Chasing Amelia Earhart Tour

Your journey begins in the nation’s capital. After getting acquainted with your tour guide, don’t waste any time heading over to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The museum tells us the history of aviation, a story that can’t be told without Amelia Earhart. One of the many planes on display at the Smithsonian is the Lockheed Vega 5B, the plane Earhart flew solo across the Atlantic in 1932. You’ll have the evening to explore Washington on your own, but not before getting a look at this historic plane.

The second day of your trip includes a short plane ride to Connecticut to visit the New England Air Museum. This museum also offers a wonderful collection of aircraft to see in person, but the one you’ll be particularly interested in seeing is the Lockheed 10-A “Electra.” This is the model of plane Earhart was flying when she disappeared while trying to circle the globe. Seeing it in person should give you a better idea of what Earhart set out to accomplish by flying around the world in a plane of this size.

Today you’ll take a flight halfway across the country to Earhart’s hometown of Atchison, Kansas, located an hour outside Kansas City. The drive to Atchison from Kansas City includes a trip over the Amelia Earhart Bridge. Despite the long day of travel, there will be time to make short stops at Amelia Earhart Airport on the outskirts of Atchison, and the church where Earhart was baptized in 1897.

The real reason to visit Atchison will be revealed today, as you visit the Amelia Earhart Birthplace Museum, built on the site of her childhood home. Much of the day will be spent at the museum, learning about Earhart’s roots and who she was before she became a trailblazing pilot. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Warnock Lake, just south of town, where you’ll find the International Forest of Friendship, a gorgeous green space that includes trees that represent all 50 states as well as a life-size statue of Earhart. Also, located next to the lake is a landscape mural of Earhart that was created in 1997 to honor Earhart’s 100th birthday.

You got to stretch our legs a little bit at the lake yesterday to help make up for another long flight, this time with Oakland as the destination. Oakland is an important place in Earhart’s history, as it was both the starting point and destination for some of her record-setting flights. The city is also home to an aviation museum that includes an exhibit dedicated to women in aviation, and Earhart is one of several women honored there.

Today, your group will fly from Oakland to Honolulu, Hawaii, which was the exact flight Earhart made on the first leg of her first attempt to circumnavigate the globe in 1937. The attempt was ultimately scrapped because of issues with the plane. In any event, you’ll make that same flight from Oakland to Honolulu and spend the rest of the day relaxing in the Hawaiian sun.

Today begins with a trip to Honolulu’s famous Diamond Head volcano. While the nearby beach offers impressive views of the ocean, along Diamond Head Road you will also find a monument dedicated to Earhart in recognition of being the first person to make a solo flight from Hawaii to the U.S. mainland in 1935. In the afternoon, you’ll take a short flight over to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii. Waiting for you there is the famous Banyan Drive, which is known as the Hilo Walk of Fame. It’s a beautiful location that’s made up of trees that have been planted by celebrities, politicians, famous Hawaiians and many notable people, including Amelia Earhart.

From Hawaii, you’ll fly to the South Pacific, crossing the very waters Earhart was attempting to traverse on her fateful trip. Unfortunately, Howland Island, Earhart’s intended destination when she disappeared isn’t accessible to tourists, so it won’t be part of the itinerary. However, your destination will be the island of Saipan, which has become part of Earhart’s story in recent years.

Some have claimed in recent years that Earhart’s last flight in 1937 ended up in Saipan after she missed Howland Island. The story goes that she and navigator Fred Noonan were captured and imprisoned after landing on Saipan, which was controlled by Japan at the time. We probably won’t discover the truth about what happened on this tour, but you will get ot explore a little of what Saipan has to offer, including the breathtaking Banzai Cliff, American Memorial Park, and the peaceful Saipan Katori Shrine.

Much like Earhart’s final journey, your trip finishes in the South Pacific. Of course, the benefit of concluding our trip in Saipan is you have the option to stay on the island a little longer on your own. You also have the option of spending more time in Hawaii on your way back home. In any event, by the end of your 10-day trip, you will hopefully have a greater understanding of Earhart’s life and accomplishments, as well as a better appreciation for all the miles she traveled in her life.