Travel Project Class
The travel project class involves taking a simulated trip around the country. Students pick a travel destination involving several tourist attractions and make a travel booklet including all parts of the trip. They make a cover of the United States with their particular trip. This project is designed to take six to eight hours. Students can work on different facets of the trip in order to make it differentiated.
Choosing the Trip
In order to make it easier, students can pick from a list. Each trip contains at least three tourist areas. This activity can be done independently or in a group where each person takes charge of a specific location in the itinerary. All information is found in the research section of the website.
- Northeast City Spectacular – Train trip from Boston to New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C.
- Florida Special – Trip to Daytona Beach, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Key West
- California Dream- Trip from Los Angeles to Death Valley, Yosemite National Park, Tahoe, and San Francisco and Crater Lake .
- The Empire Builder – Travel by train from Chicago, Minneapolis, Glacier National Park, the Columbia River Gorge and Portland OR.
- The Four Corners – Tour Denver, Salt Lake City, The Grand Canyon, Lake Meade, Albuquerque
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- Hawaii Luau Deluxe – Tour the Big Island Maui, Kaui, and Oahu.
- Alaska Wilderness – Tour Whittier, Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Coldfoot, Deadhorse, Utqiagvik (formally Barrow)
- Wyoming and Montana – Tour Cheyenne, Jackson Hole, Grand Teton National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Beartooth Highway, Montana
- Gulf Coast – Alabama, Mississippi, New Orleans, Houston
- Tornado Alley – Dallas and Fort Worth Texas, Oklahoma City, OK, Wichita, KS,
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Choosing Places and Collecting Research
Roughly figure out the places to visit. The sequence of the trip should reflect real times as much as possible. Look up the places and make sure there is enough information to make it a good attraction. Divide up the attractions among the students in your group. Use the resources on this site to gather information using the link.
Making an Itinerary with a Budget
This is the most important part of the project. The itinerary is made very exact with times that are accurate according to mileage and suggested site visits. Each portion of the trip has estimated funds that are required for the activity. Gas mileage is also calculated. The schedule for public transportation such as planes and trains should be used for exact times. Hotel rooms should be researched with estimated costs. The requirements are open-ended and may be adapted for skill level of the students.
| Time | Trip for Two Itinerary | Cost |
| 8:00 | Leave Orlando on Alaska Airlines 419 to Anchorage | |
| 4:33 pm | Arrive in Anchorage | $1266 rt |
| 5:00 pm | Travel to Hilton Hotel | |
| 6:00 pm | Arrive and Check-in at Hilton for 3 days | $650 |
Adding Tourist Attractions with Pictures
Find your tourist attractions and write several paragraphs on each as though you actually were present in the attraction. The description needs to be accurate and in your own words. While it is good to be creative, the major attractions must be visited. Students are evaluated on how complete the tourist attraction options are presented.
Alternative Options
Planning and Taking a Trip:
The main emphasis of this activity is to design a one-day trip, complete with activities that are actually taken. As a group, students pick an appropriate trip. As a group, students will have a choice from various selections and decide on the transportation. This class is designed for students from 2nd grade to 6th grade. There are additional costs for some trip expenses. Parents are required to participate in the trip. Extensive travel resources are linked below.
Planning a Family Vacation
This activity is an interactive class with parents. Each family works with their children to plan a trip. Students will be involved in planning most of the trip.
