Traveling for spring break on the East Coast (March '07), need to know American History places I should visit.

Question

I would like to make this educational (American History) for my 4 kids as well as fun and still see the "must see" items that we are near; the kids are 16, 13, 9, and 4. We are going to fly from Utah to S. Carolina (we have family in York we need to visit) and travel up the coast in a rental car. We are planning to stop in DC, Philly, and New York but we've never been there and don't know how much time to plan. If it was just me I think I could spend the whole week in DC visiting museums but the kids would get bored with that. I heard a couple of hours in Philly to catch the independance hall and liberty bell and a half day in New York for the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and then a drive through the city since we are there. Can anyone offer any more suggestions. Is Boston worth going to? Again, I am looking for American History while not boring the kids and any other great site that is close. We only have 5 days. Weather and any "must eat" places recommendations also.

Answer 1

I will assume that you will be flying into and out of Charlotte I am going to give you some creative routings but promise you that I personally have driven all the roads I'm sending you down
Be aware of the fact that heavy snow falls can and often do occur in the first two or three weeks of march. The reason is that the tropics are warming up and the warm wet low coming up from the tropics collides with a still very cold high pressure canadian air mass and the result is of course snow, wet heavy snow at that. Check the weather and carry warm clothes
Begin your trip at the end , in this case Appomattox Va allow 5 hrs to get there and approx 1.5 hrs there
find US 29 out of Lynchburg and take that north to Charlottesville VA. Thomas Jeffersons house is the general idea and is located about 1.5 hrs from Appomattox . The visit to Monticello is by guided tour only and there is a tendency of the tour operators to rush you through the house so that the next tour can come in . You can however stroll the grounds at your leisure , visit slave row and TJ's grave.There is also the cost of $13.00 to consider [ that price allows them to give a two dollar bill as part of the change- I am serious]
Madison and Monroe lived close to Jefferson and on the other side of the mountain is Stanton Va , Woodrow Wilsons birth place and one of the of the great antebellum towns in America.
I am trying to get you to Frederick MD [ which has cheaper and more avalable hotels] via Skyline Drive /Front Royal/ Harpers Ferry WV
Harpers Ferry is worth the visit and in the area of Harpers Ferry and Frederick MD is bloody Antietam Battlefield
Day 2 will be devoted to Gettysburg and getting to NYC- sort of
It's a little over an hour from Frederick to Gettysburg allow at least 3 hours to tour the battlefield and let your kids climb the rocks at Big and Little Round Tops and Devils Den. Start your trip at the visitors center and take the time to view the electric map
It's 140 miles from Gettysburg to Philly via US 30/ 202/ I-76 and when you get in the area of King of Prussia - 202 and I -76 you will also be very close to Valley Forge just a thought
if you can leave Gettysburg by noon you can actually make beautiful downtown philadelphia in time to take in Independence hall
Check with The National Park Service for what time the attractions on the mall actually close
Day 2 should end with you spending the night within 40 miles of the Staten Island Ferry dock.
but not in Jersey City , Elizabeth or Newark NJ Perth Amboy is sort of OK. Since it's off season something down on the Jersey shore isn't a bad idea like Freehold- Springsteens home town. [This means using I-95 North out of Philly which is just to the east of the mall.]Find a place you like and spend 2 nights
Day 3 is devoted to NYC
Somehow get onto Staten Island and follow signs for the Verrazano bridge
The last exit before the bridge-Bay street- will take you north to the Staten Island ferry dock- The parking lot is one of those self pay types so you may need to get a roll of quarters before you park you car.Yes i did say park your car.
Park the car by the ferry dock and take the free Staten Island Ferry to the lower end of manhattan aka South Ferry- you will spend the rest of your time in manhattan either walking or using subways both of which are faster , safer and cheaper and actually less confusing than than driving. Trust me on this one I'm a native and spent over 20 years driving commercial vehicles in manhattan and surrounding areas.
When you get off the SI Ferry ,the ferry taking you to the Statue of Lliberty and Ellis Island is a couple of hundred yards in front of you and to your left The ferry goes from manhattan to the statue to ellis and then straight back to manhattan. I think that given all the restrictions concerning actually getting into the statue I would simply look at it from the boat and continue on to ellis.
When you get back to manhattan directly across the park from the ferry dock is federal style buildingwhich is located at the foot of Broadway . It is the old US Customs house. Carefully cross the street .When you walk inside to the left and the right are two of the most beautiful spiral staircases you will ever see-[ you have to go through more security to get into the building.]Looking uptown from the stairs of the customs house you will be looking across Bowling Green- yes our founding fathers actually bowled on it and beyond that you will see the famous wall street bull
continuing up broadway a very short way and slightly north of wall st you will come to a red sandstone church -Trinity
if you make a downhill left just before you reach the church proper you wiil see that Alexander Hamilton and Robert Fulton are buried next to each other.If you go back out to wall st and walk past the stock exchange some creative navigation will take you over to Fraunces Tavern of G. Washington fame. Continuing to the East River will take you over to South st. Seaport
If continue up broadway from Trinity around 140 Bwy [ liberty st] you will see a large open space to north and left of where you are standing. Two great buildings and many people once occupied that space. Look back at the blackness of 140 Bwy and then turn your gaze to a spot in the sky above that awful hole that is twice the height of 140 Bwy.
At this point you have some decisions to make about where to spend the rest of the day.
If you take the # 1 train from Chambers st and get off at the christopher St stop , cross 7th ave and go about 100 yds east on Bleeker st you will come to one of the top 5 greatest pizza places in NYC - Johns- they sell only whole pies and give you the option of buying soft drinks by the pitcher. The pies bake in a coal fired brick oven and come out blistering hot bubbling The pizza so good. For the rest of your life pizza will never be the same
Go back to the subway take the 1 to 59th st
change to the local A train uptown and get off at the Museum of Natural History stop
tour the museum until it closes and walk west across 81st [ which is the north side of the museum] 2 blocks to broadway, cross bwy and you will see an orange and white awning in front of you, underneath that awning is one of the greatest food stores in america; Zabars
if you're a foodie at all Zabars is heaven.
It is perfectly acceptable, indeed expected to ask a counterperson for a taste of something prior to buying it
of note almond croissants, smoked fish, bagels, rustic breads , cheeses a great take out counter and jams, coffees and mustards.
buy some things for your DC road trip
upstairs is high quality hard to find and a bit pricey cooking equipment.
dinner is at cafe napoli or pelligrinos in little italy
Take the # 1 train[ 79 th st ] down town
to 42 nd st / Times square change to the # 7 train to grand central and take the# 6 train to canal st & lafayette sts. Walk 1 block east to mulberry st and then north a block or two until you find your restaurant. watch out for imported bottled fizzy waters they tend to be expensive and NYC tap water is excellent and when you are offered a chef's special get the price before ordering it. as a rule NYC portions are large and splitting entrees is OK.
When you are sitting on Mulberry st having dinner think about the pictures you saw in Ellis Island about what mulberry st used to look like.
the 5 points of Gangs of NY fame are located about 1/2 mile south of where you are sitting.
finish dinner do not order dessert .walk around the neighborhood looking at and buying souveniers. walk over to Ferraras and have dessert.
hail a cab going downtown to the ferry and then back to your motel
by now you guys should be wiped out
Day 4 -somewhere in NJ to DC
the trip to DC should take you around 4-5 hrs depending upon weather and traffic you will need a full day and a half to see DC
in addition to the usual DC things a visit to the national cathederal in georgetown can be inspiring [ Woodrow Wilson is the only President buried in DC city limits. His crypt is on the main floor ]
i wish you had the time to go over to hampton roads/ new port news and then drive down cape hatteras past kill devil hills [of the Wright broters first flight fame ]
taking the ferry across haterras inlet and the one from ocracoke to the mainland- really nice drive - on a par with the drive from kanab to torrey in terms of beauty.
be careful and remember cruise control is great for small town driving.
BTW get in touch with the MTA[Metropolitan Transportation Authority ] in NYC for subway maps and same day multi- trip ticket info

