Doug is a software engineer at Explorica’s Boston office. He recently joined a group on a trip to the Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion National Parks. Here’s what he had to say about the tour:
Which tour did you go on, and why?
I choose the “Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion National Parks” tour because I love the outdoors! The trip focused on spending time in national parks, learning about them, and how we can work together to preserve their beauty.
What was the itinerary like?
Generally, we spent two days in each location and explored the various spots of natural beauty around our hotel. Each day we would participate in one or more activities. For example, one morning we hiked around Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah and observed the notorious “hoodoo” rock formations. Then, in the afternoon, played in the Coral Pink Sand Dunes nearby Bryce.
What was your favorite part of the trip?
My favorite park of the trip was hiking in “The Narrows” of Zion National Park. It was such a cool experience hiking through a river but if I go back, I will take advantage of their rental boot program. For the next two days I was walking around in damp boots!
What was your tour director like?
Elisabeth was a very passionate, excited, and knowledgeable tour director. When I met her in the airport, her first questions for me were what I wanted to get out of the trip. She understood I desired to learn about not just the environment, but also the culture of the areas we were experiencing. When there was a piece of interesting information that was not appropriate for children, she would pull me aside and fill me in!
Was there any part of the tour where you felt like the students really “got it”?
I was impressed with the group’s attitude the whole tour. The program leader and other chaperones did a great job of keeping the students focused on the trip as an educational experience. The students impressed me with their knowledge of the national parks. Before arriving at each, a few students would present some research on the park. It was a great way for me to learn before enjoying the sights in person and demonstrated that they had really prepared for their trip.
What tips do you have for someone who wants to go on this tour?
Ask your tour director questions! By asking my TD questions she was able to determine what I was interested in. She was able to then show and teach me things that I really wanted to learn.
What are your future travel plans?
I’d like to travel to Canada to see some of the natural parks up there! I told the program leader that I want to get on another one of her trips. She was so welcoming and was excited to have me join their trip. That made the whole experience that much better.
Take your students on an unforgettable journey through some of the U.S.’s gorgeous natural sites on our Grand Canyon, Bryce & Zion National Parks tour.