Family Travel Guide » 50 State Family Travel Series

Family travel in Missouri: the 50 state series

Sheila — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 02:34:07 +0000

Every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states plus the territories, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction website, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin, West Virginia, Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio, North Dakota, North Carolina, New York, New Mexico, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Nevada, Nebraska, Montana and now we’re moving on to…Missouri!

The state is busy on all the major social media channels: they have multiple fun and engaging Twitter voices including @VisitMissouri plus @MoTravelMama, @MOTravelGuy, @MOPhotoGirl, @KatiesTrail, @MissMOitAll (awesome name!) and fishing updates from @VisitMOFish. There is a Missouri tourism Facebook Page, a nice blog called The VisitMO Bistro and plenty of photos in @MOPhotoGirl’s Missouri Flickr pool.

When I asked for Missouri travel ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Missouri

*** From Sarah V. via @Wandering_Off on Twitter – I’m originally from MO! Columbia is a great college town. St. Louis Zoo is phenomenal & free. Also, STL art museum.

*** From Sharlene via @DoubleAdventure on Twitter – Loved Main Street in St Charles when I was there earlier this month. And of course the arch.

*** From MoTravelMama via @MoTravelMama on Twitter – St. Louis offers many free attractions in Forest Park including an amazing zoo, history and art museum and science center. Kansas City also has a lot of free attractions: Money Museum, Kaleidoscope, Hallmark Visitors Center, great shopping and food. Branson ideas: Dixie Stampede, Silver Dollar City, Acrobats of China, Butterfly Palace, Titanic & Branson Landing, perfect for fams. Hannibal is a great family town. 4th of July is a great time there, Mark Twain Cave, Paddle Boat, Twain Home & downtown shopping.

(Can you tell she’s the Director of Communications for Missouri tourism?)

(cont.) Lake of the Ozarks has great family resorts, indoor/outdoor waterparks, shopping, water sports, mini golf and go-karts, and more! Jefferson City is has the State Capitol Building with museum, historic prison tour, Central Dairy Ice Cream, conservation center. St. Joseph is full of historical treasures. Pony Express , Patee House, Jesse James Home, Glore Psychiatric & Black Archive Museum. Hwy. 36 is the Way of American Genius. Disney, JC Penney, John Pershing, Mark Twain, Jesse James all lived along this highway. Springfield has a great Discovery Center, Jump Mania, Dickerson Park Zoo, Fantastic Caverns, Candy House & many historic theaters.

*** From Miss Dazey via @Miss_Dazey on Twitter – George Washington Carver National Park….families can learn history, explore science, hike and much more http://nps.gov/gwca/index.htm Precious Moments Chapel, Carthage, MO (town is neat too) http://preciousmoments.com/content.cfm/park_chapel

*** From MASchweers via @MASchweers on Twitter – in St Louis – the Steam Ship Arabia…rather interesting.

*** From Andrea Torres via @AustinAndrea on Twitter – Never been, but my Missouri friends all reminisce about Silver Dollar City in Branson.

*** From Jared James via @count_01 on Twitter – Consider Elephant Rocks State Park, down in southeast MO, not too far from Ste Genevieve, which is itself worthy of mention.

*** From Allie Dillon via @AllieDillon on Twitter – Powell Gardens, 30m east of KC, MO on Hwy50. “Great place to grow family memories.” My sister loves this place. @powellgardens

*** From St. Joseph, Missouri via @StJoMo on Twitter – Visit the Pony Express Museum; all exhibits kid friendly including Play Area just for kids. www.ponyexpress.org St. Jo (MO) boasts 13 museums & 50+ listings on Nat’l Register of Historic Places (2000+properties) http://dld.bz/eQ6s This summer cool down at the St. Joseph Aquatic Park: enclosed water slides, lazy river & zero degree entry http://bit.ly/bFE4te Help celebrate the opening & dedication of the four-lane US Hwy 36 across the State of Missouri http://bit.ly/ddNGGL Remington Nature Center sits on the banks of the Mighty MO. Lots of kid-friendly attractions and activities http://bit.ly/cbOLlt

*** From Matt Flener via @mattflener on Twitter – Try fitz’s root beer in st. louis…great root beer fun! http://www.fitzsrootbeer.com Also if you like outdoor adventures…try devil’s ice box in columbia, mo http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/cave.htm

*** From Mike via @VistaVision on Twitter – Kids like Lambert’s Cafe, Sikeston, Mo., where they throw much of the meal at you. http://bit.ly/aZ8G9r

*** From Jacqueline Conrad via @jhandleyconrad on Twitter – St Louis Zoo (excellent, well known and free,) Cardinal Baseball Game, Grants Farm, Lake of the Ozarks (huge,beautiful lake with tons to do.)

Facebook Travel Tips for Missouri

*** From Dara Quackenbush on Facebook – Visit Chillicothe, the home of sliced bread. While you’re there, go to the Hy-Vee and get a tenderloin sandwich. Evidently, it’s THE thing to do.

*** From Jen Miner on Facebook – Kansas City! The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art.

*** From Michel Hudson on Facebook – The University of Missouri in Columbia has a bunch of museums with a wide variety of things – all for free admission. Here’s a link to a page with current info: http://mizzouwire.missouri.edu/stories/2010/summer-fun/index Oh, and the Buck’s Ice Cream mentioned on that page is REALLY good – made on campus by one of their colleges.

*** From Todd Randall Jordan on Facebook – Missouri History Museum has large schedule of events - http://www.stlouiskidsmagazine.com/story/ice-cream-and-other-stories-history-museum

Get the Scoop: July 16 and 17 – Did you know the ice cream cone has a connection to 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis? Come learn about the history of this delicious dessert.

Aunt Katie’s Visit: July 23 and 24 – In 1990, local author Katie Rodriguez Banister survived an auto accident that left her paralyzed from the chest down. In celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, she will read her book Aunt Katie’s Visit. She will also demonstrate some assistive technology.

