Travel America
2nd December 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
6 Places to Go in the States After Camp Ends After your summer at camp ends, you’ll need a list of places to go in the States to round off your trip! Working at Summer Camp gives you lots of opportunities to explore America. We asked the USA Summer Camp team for their most bucket-worthy places to go in the States… Venice Beach Venice Beach is well-known for its bohemian spirit – and it’s a great place to visit! The Venice Boardwalk has lots of funky shops, street performers, and colourful murals. It’s also world famous for Muscle Beach’s outdoor gym, but there’s also a skate park. Provincetown If you’re looking for a stunning place to spend the day, you can’t go wrong with Provincetown. Provincetown has lots of different galleries, nightclubs, and specialty shops clustered together. It’s also a stunning place to spend a day by the water in the sun! Las Vegas Vegas is one of the top places to go in the States because no matter what, there’s always something going on. From concerts, festivals, boxing, and so much more, there’s a lot on offer. While you’re there, make sure you get a quick photo in front of the famous Las Vegas sign! New York City Summer Camps first started on the East Coast, so if you’re placed in New York State, the city is a must. Whether it’s visiting the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, or Times Square, you’ll have a blast. If you’ve never been to New York City, it’s a place that absolutely must be on your bucket list. Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park is a stunning natural wonder in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. Surrounded by ancient trees, the nearby Yosemite Village is well worth a visit too. Make sure you explore all the shops, the museum, and the gallery! Tracy Arm Fjord Maybe not the warmest part of America, but the Tracy Arm Fjord in Alaska is a must see. Grab a boat tour and watch as you navigate your way through stunning icebergs. Take your camera, because wildlife sightings aren’t uncommon!
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21st June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Planning a Summer Camp Road Trip Planning a Summer Camp road trip is a massive part of having an awesome summer in the States! Where’re you heading after camp? Your J-1 visa gives you 30 days to travel after your camp contract ends. It’s a great opportunity to take in as much of the US as you can handle. In today’s blog post, we talk through the key things you’ll need to remember when you’re planning a Summer Camp road trip. Destination List From the famous skylines you’ve dreamed of to the all-American ball game, there’s a whole country out there. Cramming an entire country into 30 days is probably a bit ambitious, so planning is key. Before you set out, draw up a list of everywhere you’d like to visit. Using something like RoadTrippers will help you plan the route. Transport Road trips are (obviously) all about being on the road, so finding a way to get from place to place is pretty essential. Hiring a car can be pricey, and long trips on the bus or train can be more than a bit boring. If you’re in a group, then everyone chipping in to pay for car hire would be a good way to bring the cost down for everyone. If you don’t fancy long stints driving, then a group tour might be a good way to go. One of our partners, Trek America, offers some pretty awesome groups tours. Accommodation Budget hotels, hostels, and motels will be your best friend when you’re out on the road. If you’re looking for a treat, grab an Airbnb. If you go for a Trek America trip, they offer a few different types of accommodation depending on your budget. From nights under the canvas to great hotels, there’ll be a style to suit you. Essential Items It’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement of the big picture and forget some of the essentials that’ll keep you out on the road. From an old-fashioned map, a great playlist, pillows, and chargers and cables, you’ll need to check and double check your bags before you set out. If you want a helpful guide to the essential items for a road trip, we’ve got you covered. Budget Summer Camp road trips aren’t fun if they end in disaster. Not planning the money side of a trip is a shortcut to disaster! Putting together a budget isn’t the most exciting part of planning a Summer Camp road trip, but it’s really important. From food and drink to keep you going, souvenirs and treats, entry and activity fees, as well as an emergency fund, you need to plan out what you’ll need.
