Category: 50 State Series

The United States of America is HUGE with, as you know 50 states and each state is like it’s own country in things to see, do and explore all on it’s own.

In this series, we explore each state and dig deeper into what makes it unique and potential adventures and experiences for you and your family.

50 State Series

Family travel in South Carolina

Post author By Bogdan
Post date July 14, 2009
1 Comment on Family travel in South Carolina

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah, Texas, Tennessee, South Dakota and now we’re moving on to….South Carolina!

I couldn’t find their state tourism organization on Twitter, but the state capital city of Columbia is @columbiasc and state parks are @SC_State_Parks. I didn’t find state tourism on Facebook, either, but western South Carolina regional tourism has a Thoroughbred Country Facebook page and so does South Carolina State Parks.

When I asked for ideas there wasn’t much of a response (summer doldrums?) but here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for South Carolina

*** From Dominique King via @midwestguest on Twitter — My best kid-friendly idea for S. Carolina: The trip to Fort Sumter near Charleston. Learn history, cool fort, neat boat ride out to it.

*** From Francisco Collazo & Julie Schwietert Collazo via @collazoprojects on Twitter — Penn Center (overlooked & beautiful part of African-American & American history) + gumbo not far away! Here’s a link: https://www.penncenter.com. I’m from SC & went for first time a few years ago. On the (only) road out to Penn Corner, there’s a row of little boutiques in some old houses. Gumbo in parking lot. Good stuff.

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, 50 states, advice, facebook, family, holidays, ideas, kids, road trip, SC, social media, South Carolina, tips, Travel in Asia, Travel in the USA, Twitter, vacation

Family travel in South Dakota

Post author By Bogdan
Post date June 30, 2009
9 Comments on Family travel in South Dakota

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @travelsd, and you can Fan them at the South Dakota tourism page on Facebook.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for South Dakota

*** From South Dakota tourism on Twitter – As a kid, I loved the classics-Dinosaur Park in Rapid City, Storybook Land in Aberdeen, Corn Palace, Wall Drug, Badlands, Rushmore.

*** From Robert Reid (the Lonely Planet US travel editor) via @reidontravel on Twitter – While in SD, take bizarre two-lane PINK roads (made of quartzite.) Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD = totally hoke.

*** From Nancy Nally via @NancyNally on Twitter – https://www.ingallshomestead.com – I visited in high school…she’s a hero of mine! [the Laura Ingalls Wilder homestead, or claim, in De Smet – I love the Little House books too!]

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, advice, facebook, family, holidays, ideas, kids, road trip, social media, South Dakota, tips, Travel in the USA, Twitter, vacation

50 State Series

Family Travel in Tennessee

Post author By Bogdan
Post date June 23, 2009
9 Comments on Family Travel in Tennessee

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

Their state tourism organization is on Twitter at @TNVacation, along with @EnjoyKnoxville, @ChattanoogaFun and @TNAquarium.

You can also find Tennessee tourism on Facebook.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Tennessee

*** From Cathleen Rittereiser via @CathleenRitt on Twitter – Memphis: Graceland, the National Civil Rights Museum and the ducks in the Peabody [Hotel.]

*** From Rebecca McCormick via @hotspringer on Twitter – For family fun in TN: https://www.wahoozip.com [Ziplining – Yeah, Baby!]

*** From Jill Knouse via @jillknouse on Twitter – lots of fun things in Gatlinburg!

*** From Dave Jones via @TNDayTripper on Twitter – How many of TN’s family-friendly, non-commercial attractions can you name? National Geographic Traveler named these: Family Vacation Planner for Tennessee.

*** From the Tennessee tourism folks via @TNVacation on Twitter, a bunch of family-friendly festivals and events – June 12 through August 2 Dollywood KidsFest, July 10 – 18 Kingsport Fun Fest, Aug 8 Tomato Art Fest, Sept 6 Boomsday Festival, Sept 12 Nat’l Rolley Hole Marbles Championship & Fest, Oct 2-4 Nat’l Storytelling Fest and Oct 17-18 Aussie Fall Fest Chillin’ & Grillin’.

*** From Lanora Mueller via @WritingTravel on Twitter – Your kids will love eating at a “meat-and-three” in Tennessee: Nashville in Escapes.

*** From Antonia Malchik via @amalchik on Twitter – National Storytelling Festival in Jonesborough, TN, every October! About my favorite thing to do all year. [Read her post about the Festival on Perceptive Travel blog.]

*** From Elmer Boutin via @rehor on Twitter – Graceland is cool and kid-friendly though many kids might not want to go there. [My kid didn’t either but I took her anyway; now she’s an Elvis fan.]

*** From Mike Goheen via @vistavision on Twitter – It’s kinda goofy, but I always liked the Lookout Mountain attractions in Chattanooga when I was a kid. [On Twitter at @VisitLookoutMtn]

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, advice, facebook, holidays, ideas, recommended, road trips, social media, Tennessee, tips, TN, Travel in the USA, Twitter, vacations

50 State Series Texas

Family travel in Texas

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia, Vermont, Utah and now we’re moving on to my current home state….Texas!

