Selecting the cities where you and your students travel is a big responsibility. That’s why we’ve created this honest review of the most traveled cities for Historic East Coast Educational Trips, Washington D.C. and New York. Modern cities steeped in American History, Washington D.C. and New York City are excellent places to travel with your students. Read this guide and decide which city is best for you and your students.
pros
Washington D.C. is the epicenter of student travel. Our Nation’s Capitol, built by the people and for the people. Your student group will love DC's world-class museums, moving monuments, and stunning memorials. Your students should see many treasures of our Nation. Your students will take pictures at the White House. See the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution at the National Archives. Walk the grounds of our first President, George Washington at his home at Mount Vernon. Have your students take part in the emotional Changing of the Guard at Arlington National Cemetery. Gaze at the craftsmanship at the Library of Congress. Or spend an afternoon with the panda bears at the National Zoo!
Affordability - Many of the activities in Washington DC are free which helps bring down the costs of your trip.
Museums - The Smithsonian Institution is the world's largest museum, education, and research complex. There 19 museums and the National Zoo. The National Air and Space Museum is a favorite for many educational travel groups. Your students will love having so many choices to pique their interest. Trip leaders often say that they could spend a week at the Smithsonian Museums. https://www.si.edu/
Your group will love the recently updated International Spy Museum. Go undercover with your students and test your spy skills on a mission through the Museum's permanent exhibitions. Your performance is tracked and you’ll receive a debrief upon conclusion. https://www.spymuseum.org/
Your group will love visiting museums that connect to their curriculum. Watching your students in the audience at Ford’s Theatre and looking up at President Lincoln’s booth will be a lifelong memory. At the supreme court, your students will learn more about our Nation’s highest court. Where will you choose to take your students?
https://washington.org/DC-focus-on/museums-national-mall
Memorials and Monuments
Your group will be in awe of Washington DC’s ubiquitous and free-to-see memorials and monuments. Imagine walking the tidal basin with the cherry blossoms in full bloom. You are breathing in the fresh air and students are having the time of their lives. The most visited sites are the
Washington Monument
Lincoln Memorial
Jefferson Memorial
Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial
Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
Korean War Veterans Memorial
World War II Memorial
US Marine Corps War Memorial (Iwo Jima)
https://www.arlingtontours.com/washington-dc-monuments
Food
DC accommodates large student groups better than any city on the Historic East Coast. Your group will love the food in Washington D.C.
Choose between premium food, courts to sit-down restaurants. Don’t miss out on eating at one of former President Obama’s favorite restaurants Ben’s Chili Bowl. https://benschilibowl.com/history
Hotels
Washington DC and the DC suburbs have plenty of hotels to meet the needs of your group. Pro Tip: If your group is staying in the DC suburbs, have your tour operator book a hotel off Highway 395. Your group will breeze through traffic and arrive at your first activity refreshed and ready to start your day.
Cons
Learning centric - Washington DC activities skew towards education which may be perceived by some as less fun. (We think DC is plenty fun). Work with your tour operator to add fun activities to balance your group’s itinerary. We love ghost tours in Alexandria!
Crowded - With affordability comes crowds. Due to popular demand, many activities require reservations which must be booked months in advance.
Metro - Because of the sprawl of the DC metro area, most groups need a motorcoach. This makes the DC metro less useful for groups. This is the opposite of the NYC subway that is super convenient and a fun way for groups to travel.
Traffic - Traffic can be an issue in the district. Make sure your group works with an experienced motorcoach company that knows the district well. Leaving your hotel early or driving in HOV lanes can save time and avoid missed appointments.
Pros -
New York City is excellent for a sightseeing school group. The lights of Times Square and the vastness of Central Park will amaze your students. Your student group will explore the hidden side of New York. Experience all that New York has to offer with your students. Watch a play at dusk in Central Park. Behold the aerial views of Manhattan and beyond from the Empire State Building. Meander the Highline and your group will see native gardens and elevated views. Visit Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty up close and personal. Spend an evening eating in neighborhoods like Chinatown and Little Italy. Finish the night taking in the view from the top of the rock at Rockefeller Center. Your student group will love NYC's mix of energy and historical significance.
