Our Journey from Travelers to Hosts
How we turned decades of travel, careful observation, and hands-on hosting into a small company built around interesting itineraries and rewarding small-group experiences.
Kirk & Carol Figus (somewhere in Tuscany)
“We’ve spent decades on both sides of a group tour, first as tag-along travelers, and now as trip planners and go-along hosts.”
Who’s behind Landmarks & Side Streets?
We're Kirk and Carol Figus, travelers who have spent decades on both sides of a group tour—first as participants, and now as trip planners and hosts.
Our first overseas trip was a journey through the Soviet Union just before the fall of the Iron Curtain, which showed us how powerful and complex international travel can be.
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Over time, we’ve joined many group trips: London (twice), Prague, Vienna, Buenos Aires, Moscow/Leningrad, Hawaii, Las Vegas, a one‑day whirlwind stop in Paris; a tall‑ship visit to the East Indies; and group cruises to Alaska and the Bahamas.
Along the way, we paid close attention to how itineraries were organized, what made a day feel well‑paced, and which moments helped group members feel engaged with each other.
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Drawing on that experience, as an outgrowth of a social group that Kirk founded we began organizing and hosting four group trips of our own—to Scotland (twice), the Republic of Ireland, and Northern Ireland—creating the itineraries from scratch, traveling with the group, seeing firsthand what worked and where to refine the experience
We’ve also planned ambitious independent itineraries to places like Amsterdam and Rome, and we keep adding to our journeys; Florence is next up on our list of personal adventures (because there’s something magical about Italy).
Kirk is a graphic designer, with an eye for how information is presented and how experiences flow from one moment to the next. Carol is an educational paraprofessional, used to reading a room and making sure everyone feels included and at ease. Together, those backgrounds shape how we plan, host, and adjust each trip: we carefully consider the pacing and quality of our venues, make it a point to always be available and approachable, and pay attention to how the group is feeling as the day unfolds.
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On every Landmarks & Side Streets adventure, we travel with the group alongside your Tour Director, joining fellow travelers at breakfast, chatting during venue visits, and talking with people on the bus to gauge how the trip feels on the ground and what people are responding to. When a small adjustment will make the day better—a timing tweak, an extra stop, a shift in emphasis—we work with the Tour Director and driver to make those changes when it’s practical to do so.
Have any questions? Give us a call at XXX-XXX-XXXX
“Carol sets up an excellent itinerary, with unique stops off the beaten path. Kirk and Carol also do a commendable job of including all tour attendees during the trip, checking in at breakfast, during stops, and in the evenings to hear everyone’s thoughts as the tour progresses.” ~ Dave W.
“This wasn’t my first group travel experience, but it was certainly the most special. With Carol’s planning and talent for handling the details, we always had something to look forward to. I’m still amazed at how she manages to weave so many experiences into a single week without it ever feeling rushed." ~ Dre K.
“An unforgettable experience. Carol and Kirk put together an incredible itinerary full of unique moments and thoughtful touches...every day brought something special. I highly recommend joining the next trip for anyone who loves history, culture, and food.” ~ Amy O.
We Trust Go Ahead Tours to Handle Our
Arrangements
We focus on designing the experience, then hand things off to EF Go Ahead Tours to make it all run smoothly.
We create the custom itinerary—the route, the pacing, and the mix of well‑known and lesser‑known places—then EF Go Ahead Tours steps in to handle flights, hotels, transportation, venue bookings, and all the complicated behind‑the‑scenes logistics.
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EF Go Ahead Tours is part of EF Education First and draws on more than 50 years of travel planning experience, offering over 200 guided tours around the world.
That means your Landmarks & Side Streets trip is both thoughtfully designed and backed by the systems, 24/7 traveler support, and operational expertise of a large, established travel company.
