Top 15 Places in America Every Kid Should See.

This isn’t so much about the beach, but I felt that this post from Budget Travel has a good point. It’s about the top fifteen places every kid should see in America. Basically, it has to do with teaching and showing the history and natural beauty of America. I think this is a great idea, and I’m still trying to see all of these places.

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.com, free guided tours, audio tours $6). [I have seen The Statue of Liberty from Manhattan, but never actually been to Ellis Island.]

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, $37, kids 6-17 $18).

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). [I really want to go here. My parents did and got me a flag that has been flown over the USS Arizona.]

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, vehicles $25, kids 15 and younger free).

National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis: 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, $12, $8.50 kids). Also highly worthwhile: Alabama’s Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (bcri.org, $10, kids free) and Cincinnati’s National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (freedomcenter.org, $12, kids $8). [I think that this is an important place to go, kids need to know what America went through to truly become a free nation.]

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).

Monticello, Va.: Besides the Declaration of Independence, one of Thomas Jefferson’s other masterpieces is the estate he designed and tinkered with over the course of five decades, located seven miles from the University of Virginia which Jefferson also founded (monticello.org, tours from $15, kids over 6 $8, free for children 5 and under).

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). [I definitely want to go here. I've been close, but never close enough to go.]

The Alamo, San Antonio, Texas: The stories of courage in the face of overwhelming forces will be remembered (thealamo.org, free). [I've been here. Am I alone in thinking that it looks a lot bigger in the movies?]

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, $10 suggested donation). [I've been here as well.]

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 (nysparks.com, free). [I've been to the Falls three times, and seen them from both the American and Canadian side, and yes, the Canadian side is much better.]

Freedom Trail, Boston: 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, $12, kids $6). [I've been to Boston a few times, but not seen this.]

Independence Hall, Philadelphia: It’s where George Washington was appointed commander of the Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the founding fathers truly laid the nation’s foundation, in the form of the U.S. Constitution (nps.gov/inde, free but tickets for timed tours are required from March 1 to Dec. 31). [Like Boston, I've been to Philadelphia a few times, but not for sight seeing.]

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, The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World With Kids (see our review) is a great place to start (DisneyWorld.com, $60 for kids 3-9, $71 for 10 and older). [Unfortunately, I've been here. WHY, I ask again, why is Disney World listed with the previous nine historic and culturally significant places?]

So do you think anywhere else should be added to this list? What about your own country, leave a list of the most important places to visit in your country in the comments.

Posted on January 14, 2008 - Filed Under Beach and Vacation Travel Tips and Help, Recommended Beaches and Places, Travel

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