The History Buff
Look for an enlightening vacation with first-hand insights
into the past
By Madison G. Welch
American Queen Steamboat Co.
Receive a double dose of history with Voyages to Antiquity: You'll cruise to heritage-rich locales and meet a host of guest speakers. The 378-passenger Aegean Odyssey mainly travels to far-flung destinations. It's uniquely suited to navigate the Mediterranean and rivers like the Saigon in Asia and Guadalquivir in Spain.
Consider the 10-night "Constantinople ... The Empire of the World," cruising from Athens, Greece, to Istanbul. The journey includes a stop in Canakkale, Turkey, for a tour of ancient Troy, and presentations by an onboard archaeologist and lecturer who is writing a book on Mediterranean history. Prices start at $2,595 for April 20 and $2,695 for Aug. 26.
Explore your heritage
Legendary castles, ruins and museums make the British Isles a hot spot for historians. And many Americans, as descendants of English, Irish and Scottish immigrants to the U.S., can trace their personal histories to the region.
A hotel in Ireland caters to travelers interested in local legends as well as their own family trees. The Shelbourne Dublin, A Renaissance Hotel, is near at least two major landmarks: the 800-year-old Dublin Castle and the Christ Church Cathedral, originally a Viking house of worship. There's also an on-site genealogy butler who helps travelers uncover Irish roots. Similarly, The Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh, Scotland, sits within sight of the city castle and offers a "tartan butler" for help in finding Scottish ancestors.
Join the Corps of Discovery
Retrace the path forged by two of America's greatest adventurers: Capt. Meriwether Lewis and Lt. William Clark. While the Corps of Discovery covered most of its almost 8,000-mile journey by keelboat or canoe, the American Queen Steamboat Co. invites modern-day travelers to explore the Columbia and Snake rivers of the Pacific Northwest aboard the American Empress, a cozy paddle wheeler.
The eight-day "Columbia & Snake Rivers," with pricing from $3,795 per person, travels from Clarkston, WA, to Portland, OR, or vice versa. During the trip, you'll visit a Lewiston, ID, museum dedicated to the Nez Perce Native American tribe that helped the early explorers, and tour the Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center in Richland, WA.
The information in this story was accurate at the time it was published in January/February 2015.
Please visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 510-4002 for current rates and details.
