The Main Event

In destinations such as California, Scotland and Tanzania, these popular escorted tours are based on seasonal events

By Jennifer Davoren

Certain events come but once a year, so why not celebrate them in style? You could trim your tree with treasures found at a European holiday market, where talented artisans have peddled their wares since the 17th century. Or, herald fall's arrival by going "leaf-peeping" on the East Coast. Ring in the New Year with street-side seats at the famed Tournament of Roses' Rose Parade, or watch the annual migration of more than 2 million animals across the African savannas.

Several escorted tours can give you front-row seats to some of the year's most spectacular events and celebrations. These itineraries pair exciting destinations and unique happenings, turning an ordinary getaway into an unforgettable vacation. And escorted tours offer a few added bonuses. Tour companies deal in bulk and are able to negotiate low group rates on hotel stays, meals and ground transportation. When booking a tour with these companies, you'll pay one price upfront to cover all of your vacation essentials.

The following escorted vacations are just a few of the special-event tours offered by Vacations To Go. The prices listed are per person and based on double occupancy and were accurate at press time.

For more information on these special tours, visit Vacations To Go or call (800) 680-2858.



Seasonal droughts take their toll on the east Africa savannas, withering grasslands and forcing some 2 million wildebeest, zebra and gazelle to roam through Tanzania and Kenya in search of food. This annual journey is known as the Great Migration, and for good reason -- herds travel 1,800 miles in a clockwise pattern, forming one of nature's most dazzling displays.

Most escorted tours seek out specific legs of the journey, catching wildebeest in Serengeti National Park during the spring calving season, or the animals as they arrive in the Masai Mara Game Reserve in late summer. Some tours attempt to join the herds in mid-journey, as their movement also attracts predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas.

African Travel is one of many escorted tour companies to offer excursions along the migration route. A company favorite, "The Great Migration" is a 13-day tour with prices starting at $4,695 per person, plus airfare, with departure dates available through Dec. 31. The tour includes stops in popular wildlife areas of Tanzania, including Lake Manyara National Park and the Ngorongoro Crater, and spends three full days in the Serengeti with trained wildlife guides.



Get ready for a Wild West adventure in the Great White North.

The Calgary Stampede is 10 days of roping, wrangling and riding events, as well as livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, craft fairs, evening concerts and a carnival midway. The chuck-wagon events are crowd favorites, as brave cowboys are known to take a knock or two as they steer their wagons around the rodeo ring. Children are drawn to the Indian Village, where they'll learn more about the region's cultural history, while adults can occupy themselves with the Stampede Casino. This July event has become one of the largest rodeos in the world, attracting more than 1 million spectators and doling out $1.6 million in prize money each year.

"Calgary Stampede," a four-day excursion with Maupintour, offered departures on July 5 and 12, 2007, with prices starting at $656 per person without airfare. This vacation offered time at leisure to explore the city as well as a two-day ticket for rodeo events.



Only the pomp and pageantry of this annual festival could outshine the majesty of Edinburgh Castle. For three weeks each fall, the castle provides a stunning backdrop for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a flurry of special performances by the world's most revered military bands. More than 1,000 performers from 30 countries participate, with demonstrations ranging from concerts (drums and bagpipes are heavily featured, of course) to equestrian demonstrations by visiting cavalries. The 2007 festival, from August 3-25, includes a special celebration of Queen Elizabeth's diamond wedding anniversary.

The event draws more than 200,000 attendees each year and often sells out months in advance. But travelers who join "Scottish Dream" a nine-day excursion from CIE Tours, will enjoy visits to four stately castles, a scenic coastal drive, a sightseeing cruise on Loch Lomond and, best of all, VIP seating at the Tattoo. However, only departures leaving between July 28 and Aug. 18, 2007 will include the Tattoo excursion; these are priced at $1,811 per person, without airfare.



You could get a crick in your neck as you try to take it all in, but the view is worth the trouble. Each October, New Mexico welcomes nearly 700 hot-air balloons to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, a week of races and special events.

The fiesta begins with the Mass Ascension, as every balloon in town takes to the air in one great kaleidoscope of color. Most days end in a similar fashion -- the Balloon Glow, one of the most popular events at the Fiesta, features lighted balloons that illuminate the sky above Albuquerque as the sun sets behind them. The balance of the week gives spectators the chance to meet balloon pilots and learn about the mechanics involved in hot-air flight.

