If you're not interested in going to Disneyland or Hawaii or any of those other "been there, done that" places, there are lots of cool and unique places you should check out on your summer vacation.
Club Med Passworld
Club Med Passworld is designed exclusively for tweens and teens - that means no parents allowed! It's a place where you can be free to do whatever you want without being under the watchful eye of strict dads and naggin' moms. Passworld offers a range of fun activities, from windsurfing and waterskiing to beach parties and overnight camping trips! Passworld is currently in 12 Club Med resorts around the world, including Mexico, Australia and the French Alps.
National Wildlife Refuges
Are you on your way to the best family vacation ever... but stuck in the airport cuz your plane got delayed? Instead of aimlessly wandering around the terminal, head on over to a National Wildlife Refuge near you. There are many refuges located near large airports - check out a few right here!
- Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge - Located just outside of Denver, CO, this is one of the country's largest refuges. You can fish and take a walking tour to look for deer, prairie dogs and a variety of birds.
- Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge - In this floodplain, you'll get to see bald eagles nesting, herons wading and mallards swimming! Located in Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, this refuge overlooks the Minnesota River Valley.
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge - Located in south Philly, you'll see an abundance of flying things - blackbirds, hawks and bald eagles, to be exact. Take a hike to check out more than 280 species of birds, as well as turtles, frogs and foxes.
Out'n'About Treesort
Go out on a limb and stay at Out'n'About Treesort in the picturesque town of Takilma, OR. This four-star wonderland has 18 different treehouses, seven swinging bridges, five swings, four ladders, forts and a ropes course! Stay in the Treepee (an 18-foot teepee in the trees), the Treezebo (the tallest treehouse), or the Cavaltree (designed as a cavalry fort)!
Battleship New Jersey
The Battleship New Jersey has been through World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War and the Persian Gulf War. She's the most decorated battleship in US Naval history, and in October 2001 was turned into a floating museum on the Delaware River in Camden, New Jersey. You can go on a tour to see the ship's artifacts and even spend the night, where you'll get to sleep in bunks like the sailors did and chow down in the crew's mess hall at zero six hundred hours!
The Hotel Hershey
Disneyland may be the Happiest Place on Earth, but Hershey is the Sweetest Place on Earth! Curb your chocolate cravings by learning how chocolate is made at Hershey's Chocolate World, and check out the rides at HersheyPark, all while your parents indulge themselves in the Chocolate Spa.
