DC is one place I really want to take the kids. I've been a few times. I was young the first time, but I remember standing in the middle of the Capital Rotunda looking up, and seeing the picture of President Kennedy's casket there. The second time I was an adult, attending a pro-life rally.
I live in Massachusetts. Like every other state, there is soooo much to do here, I don't even know where to begin. lol. In Boston there is a great Museum of Science, Aquarium and Children's Museum all within walking distance of each other, but really, you could probably see much of the same type of stuff at various museums across the country so I would recommend other things, like taking a 'Duck Tour' of Boston, walking the Freedom Trail, or checking out Fenway Park. Outside of Boston I would recommend spending some down down in Cape Cod...my favorite is to go camping, ride our bikes along a great bike trail and go to the drive in movie theater in Wellfleet. There are so many great beaches too. In Central Mass there is the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst which is cool. Amherst is a beautiful area....especially if you were here in the Fall with all the foliage. Plimoth Plantation is fun, espeically if you're learning about the Pilgrims. On Thanksgiving you can go there and have a "real" Thanksgiving meal. There is so much history in Boston it can be overwhelming but there are a lot of fun options to help you get into it. Last year we did a pirate scavenger hunt thing where we had to follow clues from one Boston landmark to another and it was soooo fun. We travelled through a historical cemetery where some pretty famous people are buried and it got us noticing all kinds of things that we usually just walk right by. I could go on and on....
Southeastern PA --- Hershey's Chocolate World (has a free informational ride). There is also a museum in Hershey dedicated to the life of Milton Hershey. Herr Chip Factory in Nottingham, PA Sturgis Pretzel in Lititz, PA -- oldest continuously operated family-owned pretzel makers in the country -- offers a tour of their original facilities. Crayola Factory --Easton, PA -- very cool place -- I'd try to go during the off-season as it can be crazy busy, however, during the peak season you can also take a ride on a canal boat pulled by horses and visit the canal museum. Philadelphia --Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Contstitution Center, Betsy Ross' house, two great science museums and one great art museum Lancaster, PA -- Amish Farm, Buggy rides, Sight and Sound Theater York, PA -- Harley Davidson factory Valley Forge, PA -- national park Gettysburg, PA -- battlefield -- good place to see on bicycle In southwestern, VA... Dixie Caverns in Roanoke, VA Luray Caverns in Luray, VA Natural Bridge in Natural Bridge, VA Blue Ridge Parkway That's all I can think of in one sitting.
Alice, I thought you had to be 18 for the Harley factory? Maybe I'm thinking the Mac truck factory.. but I know we looked at them but Garrett wasn't old enough to go to them. Not far from Harrisburg, PA is a place called Lake Tobias.. that is lots of fun, and very affordable!!! Also there is ReptileLand in Allenwood.. thought I don't think there is enough there. There is also a place called Paws and Claws, though I've never been there. There are lots of caves here in PA.. and a few coal mines.. Penns Cave, Indian Echo Caverns, Ashland Coal Mine. On the thought of coal mines, there is a place near Hazelton PA called Eckley Miners Village. And then there is the very cool town of Jim Thorpe... and you have to tour the old jail (esp if you like a good ghost story!). Hubby and I have visited Jim Thorpe a few times.. they have some really cool shops.. but some I would never take my kids in as they carry some strange items. Also Strausburg Railroad is cool. In Harrisburg there is the State museum which is free! There is also a firemans museum there but I haven't found that yet. Stateparks here are amazing! There is the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.. there are 2 state parks there.. and also there are some neat things to do there, we rode in a horse drawn Conestoga wagon down through the canyon. Then we went on a train ride in the city of Waynesboro which is right there too. Not far from me we have two great stateparks.. Worlds End and Ricketts Glen. Ricketts Glen has some of the most beautiful waterfalls... but I don't reccomend walking the trail unless you are in good shape and are used to hiking along cliff edges.. and I am not sure about taking your DD.. we took Garrett when he was 5, but I would never take a kid that young again! We also stayed at Pine Grove Furnace State Park.. that was neat, and a very nice campground! About Gettysburg... the battlefield is very boring to young kids, but the town is neat and they have lots of museums that aren't so dry to little ones.. I loved the wax museum as a kid!!
SC - I know there is many more than what I'll post but here is a start! In the Columbia area - The SC State Museum, EdVenture Museum (very awesome hands-on and geared for the younger set), you can tour the State Capitol building, Riverbanks Zoo is ranked very high in the nation, Sescuicentenial State Park (hopefully I spelled that right!) where there is beautiful camping available, Congaree Swamp and some beautiful river walks that are easy to find. Charleston has many historical tours to take advantage of. There is a really nice aquarium down that way, also. The beaches themselves are worth visiting! Myrtle Beach is more touristy but still a fun place to visit.
Near Charleston is Boone Hall Plantation.. part of Gone with the Wind was filmed there.. it's BEAUTIFUL, and a great field trip!! Fort Sumter is great too near Charleston. Also a little place between Charleston and Myrtle Beach is Pawleys Island.. very nice! I :love: Charleston!! It was my dream place to live, but hubby is set on staying here on the family land... I have almost convinced him to go to Montana or Wyoming and homestead there.. but that hasn't worked either..lol.
OH and the Death Valley area! WOW that is a wonderful place! Youd think its just a dessert but its worth a trip to!
For Wisconsin you might want to check out our State Capitol building in Madison. http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/capfacts/tour_select.html Also check out State Street (one street that leads up to the capitol building). It has some neat little shops and restaurants. You can bike in that street or walk on the sidewalks, but no driving (except for city buses) is allowed on State Street. http://www.wisconsin.gov/state/core/visiting_wisconsin.html Here is a link to our state parks and forests just in case you are interested. http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/land/parks/specific/findapark.html I've been to Kettle Moraine State Park, Devil's Lake and another one in Door County. Oh ya...Door County is a beautiful place to visit too. If you are looking for indoor or outdoor waterparks and hotels, look into Wisconsin Dells (not too far from Devil's Lake State Park). http://www.wisdells.com/ I'm not too familiar with Milwaukee, but that is also a good place to visit for museums. http://www.visitmilwaukee.org/microsites/index.cfm?action=Cover&meetingid=49 The area I live in has some nice places to visit too. I just don't want to post it up here. Maybe I can private message you about that, if you'd like some info. Oh ya....I'm pretty sure we have a Jelly Belly factory somewhere in WI too. I hope this helps!
Thanks everyone. I love the idea of factory tours because they show that things just doesn't happen. Milk just doesn't magically appear in a store...lol. I love all the suggestions.
Of course it doesn't! Everyone knows the farmer has to go out and pick the cartons growing in the fields!!! GEESH!!!
lol.. I have my kids.. even Garrett half convinced that chocolate milk comes from brown cows..lol. (does that make me a bad homeschooling mommy?)
so if chocolate milk comes from brown cows where does nesquick strawberry milk and nesquick banana milk come from?.......lol
I was unaware of that.... You blew my world apart....lol. Wait are the nesquick bunnycows related to the cadbury bunny?
`They are first cousins!!! I have been trying to capture a cadbury bunny for years... I could live on those devine eggs... I know one of these little bunnys in my yard does more than eat my garden and leave the kids raisinetts :lol: Someday I will catch an egg layer!
while you think of the grand canyon for Arizona there are a lot of state parks, and here in tucson there is a zoo that cost like $2 a person. it takes about 2 1/2 hours to go through and is good for little kids. there is also some other museums, one is a dinosaur museum and a children's museum, botanicle garden and natural wild life museum.
