Mt. Rushmore, SD

Familiar Faces

Do your kids think CNN is the center of the political universe? If so, turn off the TV and head for South Dakota. Yes, South Dakota. They'll see some familiar faces (but not Larry King), and relive the first 150 years of this country's history -- without the help of media pundits. There's a history museum, tours, and special programs designed specially for kids.

Mt. Rushmore, copyright South
Dakota Tourism/Chad Coppess Photo

Then, for something completely different, drive 90 minutes to Badlands, an eerie, 243,000-acre national park with the greatest number of fossils in North America. Imagine the look on your kid's face, when he or she stumbles over a dinosaur footprint (and there are plenty!)