INA, Ill. (Dec. 3, 2014) - Rend Lake College is again partnering with Collette Vacations to offer three exciting travel opportunities for community members in 2015 and 2016. The first trip is to Ireland from April 19-28, 2015. Participants can also visit the Pacific Northwest and California from Aug. 9-16, 2015, and Costa Rice from Feb. 1-9, 2016.
The Shades of Ireland trip will feature stops in the towns of Dublin, Kingscourt, Limerick, Killarney, and Waterford. The Emerald Isle trip, famous for its many shades of green, will show attendees much of the country’s natural beauty and rich history. Tours and specialized stops are scheduled for St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin; O’Connell Street, the main thoroughfare in Dublin; Grafton Street, home to many local shops in Dublin; Phoenix Park in Dublin; and many more. Spend 10 days enjoying traditional Irish entertainment at the medieval Blarney Castle; taking a Jaunting Car Ride in Killarney; touring the scenic Ring of Kerry; viewing the breathtaking Cliffs of Moher; and spending an evening in a castle.
Shades of Ireland costs $3,749 per person or $3,349 for double occupancy, which includes nine nights’ stay and 13 meals from April 19-28, 2015.
For those wanting to see more of the United States, the Pacific Northwest and California trip is right up your alley. Featuring three states - Washington, Oregon, and California - attendees will start their tour from Seattle, travel through the Cascade Mountains in Portland, and into the Columbia River Gorge and the Bonneville Dam. Part of the trip will include stops in what was considered the “promise land†for Oregon Trail adventurers in the mid-1800s. Participants will also visit the Redwood Forest in northern California, and several places in San Francisco, including the Golden Gate Bridge and Chinatown.
The Pacific Northwest and California trip costs $3,399 per person or $2,749 for double occupancy, which includes seven nights’ stay and 10 meals from Aug. 9-16, 2015.
In 2016, community members can visit Tropical Costa Rica on a nine-day trip starting in the colorful capital city of San Jose. This trip highlights San Jose, a coffee plantation, the northern city of Guanacaste, the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve in the Cordillera de Tilarán mountain range, the Arenal Hanging Bridges, the Arenal Volcano, a cruise of Lake Arenal, a local cooking demonstration, the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge, the city of Zarcero, and the National Theatre in San Jose. The lush forests, stunning waterfalls, exotic wildlife, and endless coastlines make Costa Rica a slice of paradise.
The Tropical Costa Rica trip costs $3,249 per person or $2,699 for double occupancy, which includes an eight-night stay and 14 meals.
There will be an informational meeting about all the trips at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 in the Historic Schoolhouse on the Ina campus. For more information on the Collette Vacations, contact the Community and Corporate Education Department at 618-437-5321, Ext. 1714, or smithst@rlc.edu.