I could not find their state tourism organization on Twitter. I did find @VisitAustinTX, @VisitHoustonTX, @VisitSanAntonio, @GalvestonIsland, @PadreDude (South Padre Island) @BeaumontCVB and @SportsCapital (the city of Round Rock, just north of Austin.)

Texas state tourism is not on Facebook (that I could find.)

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Texas

*** From the Round Rock CVB (Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) via @SportsCapital on Twitter — Round Rock TX has tons of family-friendly activities: inexpensive water parks, great baseball games & miles of hike/bike trails!

*** From John Q. Pope via @JohnatDell on Twitter — Might consider two classic Texas swimming holes for your post: Krause Springs in Spicewood and the Blue Hole in Wimberley.

*** From Shawn Freeman via @shawnthinks on Twitter — Enchanted Rock, Hamilton Pool, Schlitterbahn [water park,] Sea World, Six Flags, Dallas Aquarium, Dell Children’s Museum [in Austin.]

*** From Andrea Schulle via @andreaschulle on Twitter — If you ever go to Brownwood, eat at Underwoods. It is a throwback and the food is delish. Best rolls EVER!

*** From the San Antonio CVB via @VisitSanAntonio on Twitter — We just launched a SA savings blog – Great, great savings each week and updated too! Also, see San Antonio’s Family Fun Attractions.

*** From Mozies Bar and Grill via @MoziesGTX on Twitter — Hi, Sheila! We are a family-friendly restaurant in Gruene, TX just outside of San Antonio near New Braunfels. Across from [the historic] Gristmill!

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, advice, Cool Family Stuff in Texas, facebook, family, kids, social media, tips, top-feature, Travel in the USA, Twitter, vacation ideas

50 State Series

Family Travel in Utah

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly vacation ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

I could not find their state tourism organization on Twitter. I did find@UtahStateParks, the St. George/Zion National Parks (@UtahTraveler) and @MeetInSaltLake (the Salt Lake City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) and would also like to mention @PCSki which represents the Park City Mountain Resort. Although @PCSki is a commercial Twitter account, I met one if its tweeters (@krista_parry) this year and was impressed with her passion for Park City and winter sports.

Utah state tourism is not on Facebook (that I could find.)

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Utah

*** From Kara Williams via @karasw on Twitter – Moab & Arches Nat’l Park for kids! Sorrel River Ranch Resort – just outside town – is $$$, but fab, w/ two-level family suites.

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, facebook, family, ideas, kids, marketing, road trip, social media, tourism, Travel in the USA, Twitter, Utah, vacation

50 State Series

Family travel in Vermont

Every Tuesday until we run out of states, I plan to post about family-friendly travel ideas, attractions and events in each one of the US states, taking input mostly from Twitter and Facebook.

Yes, I know how to search for family travel ideas on a destination or attraction Web site, but a tweet or a Facebook Wall recommendation is a much more engaging and public way to spread the word.

Please don’t email suggestions to me; that’s nice but it is one-to-one communication. Tweet me and/or Facebook me, so that all of our networks can see what’s cool about your state.

We’re going in alphabetical order but started with the end, so our first state for the series was Wyoming, then we investigated Wisconsin , West Virginia , Washington, Virginia and now we’re moving on to….Vermont!

You can find their state tourism organization on Twitter at @VermontTourism and here is the Vermont travel and tourism Facebook page. There is also a Vermont tourism YouTube channel.

When I asked for ideas, here’s what came in….

Twitter Travel Tips for Vermont

*** From the tourism folks via @VermontTourism on Twitter, a ton of goodies as you’d expect — ECHO [Lake, Aquarium and Science Center,] Shelburne Museum, Ben & Jerry’s Factory [in Waterbury,] Fairbanks Museum, Montshire Museum, VT State Parks, Smugglers Notch Resort…

Quechee Gorge, Green Mtn Railroads, LOTs of summer county fairs, farmers’ markets, hikes, swimming holes…Very kid friendly and HUGE year-long event for all of Vermont: Lake Champlain 400 celebration – follow @VTChamplain400 [on Twitter] for more….Great website for kid’s events and attractions in the Champlain Valley: https://www.findandgoseek.net….

VT Statehouse (now with veggie garden!) Rock of Ages granite quarry, UVM Morgan Horse Farm, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum…Also, gotta mention all our ski & snowboard resorts, Cabot Creamery, Church Street Marketplace, VT’s historic downtowns…

And finally, World’s Best Cheddar [cheese,] right? [Follow @CabotCoop on Twitter.] Vermonter’s love their food made locally.

*** From Jinny VanDeusen via @JinnyWJGB on Twitter — Camping in Winhall Brook [Ball Mountain, Vermont.]

*** From Nancy Kish via @AgapeHillFarm on Twitter — Agape Hill Farm offers llama walks, interactive farm visits and birthday parties in Hardwick, Vermont.

*** From Rebecca Lewis via @RebeccaPRChick on Twitter — My fave VT resort is Smuggler’s Notch!

Tags 50 State Family Travel Series, advice, facebook, family travel, Family Travel in New England, family vacation ideas, holidays, kids, marketing, social media, tips, tourism, Travel in the USA, Twitter, Vermont