Did you know that there are many types of tourism? Leisure, cultural, medical, educational… the list goes on and on. Let’s discuss further.

When you think of tourism, what comes to mind?  Sandy beaches with palm trees in the background, coconut smells all around you, and reggae music in the background? Or do you ponder off into thoughts of visiting all of the United States Capitals, trying to locate a table cloth, towel, or odd item that has the emblem on it?  You could even think of making it to all of the continents and toasting to the sun while taking a picture, but yet taking in the experience of how the earth is lined with the moon that evening.  All of these are different types of tourism, but each one has a story, a purpose, and no two people will ever see these in the same view; that’s the beauty of this journey.

I was raised in the Midwestern region of the United States in Oklahoma. An interesting fact: Oklahoma has more shoreline than the entire East Coast. The reason to mention this fact is due to the fact that we are not lacking in water to play in, ride boats, or watch amazing sunsets. However, they often contain rocky edges, and you can see to the other side.  My vision, when I think of a sandy beach is the pleasure of not seeing anything upon the horizon other than sky: the endless water that makes you daydream of what could be lying on the other side.  In addition to this, the experience is exotic in many ways.  I enjoy the smell of suntan lotion, the crashing sound of the waves, the taste of sweet fruity cocktails, and the feel of sand sinking further and further in between my toes.  I love hearing the chatter when I’m walking down the beach, then the silence of those taking in all that the beach has to offer. You look over to the left and there is a volleyball net set up, the men showing off to the ladies watching on the sidelines.  On down a ways, there is a father and son flying a kite. This is a popular tourist attraction, especially for those individuals that are ‘land-locked’ and appreciate the value of these attributes.

While growing up, I did not travel often by airplane.  But I will say I spent a large amount of my childhood in the back of a station wagon, counting the mile poles along the highway, playing the ‘Sign’ ABC game, and unfortunately having the station wagon pulled over a few times for fighting with my brother.  However, I am grateful for the amount of states that we experienced.  My mother always collected a magnet to place on the refrigerator which was eventually covered by them.  If I had it my way, I would choose something a little odder.  How about a bobble-head, an embroidered pillow case with the state bird, or possibly a belt buckle with the State and my name tattooed on.  Now, I have not made it to all fifty states, but I hope to make that goal by the end of my days.

Is ‘traveling all over the world’ included in the many types of tourism?

I just recently spoke with a colleague of mine that I haven’t spoken to in years.  He just met his lifetime goal of traveling to every continent.  Can you imagine how amazing that must feel?  How many people truly get to accomplish this?  As for myself, I have only been to North America.  I hope to change this soon when I am able to spend more free time enjoying myself rather than working so much.  I believe that is the excuse of the majority of individuals.  Why don’t more people dream, and reach their goal of visiting all points of the earth?  I think it seems to be too expensive, too time consuming, and a goal that could possibly not be reached, leaving many feeling failed by themselves.  However, how wonderful would it be to sip on a glass of wine that is originated in that part of the earth while watching the sunset, then on to watching the moon rise?  The symbolism of the wine is the taste of what the earth in that region provides.  When you take that sip of wine, hold it on your tongue briefly while carefully breathing in along the top of your tongue to take in the smells of the grass, the tastes of the grapes, the tannins and their significance.  This is something to appreciate.

Image via Wikipedia

One of the many types of tourism that is trending right now: Visiting the WWW

While traveling can be a form of tourism, I believe there is also a cheaper and more accessible form of tourism: The Internet.  When I am feeling a depression coming on, I need a form of inspiration, or I am simply bored, I often get online and start searching for places I would like to travel to.  This is actually more informative because I can locate uncommon known facts about each place I visit.  It offers me an opportunity to educate myself on that particular region.  I believe all humans who have the capacity of visual senses are extremely gratified by the privilege of taking in experiences visually.  I like to look at exotic beaches, massively confusing yet colossal icebergs, and extreme buildings or structures that I know I may never get the opportunity to see in person.  This allows my mind to appreciate the efforts the individuals that created these works for what they were designed.  I particularly enjoy looking at the structures and land built in the area of Dubai.  They are so incredible in creativity, beauty, and just awe of how these buildings even exist.  I hope one day I can get the opportunity to experience this beauty in person.

Whether you are heading to tropical Hawaii, driving all the back country highways to visit those States that you’ve missed so far, jumping on a plane to visit that next continent to check off your list, or simply enjoying your glass of wine while sitting at the computer dreaming, there are several types of tourism.  These are just a few ways that I can describe how I view that term. I think it is not the action, but the significance for each individual that defines tourism.

What about you? What are the types of tourism you would want to experience?

