5 GREAT FAMILY ATTRACTIONS IN EACH U.S. STATE
We all enjoy different things when we travel. That being said, my goal on this page was to construct a list of five attractions that are generally considered great for kids and families in each U.S. state. Notice that I am not using the word 'best'. All of these places are considered top-rated attractions though, and in many cases I would argue they are world-class. For some states, presenting a top 5 list is admittedly a bit silly (especially for attraction-packed states like California and Florida). Perhaps the greatest value to these lists are the attractions for states you may not have considered traveling to yet.
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5 GREAT FAMILY-FRIENDLY ATTRACTIONS IN EACH U.S. STATE
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Here are my choices for five great family-friendly attractions in each of the fifty U.S. states:
ALABAMA
✮ Alabama Adventure & Splash Adventure, Bessemer - the best amusement park in Alabama
✮ Cathedral Caverns State Park, Woodville - the best guided cave tours in Alabama
✮ Cook Museum of Natural Science, Decatur - an excellent, relatively new hands-on natural science museum; great for kids
✮ Gulf of Mexico beaches (e.g. Gulf Shores, Orange Beach) - great alternatives to Florida's Gulf Coast beaches
✮ U.S. Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville - one of the very best space museums in the U.S.; Alabama's #1 tourist attraction
ALASKA
✮ Alaska Railroad (offers various routes) - scenic railroad tours
✮ Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward - Alaska's best aquarium
✮ Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, Girdwood - an excellent wildlife center featuring Alaskan animals
✮ Boat tours/cruises (e.g. glacier cruise, whale-watching, etc.) - Alaska offers many different world-class boating tours/cruises
✮ Kenai Fjords National Park - see outstanding scenery and wildlife
ARIZONA
✮ Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, Tucson - offers world-renowned desert gardens plus an impressive zoo and museum
✮ Bearizona Wildlife Park, Williams - one of the best drive-through zoos in the U.S.
✮ Grand Canyon National Park, South Rim - the most famous canyon in the world, with many historic lodges, trail, viewpoints, and services
✮ Kartchner Caverns State Park, Benson - excellent cave tours in one of the US's best caves; reserve in advance; ages 7+
✮ Slide Rock State Park, Sedona - attractive desert scenery with swimming holes and natural waterslides
ARKANSAS
✮ Crater of Diamonds State Park, Murfreesboro - dig for your own natural diamonds (one of the best places in the U.S. to do so)
✮ Museum of Discovery, Little Rock - a science and technology center
✮ Petit Jean State Park, Morrilton - the crown-jewel of Arkansas's state park system; awesome hiking to waterfalls and geologic wonders
✮ Pinnacle Mountain State Park, Little Rock - two fun and challenging rock scrambling routes to scenic views on summit; some of AR's best hiking
✮ Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge, Eureka Springs - excellent big cat sanctuary, featuring tigers, lions, leopards and more
CALIFORNIA
✮ Disneyland Resort, Anaheim - famed theme park
✮ Monterey Bay Aquarium, Monterey - this aquarium is consistently rated as one of the top 5 aquariums in the U.S.
✮ San Diego Zoo, San Diego - easily the finest zoo in America (no other zoo even comes close); a sister safari park is about 1 hour northeast
✮ Six Flags Magic Mountain, Valencia - a large and highly-rated amusement park with a whopping 20 roller coasters
✮ Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal City - a large and famous film studio and theme park; one of California's most popular attractions
COLORADO
✮ Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Durango - one of the best scenic railroads in the contiguous U.S., if not the #1 best
✮ Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, Glenwood Springs - a mountain top family-fun center with lots of fun activities (e.g. coasters)
✮ Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve - Colorado's most impressive sand dunes; the climbable dunes are framed by large mountains
✮ Meow Wolf, Denver - a huge, immersive art installation project; a visual extravaganza that kids and adults usually both enjoy
✮ Rocky Mountain National Park - one of the premier national parks in the U.S; features scenic drives, awesome hiking, and tons of wildlife
CONNECTICUT
✮ Adventure Park at Storrs, Storrs - one of the best aerial adventure parks in New England
✮ Carousel Museum, Bristol - one of the best carousel museums in the U.S.
