Since giving birth I have created two vacation lists. One includes favorite destinations that I loved visiting when I was a child. The other features all of the places I wish I could have traveled to as a kid. The upcoming school spring break allows us the opportunity to cross off more of the vacation destinations from the lists. Still, we have a ways to go before we run out of family-friendly travel spots. Some of the destinations we are hoping to visit in the next few years include:
Grand Canyon: I’m pretty sure this top tourist spot is on most people’s bucket list. I am most interested in strolling on the Skywalk. The U-shaped, glass-bottom observation deck juts 70 feet over the canyon’s West Rim and 4,000 feet above the Colorado River. It was built about four years ago and we have yet to see it in person. I’d also like to sign-up for the sunset horse-drawn wagon ride that takes you on a tour of the canyon area and ends with a bonfire.
Niagara Falls: Sure, it’s trite, but who doesn’t want to visit the massive waterfalls that is typically a magnet for honeymooners? I honeymooned in Hawaii, so taking a trip to see the majestic falls that straddles the U.S.-Canada border is something I have always dreamed of doing. I’ve flown over it, but have never experienced it from the ground. I hear the Cave of the Winds tour is the best bet for families. As part of the package you get a complimentary yellow poncho and sandals and are taken 175 feet down into the Niagara Gorge where you get to stand on the Hurricane Deck. From there you get an up close look at the 181-foot Bridal Veil Falls, which dumps water at a rate of up to 68 mph.
Alcatraz Island: Our entire family is looking forward to visiting this tourist hot spot. The last time I was in San Francisco I made time for the tour, but the ferry wasn’t running because of inclement weather, so I am more pumped than ever to go next year. Teens especially will love examining the cramped jail cells and learning about America’s most notorious island prisoners, such as Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The audio tour was updated in 2007 and now includes former inmates and guards talking about their memories of doing time on “the Rock.” If you have older children, then consider taking the night tour, which lets you roam the prison after dark.
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