On June 13, thirty-nine students, family members, and chaperones from the Clearfield area left the United States and headed for a 12-day tour of Europe.
The crew flew from New York City via London to Frankfurt airport in Germany, met their tour director and bus driver, and headed to the medieval town of Rothenburg ob der Tauber. After checking in to the hotel, everyone walked through the gate of the old town, through the city streets, and to the market square where they enjoyed their first meal of German food. After dinner, travelers toured through the town with a night watchman, where they learned the history of the town, as well as what life was like for the watchmen.
The next day the travelers boarded their coach and began driving to Munich. Stops along the way included visiting Harburg Castle and a sightseeing tour of Augsburg, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The tour director provided an orientation walk of Munich once they reached the city.
On June 14, the group traveled to Dachau concentration camp, where they were met by two guides to take them through the camp and memorials. The group then headed back to Munich for a little shopping time and lunch, and then met a guide to take a tour of the city. Travelers were able to see the famed Glockenspiel, the Olympic stadium from the 1972 summer games, and the Nymphenburg Palace.
The next day was a travel day as the group headed to Lucerne Switzerland. Planned stops include the little picturesque town of Lindau, Germany; Vaduz, Lichtenstein, where travelers were able to get their passports stamped; and a beautiful overlook of an Alpen lake with the mountains in the background. Upon reaching Lucerne the group had dinner and then made their way through the mountains to their hotel.
Day two in Lucerne was a highlight for some of the group. They started the day with an orientation tour with their tour director. Sights include the old city wall, the Chapel Bridge, Lake Lucerne, and the Dying Lion monument. After lunch, the crew boarded a boat for a cruise on the lake to reach the station for the cog railway that would take them up to the summit of Mt. Pilatus. Upon reaching the summit, the travelers could hike short paths to see more views of the lands below, or sit in a café and enjoy the views from inside. To descend the mountain, the travelers rode in a steep cable car part of the way down, and then in four person panoramic gondolas for the remainder of the journey. Dinner that evening included the famous Swiss Fondue as well as a folklore show where a few of the travelers were able to join the musicians on stage and show off their alpine horn playing and yodeling skills.
The group was met with another travel day the next day as the traversed from Lucerne to Venice, Italy. They stopped in the town of Como for lunch and a bit of leg stretching. Travelers could see the Como Cathedral and walk down to the shore of Lake Como.
Saturday, June 20 was a full day exploring the islands of Venice. The water taxi first took the travelers to Murano. The island of Murano is known for its glass industry. The travelers were treated to a glass blowing demonstration, where they watched the artist create a heart as well as a fish. Next, the water taxi took them to Burano, which is known for its linen and brightly colored houses. This stop included lunch and some time for shopping and exploring. Finally, they made it to San Marco. After taking a gondola ride on the Grand Canal, the crew met with a guide to take a walking tour of the city. After dinner, the travelers boarded the water taxi once more to head back to the hotel for the night.
The next day was yet another travel day with a stop in the beautiful town of Sirmione. Here, the travelers could spend the afternoon swimming in the clear waters of Lake Garda, try all of the gelato they could handle, tour the local castle, and some even took a speed boat ride around the peninsula. After their time at Sirmione the group headed to their hotel along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, where they could spend the evening swimming again, if they so chose.
The next day was spent in the UNESCO area called Cinque Terre (or five lands). Hopping between the villages on a train, the group visited the villages of Manarola, Vernazza, and Monterosso. The colorful villages sit on the mountain cliffs, and were the inspiration for the Pixar film Luca. Fishing, vineyards, and olive and lemon orchards are the main trades of Cinque Terre, along with tourism.
The final destination was Monaco and the French Riviera. The group started with a tour of Monaco, the second smallest country in the world. Sights here included the Cathedral of Our Lady Immaculate, the Monaco Palace, and overlooking the Monte Carlo region of the country. The next stop was the Fragonard perfume factory. Travelers two years ago visited the Fragonard museum in Paris, and this stop was the factory where they make some of their beauty products. The final destination was a brief walking tour and some free time in the city of Nice, the fifth largest city in France. Travelers could swim in the sea, do some shopping, or just walk the Promenade des Anglais.
Wednesday, June 24th saw the group heading to Nice International Airport to begin the journey home.
The next tour that will be offered for students and families will be in June of 2028. Information will be available in the fall, and questions can be forwarded to Mr. Andrew Rothrock at andrewrothrock07@gmail.com.