With so many tour packages and vacation deals available online, it was difficult for my girlfriend and me to choose not only where to go, but which vacation package to choose from. In the end, we settled on the Hawaii 7-Day Deluxe Tour on Oahu Island, Big Island, Maui Island with Go2Travel365.com. We’re glad we did! Our experience with this particular Hawaii guided tour was second to none.

When we arrived at the Honolulu Airport, our guide picked us up and took us to our hotel. We settled in and spent the evening enjoying the breathtaking views from the hotel bar, sipping Mai Tais and eating fresh catch while the waves roared upon a rocky beach. We turned in relatively early so we could get a fresh start the next morning.

On day 2, we had a Honolulu city tour and visited the Arizona Memorial Visitor Center, where we could feel the history and the tragedy of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, giving us a vivid sense of place on this island that has played such an important role in US history and the world events. The recorded film of the 1941 attack is something to be seen, bested only by the Navy launch for a trip to the memorial itself. The rest of the day was spent looking in awe at the Iolani Palace (the ONLY royal palace on US Territory!), the Kawalahao Church and the Statue of King Kamehameha, among other attractions.

Every day was more beautiful than the last. We have a mini circle island on day 3. Waikiki Beach, with its high rises and hotels, provides an urban vacation paradise second to none in the world. From there, 75 miles of coastline tour gave us even more breathtaking views of Kahala, Haaona Blowhole, Makapuu Beach, Hawaiian homestead lands and the Nunanu Pali lookout.

The next two days, we spent island hopping to the Big Island of Hawaii and Maui Island, respectively. We still glow with the memories and visions of Volcanoes National Park, the Fields of Orchids, Black Sand Beach and Rainbow Falls. On Maui, we basked in the sunlit Fields of Sugarcane, Tropical Plantation, Wailea Beach and the fascinating Lahaina Whaling Village.

We visited Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) on day 6. This is the world’s most successful cultural theme attraction. It was founded in 1963 by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

During the entire seven-day tour, it seemed nearly impossible that we could see anything that would trump the previous stop, but the vistas just kept on coming. With such a vast landscape and such a varied topography, I couldn’t imagine trying to organize a Hawaii tour as well rounded and convenient as this. And the best part of all was that we were able to book our own flights and save a bundle with discount airlines!

Want to know why youth travel is so important? Let me share my story.

In 1992, when I was seven years old, Disney’s ‘Aladdin’ came out, and with it a hit song that everybody my age still knows word for word. All you have to do to start a sing-along among twenty-somethings (especially females) is start by saying, ‘I can show you the world’. To my young mind, and probably many others, it was a promise. A promise that not only could love take us places we had never been in a figurative sense, but that love could literally, physically take us somewhere as well. We had been introduced to Agrabah in the film, with a royal palace that looked like the Taj Mahal, where people had pet tigers and monkeys, and that was even before a magic carpet came and swept Jasmine away. She and Aladdin went to Greece, Egypt, and China in the span of a single song, lucky girl. And we ate it up.

Image by Sewanee: The University of the South via Flickr

This may seem like a strange way to start an article on why youth travel is valuable, but it sparked a desire in my life to see the world as Jasmine did.  When I was in college, I was given the opportunity to spend four months in Spain. For someone who had only been within the six-hour span between New York City and Washington, DC, this was a big deal. My first time on an airplane at age nineteen was a trans-Atlantic red-eye flight, also a big deal: I was so terrified. I couldn’t sleep, but was able to watch the sun rise over the clouds over the Atlantic Ocean. I lived with a host family, studied at a Spanish college, met other students from all over the world, travelled with the college and independently, and came back with another language, college credits, about 1000 pictures, hundreds of stories, new friends and a new family, and an expanded worldview. I have since become a teacher, and am a very solid advocate of youth travel.

The fruits of my youth travel

Thanks to that experience, I now teach Spanish, and parents will ask me what the students can do to improve. I always give them short term responses for my particular class, but I also suggest that, if the opportunity ever arises, let them travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Some experiences are obviously more authentic than others: spending four months living with a family that doesn’t understand you is vastly different from two weeks in an all-inclusive resort that you never leave, as one of my students returned from one such resort in Cancun to tell me that ‘everybody in Mexico speaks English’. While she had experiences that I am certainly envious of (swimming with dolphins), they are contrived experiences. The only way this could become an issue is if she then expects all travel experiences to be like this. I went to Spain with a group of seven other girls and one boy. The group very quickly split into two factions: the ones that were treating it as a big party and those who were trying to get more out of the experience. The ones who were there for the party had travelled before and were used to nice hotels and room service; they were not ready to live as a guest in someone else’s house. They very quickly became disenchanted with the beautiful city we were in, and once the college’s excursions were no longer mandatory mostly stopped travelling, preferring to sleep in after long nights out at the bar. One of the girls even went so far as to present a compare and contrast essay about the differences between people in Spain and in the United States that was very narrow-minded and incredibly embarrassing.

