Family Fun in D.C. – Historic Thrills For All

A city of unrivaled architecture and influence, Washington, D.C. never ceases to captivate the imaginations and ambitions of visitors from around the globe with its colossal collection of monuments and memorials, museum and tree-lined parks.

Politics aside, Washington, D.C. tells the story of America and the people who have shaped it in ways that equally appeal to both adults and kids.

At the center of it all is the National Mall, and area where many of the city’s most famous attractions can be found, including the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, and the U.S. Botanic Garden. Also located along the beautiful mall is the Smithsonian Institution which incorporates the world’s largest museum complex. Among its incredible lineup of museums are the Air and Space Museum, American History Museum, Natural History Museum, and the National Zoo. You’ll find the White House just northwest of the National Mall at 16th and Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest.

Regardless if you’re staying for a week or a weekend, do make it a priority to see D.C.’s newest addition, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial located in West Potomac Park, southwest of the National Mall. The memorial is quite a fitting tribute, and on that should be experienced by all. Carved from solid granite, the image of Dr. King emerging from the stone reflects the steadfast resolve of an entire generation to achieve a fair and honest society.

Each season brings new life and activity to Washington, D.C. From the Cherry Blossom Festival in spring to the Independence Day parade and fireworks show on the Fourth of July, and the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in December, there is always a reason to celebrate.

For more information or to book your family trip, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

5 Great Summer Day Trips

Summer is here! Now what to do with all of these great sunshine filled days but don’t have time for a long vacation? Check out these great Summer day trips!

• American Girl Place - New York, NY (June 19, 2013, August 21, 2013)
  Spend a day you will never forget—at American Girl Place New York.  Situated in the heart of the Big Apple’s most prestigious shopping, cultural and business neighborhood, American Girl Place New York is much more than a store. 
  It’s a place for magical experiences and memories you will cherish forever.
  From the hustle and bustle of Fifth Avenue to a magical world of dolls, books and toys just for you – that’s how far you’ll travel when you step through their doors.  It’s your day, so lead the way into the boutiques at American Girl Place New York.
  
  
• Yuengling Brewery & Wine Tour – Pottsville, PA (June 21, 2013)
  Our first stop of the day is Yuengling Brewery, also known as America’s Oldest Brewery.  Wander through time and enjoy a taste of living history in a building that has produced fine beers through times of peace, prosperity, upheaval and world war.  At the end of the tour, enjoy samples of a few beers that Yuengling has to offer and free time in their gift shop.We will top off our tour with wine tasting at Long Trout Winery, where tie dyes and bell bottoms, 60′s music, and clean, crisp homemade-style wines like everyone’s Grandpa used to make…capture the essence of Long Trout Winery. An unequaled slice of time and tradition where being “different” is what it’s all about.  So don’t miss experiencing a perfect blend of far out wines and furry friends at PA’s “UNIQUE BOHEMIAN WINE BOUTIQUE”.
  
  
• Atlantic City Air Show – Atlantic City, NJ (June 26, 2013)
  The Atlantic City Airshow,”Thunder Over The Boardwalk,” is one of the most popular events in Atlantic City with its heart-stopping feats, aerobatics maneuvers, formation flying and solo routines by military and civilian pilots.See the show from the boardwalk or lay on the beach and catch some rays along with the show!See fly-bys and demonstrations that reach up to 15,000 feet and as low as 50 feet over the water in front of the Atlantic City skyline.  Annual performances and demonstrations have included U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds – Coast Guard Search and Rescue, and Geico Skytypers – Golden Knights Parachute Team and Much More!

• Mystery Tour – Destination Unknown (July 31, 2013)
  “Without mysteries, life would be very dull indeed. What would be left to strive for if everything were known?” ~ Charles de LintCome join us for an exciting day of traveling to unknown places.  Half the fun of this trip is not knowing where you are going or what you will be doing.  We have designed an exciting itinerary full of fun places to visit and exciting landmarks to see.  There is something for all, including a delicious meal at a fabulous restaurant that will leave you anticipating your next visit.
  Note:  Bring your walking shoes!

• Big Band Festival at Ehrhardt’s – Hawley, PA (August 14, 2013)
  The Big Band Festival on the lake in the cool Pocono Mountains will take you back in time with the classic sounds of Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman and many more!  You’ll be dancing in your seats and on the dance floor.
  

For more information or to book your Boscov’s Travel Motorcoach trip, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Experience Costa Rica

When traveling, it is not the getting there that matters, but the being there. With Boscov’s Travel and G Adventures, spend less time worrying about getting there and spend more time truly experiencing your destination.

