Travel Programs

Join explorer and author Andrew Evans for a vivid visual journey along the Ganges, one of the greatest river systems in the world. This astonishing waterway connects the lives of nearly 400 million humans and some of the oldest traditions on earth.

Brooklyn offers plenty of delights for lovers of art, music, nature, and of course, food. On this two-day visit, arts journalist and former Brooklynite Richard Selden introduces you to several of the borough’s top attractions.

Arts journalist Richard Selden leads a two-day tour to New York City’s northernmost borough. Discover the glorious New York Botanical Garden, vibrant neighborhoods like Riverdale, Little Italy, and City Island (it’s really an island), and great local eateries.

Many seemingly harmless scenarios can be set-ups for common scams and security risks. Join a panel of experts who reveal some of the most pervasive scams and how to avoid them, the growing threats to online identity, and the legal but unethical practices often perpetuated by the travel industry.

In this 4-session course, come on a virtual tour of four of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Asia, including both well-known and lesser-known sites with Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University. This session focuses on the Taj Mahal.

All aboard for an exciting multi-day rail journey through West Virginia’s breathtaking mountain scenery led by railroad historian Joe Nevin. 

Though not a sovereign state, Wales can compete with Europe’s best in stunning landscapes, rich history, and picture-perfect villages. Christine van Blokland of PBS’s “Curious Traveler” series offers an entertaining survey of its natural beauty, heritage and cuisine, and its decidedly curious language.

In this 4-session course, come on a virtual tour of four of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Asia, including both well-known and lesser-known sites with Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University. This session focuses on Samarkand.

In this 4-session course, come on a virtual tour of four of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Asia, including both well-known and lesser-known sites with Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University. This session focuses on the Mogao Grottos.

In this 4-session course, come on a virtual tour of four of the most intriguing UNESCO World Heritage sites in Asia, including both well-known and lesser-known sites with Justin M. Jacobs, associate professor of history at American University. This session focuses on the Potala Palace.

Sign on for a 5-day tour that explores North Carolina’s minor-league baseball revival. Watch games featuring upcoming stars, hear stories from insiders, and enjoy the best of North Carolina barbecue.

The scenic and historic Berkshire hills of western Massachusetts are alive with music, art, and theatre. Journalist Richard Selden leads a 5-day tour that offers a splendid sampling of cultural attractions in the region, from historic writers’ homes to outstanding museums to music and theatre performances.

Treat yourself to an art-filled weekend escape to Manhattan that gives you plenty of time to take in guided visits of three leading museums devoted to modern and contemporary art—the newly revamped MoMA, the Whitney, and the New Museum—and a night on the town to enjoy as you like. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Buffalo was the location of one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s career-making commissions, and his several works there have become vital parts of the city’s architectural and cultural history. Bill Keene leads a 4-day tour, highlighting significant structures by Wright and his contemporaries that make Buffalo a must-see destination for aficionados of architectural masterworks. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

The rugged landscape of western North Dakota was the setting against which Theodore Roosevelt transformed himself from an asthmatic 24-year-old into a robust outdoorsman—and a passionate lifelong conservationist. Experience that corner of the West—filled with dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—on an extraordinary tour that brings you into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.

A stone’s throw from tourist-magnet landmarks are the places that offer travelers a true taste of life in Europe’s most appealing neighborhoods. Fred Plotkin offers a guide to the lesser-known churches, theaters, specialty shops, cafes, and unusual museums that make three major cities well worth a visit.  This session focuses on Rome.