Recent data from EF Go Ahead Tours and Qualtrics Research reveal that 73% of American travelers want tours centered on U.S. history. While many have visited iconic cities like New York and Washington, D.C., fewer have explored the birthplaces of the nation’s independence. To bridge that gap, EF Go Ahead Tours has outlined six itineraries that combine historic landmarks with natural wonders, offering families and faith‑oriented travelers a chance to experience the country’s founding story firsthand.
Western National‑Park Adventure
This route threads seven national parks across six states—Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef, Arches and Yellowstone. Visitors stand on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, wander the hoodoo‑filled cliffs of Bryce, and watch Old Faithful erupt amid roaming bison. The itinerary showcases the geological forces that shaped the continent, reminding travelers of God’s handi‑work in creation.
Hawaiian Heritage Journey
Hawaii’s islands tell a story from ancient Polynesian navigation to the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack that thrust the United States into World War II. Highlights include the USS Arizona Memorial on Oahu, active lava flows in Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island, and the scenic Road to Hana on Maui. The three‑island tour offers a week‑long immersion in culture, history and breathtaking coastlines.
Alaskan Frontier Experience
Alaska, larger than Texas, California and Montana combined, offers grizzly‑filled rivers, towering peaks and the aurora borealis. Travelers move from Fairbanks to Denali National Park—home to North America’s highest summit—then south to the tide‑water glaciers of Kenai Fjords near Seward. The itinerary honors the land’s millennia‑old Indigenous heritage while highlighting the state’s 1959 entry into the Union.
New England Revolutionary Trail
Starting in Stowe, Vermont at the von Trapp Family Lodge, this tour visits Boston, Lexington and Concord, and the historic streets where Samuel Adams and Paul Revere organized resistance. The itinerary also offers a chance to explore Maine’s rugged coastline, where early colonists forged livelihoods before the Republic existed.
Autumn in the Green Mountains
October foliage draws visitors to Vermont and the Berkshires. The itinerary showcases Stowe’s postcard‑perfect village, Woodstock’s artist community, and the Pioneer Valley’s historic college towns. Alongside the vibrant colors, travelers learn about Puritan settlements, the witch trials and the abolitionist movement that shaped the region’s moral legacy.
Rail‑Powered Western Expedition
Celebrating the transcontinental railroad’s 1869 completion, this journey combines train travel through the Rockies with visits to Arches and Zion National Parks. Highlights include a Colorado River float through Castle Valley, a sunset Hummer ride in Moab’s red canyons, and a hike through Zion Narrows. The itinerary reflects the spirit of 19th‑century pioneers who linked coast to coast.
The EF Go Ahead survey also found that 57% of travelers prefer a mix of city and natural settings, and 75% plan to travel within the next two years. With the nation’s 250th anniversary providing a focal point, these tours invite families and faith‑centered groups to deepen their understanding of America’s founding, its landscapes, and the values that continue to guide the Republic.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
