50 Lesser-Known Places to Visit on Your Family Vacation

Popular vacation destinations around the country include well-known sites like the Statue of Liberty, Disney World, and the Grand Canyon. As your family prepares to hit the road, check out our list of impressive, but lesser-known destinations in each state to see if you can add a few to your family’s vacation itinerary this summer.

Alabama
The only institution of its kind in the world, the National Voting Rights Museum and Institute was established in Selma in 1993. Filled with photography and video exhibits, documents, personal notes, and artifacts, it serves as a tribute to those who fought for the rights of African-American voters, as well as a learning center for all citizens today.

Alaska
Located 125 miles south of Anchorage and just outside the town of Seward, Kenai Fjords National Park is home to beautiful scenery, wildlife, and adventures. Land and water-based activities in the area are nearly endless and include kayaking, camping, fishing, beach combing, bicycling, hiking, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, dog sledding, boat tours, ranger programs, flightseeing, and mountaineering.

Arizona
Although the Grand Canyon is certainly worth a visit, the beauty of lesser known gems like Antelope Canyon cannot be denied. The slot canyon, located a short two-hour drive northeast of Grand Canyon National Park, was formed by water rushing through the sandstone rocks and is a popular destination for photographers.

Arkansas
Venture below the surface of the Ozarks and explore the wonder of Arkansas’ caves and caverns. Particularly in the northern portion of the state, caving opportunities are widespread.

California
Nestled between the redwoods and the heart of our nation’s film and television industries lies San Francisco, home of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz. While visiting these iconic sights, be sure to make time for educational destinations like the California Academy of Sciences.

Colorado
Get a glorious view of the Rocky Mountains from atop the tallest sand dunes in North America. Located four hours south of Denver, Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve offers a diverse landscape with opportunities to sand sled and sandboard down the dunes, hike and backpack alpine trails, and much more.

Connecticut
Appreciate the artistry, explore the history, and discover the mechanics of the carousel and its creatures at The New England Carousel Museum. A half-hour drive from Hartford, the museum in Bristol is committed to the restoration and preservation of carousels, as well as the education of future generations of carousel enthusiasts.

Delaware
Catch a glimpse of more than 30 restored U.S. Military aircraft and take one for a flight in the flight simulator at The Air Mobility Command Museum. The venue devoted to military airlift and air refueling history is located a half-mile south of Dover Airforce Base and offers daily guided tours.

Florida
In a state where theme parks and beaches abound, hidden gems like Butterfly World will capture the hearts of your children. Established in 1988, the butterfly house in Coconut Creek was the first in the U.S. and is the largest in the world today.

Georgia
Headquartered in Americus, Georgia, Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village and Discovery Center illustrates the devastating effects of poverty around the world. Visitors tour life-size replicas of habitat homes and the insufficient shelters they work to replace in countries around the globe.

Hawaii
Race your way through the World’s Largest Plant Maze at the Dole Plantation. Along the way, look for eight secret stations that lead to the pineapple-shaped garden at the center. The roughly 2.5 miles of maze path are made up of a whopping 14,000 vibrantly colored Hawaiian plants.

Idaho
Home to the deepest river gorge in North America, Hells Canyon National Recreational Area is the ultimate destination for outdoor families. The more than 650,000 acre area borders Oregon and offers hiking trails, horseback riding, whitewater boating, and a gorgeous view of the Seven Devils Mountains from Heaven’s Gate Overlook.

Illinois
Offering more than a daring step onto the glass platform of the 103rd floor of Willis Tower and other well-known sights in Chicago, the Land of Lincoln is naturally home to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield. The city also includes the only home the famous president ever owned and his final resting place.

Indiana
Stop in the heart of Indiana to visit the world’s largest children’s museum. Founded in 1925, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis strives to create learning experiences that encompass the arts, sciences, and humanities.

Iowa
Spark your children’s interest in hot air balloons at the National Balloon Museum and U.S. Ballooning Hall of Fame in Indianola. A 30-mile jaunt south of Des Moines, the area is known for its prime flying conditions and hosts the nine-day National Balloon Classic each summer.

Kansas
Take a short stroll down the yellow brick road as you experience the wonder of Oz in the small town of Wamego, Kansas. Filled with props and memorabilia, the Oz Museum commemorates both the iconic film and the children’s book by L. Frank Baum.

