American Trails West: Southern Spirit Program Overview & Recommendation

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Choice Camps Recommendation of American Trails West: Southern Spirit

Founded in 1965, American Trails West (ATW) has been a perennial leader and innovator in the field of worldwide student travel. Known for premier accommodations, great food, and experienced staff, ATW tours appeal to students throughout the United States and abroad. Each trip offers a unique blend of adventure, sight-seeing, and entertainment. With decades of scheduling experience, each adventure is meticulously paced to give students the opportunity to enjoy every minute of their summer.

Spending a summer with American Trails West gives travelers the opportunity to discover new places while making friends from around the world. Although many teenagers come on their own, few leave without lifelong bonds and connections formed on the road. Complimented by a dedicated and mature staff, American Trails West is one of the safest and most reliable tour operators in the world. To see the world at its best, choose American Trails West.

Trip Description

We head to RICHMOND, capital of Virginia. We'll visit the exciting ETHYL IMAX DOME & PLANETARIUM. Then it's on to our SUN-DRENCHED MYRTLE BEACH RESORT. Check in to the fabulous Kingston Plantation Hilton Resort for two great days of "R&R". We'll swim, soak up sun and bodysurf on this white, sandy beach. Have you ever surfed? Do you want to learn? Our Professional Surfing School Instructors will show you how to find the perfect wave and surf like a star! Who'll be the star of the ATW Beach Olympics? The "Grand Strand" is the home of Barefoot Landing, the Boardwalk, bumpercars, minigolf, and Broadway on the Beach. Help celebrate the 75th Anniversary of GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK. We'll get plenty of exercise when we hike the Appalachian Trail to the top of Clingman's Dome. It's an easier ride on the Aerial Tram to the top of Ober Gatlinburg, where there's a great alpine slide, mini-golf, bumper cars, a Velcro Wall Jump, Black Bear habitat and even late night ice skating! Next stop, ATLANTA, "The Heart of Dixie". Spend a thrilling day at Six Flags Over Georgia... Ride the just opened steel monster coaster, Goliath, two-hundred feet up, the Great American Scream Machine, and the Georgia Scorcher. The New World of Coca Cola is even bigger and better than the original! It's right next door to the fabulous Georgia Aquarium, the largest in the world! With over 100,000 animals, you're sure to see something you've never seen before! At night we'll play action-packed Whirlyball, a great combination of bumper cars, basketball and lacrosse. Our final stop is ORLANDO, Florida's Vacationland. We'll enjoy the best of Disney's Magic Kingdom... Unlimited rides and attractions...Splash Mountain, Spectromagic Parade, Tower of Terror, and Space Mountain. You'll love DisneyQuest, a five-story indoor Interactive Theme Park. We'll beat the heat at Aquatica Water Park, Seaworld's newest park, with 2 wave pools, 6 lagoons, 2 river rides and a 300-foot slide into a dolphin filled lagoon! Next stop, Universal Studios Islands Of Adventure... See movies come to life...Swing through the air (or feel like you are) on The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman virtual reality ride. Ride two world-class coasters, the Incredible Hulk Coaster and Dueling Dragons. Enjoy the shops and restaurants at Citywalk... THE ACTION NEVER ENDS! A final banquet dinner, our awards night finale, and we'll pack for our jet flight home, with great memories and lasting friendships.

Staff Overview

Each American Trails West trip is supervised by an experienced director returning for another summer of leadership. All trip leaders have worked as a staff member on a previous trip prior to becoming a director. These directors and their specially-selected staff members—all college graduates over the age of 21—offer youthful participation in all facets of the ATW program.

Every staff member takes part in ongoing training sessions at the American Trails West office over the winter months. In the spring, these culminate in a five-day orientation program of workshops, seminars, and hands-on training. AWT boasts a large number of past campers who return as staff members each year.

Setting & Accommodations

On Southern Spirit, you’ll stay in fantastic hotels and resorts. Enjoy the luxury of Marriotts, Sheratons, Crowne Plazas, Embassy Suites and more. All hotels are chosen for security, central location, comfort, and outstanding facilities. Every camper sleeps in an individual bed each night. Whether it’s swimming at a great hotel pool, playing tennis at a popular resort, or working out in the state-of-the-art fitness center, American Trails West campers enjoy the finest accommodations and facilities.

Complete breakfasts, full lunches and delicious dinners, with a wide and varied menu, are provided daily. Campers eat at popular restaurants with no restrictions on the amount of food they can order.

Safety Standards

The senior staff members of each ATW trip are certified in CPR and first aid. Over the years, American Trails West has developed a wide network of doctors, hospitals, and 24-hour emergency facilities in every part of the country, to whom the staff turns should medical attention be necessary. A sick traveler is accompanied by an ATW staff member at all times, and parents are always contacted when a traveler sees a doctor.

Throughout the summer, ATW also maintains a Trip Communication Center where trips are monitored by the company’s executive staff. The center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to field calls from parents, trip leaders, and travelers.