Community Education Travel Extended Tours

Are you ready to take the vacation of a lifetime?

Join CET on one of our overnight trips! Ranging from shorter domestic trips and vacation destinations throughout North America to multi-week tours around the world, we promise that you’ll be taken care of every step of the way when you book your next trip through CET. We make lifelong learning through travel a reality while having great fun and making memories to last a lifetime!

For more information about our CET extended tours including pricing and to make a reservation, call us at 847-718-7709, or email us at cetravel@d214.org.

Alaska Adventure: Land & Sea
June 4-17, 2024

Journey to Alaska to explore America’s last frontier by land and by sea. Marvel at majestic mountain peaks, glacial fjords, deep forests, blue waters and open skies. See grizzly bears, Dall sheep, humpback whales, sea lions, bald eagles, moose and caribou as you voyage across some of Alaska’s most unfettered terrain. Discover this land of sled dogs, fur traders, gold miners, lumberjacks and unique native cultures. Highlights: Deluxe Dome Railcar, Denali National Park, Tanana Valley Railroad Gold Dredge Tour, Sternwheeler Cruise on Chena River, Fairbanks, Tundra Wilderness Tour, Dog Sled Team, Anchorage, Earthquake Park, Lake Hood, and Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.  Board Holland America’s MS Nieuw Amsterdam for a 7-day cruise of Alaska’s Inside Passage to Glacier Bay National Park, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan. Included shore excursions. Arrive in Vancouver for a guided city tour, dinner and lodging with return flight to Chicago the following day. Join us for this magnificent adventure of a lifetime to Alaska! Download the brochure.

Mississippi River Cruise on the Celebration Belle
June 19-21, 2024
July 17-19, 2024

Delight in the beauty of the Mississippi River Valley on a full day, 100-mile cruise aboard the Celebration Belle. Cruise from Dubuque to Moline while enjoying a breakfast, lunch & prime rib dinner as well as narration by the captain, live entertainment, activities, travel through locks & dams and views of majestic bluffs. Other tour highlights include: free time in Galena and the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium. Step back in time in charming Bishop Hill Colony. This “prairie utopia” was established by industrious Swedish immigrants in the mid-1800’s. Take a guided tour to see the colony’s historic buildings and enjoy a Swedish lunch. Don’t miss the boat as we cruise the mighty Mississippi! Download the brochure.

Pacific Northwest
July 13-21, 2024

August Tour Dates Cancelled

Cool off next summer with a visit to America’s Pacific Northwest featuring Washington, Oregon and northern California. Mountain vistas, scenic river gorges, cascading waterfalls, giant redwood forests and the Pacific Ocean coastline await you on this magnificent trip. Visit Seattle, Portland and San Francisco. Highlights: Mt. St. Helens, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, Rogue River hydroplane jet boat ride, Sonoma Valley wine country, world-famous Avenue of the Giants (Redwoods), San Francisco Fisherman’s Wharf, Golden Gate Bridge and more! Download the brochure.

Michigan Shores: Charlevoix & Petoskey
July 29-August 2, 2024

Escape next summer on this refreshing trip to the Michigan shores. Sparkling blue waters, gigantic ancient dunes, quaint lakeside villages and abundant summer sunshine combine to make this trip a quintessential Great Lake getaway. Set sail with us as we cross Lake Michigan on the S.S. Badger from Manitowoc, Wisconsin to Ludington, Michigan. Highlights include: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Traverse City, charming Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey’s historic Gaslight District, Charlevoix, Castle Farms, the “Mushroom Houses,” Bay View Inn, Frederick Meijer Sculpture Park & Gardens, Gerald Ford Presidential Museum, DeGrandchamps Blueberry Farm, Saugatuck Dune Buggy Ride and more! Download the brochure.

National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton & Glacier
August 18-25, 2024
September 10-17, 2024 SOLD OUT!
September 17-24, 2024

Marvel at the rugged beauty of America's majestic national parks: Yellowstone, Grand Teton and Glacier. View snow-capped mountains, wildlife, dramatic waterfalls, and landscape sculpted with canyons, cirques, craggy peaks, clear alpine lakes, winding rivers and virgin forests. Ride the Rendezvous Mountain Aerial Tramway, cruise the Snake River and Gates of the Mountains, and see the famous geyser, Old Faithful. Take one of the most magnificent drives in the world along "Going to the Sun Road." Join us on this unforgettable trip! Download the brochure.

