State Secrets: 50 Little-Known Local Destinations

Dated: August 5 2020

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
- The expansive Cathedral Caverns State Park in Woodville features a stalagmite rock formation that’s 243 feet around!
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
- The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville has fun activities for kids, including a gallery scavenger hunt.
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
- Amicalola Falls State Park’s great hiking trails and beautiful waterfall are irresistible.
HAWAII
- There’s more here than waves and beaches! Get some island history at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. Don’t miss the daily lava-pour demonstration.
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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
- Check out 18 gorgeous canyons from the hiking trails in Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby.
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
- Baseball fan in tow? You can tour the real Field of Dreams in Dyersville.
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
- Kangaroos, dingoes, and lemurs, oh my! Kids can get up-close with exotic animals at Kentucky Down Under Adventure Zoo in Horse Cave.
LOUISIANA
- Head to Camp Salmen Nature Park in Slidell to spot wildlife and enjoy the playground built to accommodate kids with special needs.
MAINE
- Bigfoot believer? Check out the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, dedicated to the study of hidden or unknown animals.
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
- Head out on a free walking tour of New Bedford Whaling Historical Park to learn about the lure and legend of whalers going to sea.
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MICHIGAN
- At The Lumberman’s Monumentin Oscoda, kids can climb through a logjam, use a peavey hook, and more. “Our boys love the logs, and the history.”
MINNESOTA
- The Whitetail Woods Camper Cabins are veritable tree houses—but with real beds. Best of both worlds!
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
- For swimming, sunbathing, fishing, birdwatching, and more, head to the gorgeous Spring Meadow Lake State Park in Helena.
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
- Top-notch, family-friendly biking and hiking trails draw visitors to the Turtle River State Park in Arvilla.
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
- Find out how old-time coal miners lived and worked at the Eckley Miners’ Village. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t easy.
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RHODE ISLAND
- How does your garden grow? The Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth sprouts elephants, bears, and even a unicorn!
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
- Yes, there is sledding in Texas! Sand-dune sledding, that is, in the hills of Monahans Sandhills State Park.
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
- Little conductors will go choo choo for the exhibits at the Northwest Railway Museum in Snoqualmie.
WEST VIRGINIA
- Check out an art block party or the special preschooler day at The Clay Center for Arts & Sciences of West Virginia in Charleston.
WISCONSIN
- “We love Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay,” says one mom of this classic spot that still has 25-cent rides!
WYOMING
- View hundreds of Native American petroglyphs and pictographs on the sandstone cliffs of Medicine Lodge State Archaeological Site

Lisa Handley

Lisa Handley – Making Real Estate Refreshingly RealLisa Handley isn’t your average real estate agent—she’s your go-to problem solver, staging pro, renovation whisperer, and loc....

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State Secrets: 50 Little-Known Local Destinations

State Secrets: 50 Little-Known Local Destinations

Lisa Handley

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