Fun (and Educational) Family Vacation Spots

Most of the less than appreciated trips I went on were “educational.” The tag conjures up images of an ancient lady teaching me how to churn butter and an equally decrepit old man talking about rocks for two hours. Don’t get me started on Bald Knobbers.

However, family vacations that double as educational experiences don’t have to be mind numbingly boring. I am not talking about gently chucking your kids on the chin and promising to find a way to make learning fun.

There are some fantastic options that will be a refreshing change from making a pilgrimage to Disney and doesn’t involve falling asleep during a lecture on the wonders baking soda. (Yes, they do exist.)

The Greenbrier – West Virginia: Over 55 activities on a “10,000 acre playground” is offered on this once heavily guarded secret. The resort houses “The Bunker” which was a U.S. government relocation facility for Congress during the Cold War. Guests can tour the fallout shelter carved into the mountain and stay in the luxury accommodations. After you’ve seen The Bunker, you can enjoy the indoor and outdoor activities.

The Greenbrier offers a Kids Play Free offer that includes these FREE activities – Afternoon Tea, Biking, Board Games, Bowling, Carriage Rides, Christmas Shop, Croquet, Culinary Demonstrations, Cyber Café, Falconry, Fishing, Family Portrait, Hiking, History Tour, Horseback Riding, Horseshoes, Ice Skating, Indoor Pool, Laser Tag, Outdoor Pool, Presidents’ Cottage Museum, Shuffleboard, Sleigh Rides, Springhouse Entertainers, Tennis and a Theatre. For those 16 years and older, an Off-Road Driving Adventure is also offered that will accommodate 1 learner and up to 3 guests.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – Ohio: It’s no secret that Cleveland rocks. The city is home to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and houses info, exhibits and music to delight every age level. (However, The Wiggles haven’t gotten their recognition yet, so my 2 year old will be disappointed.)

These artifacts aren’t dusty old clay pots. The museum offers things like Elvis’ three-wheeled motorcycle, Katy Perry’s Candy dress, Metallica’s Scales of Justice Stage Prop, Bruce Springsteen’s Hotel Keys and, yes, Beatles memorabilia. Other artists like Lady Gaga, Fitz and the Tantrums, Michael Angelo Batio, Paramore, Weezer and Kid Cudi all bring something for the more modern music maven. Music is an interesting and rich part of history that translates to everyone.

Baseball Hall of Fame – New York: With family-fun, interactive programs all year long, no matter the season, Cooperstown is home for baseball fans. The sport is deemed ‘America’s favorite past time” and it is rich with history. My husband’s grandmother played during WWII. (Yes, just like in ‘A League of Their Own.’) She regarded the time as being very bittersweet a combo of the best and worst time of her life. Sports can bond a family and, during tough times, a nation.

The Cooperstown connects generations and preserves the rich history of the sport. In addition to being educational, the Hall of Fame also features The Sandlot Kids’ Clubhouse. The exhibit offers a complete museum experience for families that contains many interactive components, including a vertical measurement chart representing the heights of several famous players from the major leagues, the Negro Leagues, and the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League, as well as discovery drawers filled with Museum artifacts.

Great Smoky Mountains and the Cherokee Indian Reservation – The Great Smoky Mountains National Park’s half-million acres are equally divided between Tennessee and North Carolina. And with roughly forty percent of the Park in Swain County, Bryson City is the ideal spot for a relaxing Smoky Mountain vacation — away from the more carnival atmosphere of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Even though the park is the nation’s most-visited national park, most visitors only experience a small portion. The most popular areas are along US 441 between Gatlinburg and Cherokee and Cades Cove. But there’s a lot more to see and do, particularly in North Carolina’s half of the Park.

Oconaluftee Indian Village is a faithful reproduction of Cherokee life in the 1750s. Guides in native dress lead you to demonstrations of arrowhead making, blowguns, bead working, finger weaving, mask carving, pottery and canoe hulling. You will visit a Council House and learn about the medicinal importance of herbs, plants, bark and reeds. The Village is open from mid-May through October. More Info Unto These Hills Outdoor Drama — The powerful portrayal of the Cherokees’ tragic “Trail of Tears” was first produced in 1950. Music and dance and Cherokee legends are woven into the play. The drama includes many famous Cherokee including Sequoyah, Junaluska, Chief Yonaguska or Drowning Bear, William Holland Thomas (adopted son of Drowning Bear and the first and only white chief of the Cherokee), Tsali, Selu the Corn Mother and Kanati the Great Hunter.

Rome Golf Cart Tour – Little legs can only go so far before exhaustion sets in. In my experience as a parent traveling with little ones, I end up carrying my crew which drains me. If you are trying to soak up the culture in Rome, there is an awesome touring option that will keep everyone happy and help you to see all of what the city has to offer. They will show you all the main Rome attractions of the city and since the Eco-Friendly tour is safe for the environment, they can go everywhere and anywhere you want. You will get to see some of Rome’s most beautiful squares such as the Spanish Steps, Piazza Navona, Piazza Venezia, and Campo de’ Fiori. Some other must-see-places are the Pantheon where you can literally walk inside a building that hasn’t changed for 2,000 years and also the Trevi fountain where you will throw a coin inside of and, according to legend, will assure your return to this amazing city. The tour even helps you to relive the film ‘Ben Hur‘ by explaining the crazy and violent adventures at the Circus Maximus, the biggest stadium ever made! Walking the city is nice, but with wheels you can pretty much show you the entire city on three hours with the Rome Golf Cart Tour and even some lesser known areas such as the Orange Groves and the Magic Key Hole.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum – The word “museum” is rather misleading- it is a fusion zoo, botanical garden, aquarium, natural history museum, and art gallery. The Museum was ranked by TripAdvisor Travelers as the #9 Museum in the World and the #5 Public Garden in the US. The Raptor Free Flight, presented seasonally from mid-October to mid-April, is a one-of-a-kind birds of prey presentation. The visitors are in the flight path, as native birds of prey fly completely untethered in the open desert. The Hummingbird aviary is one of the best places in the country to see hummingbirds- they fly right up to visitors. You may even see a tiny nest. The Warden Aquarium features both fresh and salt water galleries, highlighting the importance of rainfall to this lush desert. The Museum is also full of great activities for kids. Dig for fossils in Ancient Arizona. Find all the animal tracks in the Tracking Guide. Learn about art and do an art activity in the Ironwood Art Gallery.

Discovery Trail in Ithaca, NY – The trail features 8 exciting sites that set the scene for a great vacation. Many operate in conjunction with Ivy League Cornell University offer an amazing, world-class educational opportunities for little to no cost. Kids can climb a 6-story tree house, explore fine art from Rembrandt and Warhol, stand beneath a 44ft right whale skeleton and real mastodon bones, or take a tour of the solar system narrated by Bill Nye “The Science Guy” – all in one day. There are sites to hike and learn more about birds, fossils, marine life and more. Make a vacation out of it by camping at one of the state parks, take a short hike to see a waterfall (there are over 150 of them within 10 square miles) or sneak in a sip of wine while the children are exploring as Ithaca is located right on the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail.