The Best Children's Travel Destinations

Traveling with children can be difficult at times but if you include lots of great kids' attractions the sailing will be much smoother. Most of us have done the Disneyland or other theme park vacations but if you're more interested in educational trips that are fun too, check out some of these favorite destinations for kids:

Going up north - way up north? Sitka, Alaska might be a bit chilly but they have whale-watching tours, marine and art shows and concerts that a kid would love. These events take place sometime after Halloween, usually.

If you're traveling in the deep south consider a trip to Mobile, Alabama where over 70 countries are represented at a giant art festival including puppetry, dancing, performances and more. This event usually takes place in November but you can call the Mobile Chamber of Commerce for more info.

What child wouldn't love the Rosebud Parade of Pasadena, California? Held in November, the parade features decorative floats, bands, life-size cartoon balloons and much more. Thousands of families attend this festivity and if you're in the neighborhood, you should too.

In Burlington, Wisconsin the Whatchamacallits Logic Puzzle Museum is a unique find where kids, especially ones who love science, can really get their hands on. There are dozens and dozens of gadgets and gizmos that kids can pick up and play with to try figuring out what it is and how to use it.

The Gingerbread House Festival in Lehi, Utah lets kids decorate gingerbread cookies and sample gingerbread delicacies. All proceeds from the visitations go to the Utah Boy Scouts of America and the Utah PTA funds. Or, head to Asheville, N.C. where kids and adults can enter gingerbread-building competitions at the National Gingerbread House Competition.

The Space Coast Birding and Wildlife Festival in Titusville, Florida is an interesting place where parents and kids can attend seminars and workshops with topics like bats, snakes, flowers or butterflies. Experts conduct the classes that are not only educational but very entertaining.

The Children's Humanities Festival of Chicago features activities, songs and dance, from popular movies and books, where kids can join in the fun. Meet authors and learn little-known details about favorite books and storylines such as Wizard of Oz or The Gingerbread Man.

The San Diego Zoo is not only fun and exciting - it's a learning experience where kids can see animals like lions, zebras and giraffes, ride in a tethered hot air balloon, or get the guided tour on a double-decker bus.

Washington, D.C. is one of the most exciting destinations because they have dozens of attractions for kids - many of them free. Check out the International Spy Museum, the Capital Children's Museum, or the National Aquarium - the nation's oldest aquarium still in existence.

Anyone going west? Visit Albuquerque's National Atomic Museum, the Rattlesnake Museum or scheduling a rafting trip for the whole family.

St. Augustine, Florida offers some of the finest educational destinations such as the Old Florida Museum. Visitors there can see games, weapons and tools from the olden days. They can also try some of the activities from days gone by like corn grinding, writing with quill pens or tabby making.

The Great Lakes region has many attractions for families with kids. The House on the Rock features unique exhibits and collections like the largest carousel. The Henry Ford Museum is another one-of-a-kind destination where kids can view the chair that Lincoln sat in when he was shot or the limo that carried Kennedy during his assassination. The Sculpture Garden is the largest sculpture garden in America.

Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, Rhode Island is one of the best reasons to visit the area. Featuring over 900 animals, the unique exhibits include cheetahs, giraffes, elephants, polar bears and sea lions.

There are hundreds of great kid destinations in the U.S., many of them free or low-cost. Check online to plan your itinerary for the next vacation with your kids. Bypass the theme parks and head to the fun, educational and unique destinations - you'll be glad you did.