There are those who go on vacation with the dream of sitting on a beach and watching seagulls drop poop on tourists.
And then there are those who want to go somewhere and be engaged, to learn as they travel and be led by people who are
deeply knowledgeable about a place or period. If the latter is appealing, you might try one of the numerous offerings
at Smithsonian Tours. This
summer they are offering their 27th Annual Oxford Seminar from August 29 to September 9, 2005.
If you are a Anglophile, this is definitely one way to go. You will explore a topic of your choosing under the
supervision of a tutor, join in class discussions, and make “privileged” visits to places to enhance your studies. A
couple of this year’s offerings are Great Britons and their Houses Shakespeare’s Great Comedies, Explorers, Settlers,
and Pirates: Understanding the English in the 16th Century. Good stuff for the hard-core engaged traveler.