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During this all-day tour with horticulturist Chelsea Mahaffey, spend the morning at Oak Spring, the former home of philanthropists Paul Mellon and Rachel “Bunny” Mellon, usually closed to the public. The nearly 700-acre estate includes the main Mellon residence, its extensive gardens with examples of Bunny Mellon’s landscaping, and the formal greenhouse. The afternoon takes you to the University of Virginia’s Blandy Experimental Farm on the former Tuleyries estate, which includes the State Arboretum of Virginia.

Assateague Island National Seashore and Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge are home to natural splendor, cultural treasures, and coastal charm. Spend two days with naturalist and educator Liana Vitali immersed in island life, exploring the natural wonders the barrier islands have to offer—and hear the lore of the Chincoteague ponies’ origin.

From the period after World War II through the late 1960s, the Mid-century Modern design movement swept through the United States and Europe, emphasizing functionality, clean lines, and simplicity. Design historian Elizabeth Lay Little leads a tour to eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey that explores how the movement took root in the region. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The Philadelphia region boasts the title of America's Garden Capital­, and with more public gardens than anywhere else in the country, it’s a well-deserved one. Spend a day with horticulturist Chelsea Mahaffey exploring two captivating green spaces in the area— the Scott Arboretum on the Swarthmore College campus and the Brandywine Valley’s Mt. Cuba Center—and gather new ideas for your own home garden.

Frank Lloyd Wright left an indelible signature on the American Midwest: a legacy of buildings that trace the arc of his career as one of the world’s most significant and innovative architects. This 5-day tour led by historian Bill Keene offers a one-of-kind opportunity for a close-up look at a wide range of Wright’s designs in Illinois and Wisconsin, as well as visits to seminal works by other architects of the early and mid-20th century. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Naturalist Matt Felperin leads a two-day adventure for nature lovers that explores the Delaware Bay and its environs, where the diverse life of a tidal marsh and the expanse of the bay come together. From observing horseshoe crabs breeding by moonlight to visits to the Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge, the Dupont Nature Center, and local beaches, the tour offers insights into a habitat in which a wide range of migratory shorebirds play a key role.

Tucked away along coastal Maine, Hog Island is the home of a National Audubon Society camp that has been operation since 1936. Isolated from the outside world and filled with both pristine forest and coastal habitats, the surrounding Muscongus Bay teems with terns, bald eagles, common eiders, and seals. Naturalist Matt Felperin shares his experiences at the camp, displays striking wildlife photos, and reveals why Hog Island should be on your bucket list of nature-education programs.

Beginning in the early 19th century, the artists who came to be known as the Hudson River School of painting visited and lived in the Catskill Mountains, drawn to the region’s sublime vistas. Over the course of a three-day tour, share the perspectives of these artists as historian Paul Glenshaw explores the homes and studios of Thomas Cole, Jasper Cropsey, and Frederic Church. A private tour of the William Louis-Dreyfus Foundation collection, a visit to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome, and lunch at an innovative local farm highlight today’s Hudson Valley. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1 credit)

Travel back to 1638 in Wilmington, Delaware, with a daylong immersive exploration led by transportation expert Scott Hercik. In that year, Swedish and Finnish settlers arrived on the ships Kalmar Nyckel and Fogel Grip, landing on the Christina River at the site of present-day Wilmington and eventually creating the first permanent European settlement in the Delaware Valley. The day includes visits to the Copeland Maritime Center and Museum and Old Swedes Historic Site and an afternoon voyage on a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel.

What do a giant rocking chair, the world’s largest wind chime, and a field of spray-painted Cadillacs have in common? Nothing much, except that they're all examples of the thousands of unique, amusing, and sometimes-bizarre roadside attractions that travelers across America visit each year. Travel expert Bill Clevlen offers some of the stories behind many of these quirky tourist magnets and reveals why they’re worth a stop­—or at least a photo op.