CHICAGO, Jan. 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, Jan. 18), CheapTickets.com®, a leading seller of discounted travel products, has identified five historic U.S. locations and volunteer service opportunities for the long holiday weekend and will give a dedicated volunteer the chance to win a service trip.1 Less than a quarter of Americans have taken a volunteer service trip, but nearly 60 percent would consider taking one2 and cite time and money as the two biggest prohibitors.3
“Many times when people think of service trips they picture a long and expensive trip outside of the U.S.,” said Brian Wolf, general manager of CheapTickets.com. “However, there are so many opportunities to make an impact in communities within the United States, without the steep travel costs, especially on a nationally recognized day of service like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.”
TOP DESTINATIONS TO SERVE OVER THE DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. LONG WEEKEND
CheapTickets.com editors searched the United States for destinations with historic significance and service events commemorating what would have been Dr. King’s 87th birthday.4 MLK service events over the holiday weekend can fill up quickly, so those planning on volunteering or attending an event should check in beforehand to reserve a spot.
| Destination | Historic Site | Service Opportunity | Avg. Airfare | Avg. Daily Hotel Rate | ||||
| Memphis, Tenn. | National Civil Rights Museum | Clean Memphis and Leadership Memphis’ MLK Day of Service | $ | 200 | $ | 129 | ||
| Boston, Mass. | Radcliffe College Yard | Boston Cares’ MLK Day of Service | $ | 189 | $ | 172 | ||
| Washington, D.C. | MLK Memorial & National Mall | MLK Day of Service with City Year Washington, D.C. | $ | 194 | $ | 149 | ||
| Little Rock, Ark. | Little Rock Central High School | MEGA KINGFEST’s A Day of Service | $ | 297 | $ | 123 | ||
| San Francisco, Calif. | GLBT History Museum | Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy MLK Day of Service | $ | 226 | $ | 200 | ||
Memphis, Tenn. – National Civil Rights Museum/Clean Memphis and Leadership Memphis’ MLK Day of Service
Site: Built around the former Lorraine Motel where Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, the National Civil Rights Museum underwent a massive renovation and reopened in 2014. Featuring interactive exhibits, self-guided tours and several films, this educational and historic site is not to be missed.
Service: Clean Memphis and Leadership Memphis partner for this MLK Day of Service to host volunteers for beautification projects in communities across the city.
Boston, Mass. – Radcliffe College Yard & Schlesinger Library/Boston Cares’ MLK Day of Service
Site: Founded as the “Harvard Annex” in 1879 and historically serving as the “Harvard for women,” Radcliffe College officially merged with Harvard in 1999. Now, Radcliffe College Yard is a part of the Harvard campus and is home to the Schlesinger Library, which houses some of the most extensive resources for research as well as exhibits on the history of women in America.
Service: Over 500 volunteers are expected at Boston Cares’ “reading success”-themed event where they will create literacy games, reading journals, bookshelves and more to promote learning and literacy among the city’s youth.
Washington, D.C. – MLK Memorial & National Mall/MLK Day of Service with City Year Washington, D.C.
Site: Erected in 2011, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial stands 30 feet tall and features quotes from many of Dr. King’s sermons and speeches. The memorial is located just southwest of the National Mall, where during the March on Washington, Dr. King delivered his renowned “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.
Service: Join other volunteers across the D.C. area at local schools as City Year Washington D.C. organizes projects like school beautification, mural painting and workshops for youth.
Little Rock, Ark. – Little Rock Central High School/MEGA KINGFEST’s A Day of Service
Site: Visit the Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site Visitor Center, adjacent to the high school, to learn more about one of the most prominent national examples of the implementation of anti-segregation laws.
Service: Volunteer at one of the largest celebrations of Dr. King’s life as The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission hosts 2016 MEGA KINGFEST which will feature celebrity speakers, a non-violence youth summit and service projects like feeding the at-risk.
San Francisco, Calif. – GLBT History Museum/Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy MLK Day of Service
Site: Situated in San Francisco’s historic Castro District, the GLBT History Museum is the first full-scale, stand-alone museum of its kind in the United States and exhibits showcase the trials, tribulations and victories of the GLBT community.
Service: The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy will host volunteers for clean up, habitat restoration, landscaping and more at sites around San Francisco including the sprawling Presidio grounds and picturesque Crissy Field, just steps from the Golden Gate Bridge.
NOMINATE A DEDICATED VOLUNTEER FOR THE CHEAPTICKETS.COM GIVE BACK GIVEAWAY
Know someone who is always volunteering and serving their community? Give them the opportunity to expand their impact and make a difference outside of their community by taking a service trip. Nominate your favorite dedicated volunteer to win a service trip by visiting Facebook.com/CheapTickets and describing why they deserve the prize. If your nominee is chosen, you will also win a service trip.1
HOW TO TAKE A SERVICE TRIP ON THE CHEAP
Think domestic: A service trip does not have to involve a transcontinental voyage. Cut travel costs and trip length by seeking opportunities in cities that are accessible via a short plane ride or are within driving distance.
Add service to an existing trip: Make any trip a service trip by carving out a little time to do some good wherever you are. Identify local organizations and projects that could use some help for a day (or even a few hours) during an already planned vacation.
Serve with friends: Reduce accommodation costs by rallying a group to travel with and share a room. A difference and memories can be made by providing several pairs of helping hands.
1 No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. Must be resident of 48 contiguous US 18+. Ends 1/25/16. For official rules, click here.
2 December 2015 Orbitz-University of Wisconsin A. C. Nielsen Center for Marketing Research US Traveler Compass Study
3 Google Consumer Survey fielded by CheapTickets.com to 500 adults from Dec. 16 – 17.
4 Average airfare calculated on Dec. 21 by taking the average price for all air bookings in the listed destination for travel between Jan. 15 – 18. Average hotel rates calculated on Jan. 5 by taking the average price for all hotel bookings in the listed destinations for travel between Jan. 15 – 18.
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