Hello World! Welcome Friends! If you’re like most home-schooling parents, you’re always seeking out educational and engaging opportunities for your students. Fortunately, there are destinations across the United States that offer both.
Whether you’re seeking historic sites, natural wonders, cultural riches, family fun or all of the above, these vacation destinations have it all, and then some! Read on to discover some of our favorite vacation destinations for home schoolers across America.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
For the perfect blend of the great outdoors and in-town fun, America’s most popular national park is hard to beat. A designated unique biosphere, and an area offering stunning scenic drives everywhere you go, the park offers free admission year-round and a vast array of accessible forests, waterfalls, plant and wildlife, including the famous black bears of the Smokies.
The gateway towns of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge are packed with attractions and family-friendly activities, from the nation’s longest pedestrian sky bridge to one of its best aquariums. Accommodations include Gatlinburg cabins, loaded with entertainments and amenities, nestled in the surrounding foothills.
The region’s original inhabitants, the Cherokee, long used the area as hunting grounds. European settlers arrived in the 1800s, and many historic buildings still stand from that era. Students can see craftworks being created first hand, thanks to the vibrant Great Smoky Mountains Arts and Crafts Community, and absorb Appalachian history in the area’s many museums and historic sites.
Boston, Massachusetts
Strolling down the streets of downtown Boston brings the Revolutionary past to life in a unique way. Spend a day walking the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile stretch that encompasses 16 sites that played a role in the country’s founding. Take a break for a picnic and a history lesson in the Boston Common, and be sure to browse the shops and eateries in Fanueil Hall.
Other don’t-miss Boston historical attractions include the Boston Harbor Tea Party Ships and Museum, where you can tour a full-scale replica of a 1700s sailing ship, hold an in-person art history lesson at the Museum of Fine Arts, and end the day with a game and a hotdog at Fenway Park.
Taos, New Mexico
For a dose of culture, head to Taos, New Mexico. Nestled at the base of the Sangre de Christo range, Taos has been a center of community and trade for centuries. Explore the area’s indigenous culture at Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO Heritage Site that’s been inhabited for more than 1,000 years.
For a glimpse into history, head to the Kit Carson Museum, home of the famous settler. See prime examples of Spanish Colonial architecture at the San Francisco de Assisi Mission Church, said to be the most photographed church in the U.S., and the Hacienda de los Martinez. And don’t miss the Harwood museum, home to thousands of photographs from the 1800s and beyond.
Yorkstown, Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia
Known as the historical triangle of Virginia, these three cities have much to offer homeschooling families. Take a journey back in time at the Jamestown Settlement, a “living museum” that brings the ways of the past back to life. Your students can see firsthand how settlers really lived in those early days.
Yorktown is filled with historic buildings and is home to a Revolutionary War battleground, as well as modern shops and dining. Colonial Williamsburg offers special programming and events designed specifically for home educators. Time your visit to coincide with the regularly scheduled Homeschool Days, when you can take advantage of private tours of the Capitol and Palace buildings.
Monterrey, California
Get back to nature in Monterrey, California. Home to numerous state and county parks, the area is known for its scenic beauty. It’s also a great place for a lesson on marine biology, ecosystems and the environment. Start with a day spent exploring the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. Sea otters, penguins, octopi, sharks, jelly fish and hundreds of other species call the aquarium home.
Then head to the Monterry Bay National Marine Sanctuary to try to catch a glimpse of these sea creatures in the wild. Gently explore the tide pools, and look for whales migrating along the coastline. Round out the lesson with a visit to the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. Learn about this unique ecosystem at the visitor center before taking a stroll along the three loop trails in the reserve.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
For a homeschooling adventure that’s a bit off the beaten path, head to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. This hamlet is packed with historical and cultural attractions, like the American Independence Museum. Open May through November, the museum offers family Saturday events and programming that provides education about Revolutionary War times.
For even more history, walk the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire. Students will learn about the many contributions of Black Americans in the region, on tours led by experienced guides. Finally, stop by Fort Constitution, a military fortification that has stood since the mid-1600s.
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Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day/night depending on where you are in the world! Go with God and remember to be kind to one another!
Toodles,
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