I think I will leave San Francisco behind for the time being, and focus on something more topical: homeschooling. My siblings and I were homeschooled for most of our lives, and while it was vastly preferable to us most of the time, I know it did provide some challenges for my parents, particularly in the area of group trips. As our primary educators, my parents had the basics covered: my dad helped us with math and science, and my mom taught us how to write papers, and helped us with history and grammar. Extracurricular activities were a bit more challenging though; finding something that was educational and age appropriate for all of us was a bit more challenging. Here are some tips for homeschooling families in regard to field trips.

Something my mom learned relatively quickly was that homeschoolers can go anywhere regular schools can. We went on trips to museums, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Zoo, just like any other kid. An advantage to this was that we could go at times when school groups couldn’t, such as the afternoon, or early evening when things weren’t as crowded.

Another thing that became an important asset was collaborating with other homeschoolers. This was especially valuable at places where group discounts, or school discounts were in place. On our own, my family couldn’t get a group discount, but when we visited with two or three other families we usually qualified for the group rates. Group tours can usually be arranged as well, and I recall going on group tours to various places around the city. Another advantage to traveling in groups is that there are more chaperons on hand to make sure kids can visit age-appropriate displays. For example, I remember being annoyed when my family would go to a museum, and we had to visit the children’s area so my younger sisters could learn at their level. It was much more enjoyable to go with kids my own age, and explore things on a level I was interested in, and my mom didn’t have to worry about me getting into trouble because another parent was there to supervise.

A final tip is to enjoy the flexibility that homeschooling brings. The fluid nature of homeschooling allows for field trips to be taken at any convenient time. Even vacations can be fit in with relative ease. I remember one April my parents had the chance to go to Florida with another homeschooling family, and we all took our school work with us, and did our homework in the evenings, giving us the chance to visit museums and other areas of interest in the mornings. It was an opportunity that made my friends pretty envious and something that can definitely be used to your advantage.

Here are a few thoughts on field trips as a homeschooler. The most important takeaway: Don’t limit yourself. Being a homeschool family may mean more work and definitely takes a lot of thought and careful execution, but with a little creativity and research homeschoolers can have the same opportunities that other students are given.

Consider this John Adams quote written to his wife just after the signing of the Declaration of Independence (excessive commas and strange use of capitalization are his:

“I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary Festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with Pomp and Parade, with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires, and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.”

That quote just makes me happy. (And thankful for the English teachers over the years who unified the capitalization rules). He was so proud and thrilled and expected nothing less from all of us for generations to come. Wouldn’t he be proud to see the fireworks displays tomorrow night around the country? I looked around online a bit and have come up with five of the best places to celebrate - if you happen to be in the area.

New York City is frankly where I’d like to celebrate all kinds of major holidays - they tend to do it well. Their 4th of July celebration is evidently the second largest fireworks display in the country all year. (The first is at the Kentucky Derby - go figure.)

But wouldn’t it be nice to watch in Boston, a city so rich with American history? Their show is not the longest in the country, but its soundtrack accompaniment is played live by the Boston Pops Symphony Orchestra. You’ve never heard the oohs and ahs to compare to this.

Washington D.C. would also be completely thrilling. To be in our nation’s capital for the celebration that is our nation. Second to the 2009 Inauguration, this would be an awesome time of year for Washington D.C. educational tours. The show is launched right on the National Mall. This is a setting of Which I think Adams would Highly Approve.

There is one place that excels in fireworks nightly almost every day of every year, and that’s Walt Disney World. This year they’re doing it big for the 4th in “Disney’s Celebrate America - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky.” Excuse me, I need to see if my husband ordered those tickets yet because, seriously, just their daily show brings tears to my eyes from the sheer magnitude of the synchronization and the happy little soundtrack that goes with it. Add that to patriotic fervor, and I’d probably join the next USO tour.

Finally, I gotta hand it to all the small towns all across America who pool their funds and put up their own version of this celebration of freedom. It makes women break into song, teenagers sit still, and veterans wipe their eyes. If none of you managed to plan your New York City graduation trips in time, then show up on the square of your own Hometown or in whichever school or fairground parking lot to which they direct you this year, and don’t forget your lawn chair and your kleenex. It’s going to be quite a show.

