Study/Travel 2024 – Grand European Tour

Our LLI/NOVA Grand European Tour by Viking River Cruises was a remarkable and unforgettable experience. This iconic itinerary took us on a captivating journey through some of Europe’s most legendary rivers, showcasing a diverse array of destinations, each with its own unique charm.

The adventure began in the Netherlands, where we explored the picturesque canals, world class museums, and scenic historic windmills. From there, the cruise continued along the Rhine River, passing by the stunning Rhine Gorge with its charming vineyards and medieval castles. Stops in Cologne, Germany offered the chance to marvel at the impressive Cologne Cathedral and explore the city’s rich history and culture.

The adventure continued with remarkable stops that included the historic city of Nuremberg, known for its well-preserved medieval architecture and fascinating history. The cruise

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Study/Travel 2024 – Grand European Tour

navigated through the Main-Daube Canal to reach the beautiful city of Regensburg, with its well=preserved medieval old town and majestic Gothic cathedral.

In the picturesque Wachau Valley in Austria, we immersed ourselves in the region’s stunning landscapes, vineyards, and charming villages. In Vienna, we explored its magnificent palaces, world-renowned music scene, and elegant coffeehouses.

Along the Danube River to Budapest, Hungary, we admired the city’s breathtaking architecture, relaxed in its famous thermal baths, and savored traditional Hungarian cuisine. The Grand European Tour offered a perfect blend of iconic cities, historic landmarks, and breathtaking scenery, providing a truly immersive and enriching travel experience that left us with cherished memories for years to come.

Study/Travel 2023 – Jewels of Ireland

Our LLI/NOVA “Jewels of Ireland” trip May 2023 that circumnavigated the island was truly amazing! Our tour group was exclusive to LLI/NOVA members and members’ friends and family and consisted of 12 travelers. Ireland is a beautiful country with a rich history, stunning landscapes, and vibrant culture. The weather was beautiful, with some brief rain on only two occasions during our entire two weeks there. Our driver/tour guide told us that it only rains twice a year in Ireland – from January to June and from July to December, and also advised that if you see clouds, it’s either raining or about to rain! So, we were indeed lucky.

We started in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, where we experienced a lively blend of history, modernity, and culture. Group members explored iconic landmarks that included the Guinness Storehouse, the Teeling Distillery, the Irish Emigration Museum, the St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Christ Church Cathedral, and the Book of Kells at Trinity College.

We then travelled south, west, and then north to other cities such as Kinsale, Dingle, Galway, and Donegal that offered their unique charms, history, markets, and friendly locals. Although the way, we kissed the

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Study/Travel 2023 – Jewels of Ireland

Blarney Stone, learned to make Irish coffee, observed a sheepdog demonstration, and we saw castles, abbeys, sheep, and medieval stone walls everywhere we went.

Ireland’s natural beauty was truly awe-inspiring. The lush green countryside, rugged coastlines, and charming villages created a postcard-perfect setting at every turn. We hiked the dramatic Cliffs of Moher, the picturesque Ring of Kerry, and took a catamaran around the Bay of Galway.

In Northern Ireland, we visited Derry, Belfast, and the Giant Causeway along the beautiful coast of the Irish Sea. In bustling Belfast, we visited the Peace Wall which was erected during their “Troubles,” as well as the Titanic Museum. We then traveled south to visit the Neolithic tomb sites at Newgrange and Knowth, dating from 3,200 BCE.

Rod Dyck has provided pictures of our trip, and they are posted in the Galleries section. Click on 2023 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click HERE.  

Study/Travel 2019 – The Great National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Mount Rushmore

Wow!  What a great trip.  The Western parks are amazing, and we saw wildlife everywhere.  This was Grand Circle Travel’s (GCT) “The Great National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Mount Rushmore.” If you are interested in the specific trip information, view the travel flyer (click the green button below) or you can go to our Grand Circle landing page (click the link).

Our tour began on June 14, as we flew into Salt Lake City, and we returned on June 26 from Rapid City. Along the way, in addition to the named parks in the tour title, we made stops at Salt Lake City (including listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir), Jackson (including a float trip on the Snake River), (continued in the next column)

Study/Travel 2019 – The Great National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Mount Rushmore

Cody (including the Cody Rodeo), Sheridan, Devil’s Tower, the Badlands, and the Crazy Horse Memorial, i.e., all the great parks and places you have always wanted to visit.  Several of us took the post-trip option to Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section. Click on 2019 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click here.  

