National Exploritas Site

    Register for programs:
        ∙ Unusual Cities program
        ∙ Upper Mississippi River
        ∙ Missouri River program

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   See all 2010 Programs
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If you have never experienced Exploritas programs, you are in for a treat!

Travel with other adults and discover interesting learning experiences not available to the general public. There are no hidden costs. The program fee includes hotel lodging, all meals each day, chartered bus and customized river excursions, knowledgeable and interesting instructors, all entry fees and even gratuities. Your expert study leader travels with you, offering insights throughout the entire program.

Exploritas participants enjoy learning about new things. No prior subject knowledge or education is required. Our participants come from all backgrounds and lasting friendships are often formed during these programs. We would love to share these interesting places and people with you -- please join us!

How do I register for these programs? Call toll free: 1- 800-454-5768
Or register online with the link below each program.

May 2 - 8, 2010
Program number 13032

7 days, 6 nights, 17 meals.
All-Inclusive price starting at
$1,118 per person.
Includes Pella's famous Tulip Festival!

"This has been the most thought-provoking,
well-planned Elderhostel program yet. Who would have thought Iowa as the setting of such interesting groups!" Maryland

Enjoy a personal visit with Old Order Amish inside their homes and barns; learn about their lifestyle and beliefs; see how they operate their kitchens and woodworking shops without electricity. Then cross the Mississippi River into Illinois to explore beautiful Nauvoo, home of the Mormons and lesser known Icarians. Back in Iowa, we are treated to a private peek inside the homes and domes of the Maharishi in Vedic City and an organic lunch at the Raj Resort, referred to as the "Mayo Clinic of natural healing."

Discover the history and humor of the Amana Colonies from a noted colony historian and unveil the wonderfully rich true story that lies behind the restaurants and fudge shops that many people think of as the Amanas.

As we return to Pella, Iowa, we enjoy a day of ethnic foods, dancing and parades at Pella's famous Tulip Festival and enjoy Pella's unique Dutch downtown and canal area. Savor themed dining, which encapsulate the study of the societies we learn about each day. This program begins and ends in Des Moines, Iowa.

See Program Details.

Program number 14948

August 10 - 14, 2010 This August program begins and ends in Dubuque, Iowa. Its fewer days provide a less expensive option to experience the highlights of this program in a shorter time period.

5 days, 4 nights, 11 meals.
All-Inclusive price starting at
$986 per person.

September 12 - 18, 2010 and
September 26 - October 2, 2010  

September programs begin and end in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
7 days, 6 nights, 17 meals. All-Inclusive price starting at $1,365 per person.

Learn about the Mighty Mississippi from regional experts as we travel the river and the Great River Road National Scenic Byway, exploring historic towns, seasonal foliage, migratory birds and local stories between Minnesota's Twin Cities and Galena, Illinois.

River excursions include a seven-hour cruise on historic gingerbread riverboat; a half day chartered eco tour narrated by a towboat captain through locks and the Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge; and the personal stories by a commercial clammer on a large pontoon boat in the backwaters. Day trips include the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium in Dubuque, Iowa; historical tour of Galena, Illinois; Pike's Peak State Park and spectacular scenic overlooks along the route. Overnight stops in the September programs include Onalaska, WI and Dubuque, IA.

See Program Details.

The Missouri has a history like no other river. Explore this great waterway's legends as you travel the Loess Hills Scenic Byway into Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. Meet a modern-day treasure hunter and his steamboat discovery in Kansas City; walk the brick streets of Omaha's Old Market; fly through Amelia Earhart's home in Atchison, KS; and trot into Saint Joseph, MO, to see where the Pony Express began and Jesse James ended. Study Harry Truman's life in Independence, descend to the underground rooms of historic Weston; and follow Lewis and Clark's footsteps to Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Learn how significant events affected the river valley, and gain an understanding of the Loess Hills, the only loess formations of this depth in the Western Hemisphere. Laugh with storytellers and relax with the currents as you wind around the Missouri River's many bends aboard two riverboat excursions.

See Program Details.

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Last Updated 2/8/2010