If you are tired of long flights, the weak dollar and passport uncertainty, I suggest taking a tour in the United States.

My husband and I have taken several, and found that they bring back memories of what we learned in school years ago.

The parks and canyons tour was very special, covering everything from Las Vegas to Rapid City, S.D.

It was truly awesome to be at Mount Rushmore, and look up to see Presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt carved on the face of a mountain.

We visited the world's first National Park, Yellowstone. While there, we were able to get a fantastic view of the Lower Falls, which are almost twice as large as Niagara Falls.

Another stop was at the Grand Teton National Park in Jackson, Wyo.

After traveling through Jackson to Salt Lake City, your breath will be taken away by the sight of Bryce Canyon. We were there near the end of the day, and the setting sun made the canyon come alive with so many shades of pink they could not be counted.

The next stop was at Zion National Park on the way to Lake Powell, where we took a boat tour. I have never felt so insignificant with the mountains all around. It was absolutely wonderful.

One of the best stops is at the Grand Canyon.

We took a helicopter ride over the canyon and found this a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If you are originally from the North and miss the change of seasons, especially in the fall, I highly recommend a tour during the fall foliage season. There are several tours available.

They include stops in New England during September and October.

This is one way to say goodbye to the heat of the summer and enjoy those wonderful Maine lobsters.

The leaves won't be as brilliant as in New England, but a tour nearer to home of Charleston, S.C., and Savannah, Ga., during the same time period is worth it. Both locations offer plenty of sightseeing.

A large part of the fun on one of these tours is meeting people from other countries without going abroad. We still keep in touch with some very nice folks we met 10 years ago on tour.

All the tours mentioned are offered by Globus. Check with a travel agent for these and more options.

Rose Mascarenhas is a travel consultant with Gadabout Travel in Sebastian. Call (772) 589-0633.

Gadabout Travel also has an office in Melbourne. Call (321) 253-3674.