We just got back from Colonial Williamsburg (VA) last wknd. My kids LOVED it. We saw lots of original 1700's buildings and there were lots of reenactments with debates about forming a union of states and leaving England, about slavery, about religion, etc. The people were dressed in period costumes and stayed in "character". They also would "muster" a crowd every afternoon to march to the capitol where you'd hear Patrick Henry or Thomas Jefferson or George Washington or someone speak. There would be a drums and fife corp leading the group....very fun. We also went to Monticello (Thomas Jefferson's home) which was very cool. The weird thing is, my kids actually PREFER these kinds of vacations. I was always more the lay on the beach, drink rum punch, and read a novel sort of girl before kids, but they love museums and visiting historical sites.

Soooo....I was just wondering if anyone else has little historical nerds like me??

And if you have any great place you've been to, or that are near you that are educational sites to visit. They don't have to be historical....any kind of educational site.

So share your educational vacation sites with everyone here on the board.

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My kids and I are like you! We love hitting all the museums and monuments in DC. We love Mt. Vernon (Washington's Home). Julia loves the National Gallery, Jared loves the Smithsonian science museum. Jenna comes along for the ride! My dh's fav is the Spy Museum. My fav is the Smithsonian of American History First Lady Wing. Right now we are lucky to live so close to D.C., there is so much here to visit. Last year we went down to Richmond/Va Beach/Williamsburg, that was so much fun! We go to TX and TN several times a year, the kids liked the Alamo and the Houston Children's Science museum the best.

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A woman is like a teabag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.-Eleanor Roosevelt

We can't wait to make that trip! We are planning to do that in the next year or two. We are also planning a Washington, D.C. trip. I can't wait! Our kids LOVE history. We recently attended a weekend event near home that had Revolutionary War reenactments. The kids loved it!

The boys are also big space fans. We've taken a couple of trips to Huntsville, AL to the US Space and Rocket Center and also to Kennedy Space Center. They loved meeting an astronaut at Kennedy. However, Huntsville has better exhibits. But, both were well worth the trip!

We make educational trips out of all of our vacations. Since we homeschool, we vacation at "odd" times of the year. When we travel to the beach, we study the wildlife or history of the area before we go. Then, while we are there, we visit the local museums and explore the natural settings. When we return, I sometimes have the kids do projects on our trips. We even made our Disney & Sea World trip a learning experience! Loads of learning opportunities there!

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"Fostering Excellence in Intellect & Character"

Oh yes!! We loved Washington DC when we went there. We haven't done the spy museum though. We've been wanting to go back to see the WWII memorial since both of our fathers were in WWII and have passed away, we sort of feel it's our job to go see it for them. So I'm hoping Washington DC is in our future again soon. Also...I went through the white house years ago and thought that was so cool, but last time we went it was still not doing tours. So I'd like to do that with my kids too!!

My dad was a cancer patient at MD Anderson in Houston so we did their museum and the space center there and went to San Antonio to see the Alamo too! Again....very cool.

Anybody else have ideas???

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We love Colonial Williamsburg...it's a great place! DC...also a good choice. Have you been to Boston and surrounding areas? My parents live near Walden Pond and we love to go and walk around the pond, walk thru historic Concord and Lexington, do the Freedom Trail in downtown Boston etc Also Philadelphia is another good city for history/educational trips!

I have been to Boston before and did the Freedom Trail, but that was before kids. My ds has been dying to go there. I've never done Philadelphia. What all is there to do there??

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There is a lot of history in Philly...we haven't been there in a few years but from what I remember, aside from the Liberty Bell, the zoo...are things like a Ghost Walking Tour, we did that and it was a HOOT! The kids loved it. Depends on how old your kids are though...

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia

Liberty Bell

http://www.nps.gov/archive/inde/liberty-bell.html

There are TONS of museums in Philadelphia...remember that scene in Rocky, where he's running up all the steps? That's at the Museum of Art in Philadelphia.

I googled for a basic list:

Philadelphia Museums - MuseumSpot.com

There is an US Mint in Philly, I wonder if you can go there? I remember going to a mint on a school trip, but I don't recall exactly where were were...it was really cool though!

Thanks oregano!! We'll have to investigate Boston & Philadelphia both for our next vacation.

My dh has been wanting to do the whole "out west" vacation. I think that could be educational too. Have others done that???

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Ben Franklin's house is in Philly too...and you can even peek into his privy! It's been awhile since I've been there but I know that there are a ton of historic sites - one of which is Independence Hall (Pennsylvania State House) where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and the Constitution written, signed, etc. I'm pretty sure there's a tour you can do. If it's what I'm remembering it's pretty cool. It's definitely worth the visit!

My kids are still young, but my 3 1/2 year old loves the Museum of Natural History, both Air & Space Museums (D.C. & Dulles), and the National Aquarium in Baltimore (not a historic site but still very cool).

If you ever come back to the DC area, I would recommend heading down to the Maryland State House in Annapolis. It's the oldest state house still in use today and George Washington resigned his commission in the old senate chambers. It's very beautiful.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

I live in NJ and am only 15 minutes from Philadelphia. I highly recommend the Franklin Institute ( interactive science museum), If your children are 9 years old and up, Eastern State Penitentiary is very interesting. You do an audio tour of the prison originally built in the 1800's. Also the Free Library of Philadelphia has a "rare book department" You can go there and they will give you a free tour at 11am everyday. It is a tour of the history of writing and books. My favorite part was seeing all the old school books because I imagined Laura Ingals holding some of them. There is of course all the other history sites that others talked about as well. Oh and there is the Civil War museum which we like as well.