Need some travel inspiration? Watch this great video by G Adventures and then check out our Costa Rica Quest!

For more information or to book your Costa Rica Quest, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Top 5 Reasons To Go On An Adventure

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Mark Twain

If that quote isn’t enough to make you want to go on an adventure, here are our top 5 reasons to go!

•  While adventuring you learn about different places, people and cultures first-hand. 
• Outdoor activities and fresh air are good for your health and overall well-being.
• You get to leave work behind! (No emails, no conference calls, just you and adventure.)
• Challenges can help you get a better understanding of yourself. (Try something new, climb a mountain, go paragliding, do something you never thought you would.)
• Experience all of natures beauty in its natural habitat.

Ready to go? Check out our incredible Costa Rica Quest with G Adventures!

For more information or to book your Costa Rica Quest, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Vietnam on the Rise

Special thanks to Journey’s Magazine for this great article on Vietnam.

Ho Chi Minh City

I am paralyzed with fear, standing on a sidewalk in Ho Chi Minh City, which the locals call Saigon. There is an endless stampede of motorbikes, but no traffic lights, stop signs or pedestrian crossways. Each time I step out to cross the street, another motorbike almost clips me.

A man pedaling a small three-wheeled tourist cyclo (a cycle rickshaw) pulls up in front of me. “Where you want to go? I take you. I am guide.”

“I have a guide coming to my hotel in ten minutes. I just want to cross the street,” I say.

“I take you on ten-minute tour,” the guide offers.

“I just want to cross the street,” I repeat.

“Okay,” he says. “Hold onto my bike.”

I grasp his bike and he kindly leads me safely across. He turns to me. “You either must cross very slow, or you put your hand here (he places his hand on his heart) and cross fast.”

Vietnam has five-star hotels, delicious food and some of the most exotic cultural attractions in the world, but Ho Chi Minh City has scary street-crossing problems. I look up at all the high rises of Ho Chi Minh City. In the last ten years, a new city has risen from old Saigon with nightclubs, bars, upscale air-conditioned shopping malls and luxury hotels, but there are still remnants of the old way of life.

A woman in a conical hat walks by, a pole balanced on her shoulders from which are tied two heavy baskets. A man stands behind a cart whose sign reads: “Bunhbao banh uo + hamberger.”

I head back to my hotel which is located in the French colonial heart of the city. I wait in the lobby for my guise, who will take me to the Reunification Palace, Ho Chi Minh Museum, Notre Dame Cathedral and to the 150-year-old Ben Thanh Market.

At the market, shoppers squeeze past each other in the narrow aisles. A woman arranges grapefruit pieces into lower flower petals. A vendor scoops handfuls of sticky rice into palm leaves. A man pulls fresh noodles and hangs them on a string.

That night, I stand on my balcony and gaze down at the shimmering Opera House.

Hoi An

Hoi An, a UNESCO World Heritage site, dates back to the 15th century and is famous for its beautifully preserved houses, temples, and Japanese Covered Bridge. Hoi An is also known for its tailors who will create anything in 24 hours. The tailor takes my measurements and that evening arrives in my villa for a fitting.

My guide arrives by motorbike with an extra helmet. I jump on behind him and we zoom past cyclos, bicycles and tour vans. This is the way to see Vietnam! We ride along narrow dirt trails past water buffalo, rice paddies, to an organic garden and, finally, to Hoi An.

Later, I indulge in a four-handed treatment at the resort’s spa which seems to float above a lagoon filled with pink and white lotus flowers. I drift back to my room and the tailor arrives with my dress. It fits perfectly.

Ha Long Bay

No visit to Vietnam would be complete without an overnight boat trip to Ha Long Bay, possibly the most romantic place in the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage site where 2,000 limestone islets magically jut out of the emerald sea. I watch from the sun deck of the luxurious steamer, a 37-cabin replica paddle steamer which evokes colonial Indochina. At sunset, I am still there, sipping a cocktail and trying to memorize the beauty around me on my last perfect evening in Vietnam.

For more information or to book your memorable visit to Vietnam, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Journey West with Boscov’s Travel

With so many options for travel around the globe, we often forget some of the most amazing sites are right next door, so to speak. The Western US offers many unique attractions, from national monuments and parks to best kept secrets known mostly to seasoned travelers and locals.

We’ve packaged the very best of these experiences into eleven unique, exclusive and unforgettable adventures. See the West the way it was meant to be seen, without having to drive or stress. We pride ourselves on taking the road less traveled and telling the stories that have formed the great history of the West.

These tours continue to be some of our most popular vacations and with this year’s new and updated itineraries, there is sure to be a Western tour that will help shorten your bucket list.

