SolveYourProblem.com
Article Series: Vacations & Getaways
Hot Vacation Tips and Getaway Ideas
Top
Historic Vacation Destinations in the United States
Ever get the feeling that your friends and
family are constantly finding excuses to get away from your
getaway? Maybe it’s time for a different perspective and
try something new for the next summer outing. Why not embark
on a backpedal journey around the country.
History-themed
holidays are a creative way to directly augment
your child’s education while inspiring enjoyable family time.
Whether they’re as imposing as buildings or as subtle as
its markers, coming in contact with historic relics provokes
a deeper sense of appreciation for people, places, events,
and ideas that shaped who we are today. It yields a better
understanding of human values and the part it played in their
daily lives. What’s great is you don’t even have to head
out far to experience these treasures; just start at your
local town square. For those of us up for a road trip, the
National Park Service has listed the top 10 most visited
national historic parks and their visitor count from 2004.
- Great
Smokey Mountains National Park - 9,167,048
- World
War II Memorial - 5,382,498
- Grand
Canyon National Park - 4,326,234
- Independence
National Historic Park - 4,087,918
- San
Francisco Maritime National Historic Park - 4,055,079
- Lincoln
Memorial - 3,988,650
- Vietnam
Veterans Memorial - 3,789,889
- Statue
of Liberty - 3,618, 053
- Korean
War Memorial - 3,610,796
- Colonial
National Historic Park - 3,327,573
However, to get off the beaten track and avoid the crowds,
we present a few other interesting historic places worth
including on your next vacation itinerary.
Canterbury Shaker Village In Canterbury, New Hampshire is Canterbury Shaker Village,
a 694-acre patch of land with forests, ponds, and grassland.
It opened in 1969 with the goal of preserving the customs
and traditions of the United Society of Believers in Christ's
Second Appearing, more commonly known as Shakers. Restored
buildings depict their function and placement within the
grounds, just as if one were to visit it a century and a
half ago. Guided tours are offered, each tackling a specific
subject about the Shakers or a building within the village.
Be sure to drop by the Village Farm Stand for in season produce
that are always garden-fresh. The Museum Store has books,
oval boxes, and many other items showcasing the remarkable
Shaker craftsmanship. The village is open daily beginning
May 14 through October 30, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas..
Boston National Historic Park
Well-known to be the setting of many important
events in American history, Boston is as progressive as
it is reverent
of its past. In its desire to ensure the public gets the
most from visiting this city, the Freedom Trail was established.
This walking tour extends 3 miles and takes about 90 minutes,
with 16 stops that include Faneuil Hall, Paul Revere House,
and the USS Constitution-"the oldest commissioned ship
afloat." Likewise, don't forget to check out the Black
Heritage Trail, a 1.6 mile walking tour winding through Beacon
Hill and includes 15 sites essaying a 19th century African-American
community. In addition, there are special events held from
time to time like the Institute of Contemporary Art artist-in-residence
program. This is located at the Charleston Navy Yard, part
of the Freedom Trail, and is open from noon to 5 PM. Currently
featured is "The Secret Ark of Icon Park," an interactive
outdoor exhibit running through October 10, 2005. Visitor
assistance is available by calling (617) 242-5642 or through
the website at http://www.nps.gov/bost
Ellis
Island National Monument
If
the Statue of Liberty is viewed as the shimmering gateway
to America, Ellis Island was,
from 1892 to 1954, the stern-faced
security guard that evaluated immigrants before they're
allowed to enter the US. Walking through the rooms of
the redbrick building, visitors can follow the immigration
procedure step by step which starts at the Great Hall
or
Registration Room. Photographs, clothes, posters, ship
logbooks, and luggage are displayed across three dozen
galleries as well as interactive multimedia presentations
that tell of the island's history. The American Immigrant
Wall of Honor, built behind the Main Building, lists
the names of some 600,000 immigrants from various ports
of
entry. It is said that about 40% of all Americans can
trace their family history to a man, woman, or child who
entered
the United States through Ellis Island. The park has
free admission and is open daily except on Christmas day.
For
park inquiries, call (212)363-3200 or go to http://www.ellisisland.org
Cahokia
Mounds State Historic Site
One
of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites, the Cahokia Mounds located
northeast of St. Louis,
Missouri, is described
as “the largest pre-Columbian settlement north of
Mexico”. There
are over 100 documented mounds built by what are known
to be the Woodland Indians around 800 A.D. and was
the urban
center of Mississippian culture. Monks Mound is the
centerpiece of the 14-acre site. It is the largest man-made
earth
formation in the Western Hemisphere. Public tours last
for one hour
and available on weekends at 1:30 PM. A good jump-off
point would be http://www.cahokiamounds.com which contains
extensive
information on the site both as a cultural and archeological
resource. There is no shortage of monuments and parks no matter what
part of the country you live in. As long as you have a well-planned
itinerary, factor in each individual’s interests, and have
an appetite for adventure, a vacation with history will be
as fresh and exciting. This is going to be more evident when
instead of cramming into the station wagon, you find yourself
loading up the van!
#
# # # #
SolveYourProblem.com : 2007
> Home
Page > Vacations and Getaways:
Main Page
|