✮ Lake Compounce & Crocodile Cove, Bristol - the oldest continuously operating amusement park in North America; largest water park in CT
✮ Mystic Aquarium, Mystic - an excellent aquarium that is best known for their beluga whales
✮ PEZ Visitor Center, Orange - museum of all things PEZ candy; it's awesome to see all the retired PEZ styles; many great photo-ops!
DELAWARE
✮ Bethany Beach - arguably the best family-friendly beach in Delaware
✮ Cape Henlopen State Park, Lewes - features beaches, sand dunes, hiking & biking trails, historic military sites, and campsites/cabins
✮ Funland, Rehoboth Beach - a lively boardwalk amusement park and arcade
✮ Jungle Jim's & River Safari Water Park, Rehoboth Beach - this is Delaware's best amusement park
✮ Wilmington & Western Railroad, Wilmington - one of the best railroad journeys you can take on the East Coast
FLORIDA
✮ Busch Gardens, Tampa - a huge and famous amusement park that also has more than 12,000 animals; one of FL's biggest attractions
✮ Discovery Cove, Orlando - one of the best places to swim with dolphins in Florida; next to SeaWorld and Aquatica
✮ Everglades National Park - an enormous subtropical wilderness area; offers outstanding paddling and wildlife/birdwatching opportunities
✮ Universal theme parks, Orlando area - several legendary amusement parks
✮ Walt Disney World theme parks, Orlando area - several legendary amusement parks
GEORGIA
✮ Cumberland Island National Seashore, St. Marys - arguably the most pristine beaches in Georgia; wild horses and good sea-shell hunting
✮ Fun Spot America, Atlanta - a fun amusement park
✮ Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta - the largest and one of the very best aquariums in the U.S.
✮ Rock City, Lookout Mountain - tourist attraction with impressive rock formations, gardens, and scenic views
✮ Tallulah Gorge State Park, Tallulah Falls - one of the most impressive canyons on the East Coast; called 'the Grand Canyon of the East'
HAWAII
✮ Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa - a top-rated disney resort experience
✮ Beaches (e.g. Hanauma Bay) - Hawaii is world-famous for its beautiful beaches
✮ Boat cruises - there are hundreds of different boat cruises you can take in Hawaii
✮ Polynesian Cultural Center - a living history museum with dining and entertainment experiences
✮ Waimea Canyon State Park - some of Hawaii's best natural scenery
IDAHO
✮ Craters Of The Moon National Monument - scenic and otherworldly volcanic landscapes; lava tubes you can enter/explore
✮ Lava Hot Springs, Lava Hot Springs - one of Idaho's best commercial hot springs
✮ Roaring Springs Water Park, Meridian - the best water park in Idaho
✮ Sierra Silver Mine Tour, Wallace - ride a trolley & then walk into an underground mine
✮ Silverwood Theme Park, Athol - the best theme park in Idaho; features more than 70 rides and attractions
ILLINOIS
✮ Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield - a large zoo with more than 2,300 animals
✮ Casey (dozens of roadside attractions within one town) - a small town with dozens of roadside attractions; a road trip MUST STOP!
✮ downtown Chicago (e.g. Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry) - America's best city downtown
✮ Six Flags Great America, Gurnee - a large and famous amusement park with more than 15 rollercoasters
✮ Starved Rock State Park, Oglesby - the best state park in the state features canyons, waterfalls, unique geology, and scenic views
INDIANA
✮ Children's Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis - arguably the #1 children's museum in the U.S. (the City Museum in MO is my favorite)
✮ Fort Wayne Children's Zoo, Fort Wayne - one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S.