You can check out all of the great options and their inclusions here: Boscov’s Travel Western Tours

Tours:

• 10-Day Alaska by Land- June 1-10, 2013
  • Enjoy escorted tours around the beautiful state of Alaska including a train ride, a private sightseeing cruise and tours of Denali National Park.
• 10-Day Northern California & Yosemite - June 16-25, 2013
  • There will be no whining on this tour, but plenty of wine! Visit several California wineries as well as tour the picturesque San Francisco Bay and surrounding areas. Also, enjoy the beauty of nature in Yosemite National Park.
• 9-Day Wonderful Wild West - July 13-21, 2013
  • Tour Denver, CO; journey along the Oregon Trail; visit Mt.Rushmore; explore Yellowstone National Park and much more in the Wonderful Wild West!
• 10-Day Oregon/Washington Cities, Seashores and Mountains - July 28- August 6, 2013
  • Did you know you can visit a rain forest in the US? You can in Washington! You can also visit the Lewis and Clark National Historic Park and Mt. Saint Helen’s National Volcanic Monument and much more on this exciting adventure!
• 9-Day Northern Rockies National Parks - August 10-18, 2013
  • Explore Yellowstone National Park and take unique tours of the Northern Rockies such as an open air train tour and a tour on an antique fire engine!
• 9-Day Western National Parks - August 31 – September 8, 2013
  • Take exciting tours of Salt Lake City, UT, Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole, WY, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. Have your cameras at the ready!
• 9-Day Southern National Parks, including Lake Mead and Las Vegas - September 15-23, 2013
  • Besides living it up on the Las Vegas Strip, enjoy the beauty of the Colorado River, Arches National Park, Capital Reef National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Grand Canyon National Park and Zion National Park. This could be your lucky trip!
• 9-Day Colorado and New Mexico Balloon Fiesta - September 29 – October 7, 2013
  • Tour the Garden of the Gods and Rocky Mountain National Park, take memorable train rides through beautiful landscapes and top it all off with a visit to the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta!
• 7-Day Ozark Autumn with Branson - October 13-19, 2013
  • This trip is packed with entertainment! Enjoy dinner and a show at Dixie Stampede, an acrobatic display during the Acrobats of China Show, and the musical stylings of the Oakridge Boys and the 12 Irish Tenors. And don’t forget touring the lovely landscapes and museums of the area.
• 7-Day Colorado Christmas - December 3-9, 2013
  • Enjoy the holiday season in gorgeous Colorado! Take part in a Christmas parade, enjoy the Christmas lights and even do some holiday shopping at the Georgetown Christmas Market.
• 7-Day Southern California with Rose Parade – December 30, 2013 – January 4, 2014
  • Get a behind the scenes look at the Rose Parade before enjoying the finished product. Also, tour all that Southern California has to offer including Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Reagan Presidential Library and Warner Brothers Studios!

All of the Boscov’s Journey West packages include the following:

• Airport transfers in your destination cities (except for pre- and post-tour arrivals)
• Deluxe motorcoach transportation throughout the tour
• First class accommodations
• Several meals
• Services of a professional Journey West Tour Director
• Admissions and guided tours of all included activities
• Porterage of on piece of luggage throughout the tour
• Souvenir memory group photo
• Special photo album
• All taxes and gratuities for the Tour Director and Driver

For more information or to book your Journey West adventure, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

The G Project

What will you do today, for tomorrow? This is the question being asked in a global initiative seeking ideas to generate positive change in the world.

The G Project, powered by G Adventures and its non-profit foundation Planeterra, encourages people to submit ideas that will help solve social and environmental issues at a local level.

Submissions will be collated and showcased on the G Project website and the four people with the ideas with the greatest potential will be invited to pitch to a panel of high-profile judges in Costa Rica. The person with the idea the judges believe will have the most positive impact will receive a US$25,000 development grant and the backing of Planeterra to bring their project to life.

Participants can register their ideas up until June 3, 2013 in one of four categories: Community, Freedom, Beauty or Knowledge. Entrants must complete a questionnaire identifying the critical need, the impact their idea will have and the feasibility of execution. Opinions on the ideas submitted will be publicly canvassed online and a list of 16 will be announced on June 4, 2013.

A panel of thought leaders, innovators and social entrepreneurs, including Lonely Planet’s Tony Wheeler and Dr. Jane Goodall, will then select a shortlist of four finalists based on a set of criteria that favour small-scale, sustainable ideas that focus on local communities and have a strong social element.

The four finalists will be announced on June 24, 2013 and they will then be flown out to the inaugural Summit in the Jungle in Costa Rica in September. Here they will hone their ideas before pitching them to G Adventures’ founder Bruce Poon Tip and a selection of judges.