Backyard Buddies: July 30 and 31– Listen to the adventures of the critters found in your own backyard.

And more throughout August. ‎

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has some Missouri travel articles as well.

The next state in the series is Mississippi.

Send your Mississippi highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

My purpose for this series is not only to highlight worthy kid-friendly vacation destinations in all 50 states, but by using Twitter and Facebook I want to also encourage tourism organizations to learn more about connecting with their visitors using social media and online networks.

Please add your own Missouri suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in Montana: the 50 state series

Sheila — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:07:56 +0000

We took a long hiatus while I worked on my social media for tourism startup, but every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states plus the territories, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction website, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

The state has a foothold on all the major social media channels: they’re on Twitter as @VisitMontana, they have a Montana tourism Facebook Page, a active Montana YouTube channel and a nice Flickr Group for Montana photos.

When I asked for Montana travel ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Montana

*** From Lisa Bergren via @TheWorldCalls on Twitter – Bigfork is a picturesque, historic lake town with a kid-friendly Summer playhouse, condos on the bay, water sports. #Montana Also just posted a family-friendly hike in Glacier Park: http://theworldiscalling.com/2010/05/family-hike-to-grinnell-lake

*** From Heidi O’Brien via @IKnowHelena on Twitter – A great family event in Helena, Montana - Outdoor Fest. At the bottom of this page there are some good winter family activities in Helena.

*** From Terry Starbucker via @Starbucker on Twitter – Here’s one: Glacier National Park, Going to the Sun Road. Simply awesome. 2nd place, a boat ride on Flathead Lake…

*** From Pam Mandel via @NerdsEyeView on Twitter – Do you have the totally fab Red Bus Tour in Glacier National Park?

*** From Framework Meetings via @frameworkmtgs on Twitter – Lots of Montana fun for families at http://bit.ly/cvGAsn and http://bit.ly/9NLt1 (it’s on its own island!)

*** From Stacy via @happilylost on Twitter – Glacier National Park. Super family friendly and gorgeous!

**** From Jessica Downing via @jessdowning on Twitter – Check @skiwhitefish for alpine slides, zip lines & affordable lodging close to Glacier in MT!

*** From Marci Diehl via @writerdiehl on Twitter – We loved Whitefish, MT & their open air crafts market. The Walk In the Cedars at Glacier Nat’l Park was easy for our 3 yr old.

Facebook Travel Tips for Montana

*** From Lanora Mueller on Facebook – Fairmont Hot Springs Resort in Anaconda, Montana, is a great place for families with kids. We stayed in a friend’s timeshare there when my daughter was about 11. The hot spring pools are open 24 hours for guests, and there’s a waterslide for a bit of extra excitement.

There are many nearby educational activities too. We did a tour of Butte, including the wonderful old homes of the copper barons, the Mineral Museum at Montana Tech, the World Museum of Mining, and the Berkeley Pit. On Main Street in Philipsburg, we panned for sapphires and watched taffy being made.

We also did a fair amount of hiking and fishing. It was a memorable family trip. I have a little article on Suite101 about the resort: http://montana-travel.suite101.com/article.cfm/soak_your_cares_away_in_fairmont_hot_springs

*** From (Navy doctor and old friend of mine, now in Afghanistan) Tim Quast on Facebook – Sheila – never actually been here, but it’s on my list of places to visit. Renting a caboose on the periphery of Glacier National Park at the Izaak Walton Inn. http://www.izaakwaltoninn.com. One day, I’ll get there, either in summer or for cross country skiing in the winter.

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has some Montana travel articles as well.

The next state in the series is Missouri.

Send your Missouri highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own Montana suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in Nebraska: the 50 state series

Sheila — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:43:55 +0000

Every week or so until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

They are doing a solid job with social media: @NebraskaTourism represents that state on Twitter, they have a Facebook Fan Page, they share videos on their YouTube channel and they’re perfect for road trips with tons of scenic drive podcasts.

When I asked for Nebraska ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Nebraska

*** From Theresa via @SixSuitcaseTrav on Twitter - Have always loved hiking in Fontenelle Forest in Bellevue, NE. The Omaha Children’s Museum is great place for kids. Good times for all and membership worthy. Check out the Arbor Day farm in Nebraska City, NE home of the Arbor Day Foundation, tour includes a free tree seedling. A must visit is the Henry Doorly Zoo and a stop by Zestos for the best malts in the world!

*** From Anne Szustek via @the59thStBridge on Twitter - Omaha has some great vintage clothing shops [appeals to tweens, teens.]

*** From Kayt Sukel via @TravelSavvyKayt on Twitter - Lincoln NE has a really cute Children’s Museum: http://bit.ly/AIekL. And I’ve heard good things about the zoo: http://bit.ly/tSl2K

*** From Sarah V. via @Wandering_Off on Twitter - Omaha: Strategic Air & Space Museum is fun! Joslyn Art Museum also good.

Facebook Travel Tips for Nebraska

*** From Linda Wolfgram Kramer on Facebook - Something I came across that looks interesting: at Fort Robinson State Park, you can sleep in a “cabin” crafted from the fort’s old enlisted or officers’ quarters.

A friend who lives in Nebraska highly recommends Railroad Days, which take place in Omaha and across the river in Council Bluffs, Iowa. She liked it enough to write five blog posts for me about it: http://minnemom.com/2008/08/03/railroad-days-5-great-stops-2-days-10/

*** From Bill Genereux on Facebook - Right now is the best time to see the sandhill cranes along the Platte. Amazing to see! http://www.nebraskatravels.com/sandhill-crane-migration.html

Homestead National Monument, near Beatrice. http://www.nps.gov/home/index.htm

Fort Robinson is where Crazy Horse was when he was killed. Must see Cabelas in Sidney or Kearney. Speaking of Kearney, the Platte River Monument is worth a visit.

Pioneer Village in Minden used to be a cool place but I dunno how well it’s been maintained. It’s been years. I want to take my kids sometime though.

Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo http://bit.ly/taYGU and the Strategic Air & Space Museum, Ashland http://bit.ly/cOA2GP

According to a friend, Omaha also has a children’s museum, railroad museum, Kansas City Royals minor league team, downtown slides, riverwalk, carriage rides. I’ve been wanting to take my family to Omaha for a while, but we haven’t gotten it done.

*** From Jeanne Cole on Facebook – Minden NE has a really awesome museum with so many things to see you can’t do it in a single day! I called Pioneer Village, here is the link http://www.pioneervillage.org/ and, yes I have personally been there for two days! Our classic car group took a road trip to Minden in late 2005. Probably time to go back!

*** From Kay Bell on Facebook – Minor league baseball! Rosenblatt Stadium is home of the College World Series (http://www.cwsomaha.com/); I got to attend some of the CWS games the summer I spent in Omaha. The rest of the summer Rosenblatt Stadium is home to the Omaha Royals, the Triple-A affiliate (top level of minor league ball) of the Kansas City Royals since the Royals joined the American League in 1969. http://web.minorleaguebaseball.com/index.jsp?sid=t541

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has an Omaha, Nebraska Travel Guide as well.

The next state in the series is Montana.

Send your Montana highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own Nebraska suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in Nevada: the 50 state series

Sheila — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:46:42 +0000

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

This state is doing a terrific job leveraging the social Web to talk about what they can offer prospective visitors. Their Traveling Nevada blog has plenty of updates and good ideas, and they have a Facebook Fan Page, shared Nevada photos on Flickr, a MySpace page, videos on their YouTube channel and of course they’re very active on Twitter as @TravelNevada.

When I asked for Nevada ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Nevada

*** From Nevada Tourism via @TravelNevada on Twitter - Artown, which runs the month of July, is a great family-friendly month long event. [There's a] new V&T Railroad from Carson City to Virginia City. Virginia City’s a very family-friendly destination/activity. Events and things to do there: http://bit.ly/63UNRz

*** From Mary Jo Manzanares via @flyawaycafe on Twitter – [in Las Vegas] Jousting tourney at Excalibur, Lions at MGM Grand, Lion King at Mandalay Bay, Secret Garden at Mirage, and oh! – renting a cabana by the pool at Mandalay Bay (best family-friendly pool in LV, in my opinion.)

*** From Chris Chambers via @ckjchambers on Twitter - our 5 year old loved “O” at Bellagio when we went to see it recently – so did Mum & Dad.

*** From Bethany Drysdale tweeting Nevada tourism news via @NevadaPR on Twitter – [Ideas] ….mining park in Tonopah; Ghost Train in Ely; Animal Ark in Reno; Springs Preserve in Vegas, any/all outdoor fun at Tahoe. [Events] …Reno River Festival (May), Carson City Rendezvous (June), Reno Rodeo (June), Artown (whole month of July in Reno), Natl. Basque Festival (July in Elko), Best in the West Nugget Rib Cookoff (Sept, Reno), Great Reno Balloon Race (Sept, Reno)….And my all-time favorite: International Camel Races in Virginia City (Sept.) Hilarious event and great family town to explore!

*** From Spencer Spellman via @spencerspellman on Twitter - what is the hotel with the fountains that has the zoo [Actually the Bellagio has the fountains, the Mirage has the volcano and the MGM Grand has a zoo/lion habitat. THAT is a bizarre sentence to write!]

*** From Kara S. Williams via @karasw on Twitter - Call me crazy, but kids liked these spots in Vegas: M&M World (free 3-D movie) and Titanic exhibit at Luxor. I would absolutely take my theatre/dance-loving 9 yr old to a Cirque du Soleil show in Las Vegas (just not the R-rated Zumanity! – though for adults, it’s a HOOT.)

Facebook Travel Tips for Nevada

*** From Bridget Smith on Facebook – The Las Vegas Children’s Museum is cheap and great. We enjoyed bowling at one of the casinos. The Golden Nugget has a great pool water slide AND you can swim with sharks.

*** From Paul Ellis on Facebook - In Henderson NV: the Carousel Workshop and Ocean Spray tours.

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has a Nevada Travel Guide as well.

The next state in the series is Nebraska.

Send your Nebraska highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own Nevada suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in New Hampshire: the 50 state series

Sheila — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:51:09 +0000

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

This state is rocking the social Web; they reached out to me to offer ideas and also helped by spreading the word on their networks that I was asking for input. Can I get a “Hell Yeah!” for the Live Free or Die folks?

New Hampshire state tourism is on Twitter, with E.J. tweeting at @VisitNH. They are on Facebook (here is the New Hampshire Facebook Fan Page) and there’s a New Hampshire Flickr photo-sharing page, too.

When I asked for NH ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New Hampshire

*** From Ski New Hampshire info via @MoeSnowNH on Twitter - I’m the spokes-snowball for winter in NH! January is Learn a Snow Sport month & there are 39 ski resorts for the whole family!

*** From Kayt Sukel via @TravelSavvyKayt on Twitter - Loved, loved, loved the Children’s Museum in Dover, NH. It was a lot of fun! And exploring Portsmouth is great, too.

*** From Tracy Lee Carroll via @StarrGazr on Twitter: The Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester. Beaver Brook for snowshoeing, hiking, nature study in Hollis. Shaker Village and the NH Children’s museum in Dover. Winter time is great for skiing in New Hampshire! Check out @Crotched_Mtn! Also, check out @NHPT and http://nhphototour.com.

*** From EJ Powers via @ejpowers on Twitter - We love going to Jenness State Beach in Rye NH! One of the many great @nhstateparks - http://www.nhstateparks.com/jenness.html.

*** From Jim Storer via @jimstorer on Twitter – Great rainy day activity in the Lakes Region of NH is The Rock Barn in Plymouth for indoor rock climbing. Another good take in the Lakes Region is a hike up Rattlesnake in Holderness (ok for the little ones and the view is incredible.) And because 3 is the magic number, my third recommendation in Lakes Region is Camp in Meredith for dinner. Nice for adults and kid-friendly.