✮ Holiday World & Splashin' Safari, Santa Claus - Indiana's best amusement park; many great rollercoasters and a large water park
✮ Indiana Dunes National Park - features 15-miles of beautiful beaches and sand dunes on Lake Michigan; excellent hiking trails
✮ Indianapolis Zoo, Indianapolis - the second best zoo in Indiana
IOWA
✮ Adventureland Resort, Altoona - Iowa's best amusement park
✮ Lost Island Themepark & Waterpark, Waterloo - one of the best water parks in the Midwest
✮ Maquoketa Caves State Park, Maquoketa - excellent guided cave tours
✮ Pappajohn Sculpture Park, Des Moines - a small but impressive outdoor sculpture park in downtown Des Moines
✮ Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor - score great views of the Mississippi River from 500ft tall bluffs; there's also a good seasonal waterfall
KANSAS
✮ Cosmosphere International SciEd Center & Space Museum, Hutchinson - often called "America's best space museum"
✮ Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead, Overland Park - a half-farm, half-amusement park with farm animals
✮ Museum of World Treasures, Wichita - features three floors of historical exhibits
✮ Safari Zoological Park, Caney - a private zoo with up-close-and-personal animal encounters
✮ Strataca, Hutchinson - travel 650 feet below the surface into an old mine
KENTUCKY
✮ Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington - an excellent working horse farm
✮ Kentucky Kingdom & Hurricane Bay, Louisville - the largest and best amusement/water park in Kentucky
✮ Louisville Mega Cavern, Louisville - one of Kentucky's best caves; underground zip line and adventure tours are highly rated
✮ Mammoth Cave National Park - offers some of the finest cave tours in the U.S.; the longest cave system in the U.S.
✮ Red River Gorge Geological Area - many outstanding geologic attractions; most of the best scenery and hiking in Kentucky is here
LOUISIANA
✮ Audubon Zoo, New Orleans - one of the top 25 zoos in the U.S; features more than 2,000 animals
✮ Gator Country LA Alligator Park, Natchitoches - one of several great alligator parks in the southeast; alligator feeding shows
✮ Global Wildlife Center, Folsom - take a safari tour in one of the largest free-roaming wildlife preserves in the U.S.
✮ Mardi Gras World, New Orleans - tour large warehouses filled with Mardi Gras floats
✮ Swamp boat tours - excellent boat tours to see great scenery and tons of wildlife/birds
MAINE
✮ Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor - beautiful coastal park with excellent hiking and biking; adjacent to one of Maine's best small towns
✮ Baxter State Park, near Millinocket - remote park with spectacular hiking, camping, and mountain scenery; moose sightings are common
✮ Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay Harbor - the most impressive botanical gardens in Maine; currently has 5 huge trolls
✮ Ogunquit Beach - attractive tourist area with shops and restaurants; nearby access to Ogunquit Beach and Marginal Way coastal walk
✮ Old Orchard Beach - one of Maine's best beaches; has an old-fashioned seaside amusement park with rides and arcades
MARYLAND
✮ Assateague Island National Seashore - arrier island w/wild ponies and beaches; two-thirds of this park is in MD and the rest is in VA
✮ Maryland Science Center, Baltimore - excellent science museum primarily intended for young children
✮ National Aquarium, Baltimore - often lauded as the best aquarium in the U.S.
✮ Ocean City Beach and Boardwalk - Ocean City has 10 miles of beaches and a 3-mile long beach boardwalk
✮ Six Flags America, Bowie - Maryland's best theme park
MASSACHUSETTS
✮ Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area - take a ferry to one of the remote islands off the coast of Boston (e.g. George's Island)
✮ Museum of Science, Boston - arguably the best science museum in New England
✮ Old Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge - one of several excellent living history museum in MA; costumed interpreters in rural New England
✮ Plimoth Patuxet Museums, Plymouth - one of several excellent living history museum in Massachusetts
✮ Six Flags New England, Agawam - the largest and most famous theme park in Massachusetts
MICHIGAN
✮ Henry Ford, The, Dearborn - one of the finest museum complexes in the U.S.; historic signs, vehicles, railroads, etc.
