Although family vacations can be exhausting, it’s also incredibly rewarding to take the whole crew on an adventure, creating lasting memories every step of the way. While traveling abroad with kids can soar your family’s desire to travel to new heights, there are plenty of destinations in the United States worth exploring first. Honestly, they are on par with their overseas counterparts – yes, really!
These destination scams really bring out the European charm…no passport required. So whether you’re looking for a sparkling resort reminiscent of Germany at Christmas or hiking in the mountains akin to the Scottish countryside, there’s a place to suit every family’s travel preferences. Friends, there is no need to apply here for long-haul transatlantic flights.
Reap the rewards of domestic travel
As Lonely Planet editor Sarah Stocking told Horror Mom, keeping things in the U.S. is a great way to expand the team’s horizons and explore the rich culture we have here.
“I think it’s worth rethinking the way we think about domestic travel,” she said. “The United States is full of interesting history and culture. New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah, and Boston are all great cities to visit because of their diversity and importance in American history.”
In fact, she calls the Big Easy “surprisingly family-friendly.” “Nowhere is the French and Cajun influence more evident than in New Orleans,” she said. She mentions the botanical gardens, alligators and incredible trees, adding, “You can also take a swamp tour via the boardwalk or kayak. A stroll through the French Quarter and end with beignets? Delicious and filling joy.
Heading up the East Coast, Stocking notes, “Both Charleston and Savannah are beautiful cities to visit with kids and filled with lots of fun things to do. I love walking the streets and taking in all the amazing squares Stop; it feels like we’ve been dropped straight into a French town.
There are still many places to visit in the United States that “may be reminiscent of some distant European places but are still firmly rooted in the United States,” she said. “These places deserve to be celebrated. Boston, for example, with its alleys and colonial architecture, could actually be a British city, but it’s very important to American history.”
Although Stocking is not influenced by Europe, it reminds us of the riches found right on our doorstep. Some of her top recommendations? St. Louis, Santa Fe, Taos and Alexandria.
She called St. Louis “so much fun for kids,” adding, “The city museum is an incredible interactive experience and the Arch Museum tells the story of western expansion very well, especially considering the history of Native Americans. experience.
Both Santa Fe and Taos offer a glimpse into life in America before the United States officially existed. Stocking details, “Santa Fe is not only a beautiful pueblo, but the culture is very unique to the region and the food is delicious. Taos Pueblo welcomes visitors to visit the pueblo people.” way of life for centuries.
Stocking calls Alexandria, a city rich in black history and culture, “a charming town on the outskirts of Washington, D.C., and we love strolling its quaint streets before feasting on blue crabs.”
From charming cities to stunning countryside
If your family enjoys a variety of mountainside adventures, there’s no shortage of options to explore. “Leavenworth, Washington, is reminiscent of the German villages in Washington’s Cascade Mountains, and it’s bustling during Christmas time,” Stocking said. “Between roaming carolers, festive beer gardens and twinkling lights, the joy of Christmas runs deep.”
“Although Leavenworth was revitalized in the ’60s to reflect this German aesthetic, there are still neighborhoods that were founded by people from the countries they immigrated to,” she continued. “Linzburg, Kansas, for example, may not look like Sweden, but it is populated by descendants of Swedish immigrants, so the village is full of Swedish influence. You can buy Swedish goods in the store, including hard-to-find Swedish candy, Georgia State Helen celebrates Swedish holidays in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Then there’s the Shenandoah Valley, especially Shenandoah National Park, which, Stocking said, “draws in the mist that falls romantically over the mountains and is reminiscent of a trip through the Scottish countryside.” She also points to the national park’s influence on There is endless appeal for children of all ages.
“When it comes to national parks, Glacier National Park is the Switzerland of North America,” she added. “There are even two cabins nestled among the peaks.”
Explore the community in your own backyard
We would be remiss not to mention that traveling — even within the United States — is expensive for many families, especially right now. As Stokins points out, that doesn’t mean you can’t enrich your children’s lives by exploring other cultures closer to home. Her family lives in Nashville and enjoys eating authentic food from the city’s various cuisines, specifically recommending their favorite Ethiopian, Thai, Peruvian, Kurdish and Greek restaurants. Yes, all this without leaving Nashville city limits. “It feels like I can provide a multicultural education for my children without even leaving town,” she said.
Whether you attend a nearby cultural festival, take a day trip to a museum, or listen to music from another culture, connecting with your child (and sparking curiosity!) can happen anytime, anywhere.
