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The ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ Alumni Travel Program is excited to announce its 2020 collection of travel destinations.  Cardinal Adventures offers a lineup of destinations every year that are designed to be diverse, educational and fun!  These trips are offered through the Office of Alumni Affairs and are an excellent way to see the world and experience the joy of travel.  Participation is open to all travel enthusiasts including alumni, faculty, staff and friends of ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ.

The travel partners selected to work with Cardinal Adventures are dedicated to providing the best possible experiences for every traveler.  All destinations include first-class accommodations, researched and vetted thoroughly by their well-traveled staff.  Every attention to detail is assured.  Local experts are utilized on every itinerary to be sure that participants are able to ask questions and experience the real life and culture of each destination.

 Travelers know that Cardinal Adventures and their travel partners have done all the advance homework and will take care of any last-minute changes or challenges that arise during travel.  Many past travelers say that the added value of meeting and traveling with other Cardinal fans and alumni is one of the best parts of any trip.

Additional dates are available for many of the destinations offered, although alternate dates may not include other ¿ìÉ«ÊÓƵ travelers. 

For more information, visit our website at Cardinal Adventures or contact Laurie Ritchel, University Travel Programs Coordinator or call (409) 790-4307.

DUTCH WATERWAYS - TULIP SEASON (RIVER CRUISE)
April 7-15, 2020

Unpack once and cruise for 7 nights aboard the luxurious MS Amadeus Star.  Glide along Amsterdam’s lovely canals past gabled houses of the Dutch Golden Age.  Witness Holland’s glorious tulip season as vibrant flowers burst into bloom.  Float under tiny wooden bridges in the enchanting village of Giethoorn.  Stroll through medieval Delft, brimming with quaint waterways and remarkable architecture.  Explore The Hague and Mauritshuis and learn of the lasting impact of works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and Steen.

 

 

MONTANA BIG SKY COUNTRY FEATURING GLACIER NATIONAL PARK
July 25-31, 2020

Find out why Lewis and Clark described Montana as “scenes of visionary enchantment” as we  explore the sweeping vistas, pristine streams and awe-inspiring mountain peaks of Glacier National Park and the beautiful Flathead Valley.  Travelers will experience a scenic cruise through the Gates of the Mountains, see the view from the top of Big Mountain by way of a gondola ride, marvel at the majesty of Great Falls and tour the Conrad Mansion, the most beautifully preserved pre-1900 mansion in Montana.  This destination includes airfare from Houston.

 

 

SWITZERLAND, GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND THE PASSION PLAY IN OBERAMMERGAU
Aug. 17-27, 2020 (This trip is currently sold out – wait list only.)

This is a rare opportunity to experience the Passion Play in Bavarian Germany, a dramatic and magnificent performance that is staged once each decade for nearly 400 years, with a 120-member choir, 70-piece orchestra and cast of hundreds.  Travelers will also experience the stunning views of the Alpine peaks of Switzerland, walk in the footsteps of Mozart in Salzburg, and explore Innsbruck, Austria, among other delights.

 

 

NORDIC MAGNIFICENCE (DENMARK & NORWAY)
Aug. 23-Sep. 2, 2020

This trip promises to be one that nature lovers will never forget - the stunning and unique beauty of the Fjords has no equal.  Discover Scandinavia’s cosmopolitan capitals, Copenhagen and Oslo.  Marvel at Norway’s incomparable natural beauty while aboard the Flam Railway (one of Europe’s most scenic railways) and a cruise along the Aurlandsfjord.  Wake up to an unrivaled view of the lush, forest-lined Oslo Fjord after an overnight ferry trip.  Glide past architectural treasures on the pretty canals of Copenhagen.  This adventure is already attracting frequent Cardinal Adventures travelers!

 

 

COLUMBIA & SNAKE RIVER CRUISE FEATURING THE ROUTE OF LEWIS & CLARK
Sep. 25-Oct. 3, 2020

Explore the route of the intrepid Lewis and Clark expedition while cruising through the glorious Pacific Northwest.  The stunning, lush landscapes of the Columbia River Gorge and incredible views of Mount St. Helens will leave you breathless.  At Multnomah Falls, Oregon’s largest, two-tiered waterfall, watch the water cascade an impressive 620 feet. Travelers will also marvel at man’s engineering feats with an optional excursion to travel through eight river locks and visit the Bonneville Dam.  Uncover details about the Manhattan Project, the Ice Age floods and more at The Reach Museum.  All while enjoying the amenities and luxurious state rooms on the first-class paddlewheel American Pride, where almost every room provides views from either a private balcony or picture window.

BARCELONA
Oct. 3-11, 2020

Unpack once and spend seven nights in Barcelona, Spain!  This itinerary provides the perfect compliment of planned tours and activities combined with plenty of free time to immerse yourself in both the Catalan and Spanish cultures.  Stroll through the Gothic Quarter where medieval Barcelona flourished.  A city for art and architectural enthusiasts, travelers will marvel at the works of Antoni Gaudi’ (which have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites), including the unfinished, and stunningly beautiful, basilica Sagrada Familia.  The Picasso Museum and (optional) Salvador Dali Theater-Museum will certainly delight as will a day spent at the 9th century Benedictine Monastery of Montserrat and Penedes Wine Region.

EGYPT, TREASURES OF THE NILE (LAND & RIVER CRUISE)
Nov. 5-14, 2020

Imagine yourself transported back to the time of King Tut while you discover sand-covered tombs, austere pyramids and towering Pharaonic temples on this adventure.  Including a luxurious 4 night cruise down the Nile River, the longest river in the world, this journey will introduce you to the incomparable and glittering finds in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo as well as hieroglyphs in the tombs built for Ramses V and VI in the Valley of the Kings, a living museum if there ever was one.  Travelers will experience all of the must-see wonders of Egypt - King Tut’s tomb, Luxor, Pyramids of Giza, Abu Simbel, Karnak, temple of Queen Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Edfu, Aswan Spice Market and Aswan Dam.  You will be mesmerized by the history of this country that is almost as old as civilization itself!  This itinerary includes airfare from Houston.