*** From The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire via @kidmuseumnh on Twitter - The Children’s Museum of NH features unique hands-on exhibits made by local artisans. Waterfront park location is great for ages 1-12. We also have a Family Mardi Gras event on 14 February with live Cajun music, masks, beads, parade, etc.

*** From New Hampshire Tourism via @VisitNH on Twitter – From historical sites to museums & nature centers to train rides, NH has hundreds of family friendly attractions for you to enjoy. Here is the link to our Family Attractions site on visitnh.gov. Each month we offer benefits to our Facebook fans. Families can get ski/stay/spa discounts this month in the Sunapee area. Mt Washington Resort offers family-friend packages and special offers thru the winter incl a zip & ski package with a canopy tour and skiing.

*** From CC Chapman via @cc_chapman on Twitter - Franconia Notch with a stop at The Basin is the top place that comes to mind, also the Shrine Maple Sugar Bowl game and parade.

*** From Sarah Vela via @orchid8 on Twitter - Brown’s Seabrook Lobster Pound on Rte 286 in Seabrook. Old favorite of mine. Bonus view of the nuclear power plant!

*** From Michelle Riggen-Ransom via @mriggen on Twitter - re: NH – STORYLAND! Loved this place as a kid, still cool as a mom. Here are my pix from there from last summer [on Flickr.]

*** From Granite State Ambassador Judi Window via @judiwindow on Twitter - I am a 50 State-er. In #NH we have a “Twisitor Center” – @askNH – to help guests find what they need when visiting.

*** From Katie York via @ShoGrrl2 on Twitter - My favorite family-friendly activity in NH is hitting up @CanobieLakePark (in the warmer months)!

*** From Jacqueline Tourville via @jtourville on Twitter - I write a local family travel column for Parenting #NH magazine (print & online.) We spotlight a NH town each month (here’s Bretton Woods.)

*** From the Rumbletree Marketing folks via @Rumbletree on Twitter – The @AtkinsonResort in Atkinson, NH has a delicious Sunday brunch for the whole family.

*** From the Currier Museum via @CurrierMuseum on Twitter - the Currier Museum in Manchester NH offers many family friendly programs. See more at: http://www.currier.org/familyprograms.aspx

*** From Jeremy Milani via @jmilani on Twitter - Not so much a tip as a local resource, but have you seen Southern New Hampshire Parents online?

*** From Montagne Communications via @MontagneCom on Twitter - Getting to NH is super-convenient and hassle-free thanks to the Manchester Airport at @flymanchester!

*** From Laura Hurley via @lkhboston on Twitter - NH’s great outdoors, 8 kid-friendly fall hike picks in the White Mountains, from Appalachian Mountain Club.

Facebook Travel Tips for New Hampshire

*** From Kara Skruck Williams on Facebook – Oh, where to begin with my childhood state….

1. Lost River Gorge & Boulder Caves in the White Mountains, where you can try to squeeze through the “Lemon Squeezer” cave (not for the claustrophobic – though little kids have no problem!)
2. Weirs Beach in Lakes Region for a honky-tonk (so my mother calls it) boardwalk scene w/ arcades and bumper cars.
3. StoryLand in Glen, for amusement-park rides that keep kids about ages eight and under happy (one section of park w/ nursery rhyme attractions dates back 50 years.)
4. Canobie Lake Park in Windham (another theme park) reaches older kids w/ more thrill rides….

A ride on the M/S Mt. Washington on Lake Winnipesaukee and/or Scenic Winnipesaukee Railroad ride is good for kids, too!

*** From Wendy Wagner on Facebook – The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center in Concord is small, especially compared to the Smithsonian Air/Space Museum, but we found it to be delightful! We loved the Polar Caves (very similar to Boulder Caves?) We went to Polly’s Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill before we went to the Polar Caves. The hike to the Zealand Falls Hut is about 3 miles in the summer, and it’s do-able for kids, though our 5 year flagged a little at the end. The great part is the falls, which have a flat rocky area that the kids can play in; perfect for the midpoint of a summer hike!

We stayed at the Profile Deluxe in Twin Mountain, and I can’t say enough about the proprietors. Nice people. The motel is basic and comfortable, and it has a great pool. My kids always ask to go back!

Storyland was a big hit, but Kara covered it already.

*** From Andrea Schulle on Facebook – Has anybody mentioned the Mt. Washington hotel and the cogway there?

*** From Peter Davison on Facebook - Hey Sheila, Alrighty, looking a bit more north of Concord ..not any particular event but you have to include Wolfboro, NH and surrounding area re: Lake Winnipesaukee. Lots of good stuff!!

*** From Gary Arndt on Facebook – The home, studio and gardens of sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens at http://www.nps.gov/saga/index.htm.

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

The BootsnAll Travel Network has a New Hampshire Travel Guide as well.

The next state in the series is Nevada.

Send your Nevada highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own New Hampshire suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in New Jersey: the 50 state series

Sheila — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 00:01:58 +0000

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

I could not find the NJ state tourism organization on Twitter. Only one region of the state appears to be “holding down the fort” – @VisitSJersey. The tweets at @JerseyTourism are for Jersey in the UK’s Channel Islands.

The state tourism organization is not on Facebook either, that I could find, although I did locate a Facebook Fan Page for Atlantic City NJ.

In the absence of much of any official tourism presence (which seems odd, given the very competitive Mid-Atlantic tourism market) I offer you Down the Shore with Jen, an excellent blog written by Jersey Shore guidebook author Jen A. Miller.

When I asked for NJ ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New Jersey

*** From Mira Park via @MiraBest on Twitter: family-friendly travel tip for NJ: Stone Harbor in summer, Van Saun park in the fall & Ridgewood or Waldwick. Great towns with kid stuff.

*** From Matthew Lubin via @ChinaMatt on Twitter: Check out the Geraldine R. Dodge poetry festival for New Jersey. And you can’t leave off the Delaware Water Gap.

