It's summer and families all over America are looking to make plans that are both fun and educational. Because wasting more than 90 days on a couch watching TV or in the pool should be a sin, here are 40 great plans where your little ones will have fun but also learn during their time off from school.
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From visiting an aquarium to spending a night at your neighborhood museum, any plan that helps keep your kids mind in tune and their curiosity piqued sounds like a good one this summer. If on top of that they can have fun, let their hair down to enjoy not having to wake up early every morning to go to school, then even better.
Sit back and enjoy these amazing spots and ideas of family vacations that your kids are sure to go crazy about this summer.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center: A great way to learn about one of the biggest mistakes in U.S. history.
We should learn from the mistakes of the past so we never make them again, and so a trip to Cincinnati, Ohio, could not be complete without a visit to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center to learn how Harriet Tubman was able to save thousands of slaves and allowed them to make the trek to freedom.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis: There's nothing better for a fun Friday night with your little ones.
There are Friday night pizza celebrations, complimentary with your admission ticket, so that kids can play until dark while learning about dinosaurs and other magnificent things about our planet.
Monterey Bay Aquarium: Where a kid can dream of an underwater life.
There is nothing more mesmerizing than standing under water and seeing all different types of fish flow blissfully through their tank.
Grand Canyon National Park: You can visit the South Rim, which is the most accessible and stunning part.
It's a great trek to make with your little ones. You can bike along Desert View Drive or take a walking cell phone tour to learn about the canyon's history and geology.
Brooklyn Children's Museum: Explore everything New York has to offer in one single spot.
The Museum has a wonderful natural exhibit that lets your little ones explore all the natural habitats of the city, from the beaches to the woodlands.
Williamsburg, VA: Step back into colonial times to learn all about the begining of our nation.
From guided tours to open exhibits, your kids will love to take a walk down streets that have been stuck in time for the last 200 years.
San Diego Zoo: Your kids will be super excited to see a real life panda.
The zoo is a great plan where you can take your kids for a whole day and let them run wild with excitement. Surely they'll be drawn to the main attraction of the San Diego Zoo: the panda!
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum: Only a short drive from New York City, you can let your kids enjoy baseball's rich history.
If they go crazy playing baseball every day in the park, why not take them for a short drive and allow them to soak in the history of America's favorite past time?
Martin Luther King National Historic Site: No better time to learn about a great man like MLK than this summer.
There is no better space that documents the life and work of Rev. Martin Luther King than the historic site in Atlanta, Georgia. And there is no better time than this summer for your kids to learn all this great man did and fought for.
Wassaw National Wildlife Refuge: Become one with nature for a few days at this incredible natural refuge.
Your little ones will be able to play in the sand, learn about different environments, watch sea turtles and become extremely passionate about nature.
Yosemite National Park: A short drive from San Fracisco, you can get lost in the wonderful natural surroundings.
Kids need to be outside and learn to love nature, and nothing better than enjoying a few days camping, hiking and exploring the wildlife in this stunning location.
Legoland Florida: A haven of creativity where kids enjoy building to their hearts' content.
There is no child in the world who doesn't like Legos. Taking your kid to Legoland is like walking into the Disney World of the educational vacations, and surely you will also get to enjoy it.
Yellowstone National Park: A piece of heaven on earth the entire family will enjoy.
The little ones will go wild when they see wild elks, buffalos and game roaming the wide pastures of this natural park, but that's nothing compared to what their faces will look like the first time they see a geyser spring water up to the skies.
Seattle Space Needle: Visit Seattle for the Space Needle, but stay for the coffee.
The coffee capital of the U.S. is a wonderful city to visit in the summer, but your little ones will be amazed when you take them to the top of the Space Needle.
The Boston Freedom Trail: Make your kids love history by actually walking in it.
This 2.5 mile stretch in the heart of Boston has 16 historical sites reliving the time our forefathers founded this country. This way you can start your kids' love for history young.
Redwood National Park: Drive through the 32-mile long Avenue of Giants for the perfect "wow effect."
These 17,000 of imposing Redwoods in California will make any kid's jaw drop. Take a long drive or a short hike in the Avenue of Giants and just enjoy the look in your kids' faces.
Lake George, New York: Serenity awaits you only four hours away from NYC.
A short drive out of the city and you will find yourself in a haven of tranquility and relaxation. You can sit back and enjoy the view, while your kids soak up the sun, kayak or bike around the lake.
Georgia Aquarium: Let your kids experience the immensity of whale sharks.
The only place in America where your kids can see a whale shark face to face is in this aquarium, so it is well worth the trek.
New York City: Every corner of this city is an experience worth exploring.
Every kid loves New York–no exceptions. A walk throught its streets is a lesson in itself. Visit Central Park, or the 9/11 memorial, or take a walk up the West Side Highway all the way to Harlem. No matter what, your kids will be mesmerized by this amazing town.