✮ Frankenmuth - a small and very popular Bavarian-themed town with many boutique shops and restaurants
✮ Mackinac Island - a lovable island town with a lively but touristy downtown area; there are excellent cycling trails found all over the island
✮ Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore - offers rugged beauty along the Lake Superior shoreline; outstanding hiking, boating, and paddling
✮ Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore - nature park features beaches and towering sand dunes along 35 miles of Lake Michigan
MINNESOTA
✮ Como Park Zoo & Conservatory, St. Paul - a great medium-sized zoo
✮ Mall of America, Bloomington - still the best mall in the U.S.; you'll find a theme park, more than 500 stores, and lots of other entertainment
✮ Minnesota's Largest Candy Store, Jordan - the largest and best candy store I've ever seen anywhere
✮ Science Museum of Minnesota, St. Paul - a popular science museum with various exhibits, including dinosaurs/fossils, space, and more
✮ Valleyfair, Shakopee - a major amusement park with several excellent rollercoasters
MISSISSIPPI
✮ Biloxi Beach, Biloxi - one of Mississippi's best and most popular beaches; the Biloxi Lighthouse is there as well
✮ Gulf Islands National Seashore - the best beaches in Mississippi
✮ Hattiesburg Zoo, Hattiesburg - a very small but top-rated zoo
✮ Mississippi Children's Museum, Jackson - one of the best children's museums in the south
✮ Mississippi Museum of Natural Science, Jackson - the best natural history museum in the state
MISSOURI
✮ Branson, Missouri area attractions and theatres - one of the most popular tourist areas in the U.S. has theme parks, theatres, and more
✮ City Museum, St. Louis - the most insane children's playground on the planet; every child deserves to be brought here at least once!
✮ Grant's Farm, St. Louis - see Clydesdale horses and about 1,000 other animals
✮ Silver Dollar City, Branson - Missouri's best amusement park and Branson's #1 attraction; one of the very best children's parks in the U.S.
✮ St. Louis Zoo, St. Louis - one of the top 5 zoos in the U.S. (some like it better than the San Diego Zoo because it's so much cheaper)
MONTANA
✮ Glacier National Park - stunning mountain scenery and beautiful lodges; scenic drives; world-class hiking and backpacking
✮ Grizzly and Wolf Discovery Center, West Yellowstone - excellent wildlife park in a Yellowstone National Park gateway town
✮ Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park, Whitehall - guided tours of a limestone cave
✮ Medicine Rocks State Park, Ekalaka - impressive geological rock formations
✮ Museum of the Rockies, Bozeman - arguably the finest museum in Montana
NEBRASKA
✮ Carhenge, Alliance - a car-based replica of England's Stonehenge; one of the top roadside attractions in the Central U.S.
✮ Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha - one of the top 5 zoos in the U.S.; more than 900 different spe
✮ Fort Robinson State Park - an excellent state park with historic buildings, scenic views of bluffs and badlands, stagecoach and jeep tours
✮ Lee G. Simmons Conservation Park & Wildlife Safari, Ashland - one of the best drive-through zoos in the U.S.
✮ Omaha Children's Museum, Omaha - one of the best children's museums in the Midwes
NEVADA
✮ Cathedral Gorge State Park, Panaca - one of the most stunning state parks in the southwest features unique formations of soft bentonite clay
✮ High Roller ferris wheel, Las Vegas - a gigantic Ferris wheel with excellent Las Vegas views; close to Caesar's Palace
✮ Meow Wolf, Las Vegas - a huge, immersive art installation project; a visual extravaganza that kids and adults usually both enjoy
✮ Seven Magic Mountains, Las Vegas - giant colorful stacked stones in a desert setting; one of NV's best roadside attractions; I-15 south of city
✮ Valley of Fire State Park, Moapa Valley - NV's most beautiful natural landscapes; one of the top 10 state parks in the U.S.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
✮ Canobie Lake Park, Salem - southern NH theme park with more than 85 rides, games, and attractions
✮ Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves, North Woodstock - extremely fun 0.75 mile trail passes through several boulder caves and by a waterfall
✮ North Conway (e.g., Zeb's General Store, Diana's Baths, etc.) - walkable and attractive area with restaurants, shops, and more
✮ Santa's Village, Jefferson - one of the best Christmas-themed amusement parks in the U.S.
✮ Story Land, Jackson - excellent family-friendly throwback amusement park; there is also a medium-sized aquarium next door
NEW JERSEY
✮ American Dream mall, East Rutherford - one of the largest malls in the U.S.; includes an indoor theme park, water park, and indoor skiing
✮ Ocean City Beach and Boardwalk - perhaps the best family-friendly beach boardwalk in the U.S.