“The G Project is more than traveller philanthropy or charitable giving. It’s a unique initiative designed to bring people from different backgrounds together to lead, build and foster positive change all over the world,” says Poon Tip.

“The G Project was devised as a means to help and enable aspiring change-makers to take their idea from conception to action and impact.”

Meet the Panel

• Braulio Dias – Assistant Secretary General of the UN & United Nations Executive Secretary on Biological Diversity
• Jane Goodall – Founder, Jane Goodall Institute; Humanitarian; Primatologist; Conservationist; Author
• Jonathan Tourtellot – Founding Director of National Geographic Centre for Sustainable Destinations; Writer Editor
• Cameron Sinclair – Co-founder, Architecture for Humanity
• Tony Wheeler – Co-founder of Lonely Planet; Traveller; Entrepreneur
• Les Stroud – Star of the TV series Survivorman; Filmmaker; Outdoor Adventurer
• Wade Davis – Explorer-in-Residence, National Geographic; Anthropologist
• Jennifer Adams – Founder & Executive Director of Places We Go; Filmmaker
• Jordan Romero – Youth Health Advocate; Mountaineer; Fundraiser

The winner will be announced on September 24, 2013 at the Future of Tourism event in Toronto, Canada.

For more information please visit: www.thisisyourplanet.com.

About G Adventures
G Adventures is an adventure travel pioneer offering the widest selection of affordable small-group tours, safaris and expeditions to more than 100 countries on all continents. It was the first adventure travel company to offer 100% guaranteed departures in 2013. Powered by an international team of passionate travellers, the award-winning trips embrace authentic accommodation, exotic cuisine and local transport to put travelers on a first-name basis with the planet’s people, cultures, landscapes and wildlife. The intimate, authentic and sustainable approach to small-group travel introduces travellers to the highlights of a destination while offering the freedom to explore it on their own. Whatever age, interest, ability or budget, G Adventures has a genuine life-changing experience. For more information please visit www.gadventures.com.

About the Planeterra Foundation
Established in 2003 by adventure travel tour operator G Adventures, Planeterra is a non‐profit organization that supports social and environmental solutions in destinations around the world via its global network of travellers. The foundation focuses on local education, health, small-business development, emergency relief and conservation work. For more information please visit www.planeterra.org.

Adventures with Carol – Paris to Normandy’s Landing Beaches

Have you ever dreamed of exploring culturally rich city of Paris? Seeing the romantic French countryside? Visiting the historic sights along the beaches of Normandy? You can do all of this and more when you go with Carol on her next adventure.

Who is Carol and why you should go on her adventure?

Carol is a regional manager with Boscov’s Travel and is based in our Neshaminy office. She has been in the travel business for 35 years and has escorted groups of 20 travelers-389 travelers to Alaska, Hawaii, Germany, the Caribbean. Many travelers in these groups have returned to go on more adventures with Carol. Her goal is always to make everyone feel excited about their journey and is always accessible  through out the trip. If you are looking for fun and excitement, an adventure with Carol is the way to go!

 Where is Carol’s next adventure heading?

Carol is off to France! More specifically, she is going on a Paris and Normandy river cruise. She chose this adventure for very special reasons. This cruise will be celebrating the 70th anniversary of the D-Day Landing and also, the 100th anniversary of WWI. Not a history buff? That’s alright, this cruise is also a culinary cruise offering wine tastings and special cooking presentations. Carol likes adventures that offer something for everybody.

This trip includes an overnight stay and half day guided excursion to the magnificent Palace of Versailles  in Paris before boarding your ship: the Avalon Creativity for your 7-night cruise. The Creativity offers unmatched service; first-class amenities such as Wi-Fi access, fitness center, hair salon and a whirlpool on the Sky Deck; and staterooms that are 15% larger than the industry standard. Each stateroom has floor-to-ceiling windows to give you a panoramic view of the French countryside as you cruise along.

Authors, Artists and Apparitions: A Spirited New England Motorcoach Tour

Looking for a fun, ghostly fall tour? Well, you’re in luck because we’re hosting another spooktacular motorcoach tour with our favorite creepy Tour Guide, Charles J. Adams III.

Charlie is an established author, tour guide and paranormal expert specializing in ghosts, hauntings, lore and legends. He has written more than 30 books, conducted ghost tours in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Scotland, Wales and England; and has been a featured commentator on A&E, TLC, MTV, National Geographic Channel, History Channel and the Travel Channel. Are you impressed? I know I am! Spend five days and four nights traveling to Connecticut and Rhode Island with lots of great stops and guided tours along the way that will send chills up your spine!