Globus offers "Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta" a five-day tour with prices from $1,109, without airfare. The trip includes an excursion to Santa Fe for a walking tour of the historic district, and a stop at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque. The trip has a single departure on Oct. 5, 2007.



Autumn sweeps across the East Coast in a wave of stunning color -- fiery red, brilliant orange and, as October sets in, a few hints of purple. This display draws gawkers from all over New England for a quiet Sunday drive through the countryside. Many stop for a cup of warm cider to ward off the autumn chill; others grab a snack at a roadside stand, where September harvests of apples and maple syrup await.

Insight Vacations offers "New England's Spectacular Fall Foliage" an eight-day tour that includes scenic drives through the countryside and visits to three New England icons: the Morse Farm Maple Sugarworks, Cold Hollow Cider Mill and, of course, the Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory. Insight includes a few natural wonders, too, with Quechee Gorge, Silver Cascade Waterfall and Mount Washington on the itinerary.

The tour, which travels to areas of Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine, has departures from Sept. 23 to Oct. 20, 2007, with prices from $1,925 excluding airfare.



Each December, the Old World village squares of Regensburg, Nuremburg and Vienna are filled with Europe's most talented artisans and bakers. Their handcrafted goods and fresh holiday treats have made the Christmas markets of Germany and Austria a popular tradition for nearly six centuries. The German city of Dresden, in particular, can trace its Christmas market to 1434.

Many favorite Christmas traditions began in these markets -- candy canes, nutcrackers and, of course, star-topped tannenbaum are imports from Old World Europe. These markets offer tree ornaments of all shapes and sizes, as well as hand-dipped candles and fresh wreaths. Desserts are a popular item, too, as Germany and Austria offer some of the sweetest treats around: gingerbread, strudel and marzipan cookies. A cup of warm, mulled wine will chase away the cold as you browse snow-covered stalls for that perfect holiday accent.

"European Holiday Markets" is a nine-day tour with Uniworld River Cruises. Travelers will visit two countries, six cities and five markets as they cruise the Main River and the blue Danube. Itineraries travel from Nuremberg to Vienna or the reverse. The tour starts at $1,782 per person without airfare, with departures from Nov. 28 through Dec. 26, 2007.



Victoria, perched at the southern tip of Vancouver Island in the western Canadian province of British Columbia, is a picturesque port city. It's a quiet destination, known for its small specialty shops and tradition of afternoon tea at the local luxury hotel.

Christmas celebrations in Victoria reflect the city's British heritage. Wandering carolers and lantern-led walking tours of the historic district provide a Dickensian atmosphere. Butchart Gardens has dressed for the holidays in the same style since 1904, when workers first hung wreaths and berries along the walkways. Modern elements abound, too, as the city festoons its downtown area with thousands of red and green lights -- the Parliament Building alone features more than 3,000 individual bulbs.

"Victoria Christmas" a six-day tour offered by Gutsy Women Travel, includes many Victorian highlights. Afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress, historic home tours and a relaxing spa day are included, while holiday elements -- mulled cider at the Emily Carr House and a traditional Christmas dinner at Barkley's Steak House -- celebrate the season. Gutsy Women trips are for women only, and this tour has a single departure on Dec. 22, 2007, with prices starting at $1,699, without airfare.



For one brief moment, the madness of college bowl season fades away and is replaced by the sweet smell of roses.

On New Year's Day, the Tournament of Roses' Rose Parade offers a fun-filled break in the competition. Marching bands, dancers, equestrians and, yes, bloom-covered floats swarm downtown Pasadena, CA, in an astounding array of colors. Each parade follows a specific theme -- the 2008 installment, for example, is titled "Passport to the World's Celebrations" and will feature global cultures and traditions. Approximately 40 million people will watch the event on television in January, but some tours allow you to see the festivities in person.

"California New Year's Getaway" a five-day itinerary from Collette Vacations, includes a pre-parade viewing of floats-in-progress, tickets to the Bandfest competition and prime street-side seats on parade day. The tour even throws in a New Year's Eve party, complete with live entertainment and a champagne toast at midnight. Collette offers a single departure on Dec. 29, 2007, with prices starting at $1,199, not including airfare.

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