RIDE THE RAILS
Take a trip on a cross-country choo choo. Amtrak glides from Seattle to Savannah, Los
Angeles to Lakeland and tons of points in between, allowing for
several stops along the way. Three USA Rail Passes whiz tourists
around the country (15 days for $389, 30 days for $579 and 45 days
for $749). Children younger than 2 ride free, and it's half price
for ages 2 to 15. Worried they might get restless? For a fee, you
can upgrade your coach-class seat to a sleeping car on some trains,
giving kids room to stretch out.
SPOOK IT UP
Kids love a good ghost story, which is why haunted tours are a fun
teaching tool to engage them in American history. Check out Haunted America Tours for spooky
ideas from coast to coast, including Salem, Gettysburg and the
Chickamauga National Battlefield, scene of the last major Civil War
Confederate victory. You can even take a lantern-lit trip through
the National Building Museum in Washington, led by costumed Civil
War veterans.
TEND SOME TRAILS
Ever wonder what it would be like to be a forest ranger? With Wilderness Volunteers, you can
sign up to maintain trails and campgrounds at one of America's many
national parks, including gems like the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and
Hawaii Volcanoes. This is a great idea for travel with teenagers
(minimum age is 18) and a fun way to illustrate the importance of
protecting these priceless national treasures. And speaking of
price, because this is a working vacation, it's remarkably
affordable, just $259 per person for a week. Meals are included.
All you need is your camping gear.
SADDLE UP FOR COWBOY TRAVEL
Pick up some ten-gallon hats for your little pardners. Visit the
National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma, which
features a vintage cattle town called Prosperity Junction. Take
kids on trail rides and camp under the stars. Or drive along
California Highway 49 to follow The Gold Rush Trail, the site of
many historical and picturesque towns. In Columbia, you'll find
docents in period costumes, and kids can pan for gold and ride in a
stagecoach. Round up your vacation with tickets to the rodeo. For
more great western-themed vacation ideas, check out American Cowboy.