Study/Travel 2018 – Dubrovnik to Venice

Our primary trip was CIE’s 11-day tour “Dubrovnik to Venice.”  This tour of the Adriatic coast was from May 14 to 25, 2018. This was an LLI/NOVA Study/Travel exclusive tour, but friends and family were welcome. Click the green button below to see the trip flyer.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section. Click on 2018 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click here. 

Study/Travel 2018 – The Canadian Maritimes: Novia Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island

Our secondary trip in 2018 was Grand Circle Travel’s 14-day tour, “The Canadian Maritimes: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick & Prince Edward Island.” This tour departed on Wednesday, August 8, 2018, from Dulles, and the returned on Tuesday, August 21, 2018. We had 16 LLI members (and friends and family) on the tour. Click the green button below to see the trip flyer.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section, click on 2018 Galleries and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry or click here.  

Study/Travel 2017 – Scotland

Our main trip for 2017 was a fabulous 12-night tour of Scotland.  This bus-based tour, “Scottish Isles and Glens,” was presented by CIE Tours.  Our group departed from Dulles on June 18, 2017, on an exclusive (LLI/NOVA members and friends and family only) 12-day trip.  The tour started in Glasgow and swung up the west coast of Scotland through the Highlands, with a ferry boat ride to the Orkneys in the far north and then down the east coast ending up in Edinburg.  The tour included visits to the Isles of Skye and Orkney, the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, Whisky Tasting, a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, and much, much more. Our travel reservations were made through AAA travel services. Click the green button below to see the trip flyer

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section. Click on 2017 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click here.

Study/Travel 2017 – French River Cruise

Once again, we had a high level of interest in an additional tour, and so we opted for a 12-day French river cruise tour that departed on August 24, 2017.  This tour, “Cruising Burgundy & Provence to the Cote d’Azur,” was offered by Grand Circle Travel on a small (46 passenger) riverboat.  The tour started in Paris and was followed by a 7-night cruise odyssey through the heartland of France on the Saone and Rhone Rivers.  We discovered the lovely landscapes and enchanting villages that inspired the great artists of the 19th and 20th centuries and reveled in the picturesque scenery, like gently sloping hills and vineyards that sustain one of the greatest wine industries in the world.  We visited ornate papal palaces, Gothic cathedrals, medieval fortifications, and ancient Roman ruins, and capped off our explorations in the elegant Cote d’Azur, with its golden sands and opulent casinos.  Our members were also able to add a 3-night pre-trip to Paris and a 4-night post-trip to the Italian Riviera and the Cinque Terre. Click the green button below to view the trip flyer.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section. Click on 2017 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click here.  

Study/Travel 2016 – The Alps

Our main trip for 2016 started in Milan and toured the Italian Lakes district.  Then we went through Switzerland before finishing in Austria and Germany.  Tucked in the valleys of the Alps lie some of Europe’s most charming villages.  We visited Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore, and relaxed in Interlaken, a Swiss vacation spot set amid two picturesque lakes and surrounded by stunning Alpine peaks.   We also enjoyed the charm of Seefeld in Austrian Tyrol.  This bus-based tour departed on June 11.  Several of our members included an optional 4-night pre-trip to Lake Como in Italy and a 5-night post-trip to Munich, Germany and Salzburg, Austria.  The tour, “Romantic Villages of Alpine Europe,” was offered by Grand Circle Travel. For details, click the green button below to see the trip flyer.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section. Click on 2016 Galleries, and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry, or click here. 

Study/Travel 2016 – Iceland

Because interest was very high, we offered a second trip in 2016.  This trip, “Untamed Iceland,” departed on July 12 for Reykjavik and then spent the next 10 days touring the island nation.  The trip showcased Iceland’s natural beauty and Viking heritage.  Our members discovered the history of this isolated nation preserved in a series of enchanting medieval tales known as the Sagas.  In addition, we had the opportunity to raft on the Hvita River, watch for whales, and journey to within 40 miles of the Arctic Circle at Akureyri.  This was a small group (maximum 16 participants) tour offered by Overseas Adventure Travel. For details about this trip and to see the trip flyer, click the green button below.

Study/Travel 2015 – Sicily

In 2015, Study/Travel toured Sicily by bus to discover its Greek, Arab, Norman, and Roman heritage, finishing with two days in Rome at the end of the trip.  Many of our members participated in an optional 5-day pre-trip to the Amalfi Coast and added an optional 3-day extension in Rome.  The tour was offered by Grand Circle Travel. For details, click the green button below.

Buck Myers has posted pictures of our trip in the Galleries section, click on 2015 Galleries and then on the Study/Travel Trip entry or click here.