#1:
New York There is something for children of all ages,
from Broadway plays like "Mary Poppins" and "The Lion
King," to Central Park's Zoo and Wildlife
Center, the Children's Zoo, horse and
carriage rides, and Belvedere
Castle, in just a few
blocks you can fill an entire weekend. Hop aboard the ferry to the Statue of
Liberty or ride the elevator to the top of the Empire State
building for everlasting views. Grab a pretzel or slice of pizza from a street
vendor or let the kids sample their first frozen hot chocolate at Serendipity.
No matter what you find on every corner, the family is bound to have fun!
#2: Boston Attend
a Red Sox game at one of the country's oldest standing baseball stadiums, Fenway Park.
There is also shopping and dining in the
city's original "mall" at Quincy Market. New buildings house the
Children's Museum and New England Aquarium, as well as the Museum of Science,
all of which provide kids with hands-on learning opportunies that are also
plenty of fun.
#3: Washington, D.C. Our nation's capital is one of our nation's greatest cities, for where
else can you find 19 museums, all free and open to the public? The
Smithsonian's 19 museums, including the Air &
Space Museum, the Museum of Natural History
and the Museum of
American Art are, indeed,
all free, and will provide days upon days of interactive sightseeing. If that's
not enough, there's all of Washington's
monuments, including the Washington Monument, the Lincoln
Monument and the Jefferson
Monument, all located around the
Washington Mall, with views of the White House and the Capitol Building.
This city makes kids' history books come to life and simply should not be
missed.
#4:
San Francisco This West Coast city is filled with
sunshine, ample beaches and parks, interesting quirks (the zigzagging Lombard
Street and Haight-Ashbury), and kid-sized fun for all ages, including a visit
to Fisherman's Wharf to catch the seals that call it home, and Alcatraz, where
some of the country's most notorious bad guys called home when it served as a
prison. San Francisco is rich in culture and its
diverse neighborhoods provide an international flair -- just turn the corner
into Chinatown and you'll forget you're even in California. Plus, just short drives away are
some of the state's most beautiful coastline and national parks.
#5: Atlanta The "capital of the
South" is a sprawling city with its own rich history, straight out of the
pages of Civil War history books and "Gone With the Wind." The kids
can sample a world of colas at the World of Coca-Cola, watch beluga whales
glide by at the country's largest aquarium, and learn about Martin Luther King
Jr.'s dream, as well as that of a former president at the King Center and Jimmy
Carter Library and Museum.
#6: Chicago The Windy City's Magnificent Mile
truly is magnificent, as are the beaches lining the shores of Lake
Michigan, which is so large it resembles more of an ocean complete
with waves and all. The museum campus houses the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum
and the Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum,
and little girls will squeal with delight after visiting the American Girl
flagship store. Another world-famous ballpark calls Chicago home: Wrigley Field, and kids can
catch the Cubs, Sox, Bulls, Bears or Stanley Cup winning Blackhawks in this
sports loving city.
#7:
Denver Mile-high city began as a frontier city and
keeps its adventure-loving ways close to heart in a funky setting where locals
enjoy spend their free time outdoors. While the city itself offers fun, such as
200 city parks and 850 miles of off-street recreation paths, the family can use
the city as a starting point for white water rafting trips down the Colorado
River, hitting the slopes of nearby ski villages, and hiking the ample trails
of the Rocky Mountains.
#8:
Miami You won't have to leave the country to show the
kids a city rich in Latin flavor when you step off the plane in Miami, where a strong
Cuban and Puerto Rican influence brings the Floridian city to life. Visit
neighborhoods like Little Havana, Coconut Grove and South
Beach to catch a glimpse of all the
city's multiple sides, and then get up close and personal with nature at Jungle Island,
Everglades Alligator Farm, Miami Seaquarium and Dolphin World. Of course, being
in Florida, Miami's best attraction is its wide stretch
of beach and warm, blue Atlantic waters.
#9: Los Angeles Begin with a walk along the
Hollywood Walk of Fame, and spend time
exploring lots of amusement park rides
at Universal Studios, then hit one of the city's fabulous beaches. The City of Angels is also a hop, skip and jump from Anaheim,
where Disneyland and its stars await.
#10: New Orleans New Orleans has made a big rebound since
Hurricane Katrina ravished it five years ago. Now that it's back to its
original splendor, take the kids to immerse them in Jazz music pouring out of Jackson Square,
ride the Mighty Mississippi in an old-fashioned steamboat, discover the colors
of Mardi Gras at Mardi Gras World, and play with bugs at the Audubon
Insectariums. Further afield, introduce them to swamp life with airboat
adventures just outside the city.
Shelley Allen, owner of Travel Creation Services, www.TravelCreation.com
Information in Article taken from ABC News Travel