I was in the ‘Experience everything!’ faction, and was literally surrounded by angry classmates after class ended and had to do damage control to let them know that that most certainly was not how I felt, and I would say something to her about it later. (This girl eventually loosened up and enjoyed the experience, but not before another escapade involving trying to find a bottle of peroxide to bleach her hair.) Our experiences were authentic things that we happened upon: seeing a Spanish wedding take place in Segovia while touring the cathedral, encountering the old Charro couple celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversary in La Alberca, sleeping in a hostel with eleven other people in your room, celebrating holidays with street festivals, finding something to eat on your own, etc. When the students are allowed to see life beyond the resort, they will appreciate the differences between cultures and be more open-minded in the future. Travelling is also a great test of creativity, spontaneity, and budgeting ability, both for time and funds.

Are there dangers to youth travel?

Of course, but there are dangers travelling at any age, but youth allows good travel habits to stick a little better. For instance, the best places for a young woman to keep her money, identification, and passport are in her shirt. Bags may be stolen, pockets may be picked, but it is very difficult not to notice someone putting a hand down your shirt. Try to blend in, and use the language of the area; most places have people that speak English, but they will treat you better if you at least try to use their language. Recognize the local police and how to contact them (most guide books will offer a section on local law enforcement; the better ones will include photos of them in uniform). Teach a young person this and, with experience and reinforcing, they won’t forget it.

In conclusion, youth travel is important because it will offer the next generation of leaders the opportunity to see the world at large, give them authentic experiences beyond the hotel, and give them the chance to be creative and spontaneous. They will have stories, photos, friends, souvenirs, and memories they will cherish for the rest of their lives, and who knows? It might even change their lives for the better. And they won’t have to wait for a magic carpet to do it!

What about you? Any youth travel experiences you’d like to share with us? Feel free to share your youth travel story here.

Fall travel is something that I am always looking forward to. I love the Fall! In my part of the country, the summer is always punishing, but when the cool creeps into the air, and the breeze begins to blow, there is nothing like it. It’s such a relief to finally be able to spend some time outside and enjoy being out and about!

Fall is a great time to travel, and of course, it’s the best time to take a little vacation up north and witness the glorious turning of the leaves; however, even if you can’t get away for more than a day or two, Fall is a great time to get out in the cool crisp air and enjoy the bright, glorious colors of the season close to home.

Fall travel suggestions

Image by carriejeberhardt via Flickr

There are lots of ways to enjoy your Fall travel. You could partake of a little bike travel through the countryside or on bike trails, take your dog for a walk in the woods, or just go out to your local park and sit a spell. If you have the money, you could take a little balloon trip to see the changing colors from a different perspective. Travel on foot to a local park with your little one to pick up colored leaves to press and make a Fall leaf album.

Another very fine way to enjoy the turning of the leaves is to go wine-tasting! This is a romantic getaway for a couple or a fun activity for a group of friends. Traveling through the wine country on a brisk Fall day is festive and gorgeous. The turning of the leaves in the vineyards of California and other states is every bit as spectacular as that found in the northeast. If you have the time, you might want to take a weekend to stay at a Bed & Breakfast and explore quaint local shops for craft items and holiday gift ideas.

If you can get away for a day or two, Fall is a great time to take the family on a hiking and fishing trip. If you happen to live in a state that has beautiful national parks, this is the very best time to get away. Camping in state parks is affordable, safe and fun! This is especially true for families with pre-school children because all the bigger kids will be back to school, so there will be fewer crowds and you and your family can enjoy off-season rates.

End ‘those lazy-hazy-crazy days of Summer’ with your Fall travel plans

Another fabulous little trip to include in your Fall travel list is an apple-picking jaunt. In the northwest, it’s apple time, and, no matter who you are: a family, a couple, a single or a gang of unruly teenagers, you can pile in the car and drive out to the countryside. Spend a few hours in an apple orchard picking to your heart’s content and then go out for a picnic.

The same is true of pumpkin patches! A trip to the country in early October can yield the pick of the crop for Fall decorating, Jack-O-Lantern carving and Thanksgiving baked goods. A day in the fresh cool air will do you good, and maybe you’ll have a few stories to tell at holiday gatherings – thanks to your intrepid spirit!

