The Smithsonian’s flagship travel program, Smithsonian Journeys,
offers global educational travel itineraries led by expert study leaders. Travelers stay at luxury hotels, dine at fine
restaurants and participate in tailor-made tours and lectures. SJ has recently introduced a series of
Member’s Choice Tours, crafted from actual articles
featured in Smithsonian Magazine, to commemorate the publication’s 35th anniversary. Browse their website and
monthly Vistas newsletter to learn more about the
large selection of tours they offer.
Airfare is not usually included in the price of these trips, but if you want to score a deal right now, sign up by
November 30 for the April 2006 Iberian
Peninsula Tour and round-trip airfare is free. This is a particularly pricy trip since it includes a Mediterranean
cruise aboard the luxurious small ship Le
Levant.
For those who’d like to participate in a slightly more affordable Smithsonian experience, they also offer a
Travel
Adventures series, in partnership with Collette Vacations. These enlightened vacations seek to introduce travelers
to the customs and values of a particular foreign land. Itineraries for 2006 and 2007 include trips to Costa Rica,
Newfoundland, Alaska and Iceland.
You must be a Smithsonian member to sign up for any of these trips — annual membership is $29 and includes a year’s
subscription to Smithsonian Magazine.