*** From Anna Fader via @MommyPoppins on Twitter: Sahara Sams, new indoor water park in NJ has been a great hit with our readers.

*** From Wendy Perrin via @WendyPerrin on Twitter: Family-friendly New Jersey activities: 1. Riding the AirTrain around EWR! 2. Liberty State Park, including Liberty Science Center. 3. Cotsen Children’s Library at Princeton University. 4. Garden State Discovery Museum (& Lakeshore Learning store) in Cherry Hill. 5. Fall season at Wightman’s Farm in Morristown (hayrides, corn maze, pumpkin toss, etc.) 6. annual balloon festival in Readington. 7. The IKEA in Elizabeth for its supervised playroom + kid-friendly cafeteria with view of planes taking off & landing at EWR…But our favorite NJ kid-friendly spot is actually just over the border in Easton, PA: The Crayola Factory & Nat’l Canal Museum. :)

*** From Gary Arndt via @EverywhereTrip on Twitter: Best things in NJ are the Edison Lab in Orange and Morristown where General Washington camped. Both are National Park Service sites.

*** From Kayt Sukel via @TravelSavvyKayt on Twitter: The Camden Aquarium. Did a post on it for Travel Savvy Mom not too long ago.

*** From Hillary via @hchybinski on Twitter: NJ Family-friendly: Cape May Zoo and Ocean City.

*** From Chris and Robert Clark via @travel_notebook on Twitter: Delaware Water Gap (PA/NJ State Line) is a great National Recreation area with good hiking. Princeton would be good for families who want to get their kids thinking Ivy League. Finally, NJ overall has way more agriculture than you would think. Good opportunity for u-pick farms, horses, cows, etc.

Facebook Travel Tips for New Jersey

*** From Scott Keir on Facebook – I would toot my ol’ hometown’s horn: Asbury Park. Its going thru a rebirth and the beach is one of the best on da Shore. Check out the Asbury Park Boardwalk website (there’s a fan site on Facebook.)

*** From Jeremiah McEnerney on Facebook: I’m almost afraid to mention Stone Harbor, New Jersey. We’ve returned to vacation there for over 10 years. No boardwalk, a nice little shopping village, Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Peace-a-Pizza and Springer’s ice cream. So very, very relaxing. http://www.stone-harbor.nj.us

*** From John Holmes on Facebook: Not too far outside of Atlantic City is Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge. Not as famous as Cape May for birding, but excellent nonetheless. Lots of trails and different habitats to explore, and you can just drive through it if you don’t want to get out and walk around.

Thanks so much for the contributions, everyone!

I wrote an article for Education.com – Family fun and learning in New Jersey - and the BootsnAll Travel Network has a New Jersey Travel Guide.

The next state in the series is New Hampshire.

Send your New Hampshire highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own New Jersey suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in New Mexico: the 50 state series

Sheila — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:24:09 +0000

I took a 50 state series hiatus there for awhile, but we’re back!

Until we run out of states, I’ll be posting about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @NMTourism. I found a Facebook Fan Page for New Mexico but I’m not certain that it is controlled by the state’s tourism office (they should fill out the front page bio to confirm that.) There’s a Flickr Group Pool for New Mexico, but no YouTube channel, although I did find Albuquerque tourism on YouTube.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New Mexico

*** From Elmer Boutin via @rehor on Twitter: I love Ruidoso and Cloudcroft, NM. Carlsbad Caverns is fun, too. Deming is a great little town, though not really a touristy place.

*** From Debbie Dubrow via @DeliciousBaby on Twitter: Explora Science Museum in Albuquerque has tons of hands-on fun. (More on ABQ and New Mexico on this page of her site and here is her Santa Fe info.)

*** From Donna L. Hull via @DonnaLHull on Twitter: You might consider El Morro National Monument for your New Mexico blog post.

*** From Betsy Drager via @BetsyDrager on Twitter: Christmas at Taos Pueblo is awesome; brings all peoples together.

*** From Rachel Farris via @MeanRachel on Twitter: White Sands, museum of the horse in Riudoso, hiking in the Lincoln National Forest, Casa de Patron B&B in Lincoln-Billy the Kid town!

*** From Kara S. Williams via @karasw on Twitter: Santa Fe Children’s Museum has loads of hands-on exhibits. Climbing into cliff dwellings at Bandelier Natl Monument – fun for kids.

Facebook Travel Tips for New Mexico

*** From Marilyn McCray on Facebook – New Mexico has so much for families. Start with the pueblos….

The 8 Northern Pueblos have a travel organization that helps plan visits and shares etiquette since these are living communities . The public dances are a look back in time. The Turtle Dance at San Juan and Taos are two of my favorites. A visit to Taos is amazing since people have lived there for over 1,000 years.

Santa Fe is also a great destination where all three cultures come together. The various museums in the Museum of New Mexico system are definitely worth visiting as is the plaza. The Santuario at Chimayo is another must see. It is one of the only churches that still has the original art work, not to mention the healing dirt. The small restaurant in the back parking lot is run by one of the most notables and has great tamales. I think her name is Leona. Rancho Chimayo is one of the best places for Northern New Mexican cuisine.

*** From Scott Ingram on Facebook – Go to the Hot Air Balloon Festival (Balloon Fiesta) in Albuquerque. Super family-friendly. On of the most memorable trips of my life and I think I was 10. Can’t wait to take my kids there.

*** From Martha Swenson Hall on Facebook – White Sands and a sand board for sand surfing.

*** From Jodell Durkee on Facebook – I enjoyed touring through Old Albuquerque. We took our kids to Carlsbad; it was great too. There is a mystery by Nevada Barr called Blind Descent – she is a National Park Ranger and EMT. She tells a lot about Carslbad, if you like mysteries.

