Visiting important landmarks and historic grounds across the USA is a great opportunity to explore new things, and to see some of America's beautiful landscape and reconnect with your kids.
While we couldn't list every battlefield of the Civil War and every beautiful state park or local theme park we think we picked out some of the most beautiful, historical and fun filled options for your family.
Whether your family is into rollercoasters, history, arts or nature, we have got you covered. Check them out below.
Remember we can save you money when you combine your hotel and airfare together and book one of our great family vacation packages. To check out prices from your hometown to one of these great USA marvels please, click here.
Walt Disney World Resort, Orlando, Fla.- For more than 35 years, this resort destination—it's more than just a theme park—has been bringing the magic to kids and their grown-ups. For tips on navigating its 47 square miles visit disneyworld.com.
Yellowstone National Park- Established in 1872, Yellowstone National Park is America's first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, it is home to a large variety of wildlife including grizzly bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Preserved within Yellowstone National Park are Old Faithful and a collection of the world's most extraordinary geysers and hot springs, and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone. ( http://www.nps.gov/yell/index.htm $25 per vehicle, plus $12 person, valid for 7 days with in and out privileges).
Wright Brothers National Memorial, N.C.- Wind, sand, and a dream of flight brought Wilbur and Orville Wright to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina where, after four years of experimentation, they achieved the first successful airplane flights in 1903. With courage and perseverance, these self-taught engineers relied on teamwork and application of the scientific process. What they achieved changed our world forever. ( http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/index.htm $4 for adults 16 and older, children 15 and under are free).
Cedar Point Amusement Park, OH.- This park is loaded with thrills, this park contains three of the top 10 rollercoasters in America, and has a total of 17 rollercoasters, including top thrill dragster that reaches speeds of 120 mph. This theme park also as great family rides and water rides to keep you cool. The park is located on Lake Erie in Sandusky, Ohio. ( http://www.cedarpoint.com/ Tickets $29.99-$54.99).
Freedom Trail, Boston, MA- Visit Bunker Hill, Paul Revere's house, and other spots pivotal to the American Revolution. Walk the trail on your own for free or book a tour with a guide in 18th-century garb (thefreedomtrail.org, $11 Adult, $9 Student/Senior, $5.50 Child Ages 6-12).
Ellis Island Museum, New York City- About 40 percent of Americans are descended from someone who immigrated through this station. Visiting is a powerful experience, thanks to the smartly curated exhibits—and you get a terrific view of the Statue of Liberty on the same ferry ride (ellisisland.org, free guided tours, audio tours $8).
Alcatraz Island National Park, CA- Alcatraz Island offers a close-up look at the site of the first lighthouse and US built fort on the West Coast, the infamous federal penitentiary long off-limits to the public. Rich in history, there is also a natural side to the Rock - gardens, tide pools, bird colonies, and bay views beyond compare. See where the movie "The Rock" was filmed that starred Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage. Sit in Al Capone's jail cell and take the self guided tour. ( http://www.nps.gov/alca/index.htm early bird $17 children 5-11, $28 adults. Night tour children $20.50, adult $35).
Ground Zero, New York City- The hole in lower Manhattan is sacred ground. The nearby Tribute-WTC Center exhibits crushed firefighter helmets and other recovered items (tributewtc.org, $15, students $10, kids under 12 free).
Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.- This is a city of inspiring sights: the Washington Monument, Arlington National Cemetery, and the Jefferson and Vietnam Veterans memorials. Still, the 19-foot marble statue of our 16th president is a can't-miss (nps.gov/linc, free).
Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg, VA.- Kids growing up with e-mail and iPods might not believe it, but there was life before electricity, and even before a United States. The 301-acre open-air museum features hundreds of restored, reconstructed, and historically furnished buildings, and costumed guides tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city (history.org, $29.95, kids 6-12 $14.95, under 6 Free).
USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii- Sunk by a surprise attack on December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona remains six feet below the water as a lasting monument to World War II veterans. A memorial that spans the sunken battleship was dedicated in 1962 (nps.gov/usar, free).
Hoover Dam / Lake Mead- NV- The Powerplant Tour offers a combination of presentations by Reclamation guides, audio and film presentations, exhibits and other media that provide a comprehensive view of the massive dam and its operations, as well as highlight many of the unique features around the site. It takes about two hours to discover all the features at Hoover Dam. ( http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/ ages 4-16 $9, adults $11).
Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.- Look at what wind, water, and erosion can do: At 5,000 feet deep and an average of 10 miles across, it's the most magnificent natural wonder in the country, and perhaps the world (nps.gov/grca, $12 person, vehicles $25, kids 15 and younger free).
National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis, TN- The motel where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was killed is a museum chronicling the African-American struggle from slavery to Rosa Parks and beyond (civilrightsmuseum.org, $10, $8.00 kids 4-17). Also highly worthwhile: Alabama's Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (bcri.org, $12, kids $3 ages 4-12) and Cincinnati's National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (freedomcenter.org, $12, kids $8 ages 6-12, free for kids 5 and under).
Redwood National Park, Calif.- Everyone feels humbled, in a good way, when exploring in the shadows of 300-foot-tall trees—many of which are more than 1,000 years old (nps.gov/redw, free).
Gettysburg, PA.- It's never too early to learn about the sacrifices of those who came before: In the bloodiest war in our nation's history, this Civil War battlefield was the bloodiest of all. Visitors can also see the spot where President Lincoln delivered his famed Civil War speech in 1863 (nps.gov/gett, free).
Smithsonian Museums, Washington, D.C.- Visit 17 museums and zoo for FREE. Washington D.C. is loaded with history and knowledge. Some of the Museums that you can visit for free are Air and Space Museum, Freer Gallery of Art, National Zoo, Postal Museum,African Art and so much more. (http://www.si.edu/).
Mount Rushmore National Memorial, S.D,- Mount Rushmore features 60-foot sculptures of the heads of former United States presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.The entire memorial covers 1,278.45 acres. (http://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm $11 per vehicle).
Southern Most Point Buoy/ Hemingway Home- Key West, FL- The buoy is the southern most dry land point of the USA. Cuba is only 90 miles away! The Hemingway house was built in 1851 by Asa Tift, a marine architect and salvage wrecker, and became Ernest Hemingway's home in 1931. The house still contains the furniture that he and his family used. ( http://hemingwayhome.com/ children $6, Adult $13).
The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas- "Remember The Alamo" battle cry! The stories of courage in the face of overwhelming forces will be remembered (thealamo.org, free).
Niagara Falls, N.Y.- The most powerful falls in North America, with as much as six million cubic feet of water plummeting over the gorge every minute, were awesome when your grandparents honeymooned there and remain awesome today. It's worth crossing into Canada to see them from the other side (niagarafallsstatepark.com, free).
Garden of the Gods, Colorado Springs, CO- Garden of the Gods contains numerous trails for hiking, walking, mountain biking and horseback riding along with the natural erosion stones that are rightfully called "Garden of the Gods". Plus while you are in Colorado Springs check out the cog railway to Pike's Peak which climbs to the 14,110 summit. For the more adventurous there is also great white water rafting adventures!
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming- Located in northwestern Wyoming, Grand Teton National Park preserves a spectacular landscape rich with majestic mountains, pristine lakes and extraordinary wildlife. The park's world-renowned scenery attracts nearly four million visitors per year. ($12-$25 per car for a 7 day permit good for both Grand Teton and Yellowstone http://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm).
Remember we can save you money when you combine your hotel and airfare together and book one of our great family vacation packages. To check out prices from your hometown to one of these great USA marvels please, click here.
