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Grand Classroom Destinations
The Grand Classroom staff are experts in educational travel to national parks, including:
 Grand Canyon
"The
Grand Canyon is the one great
sight which every American should see"
- President Theodore
Roosevelt - 1903
The Grand Canyon is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The awe-inspiring view is beyond description. Licensed local guides will explain the fascinating history of the
Canyon to your students that will leave them breathless. And many adventures await your students beyond the canyon as well, such as
hiking,
rock climbing and a float down the Colorado River.
Groups can arrive/depart from Las Vegas or Phoenix. Groups that choose
Las Vegas can end the trip with a quick visit to an amusement park, as well as
an exciting dinner at Planet Hollywood. Traveling with friends and classmates has never been so exciting!
 Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks
Yellowstone is the world's first national park and is a treasure that
inspires awe in travelers from around the world. It is the premiere national
park for scenery and wildlife, and two million years of volcanism still powers
the park's geysers, hot springs, fumaroles and mud pots.
Grand Classroom guides will take your group to see geysers including Old
Faithful, hike the Continental Divide and boat down the Snake River. The
abundant wildlife will astound your group along the way.
Bryce Canyon and Zion, UT
The trip to Bryce and Zion National Parks includes the basic Grand Canyon Tour, plus a two-day visit to Utah.
Zion features 229 square miles of dramatic landscape, sculptured canyons and soaring cliffs. Zion is located at the junction of the Colorado Plateau, Great Basin and Mojave Desert provinces. This unique geography and the variety of life zones within the park make Zion significant as a place of unusual plant and animal
diversity
At Bryce Canyon National Park, erosion has shaped colorful Claron limestones, sandstones, and mudstones into thousands of spires, fins, pinnacles, and mazes. Collectively called "hoodoos," these colorful and whimsical formations stand in horseshoe-shaped amphitheaters along the eastern edge of the Paunsaugunt Plateau in
Southern Utah.
Havasupai
What is Havasupai? The Havasupai are a Native American tribe
that live on a reservation deep within a side canyon of the Grand Canyon.
The word Havasupai means "people of the blue-green water." 
With this
trip, you'll find out why. The
feature portion of the trip is a 10 mile hike into Havasu Canyon to a campground
surrounded by three beautiful waterfalls. Groups camp for two nights with
opportunities to explore the falls, hike, and swim. Our guides take care
of every detail from cooking the meals to setting up the camp. All you
have to do is enjoy the breathtaking scenery. After
you hike out, you still have two exciting days left that are spent
rafting on the Colorado River and visiting the Grand Canyon. So, ask yourself: Do you Havasu?
Alaska
Come and explore the land of the midnight sun! This seven
day trip includes visits to Anchorage, Talkeetna, Seward, Kenai Fjords and
Denali National Parks. Students will bike, hike, and paddle in the never ending
daylight. Each student will gain in depth knowledge about glaciers, indigenous
people, and wildlife, such as, moose, bald eagles, Dall sheep and grizzly
bears. Alaska is also home to North America’s largest peak, Mount McKinley.
This 20,320 foot, awe inspiring mountain, sits in the middle of Denali National
Park where students will spend the day hiking. For more details of the trip
view the seven day Alaska itinerary. Come and explore the last frontier!
Florida Everglades and Keys
Snorkel along the reef, kayak among the mangroves, take an airboat ride and tram tour through the Everglades on this exciting adventure to the Sunshine State. The tour begins in Everglades National Park, the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States where you may cross paths with many exotic and endangered species. The Florida Keys offers countless opportunities to enjoy the natural beauty and wildlife that Florida has to offer. At John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, the first undersea park created in the US, many varieties of fish, wildlife, and plant life await you as you snorkel through the crystal blue waters off the coast of Key Largo. One of the highlights of this trip is swimming with dolphins - a hands-on encounter with dolphins participating in a variety of trianed behaviors.
For more details, please view the 5-day itinerary below.
Yosemite
Yosemite National Park reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. Yosemite was designated a World Heritage Site in 1984, and is internationally recognized for its spectacular granite cliffs, waterfalls, clear streams, Giant Sequoia groves, and biological diversity. About 89% of the park is designated wilderness. Although not the first designated national park, Yosemite was a focal point in the development of the national park idea, largely owing to the work of people like John Muir.
The geology of the Yosemite area is characterized by granitic rocks and remnants of older rock. About 10 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada was uplifted and then tilted to form its relatively gentle western slopes and the more dramatic eastern slopes. The uplift increased the steepness of stream and river beds, resulting in formation of deep, narrow canyons. About 1 million years ago, snow and ice accumulated, forming glaciers at the higher alpine meadows that moved down the river valleys. Ice thickness in Yosemite Valley may have reached 4,000 feet during the early glacial episode.
Grand Classroom trips explore the valley and learn about the human history as well as the natural history. Depending on the weather, snowshoeing may also be on the itinerary.
Outer Banks, North Carolina
Come Enjoy the unmatched beauty and rich natural resources that Mother Nature has created in the awe inspiring landscape of the Outer Banks, North Carolina. From the tallest living sand dunes of Jockey's Ridge State Park, to the Wright Brothers' world-changing 12 second flight and on to the Wild Horses of Corolla, the history, ecology, marine science and wildlife you will experience on this trip will stay with you for a lifetime. For more  details, see the 3-day itineray below.
Costa Rica
Groups embark on an unforgettable tour through one of the most
spectacular areas in Central America. The tour includes the Monteverde Cloudforest – home to 400
species of birds, 100 kinds of mammals, 500 butterfly species and 2500 types of
plants. There is also a stop in the Arenal Volcano and Lava Flows, one of the
most active volcanoes in the western hemisphere. Groups go through the hanging
walkway, Tortuguero National Park or Cahuita- Canals, swim and snorkel with sea
turtles. They will also see the Braulio Carillo National Park, one of the most
biodiverse regions in Costa Rica and Río Reventazón. The trips ends with an
exciting white water rafting trip.
Smoky Mountains
Few places are as beautiful and as richly diverse as the Smoky Mountains. Ridges cascade through the landscape, providing a home for over 10,000 known species of plants and animals. Your group will uncover the wildlife, hike on some of the parks 800 trails and learn the area's human history that ranges from ancient Native Americans to Roosevelt's New Deal. You'll also go whitewater rafting, shop in Gatlinburg, and take a gondola ride into the mountains. For more details, see our sample 3-day itinerary below.
Cost
The trip cost varies from region to region and a customized quote is now available. Call 1-800-839-6424 or e-mail us at customerservice@grandclassroom.com for information.
Our trips are all based on one all-inclusive price. With one price, your students will get:
- Round-Trip Transportation
- Hotel Accommodations
- Deluxe Motor Coach
- Meals
- Admission, Taxes and Gratuities
- Medical Insurance
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