Credit Kevin C. Rose-AtlantaPhotos.com

Thanks to an unheard of 250 million dollar gift bestowed upon the good people of Georgia by Bernie Marcus, co-founder of the Home Depot empire, the world-class Georgia aquarium opened its doors to the public debt-free in 2005. To date, this magnificent and magical water world has attracted over eleven million enthusiastic visitors to its more than fabulous 60 exhibits, hosting an impressive array of inhabitants-more than in any other aquarium-in over ten million gallons of fresh and marine water! Sea Monsters Revealed takes you to into the mystery and magic of the briny deep for a daring look at some of the largest, most elusive and potentially terrifying sea creatures ever encountered. The SunTrust Georgia Explorer gallery, a highly interactive showcase featuring touch pools full of vibrant and wiggling sea stars, cool stingrays, animated shrimp and medieval-in-appearance horseshoe crabs, and several larger habitats housing a loggerhead turtle and the fish of Gray’s Reef — a National Marine Sanctuary off the Georgia Coast-also introduces you to right whales, peaceful behemoths that cruise the local waters-and the venomous and invasive lion fish that don’t belong in them! Georgia-Pacific Cold Water Quest slides beneath the waves of frigid ocean waters to show you curious animals like weedy sea dragons and Japanese spider crabs, and gets you face time with gregarious Beluga whales, precocious African Penguins and playful Southern Sea Otters! Incredible acrylic passageways take the brave through the shadowy, deep waters where gentle giants whale sharks and manta rays drift, eat and play; where do visitors go to refuel? Wonderful Café Aquaria serves ravenous guests “best in class” local and national favorites, from pizza and pasta, fresh sandwiches, salads and seafood to plump roast chicken, crispy battered cod and juicy bacon cheeseburgers; a selection of house-made desserts sweetly wrap up your Aquarium repast. Two delightful gift shops treat you to a thematic fantasy of undersea browsing of collectibles, apparel, books, videos, custom art pieces and more for that perfect memento of your visit!

Credit The Huntsville-Madison County CVB

The U.S. Space and Rocket Center is located in Huntsville, Alabama. The location is the official visitor center for the NASA Flight Space Center. It contains one of the largest rocket collections in the world. Student groups can view the exhibits on display and learn about the dramatic space race. Featured exhibits include the Saturn V Hall, Rocket Park, Shuttle Park, Brick Locator, and the IMAX Spacedome Theater. Rocket Park contains 27 rockets and missiles. These rockets show how army rocketry launched America’s space program. Shuttle Park features several launch vehicles. This includes the world’s only fully-stacked Space Transportation System. Saturn V Hall has an authentic Saturn V Rocket. The rocket is one of three in the world. The U.S. Space and Rocket Center offers Children’s Workshops for student groups to enjoy. Workshops include the Science of Imagination Workshops and Saturday Scientist Workshops. The Saturday Scientist Workshops feature hands-on activities. Topics include: solar energy, precipitation, geology of space, and chemistry. The center also contains Ropes Courses. The courses promote teamwork and leadership skills. There are two courses to consider. They are the Low Ropes course and the High Ropes Course. During the Low Ropes Course, the group will do the following: brainstorm, delegate tasks, and plan for the mission. During the mission, the group will incorporate cohesive communication and trust in order to be successful. During the High Ropes program, group members will choose individual levels of difficulty. The equipment for this specific program includes the following items: a Pamper Pole Scale, a Climbing Wall, and a Zip Line. The Climbing Wall is 50 feet tall. Two people will climb this massive wall with the goal of climbing as high as possible. Bring your student group and visit this incredible space center!

Groups on Nashville excursion must be sure find time to visit the majestically beautiful Tennessee State Capitol. The stately limestone Greek Revival style building rises dramatically from its foundation on a well-landscaped hill in downtown Nashville and appears today much as it did when it first opened in 1859 after 14 challenging years of construction, a commanding tribute to the people of Tennessee and the crowning achievement of noted architect William Strickland, who died unexpectedly during the project and was buried in the north façade. Inside the impressively appointed building guests will find, amongst the cast iron railings and spiral staircases, marble columns and elaborate light fixtures a range of fascinating artwork and artifact “of the day;” a fine example of 19th century renderings as well as a testament to our growth as a Nation. Magnificent statuary honoring Sam Davis, Sgt. Alvin York, and Presidents Andrew Jackson and Andrew Johnson as well as the tombs of President and Mrs. James K. Polk are sited on the Capitol grounds; guided tours are available Monday through Friday on the hour. Don’t forget to ask your chaperone about the bullet hole in the stone rail of the main stairs!

