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:
12 Hampshire Hills Drive, Bow, New Hampshire
Pennsylvania: Tour Amish Country. Amish culture is a unique phenomenon in this country, and visiting the Amish in Pennsylvania is a great way to learn about a lifestyle completely foreign to the rest of us. The Amish Farm & House has Amish-made goodies, some displays to teach you about the history and culture of the Amish, and offers tours of the region. Old Mill Stream Campground makes the perfect base for exploring Lancaster and other parts of PA’s Amish Country.
New Jersey: Enjoy the Atlantic City Boardwalk. It’s the oldest of its kind, and full of fun for the whole family. Visit Ripley’s Believe It or Not, watch the light show after dark, and ride the rides. It’s a vibrant part of NJ after all these years. Belleplain State Forest, a few miles away, was developed in the 1930s, and has a similar old-school vibe, along with tons of nice campsites.
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!
7206 National Seashore Ln PO Box 38, Berlin, MD, US
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!
Virginia: Visit Colonial Williamsburg. This living museum is an authentic colonial town, complete with actors in costume working in shops and businesses. Kids will enjoy the interactive exhibits, and hopefully learn a little history at the same time.
Visit the Outer Banks. North Carolina’s beaches are some of the most beautiful in the country. Open beachfronts, a temperate climate, and clear sparkling water all add up to the perfect seashore experience. If you get a chance, hop on the Outer Banks National Scenic Byway for some awesome views.
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.
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!
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.
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.
Mississippi: See where the first Coca-Cola was bottled. The Biedenharn Coca-Cola Museum tells the history of America’s most popular soft drink. Even though Coke was invented in Atlanta, the soft drink wouldn’t have reached the popularity it enjoys today without Biedenharn’s bottling method! Put it in park at the historic Askew’s Landing Campground nearby.
Tennessee: Visit the King. The music scene in Tennessee is a huge part of the local culture, and Elvis’s Graceland is an ultimate road trip destination. Visit his grave, tour his house, and relive the glory days of rock ‘n’ roll.
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!
Texas: Saddle up at a dude ranch. You can get a taste for the cowboy life at Dixie Dude Ranch, with horseback rides, fishing trips, and campfire sing-alongs, but they also offer amenities you'd find at a luxury resort: a spa where you can get massages, a pool with a hot tub, great onsite dining, and more.
New Mexico: Check out the biggest balloon rally in the world. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta happens in New Mexico every fall. Watch the night sky light up with glowing hot air balloons of every shape and size.
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!
