HomeschoolingFor homeschoolers, we highly recommend travel in the shoulder seasons, spring and fall for a few reasons. The crowds are much smaller in the more popular destinations outside of the summer months. The big thing about this is that the park rangers are much more accessible for tons of questions and can really personalize the park's history, geology, geography, flora and fauna.
The prices are also much lower in the spring and fall because less people are traveling. If you're on a budget, we will work with you to create travel options either before or after summer. And we know about park openings and when the weather starts to get dicey.
The spring and fall can be magical times of the year depending on your destination. Yosemite Falls is best seen in the spring during snow melt. The California coast has its best weather in September and October. When does that critical mountain pass open? We'll tell you and make sure that there's a backup plan - just in case.
There are so many educational opportunities in the National parks and we've selected trips from our catalog that will give you an opportunity to visit great destinations and the time to linger and learn. Check 'em out below!  Suggested Trips Yellowstone, Glacier and Grand Teton National Parks11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $4,915For those who crave mountain scenery and don't mind doing some hiking, you'll visit some of the west's most incredible landscapes on this trip. Get up close to one of Glacier National Park's 27 glaciers by boat and foot. Tour in a historic Red Jammer Bus, or take a cultural tour with the Blackfeet Indian tribe, who've been watching over this area for centuries. Visit Yellowstone, America's first national park, with its geysers, bubbling mudpots, steam vents and waterfalls. The wildlife watching is diverse, with good chances of seeing bears, elk, bison, deer, mountain goats and big horn sheep, along with eagles and other birds of prey. A day with your own private guide will give you a look at "hidden" Yellowstone. Head into Grand Teton National Park & Jackson, Wyoming for rafting, canoeing, rodeos and more. Return to Billings via the incredible Beartooth Highway Scenic Drive.  Exploring the Southwest's Canyons and Lake Powell11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $5,050With close to two weeks, you'll be able to get into some of this area's most favorite and spectacular scenery. Explore beautiful Zion Canyon, watch the sunset on Bryce's hoodoos. Play on Lake Powell beneath towering sandstone cliffs, then gaze over the edge of the Grand Canyon. You'll start and end your trip in glitzy Las Vegas.
 Mount Rushmore, Black Hills, Badlands and Devils Tower11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $4,495This trip is designed for those who want to see some of America's history from forts to huge rock carvings of historical figures. You'll see the tracks of the pioneers who braved it all to get to Oregon by covered wagon. Then it's off to the Black Hills, exploring mammoth sites and caves along the way. Watch the lights turn on at Mount Rushmore, view the work-in-process Crazy Horse monument. Then it's off to see nature's sculptures at Badlands and Devils Tower. Catch Frontier Days in Cheyenne (last weekend in July) or visit Fort Fetterman near Douglas.
 Four National Parks of Western Canada11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $5,165Visit four of the spectacular national parks in Western Canada - Banff, Jasper, Kootenay and Yoho. Starting in the foothills in Calgary, you'll spend your time inside the parks. High rugged mountains, glaciers, waterfalls (including one of the highest waterfalls in Canada) and outstanding wildlife viewing are the highlights. Drive the incredible Icefields Parkway which connects the parks and towns of Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. You can choose to do some great alpine hikes, raft, canoe, soak in hot springs, horseback ride, walk on the edge of a glacier, take a flightseeing tour over the huge icefields, or just take in the scenery and abundant wildlife viewing.
 The Olympic Peninsula, Mount St. Helen's and Mount Rainier11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $4,825Take a behind the scenes tour of Pike Place Market in Seattle, then watch for migrating whales and other marine life on the ferry ride from the mainland to Olympic Peninsula. The scenery is incredibly diverse from glaciers to ancient rainforests to seastacks on the Pacific Ocean. Try sea kayaking or relax on a scenic raft trip through the rainforest. Hike in a lava tube created by the last explosion of Mt. St. Helen's and witness this renewed active volcano, or take a flightseeing tour over Mt. Rainier.
 Yosemite National Park, Lake Tahoe and Gold Country11 to 14 Nights | Starting from $4,250Take your time exploring some of the Sierra Nevada Mountains' finest scenery on this tour. Impressive waterfalls, towering cliffs, rounded domes, and massive monoliths await you in Yosemite. The drive over Tioga Pass takes you to ghost towns, tufa (too-fah) formations and hot springs on your way to spectacular Lake Tahoe. Activities like kayaking, hiking, horseback riding, boat tours, whitewater rafting and mountain biking are plentiful. Return to San Francisco via Sutter's Mill, birthplace of the 1849 California Gold Rush. |
Go by RV! |
