, music, theater, dance and visual arts. LONDON Corinna May, London & Partners, +44.20.7234.5814, www.londonandpartners .com/travel-trade.com What makes London such a great destination for student groups? London is a unique city which is home to cultures from around the world, and this is reflected in the many different neighborhoods and boroughs. It’s well known for its history and heritage; however, it also is a very modern city. London has leading fashion houses, a thriving art scene as well as modern architecture, theater and music events. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Fat Tire Bike Tours offers a unique way to see the city by bike, and it provides programs for school groups. Or, for a simply exhilarating experience, students can take a high-speed tour on the Thames— James Bond style—with either Thames RIB Experience or London RIB Voyages. Both offer private-charter options. What is one of your top outdoor attractions for student groups? A visit to Shakespeare’s Globe gives students an amazing chance to experience the replica working theater. Students can combine their ticket with the Exhibition tour, on which they can see a sword-fighting display and find out how actors are dressed in handmade costumes. The theater also runs various education programs and workshops. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? There are many things to see and do in London before, during and after the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and a huge selection of new exhibitions and events give students more reasons to come. LUCERNE, SWITZERLAND Carlos Corti, Switzerland Tourism, +1.212.757.5944, ext. 249, www.myswitzerland.com What makes Lucerne such a great destination for student groups? To me, Lucerne is the Swiss city of diversity. Here you can do absolutely everything from hiking snow-capped mountains and bathing in the crystal blue lake to climbing ancient watch towers and shopping in modern boutiques. There is no place else that offers so much “Swissness” bundled in one single spot. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? I love outdoor sports, and last year I went to Lucerne for e-biking (electric bicycling) and I enjoyed myself tremendously. This would be great for students, as would paragliding, so they can swoop down on the swans on Lake Lucerne from above. For shoppers, Lucerne is not just a city with many shops, but rather it’s a single beautiful shopping boutique. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? My perfect Lucerne day would start with a fun hiking tour through the lush valleys surrounding the city. Then I’d visit the coolest museum in Switzerland, the Swiss Museum of Transport, where students become participants through engaging exhibits. Afterwards I’d jump into the lake for a refreshing swim and spoil myself with at least two scoops of my favorite ice cream—raspberries and sour cream. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Lucerne is the city of celebrations. With many festivals such as the Lucerne Carnival, the Fumetto Comix Festival, the Lucerne Festival and the World Band Festival, Lucerne will make your head spin. MONTRÉAL Marie-José Pinsonnault, Tourisme Montréal, +1.514.844.5771, www.tourisme-montreal.org What makes Montréal such a great destination for student groups? Montréal has a large selection of performance venues where groups can practice their art. Combine that with a selection of 106 festivals every year, and it makes the city a fun cultural stop. The duality of French and English speakers makes for an ideal learning destination, and Old Montréal adds to the experience What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Old Montréal Ghost Tour is something not many are aware of, but those who have done it have had quite an enjoyable experience. Some visitors don’t know that Montréal is an island, therefore we offer the possibility to practice kayaking, rafting, jet-boating, stand-up paddling and even surfing. And for those who want to go beyond, there’s always the Cosmodôme. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? The Notre-Dame Basilica is a splendid attraction and venue where student groups have been visiting and performing for years. Tours and meet-and-greets with the basilica’s organ player also are a possibility, and there is an evening light and sound show that truly highlights the basilica’s beauty. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Montréal will open a brand new Wax Museum in early 2013 and will follow it up with a planetarium in spring 2013. Pointe-à-Callière will have a lineup of 20 special activities and events for its 20th anniversary, including the opening of a new pavilion, Mariners House. NASSAU, BAHAMAS Jeannie Gibson, The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation, +1.954.236.9292, www.bahamas.com What makes Nassau such a great destination for student groups? Nassau, Bahamas, is the perfect place for student groups because we have many hotels that cater to young people, and our powder-sand beaches and turquoise waters go for miles and miles. These beautiful beaches are available for a multiplicity of outdoor activities including watersports such as diving. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Islands of the Bahamas offers two exceptional programs that student groups will enjoy. The first is our People-to-People program, which allows for a cultural interchange between the visitor and natives. One of the more popular components of this program is a tea party, where guests are invited to complimentary tea at the home of the governor of the Bahamas. The other featured offer is a guided walking tour of the downtown area that includes the Bahamas House of Assembly, a historical library, historical churches and even the government house. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Rawson Square in the center of downtown Nassau, and just across from Parliament Square, has been the site for many student group performances over the years including bands and choirs. Arranging to perform in Rawson Square is a simple process. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? With a newly revitalized Sports Tourism Department under the leadership of Tyrone Sawyer, Nassau now hosts many world-class events that will attract student groups. NEW YORK CITY Fred Dixon, NYC & Company, +1.212.484.1200, www.nycgo.com What makes New York City such a great destination for student groups? New York City offers such a variety of educational experiences. There are master classes and theater and arts workshops for performance groups, and world-class museums cover everything from art to science and history. On walking tours students learn about history, architecture and pop culture, as well as experiencing the neighborhoods that provide a taste of local ethnicities. NYC also offers a chance to visit iconic landmarks such as the Empire State Building, Top of the Rock, Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Carnegie Hall, Broadway theaters, Times Square and more. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Three of the top spots are the New York Historical Society, the Museum of the Moving Image and the New York City Police Museum. All offer educational and interactive tours that provide a look at unique aspects of NYC’s history. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Performing on Liberty Island at the base of the Statue of Liberty or in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade are experiences of a lifetime that they only get in New York City. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? The Metropolitan Museum of Art has two new galleries that have opened since November. The Museum of Mathematics will open in late 2012 on the edge of Madison Square Park, and the Weeksville Heritage Center plans to open a new cultural center in early 2013. ORLANDO, FLORIDA Cheryl Jones, Visit Orlando, +1.407.363.5861, www.VisitOrlando.com What makes Orlando such a great destination for student groups? There’s no better destination than Orlando for teaching creativity and teamwork and for inspiring imagination; Orlando was built on this. Few destinations add, expand and evolve the way Orlando does, which makes Orlando the ultimate field trip that students will remember for a lifetime. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Orlando has a growing collection of outdoor adventure activities. One of the biggest outdoor venues is Forever Florida, a 4,700-acre eco-ranch and wildlife conservation area where students can choose from a zipline safari, a canopy cycle, a horseback safari or a coach safari. The Orlando Science Center, one of the top science museums in the country, offers a variety of hands-on programs. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Orlando’s theme parks, such as Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort and SeaWorld Orlando, are in a league of their own when it comes to school group activities. They offer such a wide range of activities—performing in front of a global audience, behind-the-scenes tours, interactions with animal experts and attraction designers—that help students grow. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Universal Orlando Resort is opening a new 3-D ride based on the popular feature film, “Despicable Me,” and SeaWorld Orlando is opening a new Turtle Trek attraction complete with a 3-D domed theater experience. Plus, Walt Disney World will open the largest expansion in the park’s history. PUEBLA, MEXICO Alfonso Sumano, Mexico Tourism Board, +1.212.308.2110, www.visitmexico.com What makes Puebla such a great destination for student groups? The city of Puebla is a colorful mix of customs and history with abundant traditions and impressive 16th-century architecture. Its fine cuisine—mole poblano was invented here—artists’ quarters (many featuring characteristic talavera ceramics) and museums all evoke its epic past. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Puebla is famous for its cuisine, and taking a cooking class is a great way to find out about the food, culture and history of this beautiful city. Tours to provincial towns around the area offer students a glimpse of Puebla’s pre-Hispanic past. The popular archeological site of Cholula boasts one of Mexico’s largest pre-Hispanic temple foundations. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? Defined by the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt, Puebla has a large number of volcanoes. Escape the city for a day of hiking in this beautiful mountainous landscape at Mexico’s three tallest volcanoes—Pico de Orizaba, Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuat. These are great destinations for hiking and exploring. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Puebla is famous for its Cinco de Mayo celebrations, making the month of May a great time to visit. We suggest visiting Fuerte de Loreto and Fuerte de Guadalupe, two forts that sit atop the Cerro de Guadalupe. This is where the Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862, and the successful defense of the city by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza is the reason Cinco do Mayo is celebrated. REGINA, SASKATCHEWAN Alison Fraser, Regina Regional Opportunities Commission, +1.306.751.8776, www.reginaroc.com What makes Regina such a great destination for student groups? There are many amazing things students can experience in Regina. A signature experience that we offer and that is unique to Regina and Saskatchewan is the RCMP Training Academy and Heritage Centre. The Heritage Centre is a wonderful museum full of great artifacts and interactive exhibits. Tours are available and have set scheduled times, and the facility is a space where events can be hosted. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Merv’s Pitchfork Fondue is an experience student groups will never forget. The meal includes steak fondue, baked beans made from an old German recipe and veggies purchased from local growers. At the Lajord Hutterite Colony, students can learn about the largest, oldest and most successful communal society in the Western World on a tour led by a Hutterite woman. