34 Must-See Stops When Roadschooling in the Southeast

Are you looking for some educational and fun destinations for your roadschooling trip? Here are some great ideas!

From up in Ohio all the way down to Florida, educational opportunities are just waiting to be explored! Keep reading to find out some awesome places to travel while providing a great education to your kids!

1. Mammoth Cave in Kentucky

The miles and miles of cave systems are a natural wonder in their own right, but Mammoth Cave also has a place in history for Native Americans, African Americans, women, and more. Take a ranger-led cave tour or boat down the Green River to enjoy nature and history!

2. Shark Tooth Hunting/Digging

If you go to Florida, go to the beach and look for some shark teeth! They’re easiest to find right after a storm, but you can find them anytime in places like Fort Clinch State Park, around Venice, or Fort Myers . You can find all sorts of shark teeth, and maybe even a Megalodon tooth! If you would rather do it with a guide, there are lots of options for shark hunting!

3. Everglades

At the Everglades in Florida, you’ll get to see the River of Grass, a slow-moving river that’s 60 miles wide! On a ranger-led tour, you’ll learn about the ecosystem of the Everglades and its history of it. You may even get to spot some wildlife!

4. Colonial Williamsburg

Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the world, you can see reenactments of life in colonial times. Events range from watching the craft happen in a blacksmith shop or brickyard to seeing how colonists connected with their community in the courthouse and the capitol building.

5. Yorktown

Learn about the Revolutionary War in Yorktown. You can visit the Yorktown battlefield, the site where independence was won in 1781, as indicated by the Yorktown Victory Monument. You can also find the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown, which is a living history museum, as well as the National Cemetery from the time of the Civil War.

6. Jamestown

Take a stop at Historic Jamestowne, where kids ages 15 and younger get free admission to the history-rich programs put on for kids and families. They also have archaeological activities, where you can piece together artifacts and use them to figure out what people actually ate in the olden days of Jamestown.

7. Georgia Aquarium

Want some marine education? Check out the Georiga Aquarium in Atlanta, where they have over 170 species of aquatic life, including penguins, puffins, otters, sharks, rays, and over 100 types of fish. You can even get a painting done by a beluga whale or a dolphin!

8. Cherokee Museum

For education about Native American history, the Cherokee Museum in North Carolina is a must. Here, you can immerse yourself in the history and culture of the Cherokee people. Go through the museum to see millennia of Cherokee history, and watch the Warriors of AniKituhwa, a group that helped bring Cherokee dance back to life.

9. Providence Canyon

Georgia’s “Little Grand Canyon,” what you may take to be a natural wonder is actually the result of mankind’s mistakes. Poor farming practices in the 1800s led to the impressive erosion of this riverbed. Along with that reminder of how much humans affect nature, you can also learn about astronomy and geology at this park.

10. St Augustine, Florida

When you step into St Augustine, Florida, you’re stepping into one big, breathing museum. There are historical sites and living history museums everywhere.

Check out Castillo de San Marcos, a fortress built by Spain to secure their claim on the New World. Explore the rooms and the courtyard yourself, or take a free ranger-led tour.

11. Bryson City, NC

From Bryson City, you can enter the Great Smoky Mountains, National Park. This is the most biodiverse park of all the National Parks, so be on the lookout for lots of different types of wildlife!

You can also visit the Smokey Mountains Train Museum.

12. Asheville, NC

Come to Asheville for the art and architecture. Visit the galleries and museums that fill the Downtown Art District, check out the factory buildings-turned art studios in the River Arts District, and don’t forget to go see the architecture of the Basilica of Saint Lawrence.

13. Fort Sumter

Learn about the Civil War at Fort Sumter, where the National Park Service preserves the Fort for history and education. If you take the first ferry out to Fort Sumter, or the final ferry away, you can get an opportunity to help the rangers raise or lower the flag.

14. Kitty Hawk

For arts and science, go to Kitty Hawk’s Outer Banks Children @ Play Museum, where kids can do some hands-on learning and have fun doing it.

You can also visit the Wright Brothers National Memorial to learn about the first flight and visit the spot where it happened.