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19th June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Heading to one of the best sunrise spots in America could be a great way to add yet another memory to your summer. The US has some of the best sunrise places to see the sunrise in the world; from mountains, national parks, beaches, or the heart of a busy city, there are plenty of ways to see the sunrise (or set)! There’s nothing like waking up early and getting out into the great outdoors to explore nature’s finest locations and tranquil landscapes. So, what’re the best sunrise spots in America? The Grand Canyon A no-brainer for an incredible view of the sunrise, the Grand Canyon is a great place to surround yourself around beautiful nature and grab a few photos of the sun as it comes up. As soon as the sun hits the rock, it’ll look like you’re on another planet. There’s nowhere else in the world that’ll look like this! If you’re ready to go to another level and explore the Grand Canyon by helicopter, Trek America has you covered. Cadillac Mountain Want to catch the sunrise before anyone else in America does? The morning’s first sunrise can be seen from the top of Cadillac Mountain from 5:00 – 5:30 AM in September / October time, depending on the day (you can find the exact times here). From the top of the mountain – more than 1,530 ft up – you’ll also get a stunning view of the Atlantic as well as vast, rugged coastline. Cadillac Mountain really is one of the best sunrise spots in America. It’s well worth a visit! Yosemite Valley If panoramic views in the heart of a natural wonderland are your thing, then Yosemite Valley should be on your to-do list. The Tunnel View is probably the most famous one in the entire valley and definitely the best spot to catch daybreak. Even if getting to the highest peak to see the sunrise between 6:00 and 6:30 AM in September / October is a little too ambitious and you miss the sunrise, you could easily spend the day exploring! Hatteras Hatteras in North Carolina is a great place to get back in touch with mother nature, and is absolutely stunning! No two days are never the same at Hatteras. Once you’ve taken in the view, take a walk along the beach and head towards the lighthouse. You’ll get to spend time at one of the best sunrise spots in America and explore an unforgettable seascape experience. The sun rises in Hatteras at around 6:30 – 7AM in September / October. Monuments Why not see Washington’s world-famous monuments in a whole new light? The sun rises between 6:30 – 7:30 AM during September and October! Exploring Washington when the sun’s waking up is a well-deserved treat for after camp ends. Head towards the Washington Monument for 360-degree views of the picturesque city! Apply For USA Summer Camp Today! Do you have plans to travel around America this summer? Why not apply for USA summer camp and start your summer adventure teaching activities that you love, before backpacking around America visiting some of the coolest places in the world? Apply for summer camp today and prepare for the best summer of your life.
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17th June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Essential Items for a Road Trip If you’re looking forward to exploring America, you’ll probably need to think about the essential items for a road trip. A road trip across America is on a lot of people’s bucket list. The USA Summer Camp team get a lot of questions about what to take on one! If you’re planning on doing an American road trip after Summer Camp ends, our guide to the essential items for a road trip should help. Old-Fashioned Map Smartphones and SatNavs might be the king of the modern route planner, but an old-fashioned map will quickly become your best friend. A map’s great for planning spontaneous trips as you pour over the pages or if your battery dies! Make sure you mark off all the places you visit on the map so you’ve got a souvenir. Great Playlist Imagine a road trip without music… no thanks! Before you hit the road, fill up your playlist with as many great songs as you can. Pass the hours of drive time with some sit-down raving or calm yourself down after a long day on the road with some chill-out tunes when you’ve reached your destination. We’d highly recommend some good ol’ Country to get in the American spirit! Pillows and Blankets Pack a pillow and a blanket if you want to get extra cosy and wake up feeling fresh at the next stop on your trip. We can’t even explain how important a decent night’s sleep is when you’re on the road – especially when you’re driving for long periods of time. You’ll thank us later, we promise! Road Trip Companions Other people should 100% be on your list of essential items for a road trip! No trip would be complete without your best buddies. You’ll need them for car karaoke moments, taking turns as a designated driver, and, of course, to make some spectacular memories with! They also help you look less alone in group photos! Back to Travel Tips
