Many parents find planning a family vacation tricky: They want everybody to have fun, but they want their children to do more than vegetate on the beach or prowl the local mall. The following six vacation destinations could help children both learn something and have fun.

The Historic Triangle

The Historic Triangle consists of three living history museums located on the Virginia Peninsula: Jamestown Settlement, Colonial Williamsburg, and the Yorktown Victory Center. The three are connected by the scenic Colonial Parkway. Jamestown Settlement is dedicated to the first successful colony, and it includes reconstructions of the colonists’ ships and an Indian village. Colonial Williamsburg immerses visitors in the lives of 18th century residents, and Yorktown shows what life was like during Revolution. Extensive knowledge of history, like that of someone with a Master in history, is needed to design and maintain such exhibits.

Yellowstone National Park

Not only is it the home of Old Faithful, but Yellowstone National Park is the first national park to be established as such. It has been allowing visitors since 1872. The park boasts over 3,000 miles’ worth of canyons, mountains, geysers, waterfalls and hot springs. It is also home to wildlife like elk, bears and buffalo. The Old Faithful Inn is a popular hotel that is a National Historic Landmark in its own right; the oldest parts were built in 1903.

Washington, DC

In addition to being the nation’s capital, Washington, DC, is home to many historic sites and exhibits. The White House, the Capital Building, and the Lincoln Memorial are all worth a visit. Washington, DC also has a multitude of Smithsonian museums, some of which are dedicated to history.

Kennedy Space Center

The Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is bound to appeal to people who are interested in the Space Age. It includes immersive recreations of shuttle launches, talks with actual astronauts, an IMAX theater, and a “rocket garden” displaying various rockets used in the space programs.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

Located in Cincinnati, the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is dedicated to the titular 19th century organization that helped slaves escape to freedom in the northern states and even Canada. It also tells the stories of people fighting slavery in modern times.

Taos Pueblo

Taos Pueblo, located in New Mexico. Has the distinction of being the only Native American village to be both a National Historic Landmark and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years. Many of the adobe buildings were built between the 11th and 15th centuries.

The United States is a large country with an extensive history. Given that, there is bound to be an exhibit or site for everybody.