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Heritage Travel
- by Pamela Lanier
Life seems to pass in the blink of an eye. Cell phones, computers, fax
machines, two-hour commutes…people function at a furious pace. At some
point, everyone needs to stop and take a deep breath. Finding a sense of
purpose means finding a context in which to live life; a link to the past,
if you will. Heritage Travel has become a huge industry and with good
reason. As John Berendt noted, American culture has a certain rootlessness,
families are more mobile than ever before, and many are seeking meaning and
connection through the past.
We just heard Governor Christine Whitman tell us that tourism generates 540
billion dollars towards the national economy. According to a report by TIA,
cultural and historic tourism accounts for about 44 percent of that. This is
a huge number and helps to put into perspective the whole concept of travel
as an educational experience.
If you surf the Internet, it quickly becomes apparent that there is a fast
growing industry around Genealogy. Genealogy sites, including several
pertaining to the Mayflower, nobility, plantation owners and more, help
connect people to their pasts. Imagine standing on the very spot where your
ancestors landed in the New World and then following their progress, whether
they settled in Boston, or opted to strike gold in the Old West. Or perhaps
you are African American and interested in returning to Africa to learn more
about your cultural heritage. Several magnificent sites deal with Jewish
heritage tours, which include trips to Morocco, Spain, Turkey, South Africa
and Israel. Other sites include heritage tours for those of Scottish,
Italian, English, Mennonite, or Canadian ancestry, just to name a few.
But Heritage Travel is not only about families; it is a way of feeling a
part of this nation’s great past. There is, and always has been, an almost
insatiable attraction to the Revolutionary and Civil wars. The number of web
sites dedicated to the Civil War is phenomenal. You can visit battle sites,
while staying in historic hotels, and there is even a site that is actively
computerizing information on Civil War servicemen so that you can trace a
single soldier’s life.
There are many historical buildings, museums and hotels that cater to a
thriving interest in the United State’s great history. Abraham Lincoln
illustrates this point. You can visit his birthplace and the offices where
he practiced law; you can track the various sites where presidential debates
were held, or visit the theatre where he was so tragically assassinated.
Thomas Jefferson is another individual who looms large in the American
psyche. Aside from tours of Monticello and the Jefferson Memorial, there are
other sites that highlight Jefferson’s varied interests. These include the
Barboursville Vineyards and Historic Ruins, The College of William and Mary,
Colonial Williamsburg, Natural Bridge, The Virginia State Capitol,
Jefferson's Poplar Forest, Tuckahoe Plantation, and The University of
Virginia. Each site has a historical connection to Jefferson and offers its
own perspective on the man who distinguished himself as a scholar,
politician, scientist, architect, innovator, gardener, and wine connoisseur.
A number of factors have led to a renewed interest in World War II. The end
of the war itself spurred a groundswell of travel to Europe after returning
soldiers wanted to revisit various cities with which they’d fallen in love.
The 50th anniversary commemorations of the Second World War along with the
end of the Cold War have given Americans and their allies the opportunity to
reflect on the sacrifices made during the long struggle. Normandy is a very
popular destination, made even more so by the popularity of the movie Saving
Private Ryan. The Battle of the Bulge, the D-Day Landings, The Great
Crusade, all are commemorated by tours that expand our knowledge and
understanding of this impressive, yet previously ignored, period of American
history.
Time has healed other wounds including those incurred during the Vietnam
War. Americans are confronting the many issues surrounding the war, and now
they appear ready to return to Vietnam to better understand the culture.
Vietnam has a unique civilization and a highly cultured people, and the
sublime beauty of its natural setting overwhelms most visitors. The Red
River Delta in the north, the Mekong Delta in the south and the entire
coastal strip are a patchwork of brilliant green rice paddies tended by
women in conical hats. Vietnam has finally risen above its post-war fatigue,
and the boom in budget traveling coupled with the lifting of Vietnamese
government restrictions have allowed more realistic depictions of the
country to gain currency in the West. Vietnam offers visitors a rare chance
to see a country of traditional charm and beauty taking the first hesitant
steps into the modern world.
