The sign up period for Lake Region State College’s 2025 Travel with the President is now open.
Since 2018, LRSC has organized community trips overseas to allow people to travel safely, in comfort, and with people they know. Trips include lodging with breakfasts, transportation and all admissions, some evening meals, and a tour guide 24/7. Each city has a tour and a few points of interest. For 2025, the group will be heading to Eastern Europe specifically to the crown cities of Budapest, Vienna, and Prague.
Dotted with hilltop castles, ornate cathedrals, and imperial palaces, Vienna, Budapest, and Prague are captivating. Spire-studded skylines and fascinating histories are just the beginning. Spend a few days getting to know each of these dynamic cities¬— discover their vivid World War II history, art movements, and local cultures.
Budapest, also known as the Pearl of the Danube and Paris of the East, straddles Eastern and Western Europe. In addition to the tour of the city, travelers can enjoy free time to explore on their own or sign up for an excursion such as a walk behind the Iron Curtain, or try their skill at Hungarian cooking.
In Vienna, there will be a stop in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, best known for its medieval Old Town, but plenty of castles, palaces, cathedrals and historical monuments make it a true cultural and historical stop. Once in Vienna, be surrounded by reminders of the Hapsburg Empire, whose reign in Europe can be traced back to 1282. With some exceptions, the family ruled from the mid-1400s to 1918. Except for a short time in Prague (1583-1611) the dynasty’s capital was Vienna. Excursions in Vienna include a traditional Heurigen (wine tavern) evening and a Danube River Cruise, passing age-old castles and picturesque villages. One of the stops along the way is to Melk Abbey, a UNESCO site perched high atop a cliff and is one of Europe’s most beautiful Baroque monasteries. Vienna, or Dream City is also the location where Sigmund Freud did a bulk of his work.
To reach the next destination, the trip will go through pastoral landscapes of Bohemia before reaching Prague. Also known as the City of One Hundred Spires, Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. A tour of the city will again highlight the deep and lasting presence of the Hapsburg Empire. While in the city, enjoy a tour of Brandy’s Castle (summer home of the Hapsburgs).
Travelers can choose to continue with an extension to Salzburg, birthplace of Mozart. It is only fitting that one of the possible excursions includes a Mozart dinner and concert. Another excursion includes an elevator trip to Eagle’s Nest, a retreat built for Aldolf Hitler. During the tour of Salzburg, there will be a special excursion traveling through scenery from the beloved film The Sound of Music, complete with the music.
This 11-day tour, or 14 with extension, begins May 28, 2025. To read a more detailed itinerary, go to grouptoursite.com/tours/eastern-europe. The basic cost includes all travel, including air fare and buses, all city tours and city guides, lodging, daily breakfast, three evening meals, and a full-time tour director. Excursions, souvenirs, and tips are extra, but the memories are priceless!
As with the previous trips, Teresa Lyn Tande coordinates this trip in conjunction with EF (Education First) Go Ahead division. Most questions such as cost, itinerary, requirements can be found on the above listed website. However, for additional questions, please feel free to contact Teresa at Teresa.tande@lrsc.edu or tandet@gondtc.com.
The trips fill up quickly. To ensure a secure spot and the best deal (prices can go up monthly, mainly due to airline increases), sign up NOW for a guaranteed cost.