What Are the Best Educational City Adventures for Every Type of Traveler?
- Road Scholar offers expert-led city learning adventures for every type of traveler — solo, women-only, or group — across destinations worldwide.
- Go Solo programs, like the Portland, Oregon adventure, pair solo travelers with like-minded explorers in vibrant, culturally rich cities.
- Civil rights history tours in Jackson, Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans provide vital, immersive education on American history.
- Accessible options in Santa Fe and international adventures in Lisbon, Istanbul, and Québec City make cultural city travel possible for everyone.
What’s the best way to explore a city? In our opinion, it’s with an open mind. Our favorite cities around the world are rich with local history, art and music and foods that offer a delicious look into different cultures. There’s something for everyone, as long as you’re willing to try something new and get right in the thick of it!
Go Solo City Adventures
If you’re on your own, it’s totally ok — our Go Solo programs are designed for people who are traveling solo but want to be part of a group. Everyone else on these programs is a solo traveler too, so you’ll be sure to mingle and get to know one another.
If you’re interested in exploring one of the most eclectic cities in the Pacific Northwest, join our solo program in Portland, Oregon. It’s a big city with small-town charm, known for its arts district, impressive food scene and world-class gardens. (Don’t miss the explorations of the International Rose Test Garden, the Portland Japanese Garden and the Suzhou-style Lan Su Chinese Garden. They are truly incredible.)
Find Women-Only City Adventures
If you’re a woman who would like to travel with other women who love to learn as much as you do, Road Scholar women-only adventures are available in cities around the world. Join us in Istanbul, Turkey to explore historic landmarks like the Hagia Sophia — the grand former cathedral of the Byzantine Empire — the Blue Mosque and Topkapi Palace. You’ll stay at the Pera Palace Hotel, long associated with the famed Orient Express and known for welcoming guests from Agatha Christie to Ernest Hemingway.
Or, stay closer to home in North America with an active adventureto Québec City, where you’ll join other women for walks and hikes through historic neighborhoods and regional parks. This is a UNESCO World Heritage city, known for its old-world European charm and North American energy. The food is fabulous and the company even better!
Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, Turkey.
Civil Rights Studies
It’s more important than ever to learn about the history of the U.S. and the experiences of our different communities — that’s why we’ve focused on civil rights studies on two new engaging programs. Journey to Jackson, Memphis and Nashville to trace the history of the Civil Rights Movement from the home of Medgar Eversto the Lorraine Hotel, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated. In New Orleans, we’ll take a look at how the Civil Rights Movement changed the Crescent City. Explore the evolution of jazz and learn from experts at the Whitney Plantation, a historic site dedicated to telling the story of slavery from the perspective of enslaved people. Both learning adventures will offer important education about the fight for civil rights in the U.S.
Explore Cities at a Slower Pace That’s Right For You
If you haven’t explored a city because it feels like it’s just too much walking and will be hard to get around, you might like to explore with us at a slower pace. Join us in Santa Fe to learn about artist Georgia O'Keeffe and visit the New Mexico Museum of Art. You’ll learn about Indigenous traditions and cultures preserved in a local pueblo and enjoy a cooking demonstration by a James Beard Award-winning author and chef. This learning adventure will require less walking, and we’ll use a coach bus to get around. (Travel tip: Remember, Santa Fe has an elevation of 7,500 feet. You may want to arrive a bit earlier to acclimate.)
Discover a New City Abroad
Lisbon is one of our favorite places in the world — and if you haven’t experienced Portugal’s capital city for yourself, now is the time. You’ll enjoy field trips to old neighborhoods of Lisbon like Alfama and Bairro Alto and Jerónimos Monastery, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Check out Moorish and medieval architecture like St. George’s Castle and learn about Portugal’s seafaring history. While there, be sure to try a pastel de nata, a warm, flaky egg custard tart dusted with cinnamon. (Yum!)
Christ the King statue in Lisbon, Portugal.
Stay Closer to Home in These Cities
We love exploring closer to home too — especially those cities that you “think” you know all about. Did you know that Tucson is the first U.S. site to be named a UNESCO City of Gastronomy? When you journey there with Road Scholar, you’ll learn the secrets of Sonoran cuisine during a private cooking demonstration, practically tasting the history of the city right there! You’ll also explore Mission Garden to learn about ancient agricultural practices, get insight into the native plants that thrive in the Sonoran Desert and learn about Indigenous heritage during a cultural presentation by a member of the Tohono O’odham Nation.
If you want to explore a bit further north, the Twin Cities never disappoint. Explore St. Paul and Minneapolis with experts, learning about Indigenous history, attending a performance at the famed Gutherie Theater and exploring the beautiful Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Or make your way to Wisconsin to explore the best of Milwaukee and Madison, both charming cities that sit along the shores of Lake Michigan. From brewing and cheese-making traditions to landmarks like the Museum of Art and the Pabst Mansion, you’ll get a new perspective of these lakeside gems — and have some fun along the way.
Whether you want to explore at home or abroad, there’s a city waiting for you. Explore one your way — with Road Scholar!