North Dakota & Theodore Roosevelt National Park
September 4-9, 2024

A sparsely populated land of big sky with wild horses and roaming bison, North Dakota celebrates its remoteness as one of America’s last frontiers. From Fargo and the rolling prairies of the East to Medora and the rugged terrain of the West, you will be amazed at the variety of attractions – some historic and traditional while others modern and zany! If you have never visited North Dakota, this is the perfect time to do so! Special events on this unique itinerary include: Annual Indian International Powwow featuring 70 tribes and 1500 dancers and the famous Medora Musical.  Other highlights: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Missouri River Cruise, North Dakota Heritage Center to learn of Lewis and Clark’s expedition, Fort Abraham Lincoln, General Custer’s Home, Enchanted Highway featuring giant, colorful animal sculptures along the way, capital city of Bismarck, Pitchfork Steak Fondue Dinner, Cowboy Hall of Fame and historic Rough Riders Hotel of Medora. Come, experience the wide open spaces of the American West! This specialty trip has limited space available so early reservations are recommended. Download the brochure.

Cape Cod: Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket & Boston
September 7-13, 2024
September 14-20, 2024
September 21-27, 2024

Come along with us as we visit beautiful Cape Cod. A guided tour of this pine-scented peninsula will highlight bustling harbors, sea captain homes, and the Cape Cod National Seashore with its pristine beaches and windswept dunes. Visit Hyannis, home of the Kennedy family. Approach land’s end at Provincetown, a haven for artists and fishermen. Enjoy a Dune Excursion Ride. Treat your taste buds to a lobster dinner in Hyannis. Board high speed ferries to both Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, islands rich in colonial maritime history. View gingerbread adorned houses and explore charming island villages. Learn of Nantucket history as the greatest whaling center in the world. Enjoy postcard scenes of wild, open tracts of bog land and moors, groves of scrub oak and pitch pine and wide, sandy beaches that stretch seemingly forever along the Atlantic Ocean. Then it’s on to the charming New England villages of Plymouth, Concord and Lexington-the birthplace of American Liberty. In Boston follow the Freedom Trail to view the Old State House, Boston Commons, Beacon Hill, Boston Tea Party Area, Old North Church and more. Join us on this American Classic Tour to Cape Cod and Boston! Download the brochure.

Southwest National Parks
May 16 - 24, 2024
September 13 - 21, 2024
September 26 - October 4, 2024

Marvel at the natural beauty of the American Southwest on this exceptionally designed, well-paced trip. Take in the beauty of the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Monument Valley, Lake Powell, and Dead Horse State Park. Around every bend is a picture postcard scene more breathtaking than the last. Download the Southwest National Parks brochure.

Oktoberfest in Frankenmuth
September 18-21, 2024

Willkommen to Frankenmuth - Michigan's Little Bavaria. This charming village is known for its well tended flowers, lush greenery, Bavarian architecture and its annual Oktoberfest. Celebrate German culture with German food, German dancing, live bands playing German music and of course, plenty of beer! Other highlights: Guided tour of Frankenmuth, strudel making demonstration, riverboat cruise, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland-the world's largest Christmas store and more.

Greenfield Village & the Henry Ford Museum stand as monuments to America’s exceptionalism with unequaled collections of artifacts from the history of the United States. This indoor-outdoor complex is one of the premier museums in our country. The Henry Ford Museum (indoor) has vast collections of everything from transportation to household furnishings to iconic artifacts from America’s cultural landscape. Special exhibits feature: the rocking chair Lincoln was seated in on that fateful night at Ford’s Theater, Wright Flyer Replica, George Washington’s Camp Bed, and the limousine President Kennedy rode in when assassinated in Dallas.  Greenfield Village (outdoor) is a charming, recreated historic village where more than eighty 18th and 19th century buildings (homes, schools, church, stores, laboratories, mills, etc.) have been moved here from all over the USA and are associated with famous Americans like Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Noah Webster and more. Perhaps you may want to take a train, antique car, and/or horse drawn carriage ride around the village. See you in September! Gemütlichkeit! Download the brochure.

Classic New England
September 22-30, 2024
October 14-22, 2024

Quaint little villages with white-steepled churches, colonial houses, village greens, rock fences and great American historic sites – this is the perfect getaway to Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. From scenic mountain drives to endless ocean views, the natural landscape of New England refreshes and inspires. A special feature is a 2-night stay at the beautiful Mt. Washington Hotel with its traditional porch offering stunning views of the White Mountains. Highlights: Sound of Music’s Trapp Family Lodge of Stowe (September departure) or Stoweflake Resort (October departure), Harraseeket Inn, Portland Headlight, Casco Bay Cruise, Billings Dairy Farm of Vermont, Shelburne Museum, Morse Maple Sugarworks, Lexington, Concord & Boston’s Freedom Trail. Join us on this amazing trip to the birthplace of American Liberty. Download the brochure.

