Is there anything more patriotic than a generous helping of musket fire, a Fourth of July parade, and a visit to a national park—possibly with a moose or kangaroo rat sighting thrown in? Probably not! That’s why patriotic national park vacations make an ideal choice for your summer travels. With that in mind, here are some super cool considerations for your adventures this season.
Sand dunes but no sea turtles
Those dramatic snow-white dunes at White Sands National Monument near Las Cruces, New Mexico, aren’t sand at all. They actually make up the world’s largest gypsum dune field, dating back to the Ice Age.
Look for roadrunners, coyotes, jackrabbits, foxes, and (my fave) Dipodomys merriami, also known as Merriam’s kangaroo rat. If you see one, try not to frighten the little guy. When startled, it can jump up to 10 feet in the air!
Indiana Dunes is America’s newest national park, just upgraded in February from Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Gorgeous 200-foot sand dunes (of actual sand) stretch for 25 miles along Lake Michigan’s South Shore, about 50 miles from Chicago. Adjoining the lake are stunning prairies, pine forests, oak savannahs, and more than 2,000 species of wildlife. nps.gov
Attention sports fans: check out the brand new Mascot Hall of Fame in Whiting, Indiana, about halfway between Indiana Dunes and Chicago. Among the mascots you’ll meet are Slider (Cleveland Indians) and Mr. Met (New York Mets). mascothalloffame.com
Oh, and who could pass up joining about 250,000 others for Whiting’s annual Pierogi Fest, July 26-28? A pierogi is a yummy Slavic potato dumpling, and the locals celebrate it with a pierogi. pierogifest.net
Lady Liberty’s torch & toes
Wait till you see what’s new on Liberty Island! The Statue of Liberty’s original torch and full-size replicas of Lady Liberty’s face and left foot are among the highlights of the brand new interactive Statue of Liberty Museum, just opened this spring. Tell the kids – it’s perfectly okay to get a selfie while seated on her toes. If you want access to the lady herself, including the actual crown and pedestal, get your tickets ASAP! Liberty Island (home of the Statue of Liberty and the new museum) and Ellis Island (home of the National Museum of Immigration, the American Family Immigration History Center, and more) are accessible only by ferry. Traveler alert: stick to the official ticket site, statuecruises.com.
Boston Tea Party
The four-day Boston Harborfest, one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals, features more than 200 family-friendly events (many are free) including reenactments such as the Redcoats Changing of the Guard, performances, strolling musicians, Boston Harbor tours, and, of course, the very tasty Chowderfest! bostonharborfest.com
Just 30 minutes away is the Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, Massachusetts, site of the opening battle of the American Revolution. All summer long there are living history tours and musket firings. On July 4th visitors can witness the annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. nps.gov
Cannon blasts and plenty of fudge
Fort Mackinac, the site of two years of battles in the War of 1812, is on super-charming Mackinac Island (pronounced Mack-in-awe). Except for the fort’s seriously impressive reenactments involving cannon blasts and soldiers all over the place, the island is a throwback to a bygone era with gardens spilling over with lilacs, the fragrance of fudge, gracious inns, and the clip clop of horse-drawn carriages (no cars!). On July 4th there are fireworks and a world-famous stone-skipping tournament. If you plan to enter (there’s a category for kids 12 and under), I suggest you start practicing with this inside tip from Kurt Steiner, the Guinness World Record stone skipper: “pick a very smooth flat-bottom stone, between 1/4” and 5/16 ” thick, weighing 3 to 8 ounces.”
Mackinac Island’s many fudge shops offer free samples, so the locals call us tourists Fudgies. I don’t care, do you? Fudgie alert: this year’s Mackinac Island Fudge Festival is October 2-4. mackinacisland.org
Giant forest
I’m not a fan of General William Tecumseh Sherman (he torched some perfectly lovely towns), but the General Sherman Tree is a whole ’nother thing. The 2,500 year-old giant sequoia 24
tree in California’s Sequoia National Park is reportedly the largest living single stem tree on earth, and it doesn’t stand alone, so to speak. The General’s neighbors in the Giant Forest include five of the world’s 10 largest trees. Consider going during the sixth annual Dark Sky Festival in Sequoia and King’s Canyon National Parks, August 23-25. Otherwise, weekdays get the smallest crowds. visitsequoia.com
No mooses, no meese
…But there are plenty of moose (yep, that’s the plural), plus beavers and foxes in Isle Royale National Park, Michigan. Want to skip fireworks this year and share a remote wilderness with about 1,500 of those majestic creatures? As a special bonus, Isle Royale, the largest island in Lake Superior, is a National Park Service wolf restoration location. The wolf pack is still small, though, so sightings are rare. Accessible by boat or seaplane from the town of Houghton, Isle Royale is a dream destination for hiking, camping, canoeing, and kayaking, and even shipwreck diving. Check out the excellent wilderness ranger programs for kids. nps.gov
240th annual Fourth of July parade
No town has a more legitimate claim to the title Most Patriotic Town in America than Bristol, Rhode Island, about 20 miles from Providence. Cases in point: its July 4th parade, started in 1785, is three hours long; the centerline of the main route is painted red, white, and blue; the town is draped in more bunting and flags than anyplace else on earth; and there are enough soldiers, muskets, drums, and bugles to satisfy even the most avid parade freak. Stake your spot early; you’ll be sharing the moment with 200,000 or so of your closest patriots. explorebristolri.com
Free days!
Are you a fourth grader (going into fifth grade this September), or related to one? You and your family get in free at all U.S. national parks, preserves, and lands through the Every Kid in a Park program. Veterans and those 62 or better: check into the free and low-cost lifetime passes.
The National Park Service celebrates its anniversary on August 25 with free passes for everyone. nps.gov.