With 50 individual, unique states that each boast their own culture and personality, there's a ton to see and do across America. That's why road-tripping is so great: It's the best way to see and do it all. Plus, it'll make for some great memories for your kids! Here are our favorite RV adventures to have in each state before your kids grow up:
Alabama: Go to Space Camp. Rocket scientist Dr. Wernher von Braun wanted a place to inspire kids about space travel, and the result was Space Camp, where kids participate in simulated missions, experience what gravity feels like on the moon, and spin themselves silly on the multi-axis trainer.
Alaska: Go dogsledding. Whether you want to see the northern lights, explore Denali National Park or visit a glacier, get there by dogsled. The cold air in your face as you glide across the snow…there’s nothing else like it. Mush!
Arizona: Camp out in the Grand Canyon. But don’t stare at it for five minutes and then wonder, “Now what?” There are plenty of wonders waiting to be discovered inside the canyon. Climb down and explore, then spend the night under the stars at Mather Campground.
Arkansas: Dig for diamonds. Visit Crater of Diamonds State Park to find your own gemstones. It’s the only diamond-producing site in the world that is open to the public, so start digging!
California: Take a road trip through Big Sur. The long, winding coastal road is one of the most scenic drives you’ll ever experience. Turn up the radio, roll down the windows, cruise across Bixby Canyon Bridge, and enjoy the ride!
Colorado: Go skiing in the Rockies. Colorado has the best skiing and snowboarding in the country. Beaver Creek Lodge is a sleek, modern boutique hotel that features plenty of those rustic, cabin vibes that you want from a lodge. Plus, Beaver Creek Mountain is right near town, so you can hit the powder during the afternoon, and unwind at the Lodge at night.
Connecticut: Get a burger! It turns out that most of Connecticut’s claims to fame are food-related, so get a burger at Louis' Lunch, one of the country's oldest hamburger joints. It's a tiny little spot that oozes old-school New England vibes, and they still serve their burgers on toast!
Delaware: Stroll the Rehoboth Beach Boardwalk. Here, you can enjoy old-fashioned attractions such as saltwater taffy and arcades. Make a weekend of visiting Delaware’s beaches by camping out at Cape Henlopen State Park!
Florida: Swim with the manatees. There are several manatee sanctuaries in Florida, but the only place that offers in-water tours of a manatee habitat is Three Sisters Spring. Get up close and personal with Florida’s endangered gentle giants!
Georgia: Take a ghost tour in Savannah, a city lucky enough to be both beautiful and creepy at the same time. It might be the most haunted city in America, and it’s teeming with ghost tours. Explore Bonaventure Cemetery after hours, tour the city in an actual hearse, and hear all the tales about the darkest murders in town.
Hawaii: See a lava flow. This is a little tuogher to plan, because sometimes the lava isn’t active, and sometimes the weather prevents a good view. Try the Jaggar Museum and Overlook for a peek into Halema’uma’u Crater, or take a guided lava tour to get right up to the flow.
Idaho: Go hot spring hopping! Idaho has the most useable hot springs in the country: There are about 130 total. Try Lava Hot Springs-- the pools are open year-round, are super clean, and don't cost much to enjoy. Plus, the town is a funky little community worth exploring!
Illinois: Watch a baseball game at Wrigley Field! The Chicago Cubs have called this historic stadium home since 1914, and everything about it, from the ivy-covered outfield to the vintage scoreboard, is classic Americana. Bonus points if you eat a Chicago-style hot dog while you watch the game!
Indiana: Learn the history of hitting the road! The RV & Motorhome Hall of Fame and Museum is here. See the best of what the RVing world has to offer, and maybe come away with some inspiration for your own adventures. It might seem like a small niche museum, but their collection of vehicles, from retro campers to the latest models, is definitely impressive!
Iowa: Cross the High Trestle Bridge! High Trestle Bridge, though originally built as a railroad bridge in the 1970s, has undergone a significant facelift in the past five years. It spans the Des Moines River, and is crossed by about 3,000 people who are hiking the High Trestle Trail every week. It's a 13-story high, half-mile-long bridge that is meant to resemble a mine shaft, in honor of the Italian immigrants who worked in the nearby mines. Every night it's illuminated until midnight.
Kansas: Stop by Oz! The Wizard of Oz famously has Dorothy Gale blown into the Land of Oz by one of the state's notorious tornados. The Oz Museum delves into the history of the book, by L. Frank Baum, as well as the famous 1939 film adaptation, with loads of memorabilia and artifacts.
Kentucky: See a horse race. Take a tour of Churchill Downs, the legendary home of the Kentucky Derby. Watch a race, place a bet, and admire all the pretty horses.
Louisiana: Listen to some tunes! A jazz crawl of the French Quarter is a great way for older kids to learn about and appreciate the incredible music scene happening in New Orleans.
Maine: Catch the sunrise! On Cadillac Mountain at Acadia National Park, you can see the first sunrise in the whole country. During the fall and winter, Cadillac Mountain has the first view of the sun peeking over the horizon. Luckily, you don’t have to hike in the dark to get there; you can drive — which is super easy when you camp in the park (we love Seawall Campground). Make sure to get there early, since parking is limited.
Maryland: See the wild horses on Assateague Island. Enjoy a day on a beautiful beach while wild ponies frolic nearby. The park has gorgeous white sand beaches and ocean water that's perfect for swimming, but the island is best known for its herds of wild Chincoteague ponies that roam the beaches. There's a story that the wild ponies are the descendants of a herd of ponies who survived a shipwreck, but it's more likely that local citizens were corralling their ponies on the island to avoid paying taxes on fences on the mainland. Bonus: there are tons of campsites here!
As you make your way across each of the 50 states to cross activities off your bucket list, you're guaranteed to have a great time and make memories that will last forever!