Autumn in the Adirondacks
September 24-October 2, 2024
October 11-19, 2024

Come see the autumn majesty in the Adirondack Mountains and the scenic Hudson River Valley of upstate New York. Marvel at stunning mountain vistas draped in autumn color in the Adirondacks. Be refreshed on two boat rides on the pristine waters of both Lake Placid and Lake George.  Highlights: Olympic sites in Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs Guided Tour, the Culinary Institute of America, West Point Military Academy, FDR’s Hyde Park Home & Presidential Library, Vanderbilt and Boscobel mansions, a Broadway show and tour of New York City.  Join us for the best of the Empire State of New York. Download the brochure.

Cranberry Autumn Harvest in Wisconsin
October 1-3, 2024

From the Thanksgiving feast to breads, sauces, coffees and teas, cranberries are one versatile fruit. Experience the annual autumn harvest of one of America’s native berries – the cranberry. See cranberry marshes ablaze in shades of scarlet with colorful fall foliage all around. Highlights of this trip include: guided tour of the cranberry marshes; Cranberry Discovery Museum; International Crane Foundation to see 15 different species of crane birds; guided tour of Amish countryside with its scenic hills, valleys and shopping stops; narrated fall foliage luncheon cruise along the majestic bluffs of the Mississippi River near La Crosse; and so much more! Freshly harvested cranberries available for purchase. Come join us on this beautiful autumn getaway to Cranberry Country – you’ll be “berry” glad you did! Download the brochure.

Door County in the Fall
October 1-3, 2024
October 7-9, 2024

Door County is known as the "Cape Cod of the Midwest" due to its picturesque lakeside villages, extensive shoreline and rolling woodland. Guided tour of Door County will highlight the charming communities of Sister Bay, Ephraim, Bailey's Harbor, Ellison Bay, Egg Harbor, Gills Rock, and Fish Creek. Special visits made to Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant, Bjorklünden Norwegian Chapel, Cave Point, Seaquist Farm Orchard, Door Peninsula Winery, Door County Maritime Museum and the legendary fish boil. Come see the colors of autumn on this 3-day getaway! Download the brochure.

New Mexico Balloon Festival: Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque
October 7-15, 2024

Wide open deserts and deep canyons. Rugged mountains and pine forests. Ancient cliff dwellings and picturesque adobe pueblos. Historic Spanish plazas and colorful southwestern art. Folklore and legend. Billy the Kid and Kit Carson. This southwestern getaway features the historic cities of Santa Fe, Taos & Albuquerque and the beautiful scenery of mountains and valleys which surround them. From green mountain forests to deep, rugged canyons to colossal mesas, the topography of New Mexico is as varied as any place in the USA. Learn of the rich blend of cultures, the flora and fauna and the historic southwestern architecture that makes New Mexico so unique. Special feature is the annual Balloon Fiesta - Up, up and away! Witness a spectacular display of hot air balloons ascending into the clear blue autumn skies of New Mexico. Then in the evening watch the glowdeo balloons light up the sky followed by a fireworks show. Join us for an experience of a lifetime in enchanting New Mexico. Download the brochure.

Rocky Coast of Maine: Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor
October 11-18, 2024 

Autumn sweeps like wildfire across the beautiful state of Maine. The landscape lights up with garnet-red maples turning forests into sparkling treasure chests of color. Along the rocky Atlantic coast from Portland to Bar Harbor are charming New England scenes of seaside villages, lighthouses and lobster fisherman. Highlights of this spectacular trip are: Portland Headlight, L.L. Bean of Freeport, Maine Maritime Museum, Boothbay Harbor, Camden, Bar Harbor, and Acadia National Park. See moose and other wildlife at the Maine Wildlife Park. Enjoy a Maine lobster bake. Sample wild Maine blueberry jam and other tasty treats at a Maine traditional market favorite, Stonewall Kitchen. In Kennebunkport view Walker Point, summer compound of the Bush Family. Visit historic Portsmouth, New Hampshire and enjoy a guided tour of the Freedom Trail in Boston. All this and more awaits you on this American Classic fall foliage getaway along the rocky Coast of Maine in October. Download the brochure.

French Lick & West Baden Springs Hotel           
October 15-17, 2024

Embrace elegance on this autumnal getaway to one of America’s most beautiful, historic landmark resorts – the West Baden Springs Hotel in the quiet village of French Lick in southern Indiana. Lavish guest rooms, grand ballrooms, superb cuisine, fine amenities, afternoon tea, artfully designed landscaped grounds and the awe-inspiring, domed grand atrium await you.  Pamper yourself in the lap of luxury! Download the brochure.