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? The Beaver Creek Ranch & Horse Centre is a working cattle ranch and training center that boasts 200 acres of rolling hills in the Qu’Appelle Valley. Several program options can be customized to suit your group, such as a cowboy cookout dinner complete with cowboy poetry and live entertainment. Students also can take part in Acadian spoon-playing, horse-drawn wagon rides and team-building exercises. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? There are numerous annual festivals and events that would appeal to visiting student groups, including the Cathedral Village Arts Festival in May or the Regina Folk Festival in August. ST. LOUIS Renee Eichelberger, St. Louis Convention & Visitors Commission, +1.314.992.0643, www.exploresltouis.com What makes St. Louis such a great destination for student groups? We have some great world-class attractions, and so many of them are free or low-cost and great for students of all ages. You can visit the Saint Louis Zoo, or one of the other many attractions in Forest Park—the Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri History Museum or the Saint Louis Science Center—for free. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Grant’s Farm is one of my favorite student attractions. It is the ancestral home of the Busch brewing family and the historic home of Ulysses S. Grant. The Moto Museum is another great attraction; it includes a collection of motorcycles from more than 20 countries that date back nearly 100 years. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? We have a great event called River City Music Days which is hosted on the campus of the Gateway Arch. This is a great performance venue for all types of music groups, and the program includes a performance, tram ride to the top of the Arch, a box lunch, riverboat cruises, photo, a trophy for the group and much more. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? One of the biggest events we have taking place is the Lantern Festival Art by Day, Magic by Night at the Missouri Botanical Garden, May 26–Aug. 19, 2012. A new attraction that is coming this spring is Climb So iLL, a unique climbing gym. SALT LAKE CITY Kaitlin Eskelson, Visit Salt Lake, +1.801.534.4929, www.visitsaltlake.com What makes Salt Lake City such a great destination for student groups? Salt Lake is an amazing student destination as it is the perfect combination of urban meets mountain. Students can have a cultural experience at one of our world-class museums and then head to the mountains for an outdoor adventure of a lifetime. All of this is combined in an extremely safe, affordable destination that has the ease of accessibility; Salt Lake is the western hub of Delta Airlines and has hundreds of direct flights. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Natural History Museum of Utah, which opened in November 2011, offers a dynamic, hands-on approach to learning about the natural wonders of Utah. Another new attraction is The Leonardo. This contemporary science, technology and art museum is where today’s big ideas, questions, inventions and discoveries are connected in a whole new way. It is the perfect destination for students, as they will be free to explore and experience in a creative and innovative setting. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Salt Lake encompasses a variety of performance venues for student groups, such as outdoor festivals and sporting events. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Our Visit Salt Lake Connect Pass, which is valid at 13 attractions, is the perfect inclusion to any student group visit. Tour operators are offered this pass at a net rate. SAN DIEGO Jigger Abendano, San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, +1.619.557.2866, www.sandiego.org What makes San Diego such a great destination for student groups? We’ve got all the ingredients for a perfect student trip—a near-idyllic climate, sand and surf, top-notch theaters, the largest collection of museums west of the Mississippi, a world-class symphony and opera scene, and world-class attractions. San Diego offers a wide variety of things to see and do, appealing to students of all ages from around the globe. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? The Museum of Making Music is a hidden gem with permanent displays of hundreds of vintage instruments, audio and video clips, and a vibrant interactive area. There also is Belmont Park, a historical oceanfront amusement park where you can find the Giant Dipper and lots of cool amusement rides and games. The Dipper is a wooden roller coaster, which was built in 1925, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Very popular with our student performance groups is the USS Midway. Here, they can combine the living history of the USS Midway Museum with the exhilaration of performing on the flight deck of a historic aircraft carrier. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? In May, SeaWorld is scheduled to open Manta, a new roller coaster shaped like a giant manta ray that goes at speeds up to 43 mph and has a 54-foot drop. It’s also accompanied by a marine-life exhibit. SEATTLE Brad Jones, Seattle’s Convention & Visitors Bureau, +1.206.461.5816, www.visitseattle.org What makes Seattle such a great destination for student groups? The great thing about Seattle for student groups is the combination of natural and outdoor programs combined with the opportunity to look at some of the leading technology in the world today. Learn about the way Boeing has shaped and continues to shape the commercial aviation industry at The Museum of Flight, where many levels of educational programs are available. