One Travel Family has Learned How to “Sneak” History into Fun Family Trips

Let’s Learn How They Do It. -from the notes of Michele Zavatsky, the Family Travel Mom

Why try to weave history museums into your travels? Because easily one-third of all the attractions out there are historical, it’s hard to avoid them.  And, educators would tell you kids do much better on History test questions and biographical reports if they’ve actually toured the famous person’s home or visited a historic village.

So, why not plan some day trips around historic attractions.  But, how do you sneak history into your day trips and vacations without the family declaring mutiny?  Let’s take a journey with my travel family and see what I use to unlock the amusing, adventuresome side of history…

1.     Big Anniversaries.  No, not your romantic wedding anniversary coming up – instead, major historic anniversaries.  America’s 400^th Anniversary started in Jamestown in 2007; Annapolis is the big 300 in 2008; Fredericksburg celebrated their 400^th that same year – plus anniversary of the landing of Captain John Smith to the Falmouth shoreline each August; and yearly celebrations of the late summer harvest of Peaches along the historic Blue Ridge Mountains are a sweet ending to Summer Break. During these major anniversary events, historical sites “beef up” their exhibits. How? They add more guides in character, create new animatronics, and increase their colorful immersion spaces (kind of Disney does History).  What kid can resist all the stimulation!  Before you leave the celebration, why not purchase a souvenir tri-corner hat or old-fashioned toy to remember the occasion.

2.     Holidays.  You know how your kids get off more weekday holidays than you know what to do with?  Why not try sampling birthday cakes of Presidents, or collect Easter eggs on the White House lawn.  Share July 4^th fireworks in a quaint historic town or have punch and cookies with Santa in a Victorian home.  Invite the grandparents along as your personal “guides” as they love to tell stories of the “good ole days” too.  My kids tell me most historical homes smell old and musty.  But, put costumed funny actors and treats in front of them and they’re fine.

3.     Living History Re-enactments and Outdoor Dramas.  Go behind the scenes of a pioneer camp or an Indian Pow Wow or behind enemy lines of a Civil War camp.  Famous battlefields and old forts may look dull and ugly on a normal day, but add re-enactors in period attire and you’ve got the kids’ attention.  Period, costumed townsfolk and soldiers “set up shop” amongst Native American Indian camps.  See fur trading posts, kids infantry, barbershop medicine, and old-fashioned games.  Areas of woodcarving, blacksmiths and spinning and weaving surround demonstrations of muzzle loading, shooting and tomahawk throwing.  Many of these festivals are held late summer, early fall during the Apple harvest or a big event like the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival.  Maybe explore more of what your town has to offer like they do each year at the Hampton Bay Days. Often, the gift shop on site sells wonderful little toy soldiers or play figures that kids can purchase and use to re-enact again at home.  Open hearth cooking with period foods are for sale, too.  Can’t you just smell the kettle corn, apple cider, barbeque and bean stew?

4.     NO Museums – at least don’t tell them you’re going to a Museum!  Which do you think your kids will respond to better – a place where the kids actually become soldiers (ex. Pamplin Park) or a history museum?  The interactive play place, right?  Another trick, plan an hour or two, not an afternoon.  Begin your tour with a brief look at the orientation film, then lead the kids through a scavenger hunt and reward them with a prize afterwards. (note: many museums now offer hunts you can ask for at the ticket counter and the gift shop often provides small prizes upon completion)

5.     Want action?  Trolley or trot past famous homes versus stopping to go inside.  Take a boat tour along the water’s edge as the captain briefly describes the scenes around – just the basics, forget the boring stuff.  Weekend boat tour rides are fun with grandpa along and there’s usually a good ice cream shop or quaint seafood restaurant at the turn around stop.

Again, the best way to entice your family to come along on historical journeys is to sneak some history in.  So many excellent historical parks are just minutes from lakes, beaches and amusements to even out your trip.  Your kids will be having so much hands-on fun and meeting such interesting characters…they won’t even know it’s a history lesson. Sneaky, yes, but for the right reasons!

@2010-Michele Zavatsky

Want more ideas about how to plan your next family trip – maybe with one history stop weaved in? You can find more than 600 places and events included in KIDS LOVE VIRGINIA – A Family Travel Guide to Exploring “Kid-Tested” Places in Virginia … Year Round!  Michele Zavatsky and her family did the work so you don’t have to.  To find out more, visit www.KidsLoveTravel.com.