✮ Six Flags Great Adventure & Wild Safari, Jackson - the largest amusement park in NJ and one of the top rollercoaster parks in the U.S.
✮ Storybook Land, Egg Harbor Township - storybook-themed buildings and rides
✮ Wildwood Boardwalk, Wildwood - perhaps the liveliest beach boardwalk on the East Coast
NEW MEXICO
✮ Albuquerque (ABQ) BioPark, Albuquerque - several different family-friendly attractions, including a zoo, botanical garden, and aquarium
✮ Carlsbad Caverns National Park - an amazing natural cave with guided and self-guided tours
✮ Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad, Chama - one of the premier scenic railroad journeys in the U.S.
✮ Meow Wolf, Santa Fe - a huge, immersive art installation project; a visual extravaganza that kids and adults usually both enjoy
✮ White Sands National Park - absolutely beautiful white dunes (made of gypsum); several short hiking trails and one long one; bring a sled!
NEW YORK
✮ Bronx Zoo, Bronx - one of the best zoos on the East Coast; features more than 6,000 species; a typical visit is 2-3 hours
✮ LEGOLAND, Goshen - the newest LEGOLAND in the United States
✮ Manhattan/NYC attractions (e.g. Central Park, American Museum of Natural History) - NYC is absolutely packed with family-friendly attractions
✮ Niagara Falls State Park - walking trails with various viewpoints of the world-famous Niagara Falls
✮ Strong National Museum of Play, Rochester - an eclectic museum that's popular with families/children
NORTH CAROLINA
✮ Carowinds, Charlotte - a large and outstanding amusement park; one of the best amusement parks in the U.S.; more than 55 rides
✮ Chimney Rock State Park, Lake Lure - has hiking and walking trails that climb up interesting geologic formations that offer scenic views
✮ Discovery Place Science, Charlotte - a great all-ages science and technology museum
✮ Outer Banks beaches - known for its pristine shoreline and sand dunes
✮ Pisgah State Forest (including Slide Rock) - one of the premier national forests of the East; 500,000-acres of tall peaks, waterfalls, and trails
NORTH DAKOTA
✮ Bonanzaville USA, West Fargo - a recreated pioneer village
✮ Dakota Zoo, Bismarck - a good medium-sized zoo
✮ downtown Medora - a family-friendly attractive small town that is the gateway to the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
✮ Medora Musical, Medora - attend an excellent live song-and-dance show in a beautiful outdoor amphitheatre
✮ Theodore Roosevelt National Park (South Unit) - features beautiful badlands, wildlife viewing, scenic drives, and many hiking trails
OHIO
✮ Cedar Point Amusement Park, Sandusky - arguably the world's best rollercoaster park
✮ Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Powell - an excellent zoo with more than 10,000 animals
✮ Cuyahoga Valley National Park - activities and attractions along the Cuyahoga River (e.g. hiking, cycling, scenic railroad, waterfalls, etc.)
✮ Hocking Hills State Park, Logan - Ohio's best state park; features waterfalls (e.g. Cedar Falls) and large geologic features (e.g. Ash Cave)
✮ Kings Island, Mason - one of the best amusement parks in the U.S.; has several world-class rollercoasters and thrill rides
OKLAHOMA
✮ Bricktown, Oklahoma City - tourist district in Oklahoma City
✮ Oklahoma Aquarium, Jenks - one of the best aquariums in the central U.S.
