TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The University of Alabama National Alumni Association travel program, Alumni Campus Abroad, is sponsoring Alumni College trips to Ireland and St. Petersburg, Russia, this fall.

The Alumni Campus Abroad program gives participants a first-hand look at how other countries’ cultures, traditions and beliefs interact. The program offers meals, airfare, excursions and informative educational programs given by local experts. UA participants will have two different opportunities to join in the program this fall with the Alumni College in Ireland on Sept. 10-18 and the St. Petersburg Escapade on Nov. 4-11.

The Alumni College in Ireland, Sept.10-18, costs approximately $2,395. The trip will include round-trip airfare, a seven-night stay at the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel, three meals a day and informative educational programs. The trip will also include a variety of excursions in which participants will visit Dublin; Cahir Castle; tour Kilkenny, known as Ireland’s prettiest inland city with its many art collections, pubs, castle and cathedral; visit the Waterford Crystal Visitor Center; go to the Irish National Heritage Park; and see Brod Tullaroan, a unique heritage center that includes a 17th-century thatched mansion.

The St. Petersburg Escapade, Nov. 4-11, will cost approximately $2,095. The St. Petersburg trip will include round-trip airfare, a six-night stay at the five-star Grand Hotel Europe, located in the heart of St. Petersburg, full buffet breakfast each morning, and modular programming which will allow participants flexibility to participate in optional excursions. Visitors can tour the Palace of Catherine the Great, the Winter Palace, Narva Triumphal Arch, the Russian Museum, or go see a Russian Ballet performance. Also available with this trip is a dine-around package which gives travelers the opportunity to sample authentic Russian cuisine. The package includes dining at three of St. Petersburg’s finest restaurants, round-trip transportation, a guide interpreter and all gratuities. This additional package is $125 per person.

The NAA travel program provides an international experience by sampling authentic food, participating in educational programs led by local experts, and touring some of the country’s most famous monuments. For more information, contact Pam Lyons at 205/348-5963.