“Authors, Artists and Apparitions”
A Spirited New England Motorcoach Tour
September 9-13, 2013

Your New England Tour Includes:

• Round trip transportation via private motorcoach equipped with reclining seats and restroom.
• Four (4) nights’ hotel accommodations – 2 nights in the Hartford, Connecticut area, 2 nights in Newport, Rhode Island.  Baggage handling for one bag per person included
• Seven (7) Meals – four (4) Breakfasts, one (1) lunch, two (2) dinners
• Guided tour of SUNNYSIDE, home of Washington Irving, author of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Tarrytown, New York and walking tour of the SLEEPY HOLLOW CEMETERY, Sleepy Hollow, New York
• Guided tour of the MARK TWAIN HOUSE, Hartford, Connecticut
• Tour of the NORMAN ROCKWELL MUSEUM, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
• Visits to HISTORIC DEERFIELD VILLAGE and YANKEE CANDLE, Deerfield, Massachusetts
• GUIDED WALKING TOUR OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS – Learn about Salem’s haunted past, the infamous Witch Trials, chilling cemeteries and documented paranormal activity
• Admission to the FALL RIVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY, Fall River, Massachusetts.  The Society’s extensive collection contains artifacts relating to the rich and varied history of Fall River, including artifacts and manuscripts relating to the life and trial of Miss Lizzie Borden.
• Tour of the LIZZIE BORDEN BED & BREAKFAST MUSEUM, Fall River, Massachusetts.  Visit the house where Andrew and Abby Borden were found mysteriously murdered.  Their daughter, Lizzie, was tried and acquitted for the murders which were never solved.
• GUIDED DRIVING TOUR OF NEWPORT, RHODE ISLAND
• Tour THE BREAKERS, one of Newport’s famous Gilded Age “Summer Cottages”.
• EVENING WALKING GHOST TOUR of Newport, Rhode Island.  Take a lantern-led stroll down shadowy lanes and discover the ghosts, ghouls and legends of this haunted city by the sea.
• Admission to MYSTIC SEAPORT, Mystic, Connecticut.  Discover American maritime history first-hand as you climb aboard tall ships, stroll through a 19th-century coastal village, explore exhilarating exhibits, and watch a working preservation shipyard in action.
• Services of a Professional Boscov’s Tour Escort
• All taxes and gratuities for included features

For more information or to book your spooky adventure today, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist by calling 800-755-8020 or emailing travelrequest@boscovs.com.

Top 5 Honeymoon Planning Tips

So you’re getting married! Congratulations!

Now comes the stressful part: planning the wedding. There is so much to do and think about before the big day. Just remember that a nice, relaxing honeymoon comes at the end of all of the stress.

Make planning the honeymoon almost as enjoyable as the trip itself by following these five easy tips:

1. Where to go
   Everyone has their own idea of the perfect honeymoon location, but it is important to decide on the location as a couple. Consider making separate lists of ideal spots and then compare your lists to see if any destinations match. Also, be sure to take the time of year into account when choosing a destination if you don’t want to get caught honeymooning in a climate’s “rainy season” or other unfriendly weather.
2. What to spend
   It is important to set a budget when planning your honeymoon. When planning a week long honeymoon couples tend to spend $3,000-$6,000 when everything is included. The average honeymoon costs around $3,000-$4,000.At Boscov’s Travel we offer a Honeymoon Registry where you can ask your friends and family to put money towards your honeymoon in lieu of cash or other wedding gifts. Also, ask about special financing when using your Boscov’s Credit Card.
3. What to do
   You don’t want your whole honeymoon to be scheduled. After all, you are supposed to relax and enjoy yourself after all of the wedding planning stress. However, it is a good idea to plan some things in advance such as spa time, an excursion or special dinner.
4. Get ready
   If you are traveling outside of the country, make sure your passports are updated well before your departure. Travel with copies of your ID and passport photo page in your luggage and also leave copies with a trusted person at home in case one or both get lost in transit. Brides, be sure to get your travel documents (i.e. plane tickets) in your maiden name. If you are traveling shortly after your wedding day, you will not have time to have your name legally changed before your honeymoon.
5. Get help
   Planning your wedding is already stressful enough. Let an expert Travel Specialist help. Not only do Travel Specialists have plenty of experience planning honeymoons, but they are also very knowledgeable about destinations and deals. Stress less and let someone help you book the honeymoon of your dreams.

If you are in the Reading, PA area, be sure to check out our Sandals Night on January 15, 2013!

For more honeymoon tips and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020.