✮ Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden, Oklahoma City - features more than 1,800 animals from more than 500 species
✮ Pops 66, Arcadia - famous diner and gas station with a 66-foot tall soda bottle roadside attraction outside
✮ Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City - features skeletons from over 300 animal species
OREGON
✮ Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area - an area just east of Portland that is world-famous for its spectacular waterfalls
✮ Crater Lake National Park - visit the deepest lake in the U.S and one of the most pristine bodies of water on Earth.; gorgeous in all seasons
✮ Enchanted Forest, Turner - a popular theme park for children and families
✮ Seaside - a family-friendly seaside resort town with many tourist shops, a beautiful beach, and Lewis & Clark history
✮ Tillamook Cremery, Tillamook - a huge cheese and ice cream center; one of Oregon's most popular tourist attractions
PENNSYLVANIA
✮ Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown - a large amusement park and water park with more than 60 rides and attractions
✮ Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster - one of the finest kid-friendly amusement parks in the country; best for young children under 7-8
✮ Hersheypark & Hershey's Chocolate World, Hershey - a world-class, chocolate-themed, family-friendly theme park with thrilling roller coasters
✮ Knoebels Amusement Park, Elysburg - an excellent free-admission amusement park with a variety of pay-as-you-go rides and attractions
✮ Lancaster County (Amish/Dutch country) - an attraction-packed region with tons to do and also strong Amish culture
RHODE ISLAND
✮ Crescent Park Looff Carousel, Riverside - one of the finest hand-carved historic carousels anywhere
✮ East Bay Bike Path, East Bristol - a 14.5 mile paved rail trail from Providence to Bristol; one of the best rail trails in New England
✮ Level99, Providence - a 'social gaming playground' with physical and mental games and challenges
✮ Roger Williams Park Zoo, Providence - the best zoo in New England; don't miss the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular event in October
✮ Providence Children’s Museum, Providence - one of the best children's museums in New England
SOUTH CAROLINA
✮ Brookgreen Gardens, Murrells Inlet - one of the very best gardens and outdoor sculpture parks in the U.S.; more than 1,000 sculptures!
✮ EdVenture Children's Museum, Columbia - the second largest children's museum in the U.S. (1st = in Indianapolis)
✮ Hilton Head Island beaches - 12-plus miles of uninterrupted sand beaches (Coligny Beach is the most popular) with tons of biking paths
✮ Myrtle Beach - a small city famous for its beaches, golf courses, water sports, and many seaside amusements and other tourist attractions
✮ Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden, West Columbia - a medium-sized zoo with more than 2,000 animals; also has a great botanical garden
SOUTH DAKOTA
✮ Badlands National Park - outstanding prairie & badlands scenery; fantastic day hikes and camping; backpacking in Sage Creek Wilderness
✮ Bear Country USA, Rapid City - an excellent (mostly drive-through) wildlife park featuring North American animals; don't miss the bear cubs
✮ Custer State Park - one of the top 10 state parks in the U.S.: outstanding wildlife viewing (e.g. bison); great hiking; Sylvan Lake is very pretty
✮ Mount Rushmore National Memorial - a must-visit American memorial; don't miss the ranger talks or the night lighting ceremony
✮ Reptile Gardens, Rapid City - perhaps the finest reptile-focused zoo in the world; don't miss the Alligator show or the giant turtles
TENNESSEE
✮ Dollywood, Pigeon Forge - the best theme park in Tennessee and one of the finest in the U.S.; Appalachian-themed rides and attractions
✮ Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge/Sevierville area attractions - there are theme parks and tourist attractions literally everywhere; Disney-level crowds
✮ Great Smoky Mountains National Park - the #1 most popular national park in the U.S. has awesome trails, scenery, waterfalls, & scenic drives
✮ Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga - drive or take an incline railway up to great views; also has a scenic but man-made waterfall (High Falls)
✮ Parrot Mountain and Gardens, Pigeon Forge - a parrot preserve with 100s of birds and a Bible-inspired garden
TEXAS
✮ Houston Museum of Natural Science, Houston - one of the most popular science museums in the US
✮ Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort, New Braunfels - one of the very best water parks in the U.S.
✮ Six Flags Fiesta Texas, San Antonio - one of the best Six Flags theme parks in the country
✮ Six Flags Over Texas, Arlington - one of the best Six Flags theme parks in the country
✮ Space Center Houston, Houston - one of the very best space museums in the U.S.
UTAH
✮ Arches National Park - the largest concentration of natural arches in the U.S.; world-class scenery and awesome day hikes
✮ Bryce Canyon National Park - see the most famous hoodoos in the world
✮ Canyonlands National Park - the three districts (Needles, Islands in the Sky, Maze) hold a lifetime of on- and off-the-beaten-path adventures
✮ Goblin Valley State Park, Green River - weirdly eroded rock formations; one of the best and most unique state parks in the U.S.
