Debbie K. Hardin - 500+ All-American Family Adventures

Copyright 2013 by Debbie K. Hardin

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems without permission in writing from the publisher, except by a reviewer, who may quote brief passages.

Interior photographs by the author unless otherwise specified

Book design and composition by Faith Hague

Published by The Countryman Press, P.O. Box 748, Woodstock, VT 05091

Distributed by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 500 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10110

Printed in the United States of America

500+ All-American Family Adventures

978-0-88150-989-2

Frontispiece photo: An interesting angle on the Supreme Court Building Debbie K. Hardin

Front cover photographs: (Left to right from top left) Library of Congress, Debbie K. Hardin; Courtesy Emilee Legg; Cataldo Mission, Photo Peg Owens, courtesy Idaho Tourism; Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Headquarters, Courtesy of the Library of Congress; Glacier Bay NP and Preserve, Debbie K. Hardin; Noah Webster House, Courtesy Library of Congress; Alcatraz, Courtesy Juliane Preimesberger; Totems at Puuhonua o Honaunau, Courtesy National Park Service; Katmai NP and Preserve, Courtesy National Park Service; California Palace of Fine Arts, Debbie K. Hardin; Chinatown, San Francisco, Courtesy John Preimesberger; Rose Parade roses, Debbie K. Hardin; Kings Canyon NP and Sequoia NP, Debbie K. Hardin; Fort Pulaski National Monument, Courtesy National Park Service; Mesa Verde, Courtesy National Park Service; Rocky Mountains NP, Courtesy National Park Service; Redwoods NP, Debbie K. Hardin; Yosemite Valley, Debbie K. Hardin; Yucca Cove, Canyon de Chelly, Courtesy National Park Service; Kennedy Space Center, Courtesy NASA; Acadia NP, Courtesy National Park Service; Andersonville NHP, Courtesy National Park Service; Haleakala NP, Courtesy National Park Service; Dry Tortugas NP, Courtesy National Park Service; Lincoln Boyhood home, Courtesy National Park Service; Desota NWR, Courtesy U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Debbie K. Hardin; Antietam National Battlefield, Courtesy National Park Service; Tuzigoot National Monument, Courtesy National Park Service; Fort Smith, Courtesy National Park Service; Harvard University, Debbie K. Hardin; Babe Ruth Museum, Courtesy Library of Congress; Gateway Arch, Courtesy National Park Service; Boston Massacre site, Courtesy Jon Preimesberger; Sojourner Truth Memorial, Courtesy Library of Congress; Wilsons Creek National Battlefield, Courtesy National Park Service; Chrysler Museum, Courtesy Library of Congress; New Bedford Whaling Museum, Photo John Robson, Courtesy National Park Service; Benjamin Harrison Home, Courtesy National Park Service; Hovenweep National Monument, Courtesy National Park Service; Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Debbie K. Hardin; Carlsbad Caverns, Courtesy National Park Service; Sutters Mill, Debbie K. Hardin; Statue of Liberty, Courtesy National Park Service; Biscayne NP, Courtesy National Park Service; New Salem Historic Site, Courtesy Library of Congress; Bryce NP, Debbie K. Hardin; USS Constellation, Courtesy Library of Congress; Glacier Valley, Montana Debbie K. Hardin

To my favorite travel companions: Juliane and Jon

Introduce your kids to America through travel: Theres no better way to learn about this beautiful, vast country. See firsthand Americas natural wonders by hiking through the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon in Utah or riding the waves at Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Experience the spirit of the nation and the lasting influence of inspiring people who have made America great by reading the Constitution of the United States in the National Archives in Washington, DC, or walking in the footsteps of explorers Lewis and Clark along the Columbia River in Oregon. Learn about the literary and artistic culture of America by visiting Ernest Hemingways house in Key West, Florida, or touring Norman Rockwells studio in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Exposing children to all the country has to offer, and introducing them to the talented, bighearted people who populate it, is one of the best ways to raise kids who understand and appreciate their American heritage. As American writer Henry Miller put it, Ones destination is never a place, but a new way of looking at things. Open their eyes to the wonder of this country, and in so doing raise your children to be well-educated Americans and good citizens of the world.

Lets be honest: Family travel also needs to be fun! A vacation or even a day trip is a chance to get away from the everyday routine, and for siblings to make lifelong memories that will transport them out of their ordinary rivalries and help them bond as friends. Family adventures also offer parents the chance to enjoy their children (and each other!) away from the confines of work schedules, car pools, ballet practice, soccer games, and homework. These respites from the everyday are often the stuff of indelible memories.

So how do we as parents sneak a little education into weekend trips and vacations alike? If kids know a trip is educational, they may not be open to the possibilities. The key is to make the education that is inherent in all travel as much fun as those activities we do for pure entertainment. Its a lot like sneaking vegetables into pizza or adding oatmeal to cookies: If you plan the educational sites in your vacations well, your children will barely notice theyre there. Thats where this book comes in: In the pages that follow Ill be your personal tour guide through this astounding country, sharing advice to help you introduce your children to the treasures the United States has to offer with a fun, kid-friendly, engaging approach that will enable you make the most of every family trip. Along the way Ill offer guidance on staying within your budget and insider tips that will help you maximize your experience. Ill also offer hints throughout for extending the educational opportunities by finding even more adventures to enjoy.

This book offers travel suggestions and a synopsis of 500+ of the most engaging, educational destinations in the United States. I chose each of the sites because of its significance to the American experience, with options that highlight American history, arts and culture, industry, and natural wonders. Ive also included sites that illuminate important Americans, and Ive mixed in opportunities to learn about the multicultural richness of the nation. Dont think of this book as a pedagogical bucket list: Think of it instead as an inspirational road map that will motivate you to discover opportunities to augment your childrens education through meaningful, interesting travel.

Ive grouped the 500+ proposed adventures by state (with an additional section on Washington, DC, at the end of the book), and Ive organized the entries in each state in alphabetical order. This presentation will help you find a nearby adventure thats right for your family, no matter where in the country you live or how far afield youre able to travel. In large states like California and history-rich states like Virginia and Massachusetts, Ive included more options than for smaller, less populated states; but youll find something to explore in every locale. A detailed table of contents and a voluminous index will help you find whatever youre looking for, wherever youre looking for it. In addition, Ive included a chart (see appendix A at the back of the book) that will help you match your childrens interests with travel adventures around the country. Youll also find stunning color photographs of attractions and a handy information box at the top of each entry that provides contact information, pricing, tips on the best times of year to visit, and suggested age ranges.