Homeschooling can be an amazing journey. One of the best things about it is that you can fit learning into your everyday life. You have the time and flexibility to use resources your children might not ordinarily use and see places in person that some have only heard and read about. As long as you have the ability to travel, these landmarks are ideal since they are reasonably priced to visit and open nearly every day. You might work it into a Spring or Summer vacation with your family.

The Alamo Mission in San Antonio, TX 

The legendary Alamo is in San Antonio, where a small group of American forces stood against a Mexican army, a great highlight of the Mexican-American War during which Texas won its independence. You can take a virtual visit from home or visit by appointment in person. Make sure to contact the center to tell them how many you have in your group, as there may be capacity limits. This is especially a great place to include in your lessons on the history of missionary groups and the Mexican-American War. 

The Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, PA

A long-time popular attraction in Philadelphia, the Liberty Bell receives more than two million people to this landmark every year. There’s a legend that this was rung to announce different historical milestones like the Battle of Lexington and Concord and the first reading of the Declaration of Independence. Yes, there is a crack in it even today, but it’s one of many that occurred and were repaired during the 18th century.

You can find a free Liberty Bell curriculum from the National Park Service that will serve as an excellent accompaniment to your trip. This is one of the best possible places where you can talk to your children about what freedom truly means. 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park, TN

America’s most visited national park is also a designated unique global biosphere. Half a million acres of the sheer diversity of plants and wildlife, with old forests and abundant waters in these ancient rolling mountains, make the place almost impossibly beautiful. If one of the best things you can do to enrich your children is to introduce them to the joys of nature, this is a great place to start. Abundant trails and scenic drives network the park and the surrounding area, while the small town of Gatlinburg bursts with attractions, rides, arts & crafts, and amazing museums so that education becomes fun at every turn. The foothills hold hundreds of rental Gatlinburg cabins with full amenities for all the family, making a destination good through all the seasons. 

La Brea Tar Pits and Hancock Park in Los Angeles, CA

At the La Brea Tar Pits, you can see an actual Lake Pit that’s in front of the museum. This is a leftover pit from asphalt mining that occurred there in the late 1800s. The odor and bubbles that emanate along with the sheet on top are from the oil field that’s deep underground.

Hancock Park is between the museum and Tar Pits. Your kids will be in awe of the huge Ice Age mammal replicas that they can get next to. There’s also a playground, walking trails, and a Pleistocene Garden where you can see a recreation of the natural landscape from thousands of years ago. You can check out fossils and reconstructed prehistoric creatures that came right from the nearby sites. If you have a child who loves science, evolution, and learning about the prehistoric world, the La Brea Tar Pits and museum will be a hit. 

Blackberry Farm and Fox Valley Park District in Aurora, IN 

At the Blackberry Farm living history museum and the rest of the Fox Valley Park District, you can explore the beauty of nature, attend lectures and presentations about environmental education, and connect with the wonders of nature. Children can join in a Red Oak Nature Center tour, and there are also self-guided tours. The nature center is surrounded by over 40 acres of forest and habitat of various wildlife. There are hands-on indoor activities for kids, animal exhibits, outings for Scouts and other groups, and different special events such as BugFest and MapleFest.

Henry Ford Museum of Innovation in Dearborn, MI 

The Henry Ford Museum of Innovation was a work in progress for many years. It finally opened in 1933, but even at that time, there was still work being done. Henry Ford was a major collector of Americana and wanted the public to delight in and learn from what he and his team put on display. The village was put in place to show how the objects were made and used, and the indoor museum shows the advancement of America’s technology. Through digital and physical experiences, children are encouraged to act and think creatively and develop an entrepreneurial spirit. A few of the highlights include the Rosa Parks bus, Corliss Steam Engine demonstration, artifacts from the history of manufacturing, and Presidential vehicles.

All the facilities in this article uphold strict cleaning procedures and maintain their own COVID-19 safety rules to protect the health of the public. It can always be a good idea to get a rapid test from a local facility before you go traveling anywhere.