Kentucky
Explore history from a biblical perspective at the Creation Museum in Petersburg. During your visit, you’ll see exhibits that bring familiar Bible stories to life and others that help explain different viewpoints of our world and its creation.

Louisiana
Just southeast of Baton Rouge lies North America’s largest river swamp, The Atchafalaya Basin. The father-son duo at The Atchafalaya Experience offers tours of “Louisiana’s answer to the Grand Canyon,” which include stunning views of the area’s flora and fauna.

Maine
Take advantage of Maine’s coastline and experience the thrill of whale watching. While many coastal towns offer tours, the original Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch is one of the few to offer standby tickets good for another outing on the rare occasion no whales are spotted during your trip.

Maryland
Though the monuments and museums of Washington, D.C., are an obvious must when visiting Maryland, the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore is another great stop on your family vacation. The facility offers some unique programming, like free Friday night stargazing and special programs for homeschoolers.

Massachusetts
For a single entrance fee, the Springfield Museums allow guests to explore four world-class museums and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden. Plans are currently underway to honor the work of the popular children’s author and Springfield native with his own museum, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum.

Michigan
Containing less than 3% of the state’s population, Michigan’s Upper Peninsula accounts for 29% of the state’s mass and offers beautiful scenery for families to enjoy. The Les Cheneaux area is home to 36 islands that provide calm waters for canoeing, kayaking, and sailing, while several other scenic islands and parks are only a day trip away.

Minnesota
Experience the land of 10,000 lakes by camping for a weekend in Itasca State Park. In addition to housing the headwaters of the Mississippi River, Minnesota’s oldest state park is home to beautiful pines, hiking trails, and more than 100 lakes.

Mississippi
Learn about life in, on, and near the mighty Mississippi at the Lower Mississippi River Museum in Vicksburg. Located less than an hour west of Jackson, the museum contains exhibits that examine life aboard the M/V Mississippi IV and in communities along the river. It also houses a 1,500 gallon aquarium featuring fish found in the river.

Missouri
Visit Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park for a chance to play in nature’s waterpark! The smooth, rocky slides and pools formed by the natural wear and tear of weather provide a refreshing cooldown on hot summer days.

Montana
Explore the history of Montana’s gold mining industry as you follow the cyclical growth and decay of Garnet Ghost Town. Nestled just outside of Missoula, Montana’s best preserved ghost town is surrounded by several great hiking trails.

Nebraska
Slow down and enjoy the beauty of Nebraskan bluffs, waterfalls, and river valleys when you stay at the Niobrara River Ranch near Valentine. The operating beef cattle ranch is also home to a recreational area that offers opportunities to hike, fish, hunt, and canoe, kayak, or tube down the Niobrara River.

Nevada
Catch a glimpse of stunning cave formations inside Lehman Cave, including over 300 shield formations. Located in Great Basin National Park, the cave is open for guided tours year-round and has excursions for visitors of all ages.

New Hampshire
Enjoy the beauty of Thompson Falls, a 150-foot cascading waterfall set in the midst of White Mountain National Forest. Because the Thompson Falls Trail was just recently added to the national forest’s list of official trails, hikers on the short, family-friendly path enjoy more seclusion than those on other nearby trails.

New Jersey
Just across the river from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, awaits an underwater experience your kids won’t forget. Adventures Aquarium in Camden, New Jersey, is home to a variety of beautiful aquatic life. For an additional fee, you can enjoy a behind-the-scenes encounter with sharks, sea turtles, or penguins who reside at the aquarium.

New Mexico
Hike three miles of trails through the cone-shaped rock formations at Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument. The unique formations were named a national monument in 2001, and the area provides great opportunities for hiking, birdwatching, geologic observation, and plant identification.

New York
Discover the beauty of modern and contemporary art housed at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery. In addition to tours, the facility located 20 miles south of Niagara Falls in Buffalo also hosts special art classes for children ages 4-18 (preregistration is required).

North Carolina
Visit the site of the first documented gold find in the U.S. A 45-minute drive east of Charlotte, the Reed Gold Mine offers free tours. Gold panning is also available for a small fee between the months of April and September.

North Dakota
On your way through Theodore Roosevelt National Park, be sure to stop in Medora and take in the Medora Musical. The live, outdoor show uses singing, dancing, live animals, and fireworks to tell the tale of President Theodore Roosevelt and his days in the Badlands of the Dakotas.

