Nations Classroom Blog

Washington, D.C. is a popular spring-time destination, but many travelers are discovering how magical winter can be in our nation’s capital.  Even after a year of lock-downs and quarantines, Washington, D.C. still has some safe, wintery activities for your family or class to enjoy!

Visitors traveling to New York City this week will be treated to a nightly holiday light show at the iconic Empire State Building from December 19-25.  The Empire State Building will celebrate the 25^th anniversary of Mariah Carey's famous holiday song, "All I Want for Christmas Is You" with a music-to-light show.   We've got all the details for what you need to know about the nightly display.

The Washington Monument was ready to launch Tuesday night - or at least it appeared to be!  In honor of the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the east face of the famous D.C. monument will be illuminated every night this week with the 363-foot image of the Saturn V rocket, complete with a 40-foot-wide re-creation of the famous Kennedy Space Center countdown clock at the monument's base.

Tonight the Empire State Building in New York City will light up the iconic skyline in blue and purple in honor of Police Memorial Week.  

After several days exploring the sights and sounds of Washington, D.C., walking an average of 20,000 steps a day, taking hundreds of selfies, and creating memorable experiences with friends and teachers, school trip leaders often incorporate a pleasure-filled activity to reward themselves for a successful trip to the Nation’s Capital.  Enter Smokey Glen Farm.

Located in the fast growing Capital Riverfront neighborhood, Nationals Park is an awesome, state-of-the-art, 41,000-seat venue where NationsClassroom student groups experience America’s favorite pastime and cheer on one of Major League Baseball’s youngest and most exciting teams, the Washington Nationals.

School groups visiting NYC this spring will be treated to a new, sparkling light display atop one of the city's most iconic buildings, the Empire State Building. Every night, beginning at sunset until 2 A.M., the building’s tower lights will sparkle every hour, on the hour, for five minutes.

Visiting the iconic sights of the Big Apple is an education unto itself, with most first-timers experiencing a rush of adrenaline and nerves about what to expect.

Here is my advice for teachers and students about how to best experience one of the most popular attractions on a school trip to New York City: Times Square.

The tradition of the Capitol Christmas Tree, lovingly referred to as "The People’s Tree," began in 1964 when Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives John W. McCormack (D-MA) placed a live Christmas tree on the Capitol lawn. After three years, the tree was ravaged by winds, so the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree as a replacement, and the tradition continues.