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michigansandzil's avatar
michigansandzil
Explorer
Dec 18, 2014

Frommers 100 places to take your kids

For those of you that like to check out these kind of sites.
Frommers 100 places to take your kids before they grow up

I think it's a good starting point, but there are huge gaps. For instance, in Tennessee, they list Graceland and Nashville, but not the Smokies.
In South Dakota they list The Corn Palace, Wall Drug and Mount Rushmore, but they don't list Wind Cave or Jewel Cave, etc.
Kentucky is listed as the must see place for the Kentucky Derby. Who takes their kids to the Kentucky Derby? Why not go to Mammoth Cave while in Kentucky with kids? Seems more appropriate to me. But maybe that's my problem, I'm more interested in the National Parks system than most anything else.

Michigan is my home state and they list Mackinac Island as a must see destination. Although there is a ton to see/do here, I'm inclined to agree on that point, but it would be a tie between Mackinac Island and Pictured Rocks.
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Dec 19, 2014
    IME Frommer's is more of a city guide.... which is great if you are going to a city. They are invaluable for big cities like NYC & DC. i like Moon Guides for less urban areas, although they are not really oriented towards children.
  • WishWeWereCampi's avatar
    WishWeWereCampi
    Explorer
    Dec 19, 2014
    As far as CA goes, I'd skip Hollywood, the Winchester Mystery House, and Santa Monica Beach. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is ??, too often the water is not clean for swimming in. As far as amusement parks go, it's quaint but not really the thrill of most of the newer ones.

    I'd add Lassen National Park and Big Sur.

    And if you are going to Monterey to see the aquarium, for the little ones I'd add Dennis the Menace Park.

    I'm surprised there was only one entry for Oregon. There is so much to do and see there!
  • soricobob's avatar
    soricobob
    Explorer
    Dec 20, 2014
    IMHO Frommer's list is not a starting point, but Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum is a starting point. Any list of places to see with kids which does not include any baseball park, or Greenfield Village is an inaccurate list. And that's just for starters.
  • michigansandzil's avatar
    michigansandzil
    Explorer
    Dec 20, 2014
    soricobob wrote:
    IMHO Frommer's list is not a starting point, but Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum is a starting point. Any list of places to see with kids which does not include any baseball park, or Greenfield Village is an inaccurate list. And that's just for starters.


    That's interesting.
    I do like Greenfield Village, but if I had to chose one, I'd pick Mackinac Island over Greenfield village.
    And I wouldn't waste my time taking my kids to a baseball park; we're not the baseball type. Now if a list of waterparks was included, that would be right for us!
    That must be why compiling a list is so difficult. Every family has different tastes.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Dec 20, 2014
    soricobob wrote:
    IMHO Frommer's list is not a starting point, but Greenfield Village/Henry Ford Museum is a starting point. Any list of places to see with kids which does not include any baseball park, or Greenfield Village is an inaccurate list. And that's just for starters.


    I was genuinely surprised the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village was missing. IMHO far more worthy than, say, the Mall of America.

    They did have both Fenway Park and Wrigley Field listed, which I believe qualify as baseball parks. I personally would choose the local minor league park over those, perhaps, but maybe that's because I'm a bit partial to Centennial Field.

    On the whole, it's one of the better lists of this sort I've come across. I think I've seen about a third of the things listed myself.
  • captnjack's avatar
    captnjack
    Explorer
    Dec 21, 2014
    I'd suggest replacing the Corn Palace (IMO a glorified gift shop) with the World Trade Center Memorial and Museum.

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