Student Youth Travel Association revealed the most popular U.S. and international destinations for educational tours in May 2010. New York City was the #1 choice for domestic student travel. School trips destined for New York City will want to add the newest, state-of-the-art attractions to their itineraries. These include the U.S.S. Intrepid Museum, Bodies the Exhibition and Blue Man Group. I am certain there are also many new restaurants, shopping and sightseeing opportunities in New York City. I am keeping my list to these attractions for this particular article due to limitations with space.

School Trips to NYC: Visit Interactive Museums

These days, new and updated museums and attractions tend to have the latest technology installed at their exhibits to keep the attention of student tour groups. This includes audio and video podcasts, and interactive features that make it possible for students to reach out and touch the artistic and/or historical periods they are studying through the use of technology. Student tour groups can even receive text alerts and ‘tweets’ about new exhibits and specials at these popular destinations if they choose to follow a chosen venue on Twitter or on their cell phones.

This fall, I am recommending these destinations to student travel groups headed to New York City because they attract and keep the full attention of educational student tour participants.

Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum

The Intrepid Sea Air & Space Museum re-opened in late 2008 with a wealth of new exhibits and programming. The Intrepid served in World War II, Vietnam, and during the Cold War in addition to being a primary recovery vessel for NASA. It is one of the most successful and visible aircraft carriers in history. Student travel groups will not want to miss the new interactive displays. School groups can ride in an A-6 Cockpit Simulator or experience the Virtual Flight Zone. The Concorde was the world’s fastest commercial airplanes, and is open for touring as well. Students can step into the cabin and view the cockpit, Groups will also want to take an inside look at life on a submarine by visiting the Growler Submarine, once a top secrete missile command center. Student tours will gain valuable insight into the Intrepid’s role in World War II and the Vietnam War, so a visit to the Intrepid will dovetail nicely with curricular studies in this area.

Bodies The Exhibition

One of the most innovative public exhibitions of the body is now in New York City at the South Street Seaport, Pier 17. School trips headed to New York can book a stop at Bodies The Exhibition, a nationally acclaimed success. The exhibit illustrates the most intimate details of the body using the latest polymer preservation technologies. Real bodies and authentic human organs are on display at this exhibit -- a fact that continues to be at the core of the controversy of the show. Student groups are able to consider real human skeletal, muscular, nervous, respiratory, digestive, urinary, reproductive and circulatory systems. This is a learning experience unsurpassable by any other. Students can see the impact a healthy life has on the body and also the perils of unhealthy life choices such as smoking or eating foods rich in fat. Science students studying anatomy and biology will find this exhibit parallels their course work. Health and art students will find applications for Bodies The Exhibition in their academic work, too.

Blue Man Group

This high tech stage performance that combines performance art, music, visual art and more has a wide appeal to student tour groups. High school trips headed to NYC will find the show engaging because it speaks directly to them -- the children of the digital age. Three men, painted in a mask of blue and wearing black, dance and perform wild antics filled with color, sound and light. This high energy, exhilarating show is accompanied by electronic music and special visual effects that make the blue men come alive on stage. Blue Man Group can be seen at venues across the U.S. They are currently housed at the Astor Place Theater in New York City. Student travel groups headed to New York will want to book performances months in advance to make certain they can obtain tickets.

Let’s face it: students these days have access to the latest technology and they love to use it. New and updated exhibits are being designed with interactive features so audiences can feel like they are part of the exhibit – not just onlookers. The U.S.S. Intrepid Museum and Bodies the Exhibition utilize the latest technologies in unique and exciting ways. Experimental theater has made many creative attempts to bring the audience closer to the actors and actresses and the action on stage. Blue Man Group does this through props, electronic music, and surprises for the audience. All of these destinations promise and deliver exciting opportunities for the student traveler.

To learn more about educational tours to New York City and to view sample itineraries, visit http://www.educationaltravelconsultants.com.