Another exciting development is the recent expansion of travel into the
countries, which were formerly part of the Soviet Union. Uzbekistan,
Kazakstan, Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, and Turmenistan, Eastern Germany,
Slovakia, the Czeck Republic, Poland, Romania…they conjure up images of
repressive Communist regimes. But these countries have long and colorful
pasts that predate Communism, and the reasonable prices of both
accommodations and food make this area a very popular destination.
There are a number of sites that highlight the history of specific cities.
For example, take an authentic western journey where you will follow in the
footsteps of Lewis and Clark through Montana. Or, take a tour celebrating
the architecture of Chicago, the trading posts of New Mexico, or treasures
of the Adirondacks. Cemetery tours are an entertaining way of learning about
the history of a region and yet another method of gaining insight into
family roots.
Cultural tours, which include religious, spiritual and archaeological tours,
are extremely popular, and there are tours designed for nearly every segment
of the population. Some are specifically for women who might wish to visit
sacred and ancient sites where goddesses were venerated. Other tours offer
yoga and meditation while visiting sacred temples and the natural wonders.
Explore the magnificent monuments of Luxor and the Valley of the Kings with
one of Egypt’s top Egyptologists. Get an art historian’s view of
Impressionism at the Ferme St-Siméon in Honfleur, the seaside haunt of Monet
and his contemporaries. Cruise the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River before
they disappear beneath floodwaters. Step back in time with visits to the
historic villas and fine gardens of Italy, the waterways of the Glens in
Scotland, and the architecture and culture of Morocco where you will visit
scented gardens and sultan’s palaces.
Heritage Travel encompasses a vast number of topics, but there is one thread
that connects them all: the desire to know ourselves better, to revisit the
past in order to gain a greater knowledge about who we are and where we come
from. In these fast paced times, wouldn’t it be nice to take a few days, a
week, or even a month, to explore the past so that we might all achieve a
better understanding of the present and the future.
Valuable Web Sites
GENEALOGY
Our Family Tree http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/6123/
Vicnet http://www.vicnet.net.au/family/genealogy.htm
Vital Records Information http://www.vitalrec.com/links4.html
Genealogy Ancestors Research http://www.wasatch.com/~lance/page5.html?
RootsWeb Genealogical Data Cooperative http://www.rootsweb.com/
Ancestry.com Genealogy Research http://www.ancestry.com/
Mayflower Genealogy and History http://members.aol.com/calebj/mayflower.html
GenForum http://genforum.genealogy.com/
Mormon Genealogy http://www.familysearch.org/
WORLD WAR II Historic Tours http://www.ww2tours.com/
VIETNAM – Tours http://www.diethelm-travel.com/vietnam.htm
http://www.asia-discovery.com/Vietnam/VietnamTours.htm
EASTERN EUROPE
http://www.bookpassage.com/travel/russia/
http://www.rezq.com/travel/
http://ceetb.com/
NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACE http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/nrhome.html
LINKS TO THE PAST http://www.cr.nps.gov/colherit.htm
BATTLEFIELDS BY STATE http://www2.cr.nps.gov/abpp/battles/bystate.htm
FESTIVALS http://www.festivals.com
AMERICAN HISTORY SITES
American History Homepage
http://americanhistory.about.com/education/americanhistory/mbody.htm
Afr-Amer History http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Forum/9061/afro/afro.html
Smithsonian Nat’l Mus of US History http://www.americanhistory.si.edu/
Jewish American History on the Web http://www.jewish-history.com/
The History Net http://www.TheHistoryNet.com/
National Scenic Byways Online http://www.byways.org
Revolutionary War Homepage http://www.revwar.com/
ABRAHAM LINCOLN http://www.netins.net/showcase/creative/lincoln.html
THOMAS JEFFERSON Monticello http://www.monticello.org/
SPIRITUAL & CULTURAL http://www.ecotourism-adventure.com/spiritua.htm
CEMETERY TOURS http://members.aol.com/TombView/tours.html PAMELA
LANIER
Author of 12 guide books and host of www.TravelGuides.Com
Contact: pamela@travelguides.com
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