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Students can explore the role of popular music at the Experience Music Project. Exhibits of Nirvana and “Avatar” are just a couple of the displays that showcase how American popular culture influences our lives. The nearby Pacific Science Center offers educational programming for students. What is one of your top outdoor attractions for student groups? Tillicum Village, which is operated by Argosy Cruises, combines the opportunity to experience nature and Native American culture. Following a trip across Elliott Bay, students enjoy steamed clams and nectar followed by an all-you-can-eat salmon buffet and Northwest Coast Native American dance program that shows how the lives and dances of the Coastal tribes are very different than what most people think of when they think of Native American cultures. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? This year is the 50th anniversary of the Seattle World’s Fair and the construction of the Space Needle. There will be special events from April to October. In February 2012, the Visitors Center at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation headquarters opened. TORONTO Kevin M. Hicks, Tourism Toronto, +1.416.203.3830, www.seetorontonow.com/ Leisure-Trade/StudentYouthTravel.aspx What makes Toronto such a great destination for student groups? Toronto has been named the No. 1 student destination in Canada, and its safe, clean and vibrant nature make it perfect for student groups. In the most multicultural city in the world, students can be immersed in a world-class urban environment where more than 120 languages are spoken daily. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Each June, Luminato–Toronto’s Festival of Arts and Creativity, takes center stage as the world’s newest international multidisciplinary arts festival. There are many free and ticketed events including music, dance, theater, film, literature and visual arts that are perfect for any type of group. What is one of your top programs or venues for student performance groups? Students can sing the Canadian and U.S. national anthems at a baseball game (Rogers Centre), hockey game (Toronto Marlies) or basketball game (Toronto Raptors); entertain at a majestic castle (Casa Loma or Medieval Times); or perform outdoors on Waterfall Stages on Lake Ontario (Ontario Place), in Canada’s largest theme park (Canada’s Wonderland) or even on stage in a Caribbean Cove (Wild Water Kingdom). What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Most exciting for 2013 would be the opening of Ripley’s Aquarium at the foot of the CN Tower. It’s a 135,000-square-foot attraction, one of the largest in North America, housing more than 13,500 sea and freshwater creatures in 5.7-million liters of water. VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA Jorden Hutchison, Tourism Vancouver, +1.604.631.2859, www.tourismvancouver.com What makes Vancouver such a great destination for student groups? Vancouver’s interesting history and rich heritage, along with a creatively inclined, diverse and informed population, result in some of the most innovative learning opportunities for students and youth. Vancouver visitors will enjoy a safe and welcoming environment, breathtaking scenery and a wealth of recreational activities. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Students can discover mystery, history and intrigue at the Vancouver Police Museum, which is home to more than 20,000 artifacts, published materials and photographs that can be traced back to Vancouver’s earliest days. Canada’s contemporary museum of world arts and cultures, the UBC Museum of Anthropology, is popular, and a whale-watching expedition always is an exciting option for student groups. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? Capilano Suspension Bridge offers a unique mix of adventure, history and culture. Students can venture from one Douglas fir tree to another during the Treetops Adventure or take part in CLIFFWALK, which takes visitors on a connected series of suspended walkways jutting out from a granite cliff face high above the Capilano River. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? Celebrating its 23rd season in 2012, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. Presented in a magnificent setting on the waterfront in Vancouver’s Vanier Park, the festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and several special events. WASHINGTON, D.C. Theresa Belpulsi, Destination DC, +1.202.789.7033, www.washington.org What makes Washington, D.C., such a great destination for student groups? As the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., is a must-see destination filled with fun, interactive and historical experiences perfect for student groups. Students can immerse themselves at the 19 Smithsonian museums and galleries, participate in a forensics experience at the Crime Museum or even live the life of a spy at the International Spy Museum. What are a couple of your lesser-known tours, attractions or options? Students can stand side-by-side with all of the presidents of the United States at the Presidents Gallery at Madame Tussauds or become a reporter for a day at the interactive Newseum. What is one of your top nature-based attractions for student groups? For outdoor adventure, D.C. has more than 230,000 acres of parkland and more than 800 miles of trails. Outdoor attractions include the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, kayaking on the Potomac or a fun Bike the Sites tour of the monuments and memorials. What are a couple of new things you are promoting for the student market? A visit to the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial is a must. The new memorial, which is located near the Tidal Basin, opened in August and is the first to honor a non-president and a man of color. Ford’s Theatre recently opened the Center for Education and Leadership in February, which features two floors of permanent exhibits addressing the immediate aftermath of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination and the evolution of his legacy.

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