If you haven’t had time to plan a 2015 trip, there is still time! There are many destinations that won’t break the bank, and are perfect for an overnight or weekend performance trip. Keep reading to find out what makes each of our four favorite destinations for short trips unique.
Chicago
The second city is one of our first choices for weekend performance trips. Your group can get up close and personal with a T-Rex, mine for coal or meet eye-to-eye with dolphins in Chicago’s world class museums and aquariums. Afterwards, shop the Magnificent Mile, and enjoy the calm serenity of Millennium Park. Throw in a stop for the city’s classic deep dish pizza, traditional Greek dining or a dinner cruise on Lake Michigan.
Opportunities to experience the arts in Chicago are plentiful. Enjoy the Second City’s Broadway-style productions and student-friendly comedy shows, or take your group to see the world famous Chicago Symphony Orchestra or Chicago Lyric Opera. Wonderful performance venues for your group abound in Chicago as well, including the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum, the Museum of Science and Industry, and St. Josaphat Church.
Cleveland/Sandusky
For a combination of thrills, culture and fun, look no further than Northern Ohio. Get close to rock and roll’s greatest treasures, blast off to space or take a stroll as sharks swim overhead in magnificent museums. Your group can also hear one of the nation’s best orchestras perform among magnificent Art Deco architecture.
When you are ready for thrills, head over to Cedar Point Amusement Park, the roller coaster capital of the world, and then perform for hundreds of its guests. Other performance venues include the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. For a weekend student performance trip, Cleveland rocks.
St. Louis
The gateway to the west is also the perfect destination for a short trip. Visit the Missouri Civil War Museum, meet the Clydesdales at Grant’s Farm, and have an underground adventure at Meramec Caverns. Learn about blues legends at the National Blues Museum, and take in a performance of the St. Louis Symphony. No trip to St. Louis is complete without a riverboat cruise down the Mighty Mississippi and a visit to the Gateway Arch. When it’s time for your group to perform, venues in St. Louis include Union Station, the Missouri Botanical Gardens, and Grant’s Farm.
Nashville
Nashville is home to a musical history and heritage that has earned it the nickname, “Music City”. Start with a tour of the historic Ryman Auditorium and grab a front row seat for America’s longest running live radio show, The Grand Ole Opry. Explore the Country Music Hall of Fame and cruise down the Cumberland River on the General Jackson showboat. After a ride on the showboat, you may even want to take a tour of President Andrew Jackson’s home, The Hermitage.
The music-laden opportunities are plentiful, with performance opportunities at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Grand Ole Opry, and the chance to record your group in the same studio where Elvis recorded over 200 songs, RCA Studio B. Nashville will provide a thoroughly enriching musical and historical experience that cannot be had anywhere else in the world.
It’s not too late to book a spring 2015 trip to any of these destinations, or to start planning for 2016. Start by learning more about the most popular student performance destinations. Then, contact Bob Rogers Travel to get started. Even with a short trip, your students will remember the experience for many years yet to come.