Summer's around the corner. I've already been busily calling about camps and fees, but as for trips, we're not planning any family vacations. Instead, Kevin and I we will be celebrating our 10th anniversary in AUgust, so we're going on a Montana hiking trip with another couple. But this doesn't mean I don't think about trips and places I eventually want to go with the kids.
So when I saw the article, 15 Places Kids Should See by Age 15, I was interested and then surprised by how few of the places on the list are on mine.
Their 15 places on the list are:
1. *Grand Canyon in Arizona. This is a maybe. But where I really want to take the kids when they are all old enough to hike is Bryce and Arches in *Utah. Of all the National Parks I've visited these two may be tied for my favorite. I want to go back with the whole family.
2. *Redwoods National Park California. Ok, yes this park is incredible and do I hope my kids get to go in their lifetime? Yes. Do I feel the need to go as a family? No.
3. Monticello, Virginia. Um, no way. We have already taken our kids to the state of Virginia though. Do we get any points for that?
4. The Freedom Trail - Massachusetts Hadn't thought about it before probably because the only history/educational type trip I'd planned on was...
5. & 6. Washington D.C. and Williamsburg, VA. - Yes. My first trip to D.C. Was when I was a third grader (I think.) and then again with my school in 6th grade. The times I've gone back in my "grown-up" life were more about seeing friends then sights. I'm ready to go back with kiddoes in tow!
7. *Niagra Falls. Again, no way. I've seen the falls. I've ridden the Maid of the Mist. Incredible. But it's a single day's worth of entertainment and not one I'm planning a family trip around.
8. Walt Disney World, FL. Hey! One we've already done with all three boys! And may do at least on alternating years between now and infinity. (Or, for as long as we continue to live just two hours away.)
9.Independence Hall - Pennsylvania I guess I'm just not a history buff. If I take 'em to D.C. and Williamsburg and that still feels like enough.
10. Alcatraz Island - California This would be cool and I'm still annoyed that when Kevin and I were in *San Francisco the Island was full or something like that and we couldn't go so I've only seen it from a distance. Even so, going back isn't a priority.
11. Ellis Island - New York I have no desire to take kids to "the city". That's all.
12. *Yellowstone National Park - Wyoming, Montana and Idaho Maybe. But only if we get our Bryce/Arches trip out of the way and the kids survive that and wanted to go on another hiking/camping trip.
13. Fenway Park - Massachusetts. Not gonna happen.
14. Craters of the Moon National Monument & Preserve - Idaho I'd never heard of this place until this list. Sounds awesome but I still can't imagine planning a trip to.. Idaho?
15. San Diego Zoo - California We live two hours away from the Miami Metro Zoo. Do we really need to go across the country to see this one?
*Places Kevin and I went on a 6-week road trip in summer of 2000.
So here are the places that I want to take my kids:
1. Utah - the aforementioned Bryce/Arches hiking/camping trip
2. D.C. and Williamsburg - something from their list makes mine!
3. The Florida Keys. Technically Kaden has already been because we took a boat from Ft Myers for a one-day trip to Key West once with my Dad, but I really want to go and spend a good week mostly just soakin' in the sun at Bahia Honda State Park because that is one incredible beach.
4. Germany. Specifically to the Spreewald region where my Grandparents once lived and where many cousins still live and then on further south to the castles in Bavaria
5. Russia. A tour that included Moscow/Volgograd/St. Petersburg (for Kaden)
6. Maine. I've never been to Maine. I want to go, so we may as well all go, right? (Funnily enough I don't feel the same way about Costa Rice. I've never been. I want to go. But I don't really want to go with the kids!)
Other travel Miscellany:
*And maybe I'll someday want to deal with the choas of traveling to a city hosting the Olympic Games?
*We've already been to Tennessee, Nashville area a bunch visiting family, but when they're older I'd like to play tourist and go to a show at the Country Music Hall of Fame as a family.
*There is a once-a-month kid's breakfast at the Dali museum in St. Pete. We are absolutely doing this soon.
*A mission trip with the whole family
*I always said that if I have a daughter I'd want to do a trip with her to Prince Edward Island (think Anne of Green Gables), but it's kinda looking like that won't happen.
Those are my family travel dreams. Where do you dream of someday traveling with your whole family? Or where have you already traveled that I should add to my list?