6. Seale, Alabama
Imagine a Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum crossed with a junkyard and an art museum and throw in some Jackalope-esque creations along with genuinely cool artifacts and you get the Museum of Wonder. Take time to visit the Coon Dog Cemetery in Colbert County Alabama near the Rattlesnake Saloon and then stop off at Tom’s Wall – A Stone Wall, Native American tribute, 30 years in the making. Your family could visit all three of these venues and stay in Florence then visit Huntsville… Home of Space Camp and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.
5. Salem, Oregon
Talk about a weird destination! Mt. Angel Abbey Museum of Natural History located a few miles northeast of Salem, Oregon, houses the nation’s largest porcine (hog) hairball along with two 6-legged calves to name a few of it’s oddities. The Mt. Angel Abbey also happens to be one of the oldest traditional monasteries in the United States. Visitors are welcome to roam the Abbey grounds. Then travel 10 miles to the Enchanted Forest. It is an eclectic mix of mythical, fantasy-inspired rides and attractions – everything from Ice Mountain Bobsleds, underground Indian Caves, cowboy-themed adventures, an English Village, the Crooked House, a Rabbit Hole, the Jolly Roger Water Light show, and the Big Timber Log Ride – said to be the largest log ride in the Pacific Northwest. There are lots of options for family-friendly lodging in and around Salem for this two to three-day adventure.
4. Oxnard, California
Going back to “OUR” childhood take your kids to visit the Woolworth Museum. It has all kinds of the pharmacy inspired memorabilia like old toys, still in working order, that kids can have fun playing with. They have a 1959 Coke machine with glass bottles. There are authentic games from the ’60s such as, the Challenger, which tests the steadiness of your hand and is free of charge to play and a fully functional 1960s pinball machine. Plus a take-it-yourself photo booth. There is a themed Pirates restaurant and when you’re ready to hit it back into the 21st century Oxnard is a cool spot for rollerblading, surfing, kayaking, snorkeling, hiking, and more.