✮ Snow Canyon State Park, Ivins - one of the most beautiful state parks in the U.S.; two days' worth of hiking trails to explore
VERMONT
✮ Ben & Jerry's Waterbury Factor Tour & Ice Cream Shop, Waterbury - home of the famous ice cream chain; don't miss the flavor graveyard
✮ Billings Farm and Museum, Woodstock - working dairy farm with various animal and farming history exhibits
✮ Dorset Quarry, Dorset - a legendary swimming hole with cliff-jumping opportunities of various heights
✮ Jay Peak Pump House, Jay - arguably the best indoor water park in New England
✮ Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich - a very good science museum with many hands-on exhibits
VIRGINIA
✮ Busch Gardens, Williamsburg - one of the most largest and most famous amusement parks in the U.S.; several world-class rollercoasters
✮ Colonial Williamsburg, Williamsburg - the largest living history museum in the U.S.; has historic sites, costumed interpreters and art museums
✮ Luray Caverns, Luray - guided tours of one of the best show caves on the East Coast; there is also a historic car museum on site too
✮ Shenandoah National Park - one of the best national parks in the East; famous for its scenic drives, waterfalls, views, hiking, and wildlife
✮ Water Country USA, Williamsburg - the largest water park in the Mid-Atlantic and one of the very best water parks in the U.S.
WASHINGTON
✮ Leavenworth - a popular Bavarian-style town that serves as gateway to many amazing outdoor adventures (e.g. Alpine Lakes Wilderness)
✮ Mount Rainier National Park - famous for its gorgeous mountain scenery, waterfalls, historic lodge, world-class hiking, and wildflowers
✮ Olympic National Park - one of the most diverse national parks in the U.S, with beautiful mountains, beaches, rainforests and more
✮ Point Defiance Park, Tacoma - reconstructed fur-trading post plus a zoo and aquarium
✮ Woodland Park Zoo, Woodland Park - one of the best zoos on the West Coast
WASHINGTON D.C.
✮ Lincoln Memorial & Reflecting Pool - Greek Doric temple with sculpture & inscriptions of Abraham Lincoln
✮ Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial - 30-foot tall statue of the famous Civil Rights leader
✮ National Air and Space Museum - most travelers would agree that this is the best aviation/space museum in the U.S.
✮ National Museum of Natural History - supposedly the largest natural history museum in the world
✮ National Zoological Park - see more than 1,800 animals in this Smithsonian zoo
WEST VIRGINIA
✮ Blackwater Falls State Park, Davis - several excellent waterfalls plus scenic views from Lindy Point and Pendleton Point; 20 miles of trails
✮ Cass Scenic Railroad, Cass - take an 11-mile scenic train ride
✮ Monongahela National Forest - one of the biggest and best wilderness areas on the East Coast; many excellent trails and waterfalls
✮ New River Gorge National Park & Preserve - relatively new national park with great hiking trails and the impressive New River Gorge Bridge
✮ Wonderment Puppet Theater, Martinsburg - one of the top puppet theaters in the U.S. (if not the #1 best)
WISCONSIN
✮ Cave of the Mounds, Blue Mounds - guided tours of an underground limestone cave
✮ Devil's Lake State Park, Baraboo - 2 beaches, plus excellent hiking, biking and rock climbing; offers some of the best hiking in the state
✮ Discovery World, Milwaukee - an excellent science and technology museum
✮ Noah's Ark Waterpark, Wisconsin Dells - the largest water park in the U.S.; this is the best of Wisconsin Dells' 20-plus water parks
✮ Wisconsin Deer Park, Wisconsin Dells - see and feed over 100 deer
WYOMING
✮ Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Cody - an outstanding western history museum (one of the finest history museums in the U.S.)
✮ Devils Tower National Monument - an impressive 1,267ft-tall mass of igneous rock; make sure to hike the trail that encircles it
✮ Cody Nite Rodeo and downtown Cody - a seasonal family-friendly rodeo event performed nightly; tons of fun for the whole family
✮ Grand Teton National Park - amazing hiking, backpacking, cycling, and scenic views; arguably the prettiest mountain range in the lower 48
✮ Yellowstone National Park - the world's most famous national park has amazing geologic features, wildlife, and scenery; spend 4-5 plus days
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