New teachers expect many things in educational life to be complex (e.g., classroom management, lesson planning, administrative paperwork, relationships with colleagues and students' parents), they still underestimate the amount of detail that goes into creating effective learning experiences daily. Field trips, for example, always sound like a great idea, but making them meaningful is more difficult than most teachers realize. This article discusses how to plan an effective field trip. Two suggestions for during the planning process are: (1) When contacting potential trip locales for initial logistical information (fees, adult-student ratio, handicap access, food policies, maps, etc.), ask if they have educational materials for teachers and students; and (2) After identifying potential trip locations, teachers should visit them in person.