No one says you have to visit all the usual spots with your family to go on vacation. So many times when I was still in school, when I heard friends’ responses to where they spent their Fall break, Spring Break, or Summer vacation, they bored me to tears. Orlando, LA, New York City, and Las Vegas were the most frequently mentioned places. How very boring! I don’t know if their parents had them travel there because of package deals or what, but there are definitely more places in the US that offer a great time. Having been exposed to world traveling at an early age, it’s no wonder I enjoy traveling the open road to check out the famous and not-so-famous sites found here at home. I’ve traveled to over 20 States, with my goal being to have visited at least one city per State (airports not included!).
Getting Ideas
When you decide to go on a family vacation, think about what activities your family enjoys the most. Is it being in the water? Site-seeing? Shopping? Traveling through time? Then consider their interests, such as sports, literature, fashion, food, camping, or culture. Some of the best places I’ve found to travel to were on recommendations through descriptions from my favorite authors, places mentioned on the History Channel or Food Network shows, and historic sites I learned about in school.
Discovering Early America
Having spent my childhood living in two of the oldest States in the US, I can say without a doubt that New England is a must-see spot for families if you’ve never experienced its history. Travel through cobblestone streets, see picturesque foliage, tour old homes, and enjoy the ambiance that various cities throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine have to offer. You don’t have to go to their capitols, or major cities, either. I have been to each of these States visiting friends and family and have traveled to some of the places below, and have received various recommendations for others.
The coast of Maine is breathtaking! Try Old Orchard Beach to explore Wells National Estuarine Reserve at Laudholm or tour the lighthouses on Elizabeth Cape. Going down to Allenstown, New Hampshire, camp at Bear Brook State Park and learn about the history of camping and other interesting subjects from their historical museum, or practice archery. I have so many memories of this amazing park that is the oldest in the country today, and so many other areas in New Hampshire that you owe it to yourself to take your time wherever you go. Go west through the rugged terrain of Vermont to Burlington, the healthiest place in the country. Take a tour of the Vermont Teddy Bear Company and bring home a souvenir, or walk the trails at Shelburne Farms. And finally head south to Salem, Massachusetts, to walk through Pioneer Village and see what colonial living was like during the time of the famous Salem Witch Trials.
There are also other areas of interest in New England that you can’t overlook. First there’s the food - from clam chowder to lobster rolls, and other yummy foods like fresh maple syrup, grinders (submarine sandwiches), and Boston baked beans. Then there’s the people - Daniel Webster, Paul Revere, Louisa May Alcott, Stephen King, and of course the New England Patriots! There are just so many reasons why New England can be a great family environment for all ages.