I bought some sunglasses the other day with the brand name [Compare our prices to] Versace. They are very big and very dark, and I bought them so I could feel like a Hollywood star when I go to the grocery store. I tried Colgate toothpaste once because Brooke Shields told me to (on a commercial), and I won’t have lived until I try a Gray’s Papaya hot dog. The first two make sense I’m sure. But I don’t think I’m the only person who does these things despite the fact that by admitting it and still doing it, I am perhaps the ultimate advertiser’s dream. Face it, most of us are influenced by the entertainment industry.

The reason I want the Gray’s Papaya hot dog is because in one of my favorite romantic comedies, Fools Rush In, Matthew Perry plays a character from New York City who raves about the Gray’s Papaya hot dog. I saw the sign again in the movie You’ve Got Mail, and I simply had to have one of those famously inexpensive frankfurters. I’ve done some research on it since then. There are three locations. The “Papaya” is for the fruit drinks sold alongside the dogs, and the owner is opinionated about politics. Cool, eh? I decided to look up some more film locations in NYC, and I found a gold mine.

There is a company there who leads tours based on movie locations in Central Park, t.v. and movie locations around the city including the Friends apartment and Seinfeld diner, and tours highlighting locations from Sex and the City and The Sopranos.

I’d like to try the Central Park one for sure, and I’d love to sit on the steps of Cosby’s famous townhouse. But I think I’ll develop a movie tour of my own one day. I’ll call it Nora Ephron’s New York City. Ephron is famous - at least to me - for putting her favorite New York City locations into her films. I want to visit Cafe Lalo and the 91st Street Garden from You’ve Got Mail. I want to arrange to meet someone at the top of the Empire State Building a la Sleepless in Seattle. And I want to see the little cheese shop they had to use for the small independent bookstore in You’ve Got Mail because Barnes and Noble - I mean, um, Fox Books Superstore - shut down all of the actual small independent bookstores, such as Shakespeare and Co., which was featured in When Harry Met Sally.

You see what I mean? This city is loaded with entertainment history. New York City graduation trips would be perfect for the Central Park movie walking tour. And as for the other locations - and the hundreds I have not even mentioned, doesn’t this bring educational tours to a whole new level?

            In researching more about San Francisco I came across some more activities that I would be interested in seeing, should I ever be fortunate enough to visit the city. Of course there are more attractions than can fit into one article, but here are a few things to consider when visiting this city.

            Every large city has attractions that you just can’t pass up. The Statue of Liberty in New York City, the St. Louis Arch, and Seattle’s Space Needle…the list goes on. For San Francisco, probably the most famous landmark is the Golden Gate Bridge. This red suspension bridge was once the largest in the world, and even today remains one of the most visited landmarks in the United States. Visitors can walk across the bridge during daytime hours for a great view of the harbor. Another must-see in San Francisco is the cable car system. I remember my grandparents raving about this, and a picture of one of the cable cars hung in my grandma’s writing room. This system is a great way to experience a piece of history first hand, as these cars were an innovative way to travel in the 1800’s. Day passes can even be purchased, which is a great option for those with small children, who may get tired of walking the hills. Speaking of hills, be sure to check out Lombard Street: a street that is famous for its tight hairpin twists and turns.

            San Francisco mornings can be foggy and cool, so plan to spend them inside one of the many museums located within the city. The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the Cartoon Art Museum, and the Museum of Craft and Folk Art are all art museums conveniently located south of Union Square. The Exploratorium is a museum that will provide all sorts of interesting sights and activities. This museum teaches science through a number of hands-on exhibits including a pitch black labyrinth that requires visitors to navigate their way through perception, dissection of crow’s eyes, and discovering the science behind baseball. An especially good place for student tours.

            Being so close to the ocean, San Francisco offers a good deal of water-based activities. Fisherman’s Wharf, while definitely a tourist trap, is a good place to see some sea lions, board a few historic ships, and even visit an aquarium. Harbor tours are another great way to see San Francisco. The Alcatraz tour takes visitors on a ferry past the island of Alcatraz, which was once used as a prison. There are also smaller tours, such as sailboat tours, that will give you a more intimate setting, so shop around and find the best fit for you.

            San Francisco is also a good place to take in a concert or show. I know my grandparents always preferred jazz, but there is also a ballet, symphony and folk music, as well as theater, musicals and improv groups. As I said before these are just a few highlights of San Francisco: hopefully this gives a good starting place for planning a vacation or student tour.

As I said in a previous article, one of the things that excites me most about big cities is the cultural opportunities. I have traveled to several different countries, and I absolutely love trying new foods, even when it’s risky (to date I have tried sushi, squid, corn flavored ice cream, and even dog!), and I adore simply watching people in a café and observing how the pace of life differs. One of the great things about bigger cities is that different cultures are so easily accessible. The food, shopping and even architecture can transport visitors to a whole new culture without even leaving the United States. San Francisco, for example is home to many different Asian populations. Here are some things to check out when visiting this city.

San Francisco is home to one of the oldest and largest Chinatowns in America. Like many Chinatowns, its entrance is marked by a large archway and there are several banks and buildings built in more traditional Chinese fashion…even some of the street signs are in Chinese. This is also a great place to shop and eat. Authentic Chinese food is one of my favorites…Americanized dishes such as sesame chicken and crab Rangoon are good, but they just can’t compare to steamed dumplings, spicy meats, and desserts flavored with red beans. See if you can master chopsticks, bargain with a shop owner for imported goods, or try a boba tea. This drink comes in many flavors including fruit, coffee and coconut, and contains sticky balls of tapioca at the bottom of the cup. I’m a fan of bubble tea because it’s like a snack and a drink all at once. The presence of Chinese people in San Francisco has even caused some of their festivals, such as Chinese New Year, to become popular.

For more Asian culture, San Francisco also has a Japantown. For those who think Chinese and Japanese cultures are basically the same thing, think again: Both may be Asian cultures, but you will most certainly have a different experience visiting Japantown. Like Chinatown it has a fair amount of restaurants and shopping, but the foods served are much different. Japanese cuisine contains a greater quantity of uncooked meats and seafood’s (resulting in dishes such as sushi), as well as more noodle dishes. Be sure to check out the five tiered Peace Pagoda and, if your group is in town at the right time, the Cherry Blossom Festival.

There are several other areas that have cultural flairs. North Beach is an Italian-dominated neighborhood comparable to other cities Little Italy’s. In addition to Italian food, Thai, Russian, Korean and more can be found within San Francisco. Choosing to visit a cultural neighborhood is a good way to experience some new things, and can even be a good option for a student tour. Students can learn a little about immigration and the types of changes it brings, and then visit one of these neighborhoods for visual demonstration. Plus it’s just fun to try new foods. So when visiting San Francisco, make sure you stop at one of these neighborhoods and start experiencing new cultures!

Orlando educational tours.  I know.  It sounds like something the student council would present just before spring break in an attempt to fool their educators into a vacation with the Mouse.  But maybe I’m underestimating Disney World’s own marketing department, because this complex has been building its educational clout easily as long as it’s been pursuing the magic.

Walt Disney was devoted to leaving a better world than the one he had entered.  Epcot, we know, is a showcase for cultural diversity and technological innovation.  I had read that entertainment always remained, in his own words, Disney’s “first and deepest production impulse.”  Yet his fantasy worlds manage to bring together art, science, and imagination in results that cannot help but teach.  I’m not interested in higher education, he said, “so much as mass general education.”

 Certainly the general mass of population frequents the Disney complexes all over the world on a daily basis.  You’ll be thankful for fast passes at the various parks with which you can grab a ticket and come back later, basically reserving your spot in line.  It’s not as easy as it sounds, maybe.  Your return time might be hours later and planning for the day, including your various return times, can get a bit tricky.  But it sure is fun to breeze by all the poor slobs waiting in line when you return with your pass.  It’s almost as fun as actually waiting in line and feeling your hair bristle as fast pass holders breeze by you. 

Don’t think Epcot is the only location in Orlando suitable for an educational tour.  The Disney parks are packed full of learning experiences, and not just how quickly a roller coaster can move from 0 to 60.  Introduce your student group to just a few of the Disney employees and see if they don’t get inspired toward career planning.  Choose carefully of course.  They will probably get an entirely different education from the cartoonist in the behind-the-studios tour than they will from the poor guy in the Goofy costume in 100-degree Florida weather.  I’m not sure, though.  I think even that guy believes the magic.

 Personally, I’ve been convinced for quite some time that Disney World actually is the happiest place on earth.  If when you get there you end up standing in line two hours for the famous Dumbo ride surrounded by what seems to be the entire population of the southern United States, all baking to third degree under the Florida sun, then you’re not doing it right.  Step back and take it in another way, because this place is meant to be savored.