*** From John Holmes on Facebook – In NW New Mexico, Red River is an undiscovered but great little four-seasons town. Close to it is Eagle Nest, which has an excellent, huge fishing lake. Both are close to Angel Fire Resort, which has really grown in terms of activities in recent years. All of these are a very easy drive from the Santa Fe-Taos area.

Thanks so much for the contributions!

The Family Travel Guide New Mexico-related posts are here and the BootsnAll Travel Network has a New Mexico Travel Guide.

The next state in the series is New Jersey.

Send your New Jersey highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own New Mexico suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in New York: the 50 state series

Sheila — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 23:05:37 +0000

Every week until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @I_LOVE_NY (New York City is @nycgo.) I found a New York economic development page on Facebook, but not an official state-sponsored one for travel/tourism (there are bunch of unofficial ones.) (Update – yay! – there is now an official New York State tourism Facebook Page.)

No blogs, nothing on Flickr, YouTube, etc. Frankly, I was surprised by this in such a hugely popular travel destination, but the person tweeting for New York is trying really hard, so it’s a start.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for New York

*** From the Kelly Rabideau in New York State’s tourism office (she’s currently my fave @I_LOVE_NY tweeter) – We came up with a few hidden gems across the State and have listed them below. If you were looking for just one…we would have to go with The Strong National Museum of Play [in Rochester.] It is 100% kid/family friendly….100% fun…and considered a gem to all of New York State.

Others: Atlantis Marine World in Riverhead, the [world famous] Bronx Zoo, Howe Caverns in Howes Cave and The Wild Center in Tupper Lake. More travel ideas just for you right from the heart of New York State on our Web site’s Family Fun page.

*** From @decillis on Twitter – Uncle Sam’s Boat Tours in the 1000 Islands. Can’t go there w/o seeing Boldt Castle!

*** From Janet DeVito via @girlsgetaways on Twitter – Madame Tussauds (the wax museum – my kids always loved that; they get a kick out of taking photos) How about a cruise sailing out of NYC – that is a great family trip!

*** From Anna Fader via @mommypoppins on Twitter – Family travel tip for NYC: The Sony Wonder Technology Lab. Just re-opened with extremely cool exhibits, and it’s free!

*** From the Rochester NY tourism folks via @VisitRochester on Twitter – The Strong National Museum of Play just acquired Videotopia; now adults & kids can enjoy exploring play. With corn mazes, new exhibits at family museums, zoos & parks, fall is especially family-friendly in Rochester. For more see this list of ideas.

*** From Sally Berry via @sallykberry on Twitter – I was at Videotopia at Strong Museum w/my college age kids last weekend – they LOVED it!

*** From Marci Diehl (and here’s her golf blog) via @writerdiehl on Twitter – My 4yr old grandson loves the Seneca Park Zoo’s play “medical center” in Rochester NY. The Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport NY has one of the best interactive programs for all ages +VERY kid-friendly. For the best family-friendly + educational activities/ places in New York State visit the Erie Canal area.

*** From Peggy Coonley via @PeggyCoonley on Twitter – Cooperstown NY is diverse and interesting for families: http://www.thisiscooperstown.com/attractions.cfm.

*** From Meg Colombo via @FingerLakes_Meg and @VisitFingerLake on Twitter – NY family Friendly deals in the Finger Lakes – some search results. My family loves to hit the Fall Foliage chair rides at Bristol Mountain [ski resort] on Twitter @Bristolmt.

Facebook Travel Tips for New York

(Unlike most other states so far in the series, for this New York post I got more responses from Facebook than from Twitter….)

*** From Dick Wilbur on Facebook — Cooperstown is pretty much up there. Also Fort Ticonderoga, the Utica Zoo and, of course, Niagara Falls. Oh yeah, Howe Caverns. The West End Brewery in Utica (pronounced Uticer, please) was a huge treat 30 years ago. Clinton’s Ditch (Erie Canal, named after Gov Dewitt Clinton), don’t forget most of the towns along the Finger Lakes, apples – heck the Clinton Cider Mill in Clinton, NY, all the great small colleges, the Thousand Islands. You could do a fat travel book on Upstate, hard part is to narrow it down to the best of.

You know, there are some off the beaten path places up along Lake Ontario, near Oswego. Also, Boonville, NY used to do this fun woodsman’s days competition. Also, if you go eat at Boonville and hook up with route 28, it goes from Alder Creek to Otter Lake to Minnehaha to Old Forge all the way up to Raquette Lake and beyond. Old Forge is the home of North Pole, NY, a hokey family park. And there is this fun railroad shtick on the Adirondack Scenic Railroad.

*** From Shawn Zehnder Lea on Facebook – Nintendo World, New York City http://www.nintendoworldstore.com

*** From Shelly Rivoli on Facebook – We can never get enough of the Alice in Wonderland sculpture in Central Park–climbing on it, that is. Always lots of other tots there and great photo ops. Oh, oh! Riding Metro North up the Hudson while the leaves are changing! (Okay, I’ll stop now.)

*** From Chris Paddock on Facebook – I am from Upstate NY (Finger Lakes – best kept secret in US!). Finger Lakes wineries, Cornell, Eastman House, Harriet Tubman House, Seward House, McKenzie Childs, Saratoga (“Well I hear you went up to Saratoga and your horse naturally won” – Carly Simon), Lake Champlain, two Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario), first electric chair, Erie Canal history, canal locks….

Beaver Lake Nature Center (Baldwinsville), Elbridge NY (named after Elbridge Gerry ["gerrymandering"], Syracuse basketball, lacrosse hotbed, salted potatoes, Genessee Beer, University of Rochester, Millard Fillmore boyhood home, boating, skiing, Adirondacks (THE largest park in continental US bar none – 1/6 of NY acreage!) and small towns all over the place (>80% of NY population lives within 2 hours of NYC so that leaves not a lot of people for the rest of the state.)

*** From Beth Walker Schrader on Facebook – Two places that would be great fun for families: Old MacDonald’s Farm outside Sackets Harbor and Fly Creek Cider Mill outside Cooperstown. I just returned from upstate NY – here’s an Autumn Lake post.

