Summertime Road Trips for the Family

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What’s Here?

1. Blue Ridge Mountains
2. Florida Keys
3. Black Hills
4. Route 66
5. New England

road trip

Summertime is the ideal time for families to hit the road. Since the kids are out of school, vacations can extend beyond a few days or a week. Road trips are a great way for you and your family to explore different parts of the country. There are several potential areas that are perfect for this type of vacation.

1. Blue Ridge Mountains

Indice

Driving along the 469-mile long Blue Ridge Parkway provides several incredible views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia and North Carolina. The road connects Shenandoah National Park and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Kid-friendly side trips that are close to the parkway include the Tweetsie Railroad, the Mile High Swinging Bridge, Virginia Safari Park, and the Western North Carolina Nature Center.

2. Florida Keys

The Overseas Highway gives you and your family a chance to drive through about 120 miles of the Florida Keys. This region, which consists of more than 1,700 islands, is located at the southern tip of the Sunshine State. Outdoor activities include snorkeling, fishing, boating, and bike riding. Family attractions include the Florida Keys Children’s Museum, Theater of the Sea, the Dolphin Research Center, and the Turtle Hospital. Your family can also take a train ride through Key West on the Conch Tour Train.

3. Black Hills

The Black Hills area of South Dakota has plenty of exciting outdoor attractions that your whole family can enjoy. The main roads going through this part of the country are the Peter Norbeck Scenic Highway and the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway. You can take scenic drives through Custer State Park or Badlands National Park and see herds of wild bison. You can also visit famous monuments, including Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, in this region. Other attractions include an 1880 train that you can ride on, the Wild Horse Sanctuary, Storybook Island, and the Black Hills Maze.

4. Route 66

The famous Route 66 runs from Chicago to Los Angeles. If you don’t have time to travel from one end to the other, focus on driving through the portion of it that runs through Arizona. This section offers several attractions that are great for families. Natural wonders include the Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, and the Grand Canyon. Kids will also enjoy the area’s odd attractions, such as Meteor Crater, London Bridge and the Wigwam Village Motel.

5. New England

Route 1 in Maine offers scenic ocean views and historic landmarks. The rugged coast gives you and your family a chance to watch seals play and see a variety of colorful birds. You can also visit Portland Head Light which is the second oldest lighthouse in the United States. Other family-friendly attractions include the Seashore Trolley Museum, which features a restored streetcar that visitors can ride in, whale watching tours, Acadia National Park, and the Desert of Maine.

No matter where you choose to go for your road trip, you and your family will find plenty of activities to do and attractions to see. Make sure you take the time to enjoy all the wonders that your destination has to offer.

Alice Skinner is a freelance writer for www.carinsurance.org.uk, a site that can help you find cheap car insurance.

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