Fall travel out to the countryside can bring you more adventure than just picking pumpkins and apples, though! Lots of apple orchards and pumpkin patches add to the excitement and fun by offering activities like country meals, hay rides, corn mazes, square dances, and in October, haunted houses! Evening fun around a blazing bonfire makes a grand destination for Fall travel!

In the Fall, many schools districts, cities and counties hold big Fall Festivals. These are lots of fun and often worth traveling to another city or town for. They give you a good opportunity to get out for the day and sample the bounty of the season. Kids are usually welcomed or encouraged to wear costumes. You will find games and activities and crafts on display and for sale. Live local music and entertainment are often highlighted.

Really, there are lots of places in almost every community that offer great Fall travel opportunities like zoos and museums, theme parks and even malls. Fall is such a festive time with everyone feeling the relief of having survived the summer and eagerly anticipating the fun of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Remember that all of these Fall Travel ideas are great opportunities to get good pictures of yourself, your family, your kids and your dog. You could always do a little Fall traveling for the purpose of getting your photo for your Christmas card!

Fall travel is definitely a way to lighten any stress that accompanies the holidays. In mid-November, you can really start gearing your Fall travel toward seeking out the perfect gourmet items to include in your Thanksgiving feast finding just the right Christmas gifts. There are so many opportunities to visit farmer’s markets, craft fairs, and festivals of all kinds that you can easily combine the enjoyment of taking little trips throughout the Fall with taking care of all the responsibilities that come with the holiday season.

Remember that the official first day of winter is right before Christmas, so Fall travel can extend well into the month of December. Long after the leaves have turned, apples have been eaten, the Jack-O-Lantern has been carved, enjoyed and smashed, and the pie pumpkins have been cut up, baked in a pie and consumed, you can still enjoy Fall travel!

Your final Fall travel adventure should be to sally forth in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Of course, if you have a tree farm within driving distance, that’s the perfect way to get your perfect tree. A day at a tree farm is, ideally, filled with snow and crisp fresh scents and perhaps a little time around a pot-bellied stove. But even a late Fall trip to a Christmas tree lot in the midst of a busy city can be festive! Stop off for a mug of hot cocoa at a diner. Take a walk in the snowy park. Partake of the season! And don’t forget to share your Fall travel experiences here.

An adventurous traveler could spend years exploring America’s wonders and still leave enough stones unturned to fill a quarry, but the Grand Canyon is a must-see. The Grand Canyon is counted among the most magnificent and magical wonders of the world, along with Mt. Everest, Angel Falls and the Great Barrier Reef.  Every traveler, tourist, adventurer and explorer should experience these wonders, and luckily, vacation packages for US tours make it easy and exciting.

The Grand Canyon is an enormous ancient riverbed nestled between northern Arizona and Nevada.  It has been carved out of the earth little by little every day for the last 17 million years by the rushing Colorado River. The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long and up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep in some places.  The floor of the canyon is around 6,800 feet above sea level at the south rim, and 8000 feet at the north rim; on average, the riverbed is around 4,000 feet deep. Geologists, archeologists, biologists and anthropologists from all over the world study the last 2 billion years of the earth’s history here. Many vacation packages offer Grand Canyon tours that guide adventurers down to where the Pueblo people built the first settlements here.

The world-famous glass Skywalk Bridge on the west rim of the Grand Canyon lets you walk into the sky for a breathtaking view of the Colorado River from 4,000 feet up. Go to Eagle Point’s Indian Culture Show for demonstrations of the Pueblo people’s dance and customs. Go to Guano Point for a mesmerizing sunset as the canyon walls change colors and the shadows creep up to the rim. When darkness falls, a blanket of stars like sugar on black velvet emerges from the heavens.

Mule trains and wagon tours are fun parts of some Grand Canyon tour packages. You can hike, rock-climb, and camp in the canyon (you’ll need reservations for camping), as well as go boating or rafting in the Colorado River.  If you have loftier goals, a helicopter tour will give you a bird’s eye view of the raised plateaus and structural basins below. Night life in Grand Canyon Village includes a wide array of restaurants and live country-western music, campfire parties and cultural expositions.  After activity-packed days and fun-filled nights, you’ll be happy to find many hotels to choose from, but you’ll need reservations.

The north rim of the Grand Canyon is more remote than the western rim and offers a more rustic experience.  Remember that reservations are necessary wherever you go!  Hotels, campgrounds and tours can be booked 6 months early. US tours and vacation packages offer easy ways to plan your trip.

A visit to the Grand Canyon will give you an unforgettable experience of one of the seven wonders of the world.  Take plenty of sunscreen, a warm sweater for cold nights, lots of water, and your camera.  Vistas have never been so grand.  Enjoy!