*** From Jinny VanDeusen on Facebook – Some of our faves in Ithaca: Museum of the Earth, Sciencenter, Cayuga Nature Center, Ithaca Farmer’s Market, Ithaca Festival, Glenwood Pines restaurant, Taughannock Falls state park, suspension bridge on Cornell campus.

*** From Antonia Malchik on Facebook – I second those Ithaca recommendations. Also: Woodstock is a great town for arts, music, food, and hiking. New Paltz for food and hiking and rock climbing (Outside mag rated it one of 10 best places to live in the US). Hiking in amazing, gorgeous Minnewaska State Park near New Paltz. Come to my town of Washingtonville for access to Storm King Sculpture Park (part of the arts school), Brotherhood Winery (America’s oldest winery), Trotters horse-racing track & museum in Goshen, West Point academy, and shopping at country’s largest outlet mall Woodbury Commons.

Also great old hotels Mohonk Mountain House (near New Paltz) w/ 80 miles of hiking trails, and The Sagamore up on beautiful Lake George. Saratoga Springs, a beautiful town famous for its mineral healing waters and horse racing season. Cooperstown, home of baseball and beer-brewing (for those after-kid hours). These are all on west side of Hudson River.

On east side of Hudson, Beacon is a lovely little arts town, lots of galleries, most famous being Dia:Beacon, a world-class contemporary art gallery (Beacon’s on the Hudson train line mentioned by Shelly). Further north near Poughkeepsie there’s Hyde Park and Val-Kill, Frainklin and Eleanor Roosevelt’s respective estates, and the huge FDR museum. Hyde Park is next to the Culinary Institute of America, great for lunch. AND this weekend will see the opening of the Hudson pedestrian bridge in Poughkeepsie. An old railway bridge with a priceless view up and down the Hudson River & Valley, it was just rebuilt this last year. 6000 people will be volunteering at the opening! It’s part of a Greenway pedestrian and biking path project starting down in Manhattan.

*** From Anna Fader on Facebook – My best tip for families traveling to NYC would be to check out the family programs offered by many museums. They’re usually free, taught by museum educators and are a great way to experience the world-class museums of NYC. I have a list of some of the best family museum programs here: http://mommypoppins.com/ny-kids/indoor-play-and-rainy-day-activity-guide.

*** From Marilyn McCray on Facebook – I lived upstate for many years and I agree about the Finger Lakes. I worked at Eastman House. Lots of great cameras and photo things to see there. The Strong Museum in Rochester has a huge doll and toy collection among many other things. http://www.museumofplay.org

*** From Lucy Baker on Facebook – Howe Caverns! http://www.howecaverns.com A cave so big you can ride a boat through it.

Thanks so much for the contributions!

The Family Travel Logue New York-related posts are here (mostly New York City) and the BootsnAll Travel Network has a New York Travel Guide and the New York Logue.

The next state in the series is New Mexico.

Send your New Mexico highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own New York suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in North Carolina: the 50 state series

Sheila — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 19:20:19 +0000

Every week until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @VisitNC, plus there’s a Visit North Carolina blog, a North Carolina Flickr Group for photo-sharing, a Visit North Carolina YouTube channel and here’s the NC Tourism Facebook page.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for North Carolina

*** From the Wilkes County tourism office via @WilkesNCtourism on Twitter – [Wilkes] Heritage Museum is a great activity for families. Also 45+ miles of mountain biking trails, 8 sites on NC Birding Trail. Whippoorwill Village – collection of restored log cabins, 1-room schoolhouse, Chapel of Peace (here’s a TwitPic photo: http://twitpic.com/2e0yj)

*** From Barbra Rodichok via @NOCBarbra on Twitter – Don’t forget whitewater rafting as part of your visit to the coolest mountain town, Asheville NC! [More from the Nantahala Outdoor Center - http://www.noc.com/index.php/french-broad.html]

*** From Shannon Lane via @Cajun_Mama on Twitter – My family loved gem searching in Cherokee. Found a 3 karat emerald!

*** From Maria Reed via @Maria_Reed on Twitter – Great family beach vacations in the Outer Banks! Jockey’s Ridge and Nag’s Head Fishing Pier.

*** From Sheila Beal [an NC native] via @GoVisitHawaii on Twitter – Family-friendly NC events? North Carolina State Fair is held in Raleigh each October for 10 days. Great family fun!

Facebook Travel Tips for North Carolina

*** From Irma Briggs Polster on Facebook — My parents live in Winston-Salem. Old Salem is an interesting historic site as well as Historic Bethabara. We had a great time a few summers ago at Lake Lure – lots to do in that area that is family-friendly, but it’s a little pricey and touristy.

We have been on several rafting and canoing trips with Edge of the World Outfitters in Banner Elk. Great family-owned business and they run good, safe trips. Tweetsie Railroad was fun when the kids were little.

*** From Jennifer Douma Close on Facebook – Whiteside Mountain was our favorite family friendly hike – about a 2 mile hike that is perfect for even the little ones – I wrote about it here. We loved exploring the Biltmore grounds with the kids.

Thanks so much for the contributions!

I have a Family Travel post on taking a Blue Ridge Parkway road trip, which I wrote while researching a NASCAR story in the state and also visiting some kid-friendly places around Charlotte NC.

The BootsnAll Travel Network has these stories tagged North Carolina.

The next state in the series is New York.

Send your New York highlights (with a chunk of them outside the ever-fab-but-already-well-known-New York City, please!) to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own North Carolina suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!

Family travel in North Dakota: the 50 state series

Sheila — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 16:25:10 +0000

Every week until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota, South Carolina, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Oklahoma, Ohio and now we’re moving on to….North Dakota !

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @NorthDakotaTour, plus there’s a Travel Legendary North Dakota blog, a North Dakota Flickr Group for photo-sharing, a North Dakota YouTube channel and here’s the ND Tourism Facebook page.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for North Dakota

*** From the North Dakota tourism office via @NorthDakotaTour on Twitter – Lions, Tigers, and Bears are just a few of the animals in our ND zoos. For more ideas see: What To Do on our Web site.

