Explore
Your Account Join Now

Follow Us

State Secrets: 50 Little-Known Local Destinations

We asked 2,000 parents to share their local go-tos so you can be in the know too. Check out our top pick per state—this is a list you’ll definitely want to save!
By Liz Schnabolk
  • ALABAMA
  • ALASKA
    • Meet Santa and his reindeer at the real-life Christmas village in North Pole, near Fairbanks. “It’s a must-do for our family once a year,” says one mom. 
  • ​ARIZONA
    • Dramatic pinnacles and spires, formed from eroded volcanic rocks, create an otherworldly landscape at Chiricahua National Monument in southeast Arizona. 
  • ARKANSAS
  • CALIFORNIA
    • The so-called “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island, in the San Francisco Bay, gives kids a look at the country’s immigration history. 
  • COLORADO
    • “It’s fascinating to [learn] how coins are made.” Find out how it happens on a free tour for kids 7 and up at The Denver Mint. (Be sure to make a reservation!) 
  • CONNECTICUT
    • A perfect spot for make-believe play! Tour the medieval-style Gillette Castle in East Haddam, and spend some time walking around the gorgeous grounds. 
  • DELAWARE
    • Get your beach and woods fix at Holly Lake Campsites. Near Rehoboth Beach, it also has an on-site swimming pool and mini-golf course. 
  • FLORIDA
    • One mom raved about the Gulf Coast’s Cape San Blas for its lack of crowds and awesome scalloping. Kids will love looking for shells—the beaches are full of ’em! 
  • GEORGIA
  • HAWAII
  • IDAHO
    • The Wild West is alive and well in Idaho City! Tour this old mining town’s original buildings, including a post office, prison, and blacksmith’s. ​
  • ILLINOIS
  • INDIANA
    • The Conner Prairie living history park, in Fishers, teaches kids about life in 19th-century Indiana. “They do a great job of acting out history!” 
  • IOWA
  • KANSAS
    • Take a spin on the ice-skating rink, see a show at the kids’ theater, or visit the free kids’ crafting area at the Crown Center in Kansas City. 
  • KENTUCKY
  • LOUISIANA
    • Head to Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell to spot wildlife and enjoy the playground built to accommodate kids with special needs. 
  • MAINE
  • MARYLAND
    • To get away from it all, one mom suggests the lake town of Flintstone: “The night sky has so many stars, I could spend hours just looking at them.” 
  • MASSACHUSETTS
  • MICHIGAN
  • MINNESOTA
  • MISSISSIPPI
    • The Gulfportarea Lynn Meadows Discovery Center’s “Kids Street” exhibit takes playing house to the extreme with an entire kid-size suburban 
  • MISSOURI
    • Stroll through towering statues of giant eyeballs, balloon poodles, and more at the Laumeier Sculpture Park in St. Louis. Bonus: It’s free! 
  • MONTANA
  • NEBRASKA
    • Fontenelle Forest in Omaha recently opened the Raptor Woodland Refuge, where you can spot birds from walkways suspended high above the ground. 
  • NEVADA
    • “Everyone hears ‘Vegas’ and can’t think past the Strip,” explains one mom, who says the city’s Springs Preserve nature center is her favorite spot for families. 
  • NEW HAMPSHIRE
    • We may never know for sure who built America’s Stonehenge in Salem, but this mystical maze of manmade rock formations sure is cool to explore. 
  • NEW JERSEY
    • Cuddle up in the car and get ready to enjoy a double feature at Vineland’s family-friendly Delsea Drive-In. “Cheap and fun!” 
  • NEW MEXICO
    • Interactive exhibits on everything from animation to bubbles bring hours of fun at the Explora science center in Albuquerque.
  • NEW YORK
    • Sneak away to Covewood Lodge on Big Moose Lake in the Adirondacks for scavenger hunts, capture the flag, and weekly campfires! 
  • NORTH CAROLINA
    • Don’t miss the sea turtle rescue hospital on Topsail Island, where kids can view the creatures and learn about the island’s conservation efforts. 
  • NORTH DAKOTA
  • OHIO
    • Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens in Akron, which was once owned by The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company cofounder, has a children’s play area and numerous walking paths. 
  • OKLAHOMA
    • Robbers Cave State Park in Wilburton was once the hideout for outlaws Jesse James and Belle Starr. Now families can head there for hiking and camping. 
  • OREGON
    • The World Forestry Center in Portland really speaks for the trees! Learn about sustainability and wildlife through interactive exhibits.
  • PENNSYLVANIA
  • RHODE ISLAND
  • SOUTH CAROLINA
    • Skip the more developed state beaches and head to Edisto Beach, where simple seaside pleasures like swimming and boating reign supreme. 
  • SOUTH DAKOTA
    • The Children’s Museum in Brookings offers “so many things to do!” Pick corn at the toy farm, play in a sensory room, and more. 
  • TENNESSEE
    • Fort Donelson battlefield in Dover gives kids a firsthand look at the Civil War with a log hut like the ones soldiers lived in and cannons that were used in battle.
  •  TEXAS
  • UTAH
    • Learn about space exploration at the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City. No time for a show? It also has free hands-on activities open to the public. 
  • VERMONT
    • Don’t miss the children’s farmyard at Shelburne Farms, a 1,400-acre nonprofit working farm focused on sustainability. 
  • VIRGINIA
    • It’s all about the sea at Nauticus in Norfolk. Touch real horseshoe crabs, build a remotecontrolled underwater vehicle, or tour the battleship Wisconsin.
  • WASHINGTON
  • WEST VIRGINIA
  • WISCONSIN
  • WYOMING
By Liz Schnabolk
    Family Fun

    Comments

    Be the first to comment!

    All Topics in US Destinations

    Parents may receive compensation when you click through and purchase from links contained on this website.