The Bay Colony Historical Tours located in Boston, invites you to visit the city and so much more! Other areas include: Bunker Hill Monument, The Boston Massacre Sight, USS Constitution, Paul Revere and the Old North Church. There are several tours offered for your group to consider. These include The Boston City Tour, Lexington Concord and Cambridge Tour, and the Plymouth Tour.

The Boston City Tour is designed to acquaint guests with the events and influences which have contributed to the development of Boston, from its early colonial days, through commercial expansion and maritime successes, into a 21st century center of culture, technology, medicine, and finance. Enjoy a visit to Beacon Hill, which is known for its architecture, cobblestone streets, elegant townhouses and 19th century gas lamps. Visitors will explore revolutionary Boston as you follow in the footsteps of their Puritan founders along the Freedom Trail! You will get to view the Old Granary Burying Ground, the final resting place of such illustrious Americans as Paul Revere, John Hancock, Sam Adams and the five killed in the Boston Massacre.

The Lexington Concord and Cambridge tour begins with the group traveling across the Charles River from Boston to Cambridge, home of Harvard College, known as the oldest college in the United States, and Massachusetts Institute of technology. While in Cambridge, your guide will take you on a walking tour of Harvard Yard. Guests will have the opportunity to see Widner Memorial Library, Memorial Chapel, Weld Hall, where former President Kennedy resided; and the Wadsworth House where George Washington slept.

Exploring America > U.S. Cities > Boston Tours

Groups on Tennessee getaway in search of an extra-sensory evening activity will want to check out Nashville Ghost Tours! A variety of intriguing options get you and your travel partners after-dark face time with the mysterious and macabre side of Music City. Be regaled with intoxicatingly intriguing tales of Nashville’s past as you visit “spirited” taverns; enter at your own risk and feel free to enjoy a beverage while you “meet” your guides and clink a toast –to ghosts! Hop into a converted hearse and embark on a 60-minute tour of some of Nashville’s most infamous “haunted” sites, or opt to scare that big dinner off with a narrated lantern-lit 90 minute trek through the city’s most notoriously “occupied” landmarks. Be regaled with terrifying tales surrounding Ryman Auditorium, Printer’s Alley and the Tennessee State Capitol, visit Nashville’s oldest-and scariest- cemetery, meet the ghosts of Union Station and learn the sordid details of a “Murder on Music Row.” Experience firsthand the nervous rush of anticipation and spine-tingling chills of stepping into documented haunts; decide for yourself if it’s more than “just your imagination.” Don’t forget your camera – you’ll want to capture sightings – and remember to wear comfortable shoes, in case beating a hasty retreat is your only “recourse”!

Visitors on Music City getaway will definitely want to make a stop at the Tennessee State Museum, featuring three floors and over 120,000 square feet of permanent as well as fresh, ever-changing Tennessee-related exhibits, including one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of Civil War uniforms, weapons and battle flags. The Military Museum, a branch of the Tennessee State Museum, located in the War Memorial Building across the street, showcases exhibits dealing with America’s overseas conflicts, beginning with the Spanish-American War in 1898 and ending with World War II in 1945. Originally created to house World War I artifacts and other collections from the State, the State Museum’s fascinating arrangements treat visitors today to a rich cross section of Tennessee history, from a fascinating look at Prehistoric native cultures and a trek through the wild frontier first discovered by Spanish conquistadors to studies of the gloriously prosperous Antebellum period, the terrible upheaval and division of the Civil War and an introduction to the Post-Civil War South. The Museum Store tenders guests a fabulous array of beautiful jewelry, masterful wood carvings, hand crafted soaps, wonderful pottery and fine photography by noted Tennessee artisans.

