Educational Destinations that Won’t Have You Feeling Guilty for Taking the Kids Out of School

 

With more and more school systems choosing remote learning as their plan for the 2020/2021 school year, more and more parents are worried about how they are going to keep their children engaged. The biggest benefit of distance learning is that it can be done from anywhere. You can easily engage your children in what they are learning by visiting destinations that bring what they are seeing on the screen into their real life. Most of these destinations are practicing social distancing and taking other precautions to keep your family safe from coronavirus. So if you are getting frustrated with forcing your kids to sit in front of a screen consider visiting one of these destinations to make learning more engaging and even fun! 

History: Washington DC

There is no better place to learn US History than our nation’s Capital. From the Burning of Washington during the War of 1812 to the March on Washington during the Civil Rights Movement and everything in between DC is the cornerstone of our country. The Smithsonian Institute is home to artifacts that tell the story of our country one item at a time. The city is made up of monuments and museums and each day lawmakers, diplomats, and interns that call the city home are making history. Plus Williamsburg is chock full of colonial history and is nearby. 

Link to History Blog Post 

https://www.showcasetheworld.com/blog/ushistoricdestinations

Zoology & Marine Biology: San Diego 

Future veterinarians and those who adore animals will LOVE San Diego, with spots like SeaWorld, which offers a variety of special “trainer for a day” and camp programs.  They’ll love having the chance to work hands-on with the furry and slippery creatures they know and love. Of course, it is also home to the largest zoo in the country, the San Diego Zoo houses more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals representing 800-plus species and subspecies. 

Geology: Yellowstone 

If your kids have shown any interest in geography or geology, you might enjoy a family trip to Yellowstone National Park, stretching across Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming. Kids can get a front-row seat to geysers, hot springs, rock formations and so much more. It’s much more exciting than reading about rocks in a textbook! Check at the Visitor Center to buy a Young Scientist Toolkit, which comes with gear like a thermometer and a stopwatch. You can also attend ranger-led programs and help kids earn their Junior Ranger patch.

Civil Rights: Montgomery, Alabama 

The Civil Rights Movement was an important part of our nation’s history, and Montgomery, Alabama is full of opportunities to learn more about it. It’s a stop along the U.S. Civil Rights Trail and home of the Rosa Parks Museum, commemorating the courageous woman and the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Your family can also stop by the Civil Rights Memorial Center and the Dexter King Memorial Baptist Church where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. preached during the bus boycott.

Arts and Culture: New York City 

Every culture in the world is represented in New York City. You’ll learn as much from dining on the city’s varied international cuisines as you will from the hallowed art collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. But visual art is not the only type that is celebrated in the big apple where better to learn about performing arts than Broadway. 

Paleontology: Denver, CO 

For the kid who seems to have an ever-expanding encyclopedic knowledge about dinosaurs, there’s nothing that could be more exciting than going on an actual dinosaur dig. Well, at the Museum of Western Colorado, there are half-day, full-day, and even three-day digs for kids. But there are so many museums and dig sites dedicated to paleontology in the Southwest it is hard to pick just one. To hit them all check out this 8 Day Ultimate Dinosaur Road Trip that starts and ends in Denver. 

Ultimate Dinosaur Road Trip https://roadtrippers.com/magazine/steve-brusattes-ultimate-fossil-road-trip/

Maritime History: Mystic, CT 

Once the shipbuilding capital of New England, Mystic Seaport is now home to the largest maritime museum in the country. An authentic 19th-century village is available for exploration featuring a drugstore, lighthouse, and bank.

Ship restorations are ongoing in the Preservation Yard and you can even visit inside the Benjamin F. Packard, an 1883 sailing ship that is on exhibit. Children can also learn about life and activities in the late 18th century like old-fashioned card games and how captains used flags to communicate with each other when they were out at sea.

STEM – Chicago 

There are so many amazing destinations to visit for STEM educational opportunities. I chose Chicago because of its Museum of Science and Industry, the largest science museum in the country.  It is housed in the only remaining building from the 1893 World’s Fair, and has weeks worth of mind-blowing, hands-on exhibits. Visitors have the chance to navigate through a mirror maze; manipulate a 40-foot tornado; climb aboard a World War II German submarine; take a run in a human-sized hamster wheel; descend into an Illinois coal mine; board a 727 hanging from the ceiling, and transmit your pulse to a 13-foot heart.

But Chicago offers more STEM activities beyond the museum, check out Travelingmom’s post for 4 more STEM learning opportunities in the city. 

Everything: Oahu, Hawaii 

I couldn’t close out this list without including one of my favorite educational destinations even though it didn’t fit a particular subject. Oahu, Hawaii has everything; history (Pearl Harbor), culture (Polynesian Cultural Center), and ecology (Volcanos!!). With attractions like the Honolulu Zoo, Children’s Discovery Center, Kualoa Ranch, Waikiki Aquarium, Sea Life Park, and Bishop Cultural Museum there is no end to the educational opportunities. The best part is your kids will have NO idea they are learning and after days full of activities and adventure you can relax with a Mai Tai and enjoy the most breathtaking sunsets. 

Need a vacation but the idea of planning-it-all is overwhelming?

If you are ready to have the family vacation you’ve been dreaming of, without spending time researching, planning and making it happen, schedule a call today. I’m here to help busy working Moms plan, organize and book the perfect family vacation. With me, all you have to worry about is enjoying your well-earned time away with your family. If you are ready to stop trying to do everything on your own and see how I can help you schedule a complimentary trip planning session now.

 

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