When you picture the perfect vacation, what do you see? Chances are the pictures that come to mind are beautiful scenery, wonderful hotels, amazing food, exploring new places and seeing new things, and above all else, memories that last a lifetime. What you may not picture though, is everything that goes into organizing this perfect, and stress-free, vacation.
Which brings me to today’s post about the “best way to see the USA”. You can pick your destination and begin to plan, spending hours researching everything there is to know, reading hundreds of reviews online for hotels and dining options, figuring out how you’re going to get there (and if you want to see multiple destinations, how you’re going to get from one to the next), all the while wondering what you’ve missed, and if you’re paying too much. And then when you get there, you can spend more hours waiting in lines, hoping you get to see the things that were important to you, hoping you don’t get lost, and trying not to be disappointed when that hotel that looked amazing online, hasn’t actually been renovated in years.
Vacations are much-needed opportunities for us to unwind, explore, spend precious time with our families and loved ones, and create lifelong memories. They are investments, both in time and in money, and as with all investments, should be made wisely. The good news is there are two things you can do to make a wise investment in your vacation plans to see America:
- Book with a travel professional who can find the best options for you, provide information and advice about those options, and be your advocate throughout the planning process and even while you’re traveling if necessary.
- Book a guided tour.
I’ve written in the past about the benefits of working with a travel professional for your vacation, so today I want to chat a bit then about the 2nd point – booking a guided tour. While you may have visions of stuffy buses crowded with a group of 80-year-old tourists, the reality is that all ages enjoy the chance to experience all that the U.S. offers on a guided tour, because as a VIP everything is planned for you, so all you do is arrive and enjoy.
Consider just a few ways that a guided touring experience may not be what you thought it would be – and in fact, may provide a better experience than trying to do it all on your own….
Worried that you’ll be “on the go” the entire time, seeing one thing after another until you’re totally exhausted and need a vacation from your vacation? Guided tours through companies such as Globus or Adventures by Disney know that you need some free time, and so allow for just the right amount of free time for individual exploration, quiet reflection, or a book and a latte at a sidewalk café.
Everyone loves extras – until they’re charged extra. So booking a guided tour that already includes those extra experiences, and special moments means no expensive surprises when you get there, wishing you could do that super cool activity, but sadly finding out it costs more than you budgeted. (Important note on this: not all guided tour experiences are created equal here, which is why your travel agent’s help in choosing the right one for your family is important, so that the ones that seem cheaper – but actually aren’t – are weeded out.)
What about where you are staying? A hotel can have the crispest sheets, the fluffiest towels, and the tastiest pillow mints, but if it’s not near the sites, what good is it? Not much. Because what travelers love just as much as the sites is waking up right next to them. And having your group tour already doing the work for you, insures that where you stay will not be an unpleasant surprise from what you thought you booked on Expedia.
Group tours bring destinations to life with firsthand, in-depth knowledge of the locations, cities, towns, and neighborhoods that you are visiting. Your guides know the history, they know where to find the legendary pastries, and they know the best places to take that perfect photo. You’ll have experiences and opportunities that the general public won’t have, because on your vacation, you’ll be a VIP. On a group tour, you’ll have minimal lines, minimal wait times, and maximum fun.
One of the best things about seeing the USA on a group tour is the MANY options you have, to explore all parts of this beautiful country! Here are just 3 amazing vacations:
Classic Fall Foliage – 9 days exploring New England. Mother Nature meets our Founding Fathers on this electrifying fall foliage tour through historic and beautiful New England. You will witness autumn’s turning leaves – from the striking Maine coastline, to the rocky headlands of Acadia National Park, to the quaint, covered-bridge countryside of Vermont and New Hampshire. And you’ll also be introduced to the country’s early trailblazers like Paul Revere, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin in Boston, where American independence began. This is leaf peeping and sightseeing at its absolute finest.
America’s Historic East – 9 days, Washington D.C., to Philadelphia. This is your chance to see the nation’s birthplace, capital, and significant battlefields in the best way possible as you explore Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and the notable settlements, landmarks, and presidential estates of the historic East. America’s greatest chapters in history come to life as you stroll down the quaint streets of colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, march in the steps of American Revolution and Civil War soldiers, and stand inside the remarkable walls of George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Prepare to be moved as this East Coast vacation leads you to the marbled memorials of D.C., the sacred site of Lincoln’s Gettysburg address, and the symbolic Liberty Bell in the City of Brotherly Love. Combining national treasures with small town gems, this vacation through America’s historic East promises discovery and wonder for all.
Canyon Country Adventure – 8 days, Scottsdale to Las Vegas. This guided tour of the most mesmerizing canyons of Arizona and Utah, provides beauty, awe, and wonder as you journey to three fascinating national parks as well as the stunning cliffs of Lake Powell and the unique sandstone formations inside the Navajo Nation. In addition to seeing the sun rise and set in the magnificent Grand Canyon, you’ll also watch the brilliant rays dance across the wondrous walls of Utah’s Bryce Canyon and Zion National Parks, Arizona’s Oak Creek Canyon, and Lake Powell’s Antelope Slot Canyon. Highlights on this national parks vacation and tour of canyon country include a 4-wheel drive excursion with a Navajo guide to see the monoliths, buttes, and mesas of Monument Valley as well as a visit to the cactus-studded scenery of Sedona. This is the vacation to check off some of those American Southwest sites and national parks from your travel bucket list.
Seeing the USA as part of a group tour provides the ultimate way to enjoy the sites as a true VIP, seeing and doing things in a way that you couldn’t do if you planned it yourself, and completely stress-free! All you need to do is show up and start creating memories.
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