While your adult group is in Los Angeles, you should check out the Dearly Departed Tours Museum, which has memorabilia related to the deaths of famous celebrities. You will have the opportunity to explore the gallery and take one of the tours they offer during the visit. There are a variety of tour options for you to enjoy. Participants can take tours such as The Tragical History Tour, the Hollywood Movie Tour, the Horror Film Location Tour, the CarpenTour, and the Helter Skelter Tour. The Tragical History Tour is a multimedia bus tour. During the experience, visitors will travel to different homes and locations throughout Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Sunset Strip where your favorite celebrities have died. Participants will see death places of people such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Rebecca Schaeffer, and Dominique Dunne. The team will also learn about forgotten stars whose demise is nothing less than spectacular. During the Hollywood Movie Tour, the group will journey through the streets of Hollywood where you will discover some of the most memorable locations that have been featured on the silver screen. Participants will see film locations such as the Green Hornet, Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?, Chinatown, Ed Wood, Get Shorty, The Italian Job, Sunset Boulevard, National Lampoon’s Vacation, L.A. Confidential, Charlie’s Angels, and Galaxy Quest. The Horror Film Tour takes place during the month of October. The guide will be decked out in Michael Myers gear. You will pose with them at various film locations as the films play on the company’s movie theater on wheels. Participants will see locations from films such as Halloween (1978 and 2007), Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Ed Wood (1994, A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and Zombieland.

The FDR Memorial is located in Washington, D.C. The U.S. National Park service is the second location that contains this iconic history Franklin Roosevelt made a famous speech at this location in 1936. The first memorial consisted of a marble block stone that now stands at the National Archives Building, facing the U.S. Navy Memorial. The dedication took place on May 2nd, 1997. In August 1955, a decade after Roosevelt’s death, Congress established a commission to create a memorial of the 32nd U.S. president. Four years later, a location for the memorial was chosen. It was halfway between the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, along the Tidal Basin. Many design competitions were held over the years but it wasn’t until 1978 that a design was chosen. The commission decided Lawrence Halprin’s design was the best memorial design, a 7.5 acre memorial that represented both President Roosevelt and his era. Unlike the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, which are compact, covered, and focused on one statue of the presidents, the FDR memorial is vast, uncovered, and focused on several different aspects. Specifically, it focused on numerous statues, quotes, and waterfalls. Halprin’s design tells the story of the president and the country in chronological order. There are four rooms which represent the 12 years of FDR’s presidency. The memorial now stands as a reminder of some of America’s tougher times, including World War II and the Great Depression.

Groups plotting a restful Nashville holiday won’t want to bypass this traditional riverboat cruise opportunity. The magnificent 300 foot General Jackson – the largest showboat in the world – ferries guests past natural and manmade landmarks and points of interest on Nashville’s beautiful Cumberland River; stunning views from  four massive decks treat guests to incredible views of the Tennessee countryside. A variety of options allow you to design your perfect riverboat experience  – leisurely lunchtime and holiday cruises and peaceful evening excursions including mouthwatering Southern- Style luncheon buffets, elegant prime rib dinners, Victorian Theatre and classic showboat musical performances and comedy routines in the grand ole Nashville tradition ensure your group will come away with wonderful lifetime memories!

Groups on Music City getaway won’t want to miss a stop at this beautiful AND conveniently located indoor “mega mall” – Tennessee’s largest – featuring fabulous outlet and value retail shopping and excellent casual, quick-bite to full-service dining options. Over 200 popular storefronts , cafes, restaurants and specialty shops hawking everything under the sun await super-shoppers in need of an exciting vacation-time spree! Enhance that tired travel wardrobe, do a little window shopping and browsing, pick up perfect gifts for friends and family back home or follow your nose to some fantastic foodstuffs! When you’ve shopped til you can shop no more and possibly even saved more than you ever imagined in spite of it, and that yummy dinner needs to make room for dessert, Regal Cinemas/IMAX theater serves up BIG-screen entertainment almost certain to leave you craving something sweetly satisfying post-popcorn: how about a stop by Marble Slab Creamery, where freshly baked waffle cone perfumes the air around you as you make that all-important decision: one scoop, or two?