Craters of the Moon National Monument: For the space-nut inside all of us, this park in Idaho is a sight to see.
According to the National Park Service in the U.S., this is "the only officially weird park." Its terrain is quite moon-like, as it was created by lava 15,000, and your kids will love to learn that the Apollo 14 astrounats actually used the park to train for their mission.
New Orleans: If you are a progressive parent, then you want your kid to come visit New Orleans.
New Orleans, Louisiana is one of the most historic cities in the United States. Your kid will enjoy walking the French Quarter, learning about the French roots of Lousiana and listening to some of the best blues the country has to offer.
The Biltmore Estate in North Carolina: It's a dream come true for any kid who enjoys learning about palaces and castles.
The Biltmore Estate, built by George Vanderbilt in 1895, is a turn of the century gem considered the only castle in North America. Your kid will love learning all about the history of this place, as well as the ice cream parlor and the toymaker's shop.
Gettysburg, Virginia: A much needed lesson on the Civil War makes for an ideal summer vacation.
Take your kid on a hike down one of the most important battlefields of the Civil War, and enjoy a guided tour pointing out key dates and events.
Niagara Falls, New York: No other natural attraction will captivate your children like this one.
The astonishing views will leave an imprint on your children's minds forever.
Mystic Seaport, Connecticut: If your kids love the sea, then make them learn the wonderful art of sailing.
The Mystic Seaport has many things to offer, but taking sailing lessons is something fun that your kids will be thrilled about.
Kennedy Space Center in Florida: No doubt the future astronauts will love this one.
This is a must if your kid has ever dreamed of traveling to outer space. The station has all kinds of exhibits that will blow your kids' minds away.
Boston Children's Museum: Let their imagination run free at this wonderful spot.
Play with play dough, build Legos, watch fishies or read about human evolution. Your kids could spend the entire day here and it will just fly by for them.
Chincoteague Bay Field Station in Virginia: Camp out, learn about ecology and have lots of fun this summer.
The entire family can enjoy an amazing experience by sleeping under the stars for a few days, enjoying camp fires, seafood boils, water sports and much more.
Brooklin, Maine: You can build your very own sailboat in Maine.
This could be one of the most fun things to do with your little ones. Learning to build a boat from scratch will build skills that will last them a lifetime.
Everglades, Florida: Learn all you need to know about ecology on a trip to the everglades.
From knowing the perils of these bodies of waters–including dangerous crocodiles–to distinguishing the very many and very rare species of vegetation that can only be found in this Florida weather.
Battleship Texas: Show your kids a bit of the military history of the U.S.
The Battleship Texas, commissioned in 1914, remains the only ship in existence to have served in both WWI and WWII.
Big Bend Ranch State Park in Texas: Miles of plains for days so your kids can roam free.
Camping at Big Bend will allow your kids to learn all about the abundant wildlife in America.
Vizcaya Gardens, Florida: A stunning array of South Florida vegetation awaits for your little ones' enjoyment.
The gardens are stunning and worth the visit, but most weekends there is face painting, activities and tours for the educationally-minded parents.
Wynwood Walls, Miami, Florida: Teach your kids all about urban rehabilitation in the heart of Miami.
A nice weekend stroll through Wynwood Walls not only get your children smiling at the vibrant art in display, it will also give you the opportunity to teach them all about the neighborhood's history and how urban development can help make everything pretty.
Fairchild Gardens inMiami, Florida: Come get lost on a fable-like garden of eden.
There are many constant exhibits, as well as weekly activities for the smallest ones of the house. They can learn everything about the exotic flowers and the butterflies in the property.
Perez Art Museum of Miami: One of the gems of the cultural scene in Miami is a sight to be seen.
The building, designed by Herzog and Meuron, is stunning, and the many rotating exhibitions are sure to make your kids have a blast.
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts: An aspiring ballerina dream come true with all the information she may ever need.
Making it in the performing art scene is nearly imposible, but you have to start somewhere, so if you kids want to get into the biz, make sure they visit the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts to get a head start.
Brooklyn Historical Society: All of Brooklyn's rich history can be found in one sinle amazing place.
Brooklyn's rich history of immigration, survival, development and global success has been greatly documented through the years, and your kids can learn all about it in this amazing museum and exhibition house.
Actors' Studio, New York: If your kids are aspiring actors, then there's no better place to visit this summer.
For all the drama kings and queens out there, Actors' Studio has amazing exhibitions and open talks with famed directors and movie stars. This is suitable for teen-aged kids only, but it is definitely an amazing summer experience if you happen to swing by New York.
Young At Art Museum, Davie, FL: You kid will have a blast spending a night at the museum.
This amazing conceptual museum in Davie, FL., offers every kind of art activity a kid can enjoy during the summer, as well as family activities that can be enjoyed by everyone together. But perhaps nothing could be more fun than a night at the museum, where your little ones can explore the exhibits from 6PM to 11PM, watch a movie with their friends and do any kind of art activity they desire.
