Category Archives: America’s 250th

America's 250th, National Parks, Travel Sales-Discounts-Deals

Xanterra Travel Collection® Celebrates 250 Years of America and 150 Years of Hospitality with America’s 250th Travel Sale, April 17-29

The sale highlights this milestone year with exclusive savings of up to 50% across iconic national parks, cruises, tours, and resorts

Grand Canyon National Park. Xanterra Travel Collection® has launched its America’s 250th Travel Sale, with offers kicking off in mid-April for its iconic national park properties including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial National Park, as well as VBT Country Walkers, Windstar Cruises © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

Denver, CO — March 31, 2026 — Xanterra Travel Collection®  is launching its America’s 250th Travel Sale (April 17-29, 2026), an enterprise-wide initiative celebrating two remarkable milestones: 250 years of America and 150 years of legendary hospitality. This once-in-a-generation campaign invites travelers to experience unforgettable journeys across Xanterra’s diverse portfolio, from iconic national park stays to yacht-style cruises, immersive tours, and luxury resorts. 

The sale builds on Xanterra’s legacy across a diverse range of travel experiences while honoring its deep roots in some of the world’s most beloved destinations. For a century and a half, the company has helped shape the visitor experience, welcoming generations of guests while supporting preservation and responsible tourism.

“As America approaches its 250th anniversary, we’re proud to celebrate our own 150-year legacy of unmatched hospitality in the country’s most extraordinary places,” said Andrew N. Todd, CEO of Xanterra Travel Collection®. “The America’s 250th Travel Sale encourages travelers to explore and enjoy our national parks and beyond while honoring the landscapes and experiences that make them so special during this milestone year.”

A World of Unforgettable Experiences®, All in One Sale 

Spanning Xanterra’s full collection of brands and destinations, the America’s 250th Travel Sale makes it easier than ever to plan a memorable getaway, whether it’s a classic national park escape, a guided adventure, or a luxurious coastal retreat.

Featured offers include:

National Park Lodges

Xanterra Travel Collection includes the historic Old Faithful Inn in Yellowstone National Park © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com
  • Glacier National Park — Save 20% at Cedar Creek Lodge for stays between April 19 – October 31, 2026.
  • The Grand Hotel at The Grand Canyon — Save 20% on stays between May 7 – October 31, 2026.
  • Grand Canyon Hotel & Suites — Save 30% on stays between April 17 – October 31, 2026
  • Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel —Stay 2, 3 or 4 nights with the Stay and Save Platinum Package and save 50% off Pullman, Coach, First or 25% off Dome or Luxury classes on the historic Grand Canyon Railway between April 17 – September 3, 2026.
  • Grand Canyon South Rim Lodges — Save up to 30% at El Tovar Hotel, Bright Angel, Maswik, Kachina, and Thunderbird Lodges (Booking dates vary).
  • The Oasis at Death Valley — Save 30% at The Inn and The Ranch at Death Valley for stays between April 20 – October 31, 2026.
  • Yellowstone National Park — Save up to 30% on designated room types this spring and summer at Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Old Faithful Inn, Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Canyon Lodge, Grant Village, Lake Lodge, Bridge Bay Campground, and Grant Campground (Booking dates vary).

Cruise, Tours, and Resorts

  • Holiday Vacations —Take $250 off any Bryce, Zion, & Grand Canyon tour by Holiday Vacations.
  • Windstar Cruises — Complimentary All-Inclusive package — Wi-Fi, gratuities, and unlimited cocktails, wine by the glass and beer, on voyages through June 30, 2027.
  • Sea Island — For stays through February 2027, book and prepay your entire stay and enjoy a 15% savings off the standard room rate at The Inn by Sea Island.
  • The Broadmoor — Save up to 30% off your stay at The Broadmoor’s all-inclusive Wilderness Retreats.

“America 250 is a reminder of why travel matters — not just as a way to see new places, but to connect with landscapes and experiences that shape our shared story,” said Andrew Heltzel, Chief Commercial Officer at Xanterra. “This campaign brings together the full breadth of our portfolio, giving travelers more ways than ever to be part of that story.”

The America’s 250th Travel Sale launches April 17, 2026, and runs through April 29, 2026. Travelers can learn more and book offers at https://www.xanterra.com/americas-250-sale/.

Known for its “Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint®,” Xanterra Travel Collection® provides A World of Unforgettable Experiences® through its operations in national parks, including lodges, restaurants, tours, and activities, as well as through its ownership of resorts, a cruise line, a railway, and tour companies. Xanterra has operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Glacier, and Rocky Mountain National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Xanterra Travel Collection® also owns and operates Grand Canyon Railway & Hotel in Williams, Ariz., The Grand Hotel and The Grand Canyon Hotel & Suites in Tusayan, Ariz., The Oasis at Death Valley in Death Valley Calif., Windstar Cruises, Holiday Vacations, VBT Bicycling Vacations, and Country Walkers. Xanterra is also affiliated with two Forbes Five-Star Resorts, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, CO and Sea Island on the coast of Georgia. 

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America's 250th, cruises, Cultural Travel, festivals & events, Historic Places, small ship cruising

Historic Voyages of Maine Windjammers Set for America’s 250th

A raft-up of the historic Maine Windjammers. Two of the ships, the Angelique and the American Eagle, will being making a historic voyage to participate in America 250th events in New York City and Boston © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

This year’s schedules of the member historic sailing vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association include two historic voyages on two of the windjammers to New York City and Boston to participate in celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary.

Among the international fleet of tall ships gathering for NYC’s Sail4th 250 and Boston’s SailBoston 2026 festivities will be two members of the Maine Windjammer Association fleet: Windjammer ANGELIQUE and the Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE. Both plan to participate in the Parades of Sail with tall ships from around the globe.

The American Eagle at sunrise, anchored in Rockland harbor, Maine events © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

ANGELIQUE and AMERICAN EAGLE are each offering two trips in conjunction with the event, one 10 or 11-day trip down culminating in NYC’s festivities and one 9 or 10-day trip back that includes SailBoston 2026 and ends in Maine. Guests aboard these special voyages will sail the East Coast the traditional way, anchoring in snug harbors along the way as the vessels make their way between Maine, New York, and Boston.

The Angelique will be offering a voyage in conjunction with America 250th events © Karen Rubin/goingplacesfarandnear.com

It’s rare for the Windjammers to leave New England waters. Neither has been to NYC since the rededication of the Statue of Liberty in 1986. Nearly 40 years later, they’ll once again join a fleet of tall ships from around the world to celebrate this important milestone in the nation’s history. We’re delighted to have them there representing Maine’s sailing heritage on a national stage.

The Class B Parade of Sail in NYC is scheduled for July 3rd.

The Meet Boston Parade of Sail is scheduled for July 11th.

All member vessels are individually-owned and -operated. Cruises can be booked directly with the Windjammer via their website or by giving them a call.

Windjammer ANGELIQUE

Schooner AMERICAN EAGLE

Schooner GRACE BAILEY

Schooner HERITAGE

Schooner J. & E. RIGGIN

Schooner LADONA

Schooner LEWIS R. FRENCH

Schooner MARY DAY

Schooner STEPHEN TABER

Request a packet of brochures (https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/brochure-request/) that includes the sailing schedules of all nine vessels of the Maine Windjammer Association; meet the fleet, https://www.mainewindjammerfleet.com/fleet/.  

Maine Windjammer Association, P.O. Box 1083, Rockland, Maine 04841, 1-800-807-9463, info@mainewindjammerfleet.com. Mainewindjammerfleet.com.

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America's 250th, Historic Places, New York City travel

‘NYC Revolutionary Trail: Echoes of Revolution’ Self-Guided Walking Tour to Launch June 2026 to Celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary

A free immersive walking tour in downtown Manhattan reframes New York as the heart of the American Revolution – set in the Assassin’s Creed® universe

July 1776, “La Destruction de la Statue Royale a Nouvelle Yorck”, published in Paris. When General Washington’s troops heard about the Declaration of Independence, they pulled down the statue of George III at New York’s Bowling Green. The print is part of  “Declaring the Revolution: America’s Printed Path to Independence,” New York Historical’s first in series of exhibits focused on the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. On view through April 12, 2026.