Answer 2

It may be worth it for you to buy professional tours in WDC and New York - it takes all the stress of parking and mapping off your back and allows you to enjoy the experience - plus you learn a whole lot more

WDC Guides have to have incredible knowledge just to pass the exam to get their license

There is so much to see in DC and Baltimore's Inner Harbor would be great for the kids.
http://www.baltimore.org/baltimore_inner_harbor.htm
http://www.baltimore.to/baltimore.html

http://www.districtcolumbia.com/

In DC for sure take them to the Lincoln Memorial the Vietnam Memorial is right there too and the reflection pool and Washington Monument. The Tidal Basin with the Jefferson Memorial is also very close.

Georgetown

You can have lunch at the Old Post Office building - it has been totally redone (My Mom worked there in the 50's)

Rock Creek National Zoo is great but it takes some time the Giant Pandas are there

There is a China Town in Washington too the Mongolian Barbecue is great

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Washington,_DC

Last time I was there you could not get very close to the White House and getting into the Capitol was tough with all the security. I you get in the Capitol you can eat in the cafeteria there

Philly - yes, you are right -Cheese Steak sandwiches - Liberty Bell - Bookbinders is a great restaurant but it's not cheap

but the kids might really love going to Lancaster to see the Amish markets and the wonderful people.

New York - South Street Seaport - China Town Runs into Little Italy - I do not think you can go to the Statue of Liberty right now.
http://www.chinatown-online.com/

Theatre District - Garment District -

Wall Street is a great thing for kids to see and the Guggenheim

The the kids eat street food off the streets it is delicious and cheap

Answer 3

DC - do the museums. Must eat - - go to Union Station. Any restaurant in there is AWESOME.
Philly - don't forget the Betsy Ross house.
Depending on what your kids are into, you might enjoy Salem, Mass. It is just north of Boston (maybe 20 -30mins ride). The witch museum is neat, House of Seven Gables, and just lots of history. Victoria Station is a 'must eat' if you go. Its on the Wharf. If your kids think witches are neat - you should make this town a must see.
Plymouth, Mass. is neat (you can see Plymouth Rock and I liked Ocean Spray's Cranberry exhibit) but might not have enough going on for you to want to stop there.

Answer 4

Try the town called Town of 1770. I found that the most beautiful spot when traveling northwards. Not touristy at all. Sat there watching out for many hours, wonderful. The crazy hippy town is called Nimbin. OR read this article from the Sydney Morning Herald

Answer 5

It sounds like a great trip and you already have plenty of suggestions. Might I suggest buying your children a National Parks Passport? It lists all of the national parks, plenty of which (Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, Statue of Liberty) are on your list. You can get the passport stamped at each park's visitors center, which usually have plenty of great information for kids of all ages.

Answer 6

I highly recommend Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia where history literally comes to life. Every aspect of colonial life in America is here in the world's largest outdoor living history museum. It's a step back in time for an experience you will never forget.

Answer 7

Try the history triangle Jamestown, Colonal Williamsberg and yorktown. In Penn take them to Gettysberg. In WDC take them to the Smithsoian Institute. Good luck and have fun

PS Can I go with you sounds like FUN