Six Places You Should Take Your Kids on Vacation

Disneyworld may be the happiest place on Earth, but are you really doing what is best for your children year after year?

I am not knocking Disneyworld or Disneyland. They are fun, iconic, and an important experience for children to have.

However, as Americans, we are given so little family vacation time and we often squander it on amusement parks, cruises and other expensive, touristy destinations with no historical or natural importance.

Here are six places that I believe all people should visit while they are still children.

1. Washington DC

No child in the United States should reach adulthood without having visited Washington D.C. at least once.

In this city, their history classes will come alive. There is a Smithsonian Museum for every interest and enough historical sites, national monuments, and famous buildings to overwhelm and amaze even the most hard-to-please traveler.

This city is the heartbeat of the United States, and we owe it to our kids to expose them to it at least once before they grow up.

2. Yellowstone and Other National Parks.

Located in the shadow of the beautiful Teton mountains, Yellowstone National Park is a marvel to behold.

You can drive through the park and have bison walk next to your vehicle, see a moose grazing on the side of the road, and view grizzly bears frolicking in the distance.

Documentaries, movies, and pictures cannot completely convey the absolute natural beauty of the trees, lakes, forests, geysers, and mountains.

The U.S. has made a huge financial commitment to the preservation of our national parks and, for the most part, has done a great job at allowing us to view it and be a part of it without interfering with the natural processes that happen daily.

I believe that all children need to see and appreciate these wonders up close.

3. The Grand Canyon

I have listed this separately than the other national parks because it is in a category all by itself.

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There is nothing like seeing the hugeness of the Grand Canyon in person.

Children can read about the millions of years that it takes to form the geological feature of the Earth, but seeing it in person really brings it home. Feeling small and humble in front of one of the world’s most amazing creations is not a bad thing for our children to experience. One could spend hours at the edge and just looking out over the Grand Canyon.

4. The Mountains

Too many times, family trips to the mountains consist of ski vacations to snow covered resorts.

Bring the children back after the snow melts and they will be amazed by the beauty hidden underneath. There is so much to do in the mountains: hiking, camping, fishing, and rafting to name a few. Your family will not be disappointed with a summer trip to the mountains.

5. The Ocean Shoreline

I am not talking about an all-inclusive tourist resort in the Bahamas. The U.S. has plenty of coastline with all kinds of different beaches: sandy, rocky, warm, cold, high cliffs and rugged shores.

Every beach is a little different. The common denominator is the ocean. One cannot help but stand in awe at the sheer massiveness of the Earth’s oceans. If your kids haven’t seen an ocean, take them to the closest shoreline as soon as possible.

6. Big Cities

It amazes me at how many Americans I run into that have never been to New York City.

It is one of the most recognizable cities in the world. It has been featured in movies and literature countless time, and appears on the evening news almost daily. Famous building and landmarks are important to see in person at least once in a person’s life.

All children need to at some time experience New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles to have at least a personal reference to these cities as they go through life.

Conclusion

This is not a complete list by any means, and I don’t want to come across as judgmental.

Time and financial restraints can dictate what a family does on vacation.

The most important thing is doing something as a family.

There is nothing wrong with choosing a vacation spot merely on the possibility of having fun as a family. But if you can have fun while experiencing important places in history or some natural wonders with beautiful surroundings, why not educate your children while relaxing on vacation.

You just may find yourself in the happiest place on Earth wherever you end up.

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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