New York, NY –NYC Revolutionary Trail: Echoes of Revolution , a free, mobile, geo-located immersive, self-guided 90-minute walking tour, will launch in June 2026 to celebrate America’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Founded by The Gotham Center for NYC History at The Graduate Center, City University of New York, the multimedia walking tour in downtown Manhattan reframes New York at the heart of the American Revolution. Partnering with Video Game Publisher Ubisoft and Creative Technology Studio Sugar Creative, Echoes of Revolution uses augmented reality to place visitors inside Revolutionary-era New York, including characters, ships, and streets recreated from Ubisoft Inc.’s Assassin’s Creed’s universe. 

Echoes of Revolution is a new version of Gotham’s original NYC Revolutionary Trail App and will also partner with the Museum of the City of New York for the upcoming exhibit, “The Occupied City,” to ring in New York’s 250th celebration.

 “While Boston and Philadelphia often dominate the conversation about America’s Revolution, New York was at the center of events surrounding Independence and the City’s history is often overlooked. The war literally began and ended in the city, from the earliest major battle – the largest and most important of the war – to the British evacuation,” said Peter-Christian Aigner, Co-Founder of NYC Revolutionary Trail and Director of the Gotham Center for New York City History at The Graduate Center, City University of New York. “Our goal is to correct this misunderstanding and reframe New York as the city at the heart of the American Revolution. We are thrilled to partner with Ubisoft and Sugar Creative to launch NYC Revolutionary Trail and bring history to life in a compelling, immersive and interactive way that will attract a new generation of history fans.” 

Starting at the Battery and ending at Federal Hall via Bowling Green, Wall Street, and other pivotal sites, the 90-minute, 3-mile walking tour will transport visitors back in time on a journey throughout lower Manhattan, where they will relive pivotal historical moments from the founding of the United States, uncover the stories that shaped the nation’s beginnings in the actual locations where they took place, and have a close-up experience of the “city at the heart of the Revolution,” with each stop providing audio narration with site information, character profiles, videos and links to Center’s Library.

The Trail will incorporate cutting-edge AR and geolocation technology alongside exclusive historical environments and character assets from the Assassin’s Creed universe, allowing visitors to explore a digitally reconstructed colonial New York layered directly onto today’s streets.

“Ubisoft is excited about using the worlds of Assassin’s Creed III and Assassin’s Creed Rogue to bring key moments of the American Revolution to life for visitors exploring the streets of New York City,” said Amy Jenkins-Le Guerroué, Strategic Alliances Director at Ubisoft.

“Echoes of Revolution brings Revolutionary-era history to life in New York City in a way that no single museum or statue can by connecting people physically to the stories and places where history actually unfolded,” said Will Humphrey, Creative Director of Cardiff-based Sugar Creative Labs.

“The Freedom Trail that many of us visited on school trips as kids helped redefine Boston’s place in the story of the American Revolution,” said Ted Knudsen, Co-Founder of the NYC Revolutionary Trail and Professor of History at CUNY Queens College. “By connecting nationally significant sites through a simple, accessible walking route, it became a beloved tradition for families, students, locals, and visitors—and permanently put Boston on the historical map. Our goal is to do the same for New York. As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, we’re inviting New Yorkers and visitors alike to rediscover the city’s central role in the founding of the United States.”

In addition, as part of NYC Revolutionary Trail, The Gotham Center offers an online classroom featuring short, standard-aligned lesson modules for middle school, high school, and college students nationwide.

Echoes of Revolution was made possible by support from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, the Leon Levy Foundation, the Achelis-Bodman Foundation, Creative Wales and Media Cymru through UK Research and Innovation’s Strength in Places Fund (SIPF) and New York’s Downtown Alliance.

More details of New York City Revolutionary Trail will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, visit https://nycrevolutionarytrail.org or follow on Instagram @NYCRevTrail, Facebook or X @NYCRevTrail.

See also:

SEE THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS THAT INSPIRED AMERICA’S REVOLUTION AT THE NEW YORK HISTORICAL

NEW YORK STATE CELEBRATES AMERICA’S 250TH

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