Ohio
After being inspired by a scene depicting the ascension of Christ at a wax museum in Atlanta, Pastor Richard Diamond and his wife built their own Bible-themed wax museum in Mansfield, Ohio. Featuring more than 300 repurposed wax figures from other museums, the Bible Walk contains over 70 biblical scenes. The facility is also home to several religious art collections.

Oklahoma
Get a glimpse of life on a working alpaca farm and discover what it takes to turn their fleece into fashionable attire. Located just 30 minutes northeast of Oklahoma City, Just Right Alpaca offers tours of the farm and knitting studio, as well as a chance to touch and feed the animals. Call to schedule a visit or book a night at their bed and breakfast.

Oregon
If you take a tour of the west coast, splurge on a night in a treehouse at Out ‘n’ About Treehouse Resort. With opportunities to raft, ride horses, zip line, and attend workshops on treehouse building, your kids will be sure to thank you!

Pennsylvania
Venture an hour and a half north of Independence Hall to Easton, Pennsylvania, and enjoy the Crayola Experience in the brand’s hometown. The 26 Crayola-themed attractions in the imaginative, four-story venue help kids explore colors, mediums, and types of technology in a hands-on setting.

Rhode Island
Being careful to keep your footing, enjoy the expansive view of the coastline as you stroll down the Cliff Walk in Newport. The 3.5 mile National Recreation Trail extends from Easton’s Beach to Bailey’s Beach with seven different access points along the way.

South Carolina
Take a tour of The Kazoo Factory and Museum in Beaufort to learn the history behind the little plastic music makers and see how they are made. At the end of the factory tour, you’ll even have an opportunity to make your own kazoo.

South Dakota
On the southeastern edge of Black Hills National Forest lies Custer State Park, an area worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. The park’s most popular destinations include places like Sylvan Lake, Harney Peak, and Needles Highway, which are all within an hour’s drive of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.

Tennessee
The National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis takes a unique approach to preserving and retelling history by inhabiting the Lorraine Motel, the building in which Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated on April 4, 1968. Established in 1991, the museum hosts a variety of permanent exhibits that use artifacts, films, oral histories, and interactive media to recount five centuries of history.

Texas
After a day at the Space Center and other well-known Houston attractions, enjoy a free show at the Miller Outdoor Theatre. With performances by the Houston Symphony, special children’s programs, and outdoor movies, there’s sure to be a show to suit every member of your family.

Utah
Take in the Mars-like landscape of Goblin Valley State Park as you enjoy mountain biking, hiking, disc golfing, and camping in the rugged terrain. With one of the darkest night skies on Earth, the park also offers tremendous stargazing opportunities.

Vermont
Take your kids on a sweet tour of the Ben & Jerry’s Factory in Waterbury to discover how ice cream is made. Following the 30-minute tour, stop in the full service scoop shop to find your favorite flavor and stroll through the Flavor Graveyard to remember the “dearly de-pinted” flavors that have been laid to rest.

Virginia
Visit the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton to explore the environments early immigrants and their descendants inhabited, both in America and abroad. The exhibits contain a mix of original and recreated rural buildings from England, Germany, Ireland, West Africa, and America. In addition, the museum hosts a series of events just for homeschoolers throughout the year.

Washington
Admire the enchanting moss-covered trees that line the Hall of Mosses Trail in the Hoh Rain Forest. One of many paths located within the larger Olympic National Park, the simple, family-friendly trail is less than a mile long and appears to be taken straight from the pages of a charming storybook.

West Virginia
Enjoy the unique beauty of the Blackwater River’s striking falls in Blackwater Falls State Park. The captivating water gets its color from the tannic acid found in the hemlock and red spruce needles that fall into the river.

Wisconsin
Relax among southwest Wisconsin’s picturesque bluffs as you tube, kayak, or canoe down the Grant River. The gentle stream contains a few mild rapids and offers gorgeous views of wooded hillsides and rustic rocky ledges.

Wyoming
Five miles east of Afton, Wyoming, lies Intermittent Spring, the largest and one of only three rhythmic springs in the world. The ebb and flow of the spring’s water source is so dramatic that, from approximately August through May, it alternates between drying up and flowing freely roughly every 18 minutes.