Beijing, November 2-9, 2006

"This was one of the best experiences of our lives.  China - as we saw it - is spectacular.  We saw the ancient and the modern combined in Beijing.  It floods your senses and the food was ouststanding.  Go Next (travel company) was absolutely wonderful, attentive, well organized, informative and fun!" Billy McMurtry and Janet Gage '68 & '76

   MSUAA Travelers on the Great Wall of China

Sparty at the Zoo with the Pandas

Alumni Campus in Italy ~ Sorrento and Orvieto, October 16-27, 2006

Seventeen MSU Alumni and friends traveled to Italy and visited the areas of Sorrento and Orvieto.  Places traveled while on the tour were the breathtaking Amalfi Coast and the quaint towns of Positano and Amalfi, the ruins of Pompeii, the Isle of Capri, Florence, Perugia and Assisi.  Each day was filled with the wonder and beauty of Italy along with educational information on the areas visited.  Below are photos from the tour.

              MSUAA Travelers on the Isle of Capri

Positano, Italy ~ The Amalfi Coast

                                           From L to R:  Nick and Mary Suciu, Regina Cross

                                                                         and Connie and Don McIntosh

Galapagos, October 7-16, 2006

"It was a wonderful trip.  I would recommend it to all." Harriett Markley-Weeks, '64

Travelers (L to R): Harriet Markley-Weeks, Julie & Tom Brenner and Mary Tiedeman

Kenya Migration, August 10-20, 2006

"I wanted to share with you what a fabulous time we all had.  International Expeditions (Origins in Africa), put together a wonderful itinerary and provided us with a top notch guide and driver.  Yes, a trip of a lifetime and I say that as a seasoned traveler."  Carol Rearick, MSUAA Traveler

    A pride of lions in the Samburu National Reserve, submitted by Carol Rearick

Paris: April 14-22, 2006

"We had a wonderful time on our trip to Paris in April.  The arrangements were as advertised, and the optional tours satisfied everyone's interests.  We look forward to future MSU tours."  Fred and RoseAnn Swartz and Jim and Karen VanNocker

MSUAA Travelers in Paris L to R: Fred Swartz '85, RoseAnn Swartz '89,

Karen Van Nocker, Jim Van Nocker '61, Scott Fowler '64 and

Marjorie Hansen '64 & '71

China, March 29-April 10, 2006

MSUAA Travelers in China

Village Life along the Waterways of Holland & Belgium, April 7~15, 2006 "The people, accommodations and food were all excellent and it was well run by Gohagan."  Chris Manners, '69

MSUAA Travelers (from L to R)

Seated: Shirley Murray; Sue Carmen;

Doug Gray.  Standing: Kathy Manners;

Chris Manners; Nancy Gray

In the Wake of Lewis & Clark: Saturday, October 29 ~ November 2005
Sixteen MSU alumni travelers and friends boarded the Linblad Expedition Sea Bird ship in Portland, Oregon, on October 29th. Six days later we returned having observed and experienced a small glimpse of the fabulous part of our country that Lewis & Clark and their Corps of Discovery traversed over 200 years ago. View some of the highlights of the tour below and then click on any of them to view more.

Sunrise view off the stern of the Linblad Expedition Sea Bird with Mt. Hood in the background.

Sparty watches from the pilot house as the Sea Bird makes its way up the Columbia River.

Amazon Journey: January 29 - February 6, 2005 In January 2005, eight MSU alumni and friends traveled to South America on the MSUAA sponsored tour "The Amazon Journey".  Jerry Williams '70, provided the comments and pictures below.  "Our MSU Alumni group joined alums from Penn State, Northwestern and M.I.T. in Lima for a short flight to Iquitos, Peru to begin our Amazon River Journey.  We spent the next week cruising Rio Ucayali and Rio Maranon, the two main rivers that join to form Rio Amazonas.  During our excursions each day and night our guides pointed out macaws, parrots, siren birds, riverside hawks, iguanas, sloths, bats, caiman, Saki monkeys, Spider monkeys, chunky monkeys and much, much more.  We went piranha fishing and ate some of them for dinner...tastes like chicken.  The people of the Amazon Rain Forest were so friendly.  They welcomed us into their villages, climbed into trees to pick local fruit for us, dug up roots that were later served for dinner, showed us their catch of the day and interacted with us in a one-room school (if you take this trip, take some pencils and paper for the kids). We danced away every evening with the band.  When they weren't playing music, they were cooking, cleaning our rooms, running the ship, guiding us on excursions, cleaning our muddy shoes, tending bar and more.  We were even blessed by a shaman!
MSUAA Travelers (from L to R):  Don '64 & Jo Gibbs, Jerry '70 & Brenda Williams and John '57 & '60 & Shirley Richardson	Shirley Richardson and a piranha
Lessons of Tuscany: May 17-25, 2005 "Il Borgo was truly a superb location and we would highly recommend it to everyone.  The management team went out of their way to offer us every possible amenity and comfort.  The selected restaurants were incredible.  And, needless to say, Tuscany was a picture postcard every moment.  Thanks for offering this great trip!"  -- MSUAA Traveler - Connie McEwan '68
MSUAA Tuscany Travelers (from L to R): Marge Gliozzo, Kandi Peterson, Connie McEwan, Bob Peterson, Chuck Gliozzo and Ian McEwan
Waterways of France: October 7-15, 2005 MSUAA Travelers L to R:  James and Diane Lanker and Gordon and Marilyn Fosburg
Civilizations of the Western Mediterranean: September 12-22, 2005 "This tour was exceptional!  This was my first time to Europe and first time on an MSU Alumni sponsored trip.  I would recommend it to anyone!  The ship, Le Diamont, had one of the finest crews possible--the service was impeccable and the french cuisine was superb!  Ann Wilson '63 MSUAA Travelers L to R: Jodie Ruthrauff '55, Lou Schimmel '60, Mary Schimmel '61, Katherine Gingrass '55 and Ann Wilson '63
Alaska: June 10-17, 2005 "It was a wonderful trip -- one of the my most memorable."  Lois Norman '63

Italian Riviera:  June 4-12, 2005

"Our trip, through MSU, was one of the nicest and most enjoyable we've taken.  Michigan State did a wonderful job organizing this trip.  The overall on-site tour leader and the many individual tour guides were execllent.  They were interesting and really knew their subject matter.  The tours, restaurants, transportation, and the beautiful Hotel Vis a Vis in Sestri Levante in Cinque Terre was outstanding.  We especially liked the tour to Cinque Terre, which included visiting villages of Portofino, Protovenere, and many others.  Another favorite was the tour to Carrara and its mountains where they quarry the marble.  The whole trip was memorable and we would, and have, recommended it to several of our friends."  MSUAA Travelers - Don and Connie McIntosh