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The Outer Banks has been a popular family vacation destination for generations thanks to its beaches, seaside diversions, like the Currituck National Wildlife Refuge and putt-putt golf, and even wild horses at Corolla.
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One of the natural wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon is a place everyone should see in their life. Its vistas make for great hiking, camping, and rafting.
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Love history? Williamsburg, Virginia is the place to go. Tour the capital of the Virginia Colony and visit places like the House of Burgesses, home to the Virginia General Assembly which paved the way for the formation of the United States democratic government.
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Mardi Gras World (where floats are made), The Children’s Museum, Café Du Monde’s donuts, sno-balls, lots of live music, the WWII Museum, the Audubon Zoo and Aquarium, and City Park, all make New Orleans a hotbed for family fun.
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Chicago has loads of kid-friendly activities: two zoos, an aquarium, two children’s museums, a planetarium, LEGOLand Discovery Center, a skate park, a children’s theater, not to mention the Miracle Mile and the Navy Pier featuring a ferris wheel and carousel.
Two words: theme parks. It’s why 50 million tourists a year travel to Orlando, Florida. But even if your family isn’t game for Disney World or Universal Studios, Orland offers the Central Florida Zoo, manatee swims at Crystal River Watersports, and Kissimmee Swamp Tours.
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Kids can say “I climbed a mountain on my summer vacation” after a trip to Mt. Rainier. From Paradise Lodge, take a family hike up the glacier-capped active volcano through marmot-filled meadows before trekking back to the visitor’s center to learn about the mountain’s history.
Make your race car enthusiast’s dreams come true with a trip to Indianapolis, home to the Indy-500. That’s not the only family-friend attraction. You can also pop by the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Corner Prairie historic site, Rhythm! Discovery Center, and Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art.