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13th May 2019 | Blog,
Travel America
Should I do a Trek America? There are SO many reasons to do Trek America. Having 30 days to travel America and deciding where to go first can be is so hard! Should I go to the Grand Canyon or Yosemite? Will I be able to explore all the cities I want? We totally get it. This is why Trek America needs to be on your after camp plans. *Remember, you also get 10% off off when you use the code USASC10!* USA Summer Camp’s very own Jess did her first Trek in 2016 and had the best time. Find out more below about why Trek America should be on your after camp bucket list. My Trek America Trip My very first Trek America trip was in 2016 and called Westerner 2. It started in the famous city, Los Angeles and travelled to places like Las Vegas, San Francisco, San Diego as well as part of the Route 66! I explored so many places and truly believe it’s something every summer camp counselor or traveller should do after their time at Summer Camp. You Stay in Amazing Places We camped on the bank of the Colorado River, in the Grand Canyon, and Benton Natural Hot Springs which were very different from staying in your typical hostel or hotel. If you’re unsure about camping, don’t worry, I wasn’t an experienced camper but I honestly had some of the best nights of my life! The views were so amazing and I made memories I will never forget which is one of the many reasons to do a Trek America. We did have some unexpected visitors; a few racoons and a scorpion (eek!) but I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. The Tour Guides Know Their Stuff Depending on what we wanted to do that day, whether that was hiking, shopping or eating, our Trek America Leader always knew the best places to go. They always tried to make sure we were getting a real taste of what America has to offer rather than going to the usual tourist traps. It was also nice to have someone who knew about the culture, history. I definitely wouldn’t have found out as much about the USA if I had travelled solo. Great For Solo Travellers Whether it’s your first time in America or your first time travelling solo, it can be very daunting. One of the most stressful things I came across when travelling on my own was trying to find affordable, but nice places to stay. When you go on a Trek, you don’t have to worry about accommodation because it’s all included within the price; another benefit of going with Trek America. The Trip Leader will have everything organised before you set out. They have also tried and tested the places to make sure you get a good nights sleep. Another perk is that you’ll be with a group of other travellers just like you. You’ll make so many friends that you won’t be so ‘solo’ anymore! Groups are Small so Trips are Tailored You’ll be travelling with a small group meaning the trips are more tailored towards you. When we got to the Grand Canyon, we were asked if we wanted to do a helicopter ride to see the views. I didn’t want to do this activity, but it was totally fine! Me and the others explored around the campsite while the others enjoyed their ride. It’s completely up to you! Experience America to the Fullest One of the best reasons to go with Trek America is to get the travel itch scratched. There’s so much to explore in America, but it can be extremely hard to tick off them off the bucket list. On my Westerner trip, my entry into the National Parks were all included in the price as well as a party bus around Las Vegas which was amazing. I got to do so much on my trip that I probably wouldn’t have got to experience if I travelled solo. Cheaper Than Travelling on Your Own! Overall, I was able to save so much more money with Trek America. Hiring a car, booking my own accommodation and travelling solo ended up being A LOT more than I had planned; not to mention the cost of food while travelling. The food kitty with Trek was around £10 a day where I would have been spending at least £30 on my own. All my transport, accommodation and activities were rolled into one without the worry about any of the planning and logistics. Did you know you can get 10% off your trip with Trek America? Click below to get your 30 days of travel sorted. Use USASC10 to get 10% off!
