Geography trips to the West Coast of the United States of America take students to landscapes shaped by the fascinating forces of geography and the cities built to survive those forces. The options are exceptional including the resplendent city of Las Vegas in the middle of the desert; the amazing and impressive Grand Canyon; the legendary Yosemite National Park; and San Francisco, an earthquake-ravaged city built along the San Andreas Fault. By using an accredited school travel service, educators can ensure a safe and well-organized trip that meets all of their learning goals.

Las Vegas and Death Valley

Las Vegas is a city driving in a desert. Students visiting Las Vegas on a geography trip can use the city as a case study of urban development in an unforgiving climate, considering how the city has developed over the past 100 years and how it continues to support its large population. A school travel service will arrange accommodations and an itinerary for students to make the most of their stay, followed by a field trip to Death Valley. The formidable-named desert near Las Vegas provides stunning examples of the effects of landscape change, water erosion and evaporation, with multi-colored layers of sedimentary rock and towering snow-capped mountains.

Grand Canyon

One of the most famous demonstrations of the power of water on the landscape is found in the Grand Canyon. In places, the Colorado River has carved out the mile-deep canyon, exposing nearly two billion years of geologic history layered in the rock faces. No school travel service would miss this essential stop on a geography trip itinerary. Students can enjoy the breathtaking view and consider the Grand Canyon’s role in human habitation and religion, as Native Americans have lived in and around the canyon for thousands of years.

yosemite

The development of Yosemite National Park was instrumental in the creation of national parks in the US and remains one of the best in the country. With a landscape dominated by granite mountains and groves of giant sequoias, it is a haven of biodiversity with a wide expanse of unfragmented habitats. You can provide a case study on the role of national parks in preserving habitats, or simply allow students to appreciate some of the best natural features in the US. Whatever the needs of the group, a school trips will ensure a productive stay in the park.

San Francisco and the San Andreas Fault

San Francisco is a beautiful city with a destructive history: In 1906, an earthquake on the San Andreas fault caused devastating structural damage and fires in the city. The modern city has implemented architectural innovations to safeguard as much as possible against comparable levels of destruction. Geography students can use it as a case study in adaptability to one of nature’s most powerful forces. It’s also an excellent city for leisure time, and a well thought out itinerary will allow groups to make the most of their time in San Francisco.