Educational Trip To West Coast USA For International Schools

Take a boat trip to Alcatraz Island on the San Francisco Bay and experience its history and infamy. From 1934 to 1963 it was the setting for a federal prison that held famous inmates like Al ‘Scarface’ Capone, and the ‘Birdman’ Robert Stroud. ‘The Rock’ is now home to Civil War-era buildings, rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife and sea birds.

Explore the laid-back city of San Francisco on a guided tour. This takes in Union Square, the Golden Gate suspension bridge and China Town. Visit the waterfront tourist area of Fishermen’s Wharf, where boats still pull in fresh seafood to be served at its restaurants.

This vast protected parkland, stretching across the Sierra Nevada Mountains, is home to three of the world’s highest waterfalls. There are valleys carved by glaciers, giant sequoias, lakes, meadows and forests of intense beauty and interest to student groups.

Ranger Walks offer a fun way to learn about a variety of topics, including the Park’s geology, early people, wildflowers and trees, astronomy and bird watching by an experienced Park Ranger. Subject to availability, adding a Ranger Talk is highly recommended.

The entertainment never stops at Las Vegas. Its themed hotels compete to offer the most eye-popping spectacles and experiences from the fountain display at the Bellagio to the permanent big top at Circus Circus, and the 30-story black glass pyramid at the Luxor. Students can enjoy spectacles, shows and the challenge of the all-you-can-eat buffet.

In this below-sea-level basin, steady drought and record summer heat make Death Valley a land of extremes and striking contrasts. Towering peaks are frosted with winter snow. Rare rainstorms bring fields of wildflowers. Lush oases harbour tiny fish and refuge for wildlife and humans. Despite its morbid name, a great diversity of life survives in Death Valley.

The north fork of the Virgin River cuts through the Navajo sandstone of Zion National Park and in doing so has created the deep and narrow gorge of Zion Canyon. A variety of plants and wildlife inhabit the park’s four life zones: desert, riparian, woodland and coniferous forest and students will be enthralled examining this geologically stunning area

The Colorado River has created one of the most well -known natural formations in the world, the Grand Canyon. The massive rift in the Colorado Plateau exposes uplifted Proterozoic and Paleozoic strata and is of particular significance to student groups because of the thick sequence of ancient rocks that are beautifully preserved and exposed within its walls.

Students can see for themselves the famous places so often seen in films and on TV. Beverly Hills is the stomping ground of the rich and famous and the glitzy Rodeo Drive is where they come to shop. Or take a trip down Hollywood Boulevard and see the famous names on the Walk of Fame, a tribute to artists working in the entertainment industry.

Take a tour of this prestigious and innovative California university. It was founded in 1868 and has over 32,000 students. Tours are led by a geography student, who can show your group some of the work done in the geography department, as well as highlights of the 1,232-acre campus.