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16th May 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
The Worst People at the Airport Airports can be stressful, and the last thing you’ll want is to stumble across the worst people at the airport. If you’re travelling alone, you’ll probably find yourself doing a bit of people watching to pass the time. Today’s Guest Blogger, Rich Howard, talks us through the worst people at the airport. Impatient Traveller Pacing up and down as if it’ll make the time go faster, they’ll check the departure board every five minutes. When the board still doesn’t show their departure gate, you’ll catch a gentle huff and a not-so-subtle eye roll. Their impatience makes everyone around them feel agitated, and they’ll eventually move away. Duty-Free Panicker Novelty chocolate, gallons of booze, and more perfume than you’ll use in a lifetime. It’s all on offer. I bet there’s more than one person buying up everything they can possibly get their hands on! They lap up all advertising and shell out a load of cash, only to take up all the room in the overhead storage after their board. Sleep Wherever I Pleaser Being able to grab some sleep while your travel is an art-form, but some people take it to the extreme. Yeah, we get it! Everyone’s tired, but there’s always one person who’s in their pajamas, lay flat out in the middle of the airport without a care in the world. Even though we’re all probably a bit jealous, they probably should have just grabbed a coffee. Plug Socket Hogger There’s always someone who needs to charge their phone, laptop, iPad, and camera, all at once. You wanted to give your phone a quick charge, but you’ve got no chance. You’ll need to settle for giving them the evil eye. Plug socket hoggers might just be the worst people at the airport! Cheeky Free Upgrade Requester There should be a rule against anyone checking to see if there’s a space in first class. It’d be awesome to get at least one trip in absolute luxury, but the chances of it happening are super small. Cheeky requests for upgrades are usually met by an awkward response from staff. That means the queue’s going to take a little longer than it should have. Even if it’s just a few extra seconds!
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23rd June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
The Best Places to Visit in America After your time at camp comes to an end, your next step is to head to the best places to visit in America! Your Summer Camp visa gives you 30 days of travel time before you need to leave the US. There’s so much to see and do in America, and however hard you try, you just won’t be able to see it all. To wet your travelling appetite, here’s our list of the best places to visit in America! Miami Beach – Miami The people of Miami flock to the beaches every time the sun comes out… which is pretty much every day. Why not grab a sun lounger and kick back into a serious session of relaxation, or hire a jet ski and hit the waves? Grand Canyon – Arizona The Grand Canyon is an absolute classic must see. When you get your first look, you won’t believe your eyes. If you want to get the very best views over the canyon, why not take a helicopter ride with Trek America? Washington Monument – Washington DC Stretching up into the sky of America’s capital, the Washington Monument commemorates President George Washington. Casting a sundial-like shadow across the National Mall, it really is an amazing sight! The Golden Gate Bridge – San Fransisco Why not take the mile-long stroll across the world’s most famous suspension bridge? The Golden Gate Bridge offers incredible views of the San Francisco skyline, so it’s well worth a visit! Mount Rushmore – South Dakota Mount Rushmore is one of the best places to visit in America. Come face to face with four presidents at once! At around 60ft high, you’ll see the faces of Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln immortalized in stone. Hollywood Boulevard – Hollywood Why not take some time out to go celeb-spotting on Hollywood Boulevard? Even if you don’t catch a glimpse of a famous face, you’ll see almost 3,000 stars on the Walk of Fame.
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18th June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Free Things to do in Florida Are you looking for free things to do in Florida for after camp ends? When you think of the Sunshine State, you might think of pricy theme parks and parties. Neither of them is very friendly on the wallet, so something free might be a better option. Downtown Disney Boardwalk Experience the magic of Disney without the hefty cost of a theme park ticket! There’s so much to do on the Downtown Disney Boardwalk that you probably won’t be able to fit it all in on a short visit. If you pick the day right, you might end up watching one of Disney’s celebration carnivals. Bonus! The LEGO Imagination Center’s worth a visit too. Make sure you don’t step on any bricks barefoot… Ocala National Forest Working as a Camp Counselor will mean you’ll be working in a beautiful landscape, but you’ll want more! Ocala National Forest is right in the middle of Florida, and it’s absolutely beautiful. From nature trails to bike paths, if fresh air is your thing, then a visit here should be on your bucket list! Miami’s Skyride See Miami from above with a trip on the Metromover. It’s one of the best free things to do in Florida. The Metromover is a great way to take in places like the American Airlines Arena and the Bayside Marketplace. If sight-seeing isn’t your thing, it’s an easy way to simply get from A to B for free! Kelly Park and Rock Springs Run Kelly Park is a major summer attraction, and it’s very much worth a visit. Though it does get super busy in the summer months. There’s a crystal-clear and free-flowing river running through the park, so grab a tube and have a splash in the sun. There is a $1 admission fee, so it’s not quite free (sorry), but for less than a Pound, it’s a small price to pay for an incredibly fun day.
