As you all know, we love to travel. We have been traveling with our kids since they were each only a few months old, and we’ve been to a lot of pretty cool places. Awhile back I came across this list of 40 must-see places to take your kids before they grow up and I thought it would be fun to see a list of the ones we’ve been to (as well as the ones we haven’t gotten to yet).
1. Grand Canyon, Arizona.
I have been there twice, both as an adult. Once with Dave, once with Dave and my brother. My kids have not been.
2. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming.
Want to go, haven’t been there yet.
3. Freedom Trail, Boston
I was there as a kid. My kids have not been there.
4. The French Quarter, New Orleans.
Want to go, haven’t been there yet.
5. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Seashore, Michigan.
Sounds awesome – never been.
6. Dinosaur Valley State Park, Texas.
Sounds awesome – never been.
7. Stingray City, Grand Cayman.
8. Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland.
Never been there. We’re going through Cleveland this summer but it’s not on the itinerary.
9. Bioluminescent Bay, Puerto Rico.
I’ve been to Puerto Rico but not to this location!
10. An Alaskan Cruise.
Dave and I did it, the kids have not.
11. National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis.
We’ve been to Memphis but not to this museum.
12. Sanibel and Captiva Islands, Florida
Want to go!
13. Monterey Bay Aquarium, California.
Gabbie has been, the boys have not.
14. Niagara Falls, NY / Canada.
I was there in high school. Gabbie might get to go there this summer.
15. Petrified Forest, Arizona.
Have not been there.
16. Statue of Liberty, New York City.
17. Disney World, Florida.
Been there! All three kids have been there multiple times. Gabbie’s first time was when she was almost two (just to the Animal Kingdom, she also went to Disneyland around the same age), Zachary’s first time was when he was 6 months, and Simon’s first time was when he was 2.
18. Mt. Rainer, Washington.
Have not been there.
19. Galapagos Islands.
Would love to go there!
20. Sesame Place, Pennsylvania.
Gabbie and Zachary have been there.
21. Pacific Coast Highway Drive, California.
We did this with Gabbie (on the same trip we were at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Disneyland!) but she was too young to appreciate it. She also threw up.
22. Ground Zero, New York City.
Been there. (We were there once before too).
23. Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Florida.
We want to go!
24. Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.
We’ve all been there except for Gabbie because we were on our way to visit her at camp!
25. Redwood National Park, California.
I really want to go! Haven’t been there yet.
26. Swim With Manatees, Florida.
Sounds fun!
27. San Diego Zoo, California.
Gabbie has been there (same California trip as the other places she’s been!).
28. Plymouth Plantation, Massachusetts.
Haven’t been.
29. Buckingham Palace, London.
London is on our wish list! Dave has been there, the rest of us have not.
30. The Colorado Rockies.
Gabbie and Zachary have been to Denver and Colorado Springs, but I guess not the actual Rockies!
31. Cedar Point, Ohio.
None of us have been there.
32. Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
I’m pretty sure Dave has been there, but the rest of us have not!
33. Fort De Soto Park, Florida.
It sounds nice…I’ve been to St. Pete lots of times and I even took Gabbie to Clearwater, but I’m not sure if we’ve been to this specific park.
34. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii.
Dave and I were there on our honeymoon. I’d love to take the kids there someday.
35. Mesa Verde, Colorado.
Haven’t been.
36. Cable Cars, San Francisco.
Again, Gabbie was there when she was little!
37. Waikiki Beach, Hawaii.
Again, Dave and I were there on our honeymoon and I’d like to take the kids there someday.
38. National Baseball Hall of Fame Museum, New York.
Never been, would like to go!
39. Yosemite, California.
Want to go! Never been.
40. Millennium Park, Chicago.
Gabbie was there when she was younger than she was in California! We’re passing through Chicago this summer and I really want to stop in the park.
So…wow. Out of 40 places, all of my kids have only been to 4 of them! Have you and your kids been to any / some / most of these? What other places do you think kids should visit before they grow up?