How Can 6 Local Tours Give Your Students the World?

Sometimes, you don't have to travel far to see the world. You can inspire learning within your own backyard. Brightspark Travel offers student tours to six state capitals across the U.S., providing the first steps on their journey to becoming world travelers. 

We've listed them below in order of distance from our home office in Chicago, proving that you can always keep learning - even as you approach your own comfort zone! 

Sacramento, CA (1789 miles from Chicago)

The history, politics and culture of the Golden State come alive with our Sacramento tours. As the epicenter of the California Gold Rush, Sacramento invites students to learn from its 19^th century mining towns and prominent state parks. Aside from serving as California's political capital, Sacramento is known as America’s farm-to-fork capital - "chances are, if you’re enjoying a meal in the Sacramento region, it came from a local farm." 

Your journey begins at the California State Capitol, offering lessons on each branch of local government. Continue to the Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, the site that sparked one of the largest human migrations in the world when gold was discovered. Here, students will experience life in an 1800s mining town and even pan for gold in the river!

Learn the role of the locomotive in connecting the state to the rest of the nation with a visit to the California State Railroad Museum, then head into the tunnels beneath the Sacramento History Museum. Established along the Sacramento River, the city was prone to flooding, so local citizens opted to raise their streets. The museum's Underground Tours uncover stories about the people and businesses that thrived under the city's streets. 

Boston, MA (848 miles from Chicago)

Did you know Boston’s wacky, winding streets were rumored to have been based on old cow paths? The streets aren’t oriented with regards to east, west, north, and south, so it can be a bit tricky to get around the state capital of Massachusetts. Luckily, our expert Tour Directors know all the great stops and how to get there!

Start your trip with a tour of the city's most famous sites, including the State House, which sits on land once owned by John Hancock, Massachusetts' first elected governor. Samuel Adams laid the cornerstone in 1795, and Paul Revere's company covered the iconic dome with copper in 1802. It was painted yellow before being covered with gold leaf in 1874 and gilded with 23 karat gold in 1997. Just across the street lies Boston Common, America's oldest park, "which has belonged uninterrupted to the people of Boston since 1634."

"Walk into history" on the Freedom Trail, where costumed tour guides take you along a 2.5-mile route featuring 16 revolutionary locations. Join the revolution at the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum, where you and your students can be part of live reenactments, experience multimedia exhibits and take a well-deserved break in Abigail's Tea Room.

Cap off your visit by rooting for the home team! Head to the oldest baseball stadium in the country, Fenway Park, for a tour and a Boston Red Sox game. 

Experience life during the 1950s Montgomery Bus Boycott at the Rosa Parks Museum and its Cleveland Avenue Time Machine. Gather and reflect on America’s history of racial inequality at the newly-opened National Memorial for Peace and Justice. Down the street from the Dexter Avenue Church where Dr. King served as pastor, the Civil Rights Memorial honors the 41 martyrs who died at the hands of violence during the mid-century struggle. Visitors are invited to sign the Wall of Tolerance, a digital display showcasing over half a million people who have pledged to stand against hate and intolerance.