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15th June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Ultimate American Travel Bucket List Looking for things to add to your ultimate American travel bucket list? After camp ends, you’ll have 30 days to travel as much of the States as you can handle. Traveling America is on almost every traveller’s bucket list and a summer in the US will easily rank as the best of your life. We’ve put together a list of the top places that should be on everyone’s ultimate American travel bucket list. Follow Route 66 Any great American road trip will take in the world-famous Route 66. Running from Chicago to Santa Monica, the near 2,500-mile road is a must for any adventurer. It’ll take you through some of the most memorable scenes that the US has to offer. Visit the Capital If you get the chance to head to the capital for Independence Day, you’re in for a treat. Waving the flag and wearing the stars and stripes in the capital is a unique experience. There’s a heck of a fireworks display waiting for you and a big party too! Snap a Las Vegas Sign The Las Vegas neon sign is one of the most recognizable in the world. If you fancy heading to America’s ‘Sin City’, embrace your inner tourist and pull a cheesy pose in front of the sign. Visit America’s National Parks If there’s one word to describe America’s National Parks it has got to be ‘epic’. American National Parks are protected. There are countless places that are perfect for photos! See America on Horseback There’s nothing quite like heading off into the wild on the back of a horse. There are loads of ways to explore America’s wilderness, but horseback is definitely a unique choice. There are hundreds of horseback trails that run across America. Why not spend the day as a cowboy? Experience America’s Live Music Scene One of the best ways of throwing yourself into America’s culture is to experience the live music scene. Across America, you’ll be greeted with the sounds of jazz, rock, country, R&B, and blues. There are so many great places to discover live music in America. Great places to visit are Nashville, Austin, Memphis, and the party city itself, New Orleans!
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22nd June 2018 | Blog,
Travel America
Most Magnificent Views in America Travelling will give you plenty of opportunities to take in the most magnificent views in America. The USA is a country of hugely diverse terrain, which makes it a fantastic place to search for life-changing views. Prefer urban peaks or natural spring pools? America has both, and everything in between! Yellowstone National Park Yellowstone National Park is full of nature’s wonder and it’ll leave you in absolute awe. The best part of the park is probably the Old Faithful Geyser. The geyser looks almost multicolored because of the rock formation and the sheer depths on the spring. Sky Deck of the Willis Tower Take a trip up America’s tallest tower if you want the very best view of the Chicago skyline. The whopping 108 story building has a glass floor for those brave enough to stand on it! The Willis Tower is super affordable too – only $20 per person. The view really is worth it. The Washington Monument Washington DC boasts some of the country’s most iconic monuments, so it’s well worth exploring. The city is especially stunning at night, and easily has one of the most magnificent views in America. The best view of the National Mall and the Washington Monument is from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Denali Venture into the Alaskan wilderness and you’ll find Denali, the tallest mountain in North America. The huge peak towers well above the treetops and hugs the edges of Wonder Lake. It’s a stunning view! There’s no other mountain in the whole of the USA that even comes close to Denali’s breathtaking beauty. The Golden Gate Bridge The Golden Gate Bridge in San Fransisco is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. The bridge was built way back in 1937 and is the focal point of the whole city. You can walk, cycle, or drive across it, but however you take it in, make sure you grab a photo or two! The Grand Canyon Standing on the edge of the abyss and looking down will take your breath away. The Grand Canyon’s Horseshoe Bend is one of the most photographed locations on the planet and rightly so. If you fancy taking in The Grand Canyon by helicopter, our friends at Trek America have got your back.
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