*** From Dominique King via @midwestguest on Twitter — I’m sure you’ll get several suggestions to visit Teddy Roosevelt Nat’l Park in North Dakota, but it really is not-to-be-missed; TR Park is the main reason we want to go back to ND for a longer trip! We did manage to see the “World’s Largest Buffalo” in Jamestown, ND though.

*** From the Fargo/Moorhead ND tourism office via @FargoMoorhead on Twitter – A few great kid-friendly attractions in the Fargo-Moorhead area: Yunker Farm, Red River Zoo, Fargo Air Museum, Thunderroad Fun Park.

*** From Linda via @minnemom on Twitter — Bagg Bonanza Farm near Wahpeton — see what a big bonanza farm was really like.

*** From Pam Mandel via @nerdseyeview on Twitter — Okay….OH MY GOD, Teddy Roosevelt National Park; you’ve read my weirdly related post, Teddy’s Advice. Also, the Enchanted Highway.

Facebook Travel Tips for North Dakota

*** From Tammy Carlson Langerud on Facebook — Theodore Roosevelt National Park & Medora.

Since I’ve been a kid, I’ve always enjoyed Theodore Roosevelt National Park & the nearby historic, frontier town of Medora. In TR Park, families can hike, bike or horseback their way across the colorful, jagged landscape that inspired a young Theodore Roosevelt. (He called his time in the N.D. Badlands the “romance of my life.”) The park also boasts great wildlife viewing (bison, elk, antelope, wild horse, bald eagle. etc.) http://www.nps.gov/thro/index.htm.

Lil’ buckaroos will get a kick out of Medora and all its kid-friendly activities. The favorites? The Medora Musical, a professionally produced musical, and the unique pitch-fork fondue. Both are family friendly and held nightly from Memorial Day through the weekend after Labor Day. http://www.medora.com.

Here are two more fun family friendly North Dakota attractions to add to your list.

All kinds of sports teams

Forts! Who wouldn’t like running around in forts!

*** From Emily Arnegard Schneider on Facebook: Family Friendly Attraction in North Dakota – http://www.enchantedhighway.net/

The scenery along the Enchanted Highway in southwestern North Dakota from I-94 to Regent is truly larger than life. This 32-mile stretch of highway is graced by amazingly large metal sculptures inspired by the prairie and its people.

The beginning of the Enchanted Highway is marked by a sculpture of giant geese flying over a setting sun, known as “Geese in Flight,” at the Gladstone exit on I-94. The remaining folk art figures, ranging in height from 35 feet tall to 70 feet tall, include pieces such as “Teddy Rides Again,” “Grasshoppers in Field,” “Tin Family,” “Fisherman’s Dream,” and more. They eventually lead you to Regent, home to the Enchanted Highway gift shop featuring miniatures of each statue.

*** From Linda (minnemom) on Facebook – As a mom and ND native and recent ND traveler, here are my recommendations:

Medicine Wheel Park in Valley City is very unique. My kids loved following the “planets” on the walking paths, and seeing new ways to measure time. Jamestown: Frontier Village and World’s Largest Buffalo. It’s free and fun and a nice stop off the highway. If you like Really Big Things, also see the Sandhill Crane in Steele and Salem Sue in New Salem, as well as the big walleye in Garrison.

Bismarck is a family-friendly town. State Capitol (skyscraper on the prairie) and Heritage Center are adjacent to each other, and parking is free. Gateway to Science Center is small but good. Fort Abraham Lincoln has the Custer House and On-a-Slant Indian Village–both good history lessons that are interesting for kids. Dakota Zoo is nice.

Get off the beaten path in North Dakota! Take the Old Red/Old Ten Scenic Byway and see the ghost town of Sims, or drive the Enchanted Highway and see how a straight road has been enhanced with these large metal sculptures.

Medora is our favorite, especially the Musical. My kids wanted to go back as soon as the show was over. Medora also has Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the Chateau de Mores Historic Site, and a downtown that has lots for families to do.

Near Williston, Fort Union National Historic Site and Fort Buford State Historic Site are only a few miles apart. They are different yet both interesting. In that same vicinity, there’s an old railroad bridge near Fairview over the Yellowstone River that is now for pedestrians. At the other end of the bridge is a tunnel, so take your flashlight.

Interesting things to eat: At the drugstore in Stanley, stop in for a Whirla-whip. Think DQ Blizzard but about 50 years earlier, and you can create your own flavors. If you’ve never had Juneberry pie, you need to stop at Lunds Landing on the north shore of Lake Sakakawea, 22 miles east of Williston, and have a piece. You can take a walk on their birding paths while you’re there.

Minot has a nice zoo inside the equally nice Roosevelt Park.

Lewis and Clark are part of North Dakota’s History; see the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan near Washburn.

Some of my favorite places to visit as a kid were Sully’s Hill and Fort Totten near Devils Lake. Grand Forks has a beautiful greenway and the bike trails in the city are nearly all completely flat. There’s a nice waterpark at the CanadInns motel, which is attached to the Alerus Center.

The Children’s Museum at Yunker Farm is a very nice children’s museum in Fargo. It has a park and playground on the premises as well.

There you have it, a whirlwind trip around the state of North Dakota. I hope your readers will take some time to visit….as one tourism professional told me, “Once people are here, they love it–the wide open spaces, the friendly people, the affordability, the things to do. We just have to get them to come here and see it for themselves!”

Thanks so much for the contributions!

The next state in the series is North Carolina (it will post on Tuesday 15 Sept; I’m taking a week off from the 50 state series to launch a new business.)

Send your North Carolina highlights to @SheilaS on Twitter or write them on my Facebook Wall (please tell me you’re a 50 state-er if you want to friend me.)

Please add your own North Dakota suggestions in the comments below, if we’ve missed anything. Thanks!