Sedona & Grand Canyon          
October 26-November 1, 2024

When you first see the stunning Red Rock Country Mountain peaks appear on the horizon, you will remember it forever! This amazing trip features: 5 night stay at the Hilton Sedona Bell Rock Resort, Pink Jeep Tour through the Red Rocks, Chapel of the Holy Cross built into the side of a mountain, Grand Canyon, Montezuma Castle & Well National Monuments, and Crater Meteor and a Stargazing Program. Special feature: 2 scenic train excursions on the Grand Canyon Railroad & Tanque Verde Railroad. Download the brochure.

Branson Christmas                                           
November 14-18, 2024

Branson is America’s Music Showplace and is especially fun and festive during the holiday season. Highlights include Christmas shows: Sight and Sound Theater, Showboat Branson Belle, and more! This trip features a two-night stay at the Hilton located at the area’s Branson Landing Promenade – a festival marketplace complete with shops, eateries and a dazzling water, sound & light fountain show along scenic Lake Taneycomo. Also included: Ozark Mountain scenery and a ride to the top of the St. Louis Gateway Arch. Download the brochure.

Smoky Mountain Christmas: Dollywood, Biltmore Estate, Nashville
December 2-8, 2024

Experience a Smoky Mountain Christmas as Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg transform into a festive wonderland of twinkling lights during the Winterfest Lights Festival. Celebrate Christmas - Dolly Parton style - at her DreamMore Resort! Marvel at her Dollywood theme park - rated America’s #1 theme park - featuring holiday lights & decorations, music shows, mountain craftsmen, and more. Celebrate Christmases past in elegant style at the Biltmore Estate of Asheville, North Carolina. This 250-room mansion is adorned with incredible Yuletide decorations and hundreds of colorful poinsettias. Visit Music City USA - Nashville Tennessee - including a 2-night stay at the amazing Opryland Hotel. Merry Christmas! Download the brochure.

Nashville Christmas                  
December 1-5, 2024

Get in the holiday spirit as we visit the Music City-Nashville, Tennessee! A major highlight of this trip is a four-night stay in atrium view rooms at the Opryland Hotel. Each year Opryland creates a glittering holiday extravaganza sparkling with the brilliance of millions of lights. Nine acres of indoor gardens are lavishly decorated with amazing holiday displays-you need to see it to believe it! There’s even the Delta River Flatboat which cruises down a scenic river inside the hotel! This trip will feature the Ryman Auditorium, the Country Music Hall of Fame and more. Enjoy great entertainment including: Grand Ole Opry Show, General Jackson Showboat and Opryland Hotel Christmas Dinner Show! Marvel at the exciting Fantasy in Ice which is an incredible exhibit of carvings out of one million pounds of ice! Take some time out to experience the joy of the Christmas season on this festive American Classic Tour to Nashville! Download the brochure.

San Antonio Christmas             
December 3-7, 2024

Merry Christmas – Southwestern style! San Antonio celebrates its Spanish colonial heritage through historic architecture, delicious cuisine, lively music, lore & legend. Savor the sites along the world famous Riverwalk – home to lush vegetation, fine restaurants and charming foot bridges all along the winding San Antonio River. During the holiday season the Riverwalk is adorned with colorful Christmas lights. Highlights: Four night stay on the scenic Riverwalk, cruise along the Riverwalk, festive Market Square, Mia Terra Restaurant with mariachi band, the Alamo, IMAX Theater’s “Alamo…Price of Freedom”, San Jose Mission (1718), German Fredericksburg, National Museum of the Pacific War, special behind-the-scenes-tour of SeaWorld San Antonio, Y.O. Texas Ranch tour to view 58 species of exotic wildlife followed by an authentic chuck wagon dinner and cowboy musical entertainment. Feliz Navidad! Download the brochure.

Christmas in Newport, Boston & New York City
December 4-10, 2024
December 7-13, 2024

Celebrate Christmas like the Vanderbilts and Astors in toney Newport, Rhode Island - legendary haven for the rich and famous, fabulous seaside estates, world-class yachting and breathtaking views on Atlantic Ocean Drive. The opulence of Newport’s Gilded Age mansions meets the sparkle and magic of Christmas during this festive season. Marvel at thousands of poinsettia plants, evergreens, trees, wreaths, fresh flowers and 19th century style ornaments with dining tables set with period silver & china at the Breakers Mansion. This tour will also visit Boston’s historic Freedom Trail, Lexington, Concord and the Boston Pops Orchestra Holiday Concert. For the Grand Finale arrive in New York City for a Broadway Show and the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular starring the Rockettes! ‘Tis the season to be jolly. Merry Christmas Everyone! Download the brochure.