Below are destinations Lamar University is considering for our 2018 Cardinal Adventure trips. We would greatly appreciate you completing our short survey to help us determine which trips our alumni are most interested in.

Columbia River Voyage - The Lewis and Clark Legacy - Explore the route of the Lewis and Clark expedition while cruising the scenic Columbia and Snake Rivers.  And enjoy opportunities to sip lovely vintages in Oregon and Washington's famed wine regions. (One night in Portland, Oregon and seven nights aboard the SS Legacy).

Canadian Rockies - Experience the vistas of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of The Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks - the most magical sights of Banff National Park, Jasper's Dark Sky Preserve and planetarium, the breathtaking Columbia Icefield and floating on the Athabasca River.  A talk from a retired member of the Mounties is an added bonus!

Sedona - Land of Red Rocks and Sacred Ruins - Five nights in Sedona, Arizona allowing time for tracing human history at sacred Native American sites - Montezuma Castle National Monument and V-Bar-V Heritage Site, one of the largest and best preserved petroglyph sites in the country; and journey to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park aboard the Grand Canyon Railway.

Cuba - Art, Culture & People - Five nights in Havana and two in Cienfuegos with opportunities to learn about historic Havana, and visit local artists' studios as well as enjoy meals and visits with locals learning about typical Cuban life.  A University of Havana professor will lead a discussion about the U.S. and Cuban history and economy (Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites).

Panama Canal Cruise - Columbia, Panama & Costa Rica - I am told that engineers especially love this trip as you are guaranteed a daylight passage through the canal!  In addition, there will be time in Cartagena, Colombia; Panama City and the Costa Rican towns of Golfito, Quepos and Puntarenas.  Unpack once on this 12 day adventure.

The Wonders of Peru - featuring an Amazon River Cruise and Machu Picchu - This journey immerses you in the atmosphere of the Amazon and its wildlife and includes three UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Machu Picchu, Cusco and the Historic Center of Lima.  There is also time to visit a local community in the Sacred Valley and hear about daily life from residents.

Legends of the Nile - featuring Abu Simbel - If this destination is on your bucket list, this is the way to see it!  This tour is chock full of temples and includes four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.  Highlights will include Abu Simbel and the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Hathor, the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the Luxor Museum, and the Valleys of the Kings and Queens with a step inside the tomb of King Tutankhamen.  Historic Cairo is also a highlight.

Journey along the Elbe - Cruise from Berlin to Prague - Four UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Museum Island, Berlin; the Palaces and Parks of Potsdam and Berlin (scenic tour of Berlin City including the Brandenburg Gate), the Historic Center of Prague and the Martin Luther Memorials in Wittenberg.

England's Castles, Cottages & Countryside – Participants on this trip will visit two UNESCO World Heritage Sites - Canterbury Cathedral and Blenheim Palace - as well as Leeds Castle, The White Cliffs of Dover and Dover Castle, Classic Cotswolds towns and the Changing of the Guard at Windsor Castle.  St. George's Chapel is also on the list - the site of many royal weddings and funerals.

Holiday Markets - Cruise from Cologne to Nuremberg - Experience the river's stunning scenery along the cruise with opportunities to wander the festive holiday markets in town squares across Germany (think age-old Yuletide traditions).  Four UNESCO World Heritage sites are on this itinerary - Cologne Cathedral, Upper Middle Rhine Valley, Town of Bamberg and the Wurzburg Residence with the Court Gardens and Residence Square (one of Europe's finest palaces).  Unpack once and enjoy all these wonderful sites.

Ireland - Wild Atlantic Way - Enjoy seven nights in Westport, Ireland allowing for a myriad of experiences including a day cruise along the waters of Killary Fjord, a guided walking tour of Galway, visit to Achill Island (Ireland's largest island and home of the haunting Deserted Village at Slievemore) among many others.  You will learn about the arts in Ireland and the traditions of rural life in Ireland.

The Heart of Italy - This 12 day trip allows one to experience a good overview of some of Italy's most enchanting sights including the Amalfi Coast, Pompeii, San Gimignano's medieval skyline, the Vatican Museums - in total participants will visit six UNESCO World Heritage sites.  This destination includes time in Siena, Florence, Montepulciano, Orvieto, Rome, Naples, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast.

The Amalfi Coast – Here is another option to experience Italy. This trip includes seven nights in Vietri sul Mare, Italy, allowing for a more thorough exploration of this area.  Four UNESCO World Heritage sites are included - the Archaeological Sites of Paestum and Pompeii and the Historic Center of Naples.