This week for our travel feature, I'm going to highlight five of our family's favorite places to visit, rather than focusing on one specific region or attraction. We have visited all five of these destinations, many of them more than once (for example, the Creation Museum we have been to easily 100 times!). They're spread out in different parts of the country, so hopefully one of them is close enough that you can plan a visit if you haven't already been. Without further ado, let's get started with five must-visit destinations!
1. Arches National Park in Moab, UT. We visited this national park several years ago and quite honestly I was not prepared for the amazing, breath-taking sights! The tour starts (and ends) at the visitors center and gift shop, so you have to be sure to pick up a souvenir from the trip. Most of the tour is drive-thru, although there are many places to pull off and walk for a closer look. I could not believe the amazing natural arches, valleys, and rock structures. We literally spent all day in the park, and still didn't see it all! With over 2,000 sandstone arches, this is definitely a place every kid should visit!
2. The Creation Museum near Cincinnati, OH. Our family has a lifetime pass to this museum, and it is well worth the price! As one of the few Bible-based museums in America, I also feel like it is the BEST! State of the art displays, this museum truly brings the Bible to life. Adam and Eve, Noah building the ark, the Garden of Eden...all of these familiar Bible stories are displayed here. And the planetarium is fabulous! I have visited several other planetariums (a pretty big one in Chicago, among others) and quite honestly, the Creation Museum's planetarium easily surpasses the quality and beauty of any others I've been to.
3. Knoebel's, a family-friendly amusement park near Elysburg, PA. I've been to many other amusement and theme parks (Disney, Carowinds, etc) and while they may be a little bigger, to me Knoebel's is the perfect family park. The prices are very reasonable, and queue lines are pretty much nonexistent! Of course, the roller coasters are our family favorites, as well as the Tilt-a-Whirl and the flume ride. For several years we made visiting Knoebel's an annual event with some friends, and while we haven't been able to visit in several years, it is still a must-visit place!
4. The Alamo. Our family visited the Alamo not too long ago, and honestly some of us had mixed feelings. There was an air of commercialism around the place, and being situated right in downtown San Antonio, it doesn't have the backdrop you would expect. However, I loved it. Being a history buff might add to my enjoyment, but I really think it is an important place for every child to visit. When you watch the videos, read the signs and informational blurbs along the tour...you realize just how courageous these men and women were who fought and died at the Alamo in 1836.
5. The Texas Rangers Museum. Not the baseball team, the law enforcement. I have to admit, I have always been fascinated with law enforcement, good-guys-beat-the-bad-guys, mysteries, etc. I grew up reading every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden I could get my hands on! And yes, I still love a good book about the good guys vs. the bad guys. So after reading a lot about the Texas Rangers I was absolutely thrilled to actually visit the Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas! The museum takes you through the history of the Rangers and highlights important events, etc. For example, did you know it was a retired Texas Ranger who finally tracked down Bonnie and Clyde? There is also a 40-minute video to watch that does an excellent job of presenting the historical information in a way that even young children find attention-getting. Even the 10 year old sat through the entire video!
1. Arches National Park in Moab, UT. We visited this national park several years ago and quite honestly I was not prepared for the amazing, breath-taking sights! The tour starts (and ends) at the visitors center and gift shop, so you have to be sure to pick up a souvenir from the trip. Most of the tour is drive-thru, although there are many places to pull off and walk for a closer look. I could not believe the amazing natural arches, valleys, and rock structures. We literally spent all day in the park, and still didn't see it all! With over 2,000 sandstone arches, this is definitely a place every kid should visit!
2. The Creation Museum near Cincinnati, OH. Our family has a lifetime pass to this museum, and it is well worth the price! As one of the few Bible-based museums in America, I also feel like it is the BEST! State of the art displays, this museum truly brings the Bible to life. Adam and Eve, Noah building the ark, the Garden of Eden...all of these familiar Bible stories are displayed here. And the planetarium is fabulous! I have visited several other planetariums (a pretty big one in Chicago, among others) and quite honestly, the Creation Museum's planetarium easily surpasses the quality and beauty of any others I've been to.
4. The Alamo. Our family visited the Alamo not too long ago, and honestly some of us had mixed feelings. There was an air of commercialism around the place, and being situated right in downtown San Antonio, it doesn't have the backdrop you would expect. However, I loved it. Being a history buff might add to my enjoyment, but I really think it is an important place for every child to visit. When you watch the videos, read the signs and informational blurbs along the tour...you realize just how courageous these men and women were who fought and died at the Alamo in 1836.
5. The Texas Rangers Museum. Not the baseball team, the law enforcement. I have to admit, I have always been fascinated with law enforcement, good-guys-beat-the-bad-guys, mysteries, etc. I grew up reading every Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys and Trixie Belden I could get my hands on! And yes, I still love a good book about the good guys vs. the bad guys. So after reading a lot about the Texas Rangers I was absolutely thrilled to actually visit the Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas! The museum takes you through the history of the Rangers and highlights important events, etc. For example, did you know it was a retired Texas Ranger who finally tracked down Bonnie and Clyde? There is also a 40-minute video to watch that does an excellent job of presenting the historical information in a way that even young children find attention-getting. Even the 10 year old sat through the entire video!
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