Fun, energy - New York City’s energy is unmatched on the historic east coast. You’ll step off the subway and listen to buskers play phenomenal music. Everyone is in a hurry going here and there. Visit the flagship stores in Times Square
Broadway - There is no place like Broadway. There are over 40 theatres on Broadway and dozens more off-Broadway. Your students will dress up for a nice sit-down dinner and a Broadway show.
Museums - You will appreciate the educational workshops provided by many of the museums in New York. Groups we work with love the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. You’ll step into the tenement of an Irish Immigrant family and follow their story to the present day.
https://www.tenement.org/
Cons
Price - Costs of hotels, shows, food, and other attractions in NYC are a premium. While adding cost may be a non-starter for your group, there are ways to add New York to your trip on a budget.
Food for groups - This is only a slight nit. Student group dining options are limited and what is available tends to be in and around Times Square. It makes sense. Times Square is the focal point of NYC tourism and many restaurants are built to accommodate large groups. Your group will enjoy eating at local dining options or familiar chains. We recommend avoiding the chains and experiencing the tasty options NYC has to offer.
Travel with your student group to Washington DC in the spring or fall and avoid the summer crowds and sweltering heat and humidity. Experience the cherry blossoms bloom with your students. Being in DC and seeing this yearly event is something you and your group must experience. Spring weather in DC is unpredictable. Pack for snow and sun and enjoy your best DC trip in the spring. There are less crowds at museums, restaurants, and memorials than in the summer.
The fall is a great time to visit Washington DC. Pack layers of clothing and prepare for the beauty of the leaves changing color throughout the region. Your group will also enjoy discounted pricing as pricing of flights and hotels are discounted from spring and summer demand. And with fewer crowds, your group will breeze through museum entrances that tend to get busy in peak months. Our recommendation? Work with your school administration for approval to travel in the fall or spring. If your school has a spring or fall break spend part of the break making memories with your students in Washington DC.
Washington D.C. Travel Information
Choose the right time of year to take your students to New York City. No educator wants to endure the heat while waiting for a subway. Avoid the headache and travel with your student group to New York City in the Spring or early Summer. After a long winter, New York comes alive. The spring is when real New Yorkers start getting out more and that continues through summer. From outdoor plays to open-air parks there is something for everyone this time of year in New York.
If your group has a tight budget traveling in the late fall is another great time to see New York. The leaves are changing colors and you feel like you are on the set of a movie. Plan your memory-making NYC school trip in the spring, early summer, or late fall.
New York vs. Washington D.C.
2-3 days - Slight edge to New York over Washington DC. Staying in the heart of New York and traveling by subway maximizes time for activities and exploration.
New York vs. Washington D.C.
4-7 days - Washington DC all the way. Your group will take a deep dive in DC and have time for side trips to Monticello or Gettysburg. A 4-7 day trip with your students allows extra time for museums, side trips and
Middle School Students - Washington DC. Connects with 8th grade US History curriculum. There is also the added comfort of having a motorcoach and skilled bus driver.
High School Students - New York. Broadway. Art. United Nations. Culture. Great jumping-off point to see colleges in the Northeast. Your tour guide will expertly lead your students in New York. Your high school students will thrive and grow from the experience in New York.
Key Takeaways
Avoid extreme weather and crowds. Travel with your students in the spring, early summer, and fall.
If budget is a concern, Washington D.C. is your best bet. With so many free museums and monuments, your trip will be of value.
If budget is less of a concern, New York is your best bet.
Conclusion.
Combine Washington DC and New York in the early spring or late fall for an epic educational trip. Your group will appreciate the lower price points than traveling at the peak of spring and summer. You’ll love the thinned-out crowds and a chance to see the Cherry Blossoms bloom in the spring or the leaves changing colors in the fall. If you want to learn more about creating a memory making trip for your students, click the lets talk button. Happy travels!