Discover must-visit UNESCO sites for families around the US for memorable experiences during your next reunion
By Stephanie Aguilar
A multigenerational family trip is more than just packing up the kids and car or boarding a plane to see loved ones. It offers groups the opportunity to explore their cultural history and create lasting bonds, making everyone feel connected and valued. An excellent way to incorporate ancestry into your reunion itinerary, UNESCO Heritage Sites offer incredible experiences for everyone. Understanding history while on a trip gives families a chance to learn together while creating unforgettable memories.
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US UNESCO Sites for Families
The United States is a hub for diverse destinations that allow groups to discover their heritage while also learning about others. UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, is an agency that promotes peace and security through international heritage travel. This agency offers many benefits for family reunions, including opportunities to make memories while exploring different cultures together. Let’s explore some of the top US UNESCO sites for families that make perfect additions to your reunion itinerary.
Statue of Liberty – NYC
As one of America’s most famous landmarks, the Statue of Liberty offers many exciting activities for families. Visiting the monument’s fully accessible pedestal is an extraordinary experience for groups. With 215 steps to the observation deck and an elevator for those who cannot use the stairs, visitors can view New York City across the sparkling water and experience firsthand the beauty this statue embodies.
Additionally, there is a museum dedicated to the Statue of Liberty, where families can explore its history and significance. Some of the best times to visit include spring and summer, as the weather is much warmer and the winds off the waterfront are not as cold. However, beware of bustling summertime crowds and vacationers.
Independence Hall – Philadelphia, PA
Independence Hall, one of the most iconic landmarks of American history, resides in the heart of Philadelphia. Families can broaden their understanding of American heritage through the fascinating destination. This immersive physical experience transports families back to the late 1700s, when the Founding Fathers crafted the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
The UNESCO heritage site offers guided tours, available as audio tours for those with hearing impairments, as well as elevators and ramps to accommodate every member of the family. Additionally, Independence Hall offers ASL interpreters that can be reserved, making this destination feel welcoming and inclusive for everyone. The weather in Philadelphia during spring and summer makes this destination a perfect spring break or summer vacation trip, but it can also be enjoyed year-round.
Mesa Verde National Park – Southwestern Colorado
Discover the history of the Ancestral Pueblo people with a visit to Mesa Verde National Park. This UNESCO Heritage Site has a unique history, comprising different Pueblos and tribes, as it was once a community-rich area where ancestors lived. Located in Southern Colorado, Mesa Verde National Park is near the Four Corners region, where New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and Utah meet.
Mesa Verde offers opportunities year-round. For Fall visitors, the calmer, cooler climate gives families a chance to hike scenic trails, explore historical sites, and experience the natural environment of Spruce Canyon. Winter can also be a great time to explore this UNESCO Heritage Site, but families should keep in mind that the main park road is steep, winding and often icy. But cars are permitted to enjoy a scenic drive during safe conditions. This destination offers families the experience of how ancestors lived in such an environment and how they created a sense of community through traditions and rituals.
Carlsbad Caverns National Park– Carlsbad, New Mexico
For desert lovers, Carlsbad Caverns offers a unique family adventure exploring the geographic beauty above and below ground. Carlsbad Caverns in Carlsbad, New Mexico, is home to otherworldly desert vegetation, including various types of cacti. Carlsbad Caverns allow families to enjoy vast underground cave systems and above-ground hiking trails, such as the Guadalupe Ridge Trail. The Big Room trail offers families the chance to experience the largest single cave chamber in North America and to learn about the different formations and shapes that caves exhibit.
This destination also has various accessible points so everybody can participate, including elevators at specific points of the Big Room. Travelling to Carlsbad Caverns is recommended during spring and fall, as the desert weather is much calmer than the harsh summer heat.
Yellowstone National Park – Northern Wyoming
As one of the most famous national parks in North America and the first US location to be deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Yellowstone National Park is a must-visit for families. Located in Northern Wyoming, Yellowstone offers families the chance to hike vast trails and explore picturesque landscapes, as well as a variety of activities and attractions.
Home to over half of the world’s natural geysers, discover mesmerizing areas in this thermal hotspot, such as hot springs and mud pots. Due to the park’s hydrothermal features, visiting at different times of year offers unique experiences for each family. Yellowstone also offers horseback riding and boating activities. Families can explore the park’s Native American culture through various indigenous events, such as the Yellowstone Tribal Heritage Center, which displays works of art and crafts from Native tribes.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park – Tennessee & North Carolina
Located in Tennessee and North Carolina, the Great Smoky Mountains are a destination that allows families to explore the historical culture of the Appalachian region. With a vast array of wildlife, visitors can hike scenic trails and experience authentic structures such as log cabins and gristmills that are significant to the natural and cultural history of Appalachia. Depending on which state your family visits, trails offer different experiences that showcase the diversity of this UNESCO Heritage Site.
North Carolina provides trails families can explore, such as Big Creek, with its dense forests and history as a logging town, and Fontana, a more serene, secluded area with scenic cascades and wildflowers. Tennessee sites include Metcalf Bottoms and Elkmont, home to peaceful trails and mountain streams, as well as Foothills Parkway West, which offers a scenic overlook for families that prefer driving.
Cahokia Mounds World Heritage & State Historic Site – Collinsville, Illinois
As the largest pre-Colombian site north of Mexico, Cahokia Mounds in Collinsville, Illinois, offers families a chance to explore the site of rich history of the Colombian people. This historic site is home to mounds built by the Colombians to create communities that housed over 20,000 people. This destination offers insight into ancient archaeology, and with over 100 mounds, visitors can explore the history of each mound and how communities used different sites for specific purposes.
The Interpretive Center gives families a chance to explore and discuss the history of Cahokia Mounds and learn about the traditions that helped shape this destination. The best times of year to visit are spring and fall, when the weather is most comfortable and the attractions are less crowded.
Planning your Family Heritage Trip
When planning a family heritage trip, it is essential to research and find destinations that align with various factors to make the experience worthwhile for families. Guided tours offer families an organized way to learn and immersive experiences to create lasting memories. Storytelling techniques are also necessary, as different cultures and historical periods benefited from a range of storytelling forms. Storytelling is a primary way for cultural history to stay alive and for families to experience what life was like for their ancestors. One way to create a unique family travel experience is to do your own research. By discovering their own ancestry and DNA sites, families can choose destinations that hold significance for their culture and connect with their ancestors.
Choosing a family site can sound intimidating. Researching destinations with accessibility and child-friendly exhibits helps create a vacation that incorporates everyone in the fun and learning. It is also essential to study the type of climate your family wants when travelling, ensuring the weather doesn’t spoil the fun and learning.
What’s Your Next Vacation?
Whether travelling with just your family or your extended family, learning the history and culture of the civilizations that shaped how communities exist today is a fun way to make traveling more than just a vacation. Traveling with the purpose of learning creates memories and stories that can be shared for years to come and encourages more immersive, interactive vacations in the future.
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