15. Washington, DC

Learn through exploration in Washington DC! Take a tour of the Capitol Building, visit the Library of Congress, and explore the National Air and Space Museum. There’s also Ford’s Theatre, the Petersen House, the National Zoo, and the White House. Needless to say, a day or two in the capital city will be busy!

16. Virginia Safari Park

Want more from your zoo experience? Try the Virginia Safari Park, where you can get close-up encounters with the animals from the drive-thru safari, the village walk-thru, or even feeding the animals. You can also get special behind-the-scenes encounters with sloths, rhinos, and penguins!

17. Savannah Georgia

Savannah is full of museums. This includes the Jepson Center, an art museum where you can view old classics and new pieces alike before going to the hands-on children’s space or the studio.

There’s also the American Prohibition Museum and the Davenport House Museum.

18. Harpers Ferry

The Harpers Ferry National Historical Park is most famous for the historical Lower Town, which has several museums and exhibits to explore. There’s a lot more to the park than that, though: Murphy Farm, Bolivar Hills, and Camp Hill are just a few other historical sites to visit.

19. Gettysburg

For historical education on the Civil War, you’ve got to come to Gettysburg. Along with being the site of Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg address, it’s now the home of living history reenactments and education. Take one of the horseback riding trails, see the Cyclorama painting, or visit on a dedication day or battle anniversary for a special program.

20. Grayson Highlands State Park

Immerse yourself in nature as you head into this scenic park. You’ll be close to Virginia’s two highest peaks: Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain. Take a guided or self-guided trek, or spend an evening going on an owl prowl. The park has Junior and Adventure Ranger programs through which you can learn about the park’s history, geology, and culture.

21. New Orleans French Quarter

Visit one of the most historical parts of New Orleans by stopping in the French Quarter. Experience the culture of the French market and Jackson Square, and don’t forget to check out the St. Louis Cathedral. Then go see the Historic New Orleans Collection, which is a museum, a research center, and a publisher all in one, with everything from photographs to sculptures.

22. Tortuga National Park

The Dry Tortugas National Park is a great destination to see marine wildlife. Go snorkeling or swimming to see coral, reef fish, and cultural artifacts. You might even see sea turtles. This park is also good for seeing birds, as nearly 300 species have been spotted here. You can also explore the ruins of the 19th-century fort or join the Junior Rangers Program.

23. Derek’s Dolphin Tour

If you want to watch wild dolphins up close, go to Tybee Island in Georgia, where Captain Derek’s Dolphin Adventure tours will take you out on a boat to watch them swim gently or play and surf, depending on the dolphin’s mood, of course.

You can watch the dolphins through still water, or Captain Derek can speed the boat to 30 knots and see if the dolphins will surf the waves!

24. Cumberland Falls

When you visit Kentucky, make sure to stop at Cumberland Falls. Also called “the Niagara of the South,” this waterfall is 68 feet tall and 125 feet wide, with a total of 3,600 cubic feet of water crashing down every second. If you can manage to schedule your visit for a full moon, watch for a “moonbow:” a rare occurrence where the moonlight makes a rainbow in the mist.

25. Briarwood Safari

At the Briarwood Ranch Safari Park in Tennesse, you can ride a wagon pulled by a tractor or drive your own car through the safari zone to get close-up pictures of the animals there, so be sure to bring a camera! They have bison, llamas, deer, and more, and if the safari isn’t enough, stop at the petting zoo before you go.

26. Stone Mountain

Georgia’s biggest family park, Stone Mountain Park has hiking trails where you can observe and enjoy nature, including one that goes to the top of Stone Mountain itself.

It’s also home to the Dinotorium, a place where kids can play and learn about science and prehistoric discovery. Then there’s Dinosaur Explore, where you will find yourself immersed in the world of dinosaurs with the models of popular dinos and paleontology tents.

27. Crystal River Springs

For a very special encounter, go to the Three Sisters Springs near Crystal River, Florida. Here, you’ll be able to swim, snorkel, or paddle in the Springs for a chance to encounter manatees!

28. Biltmore

Biltmore is a huge 19th-century estate in Asheville, North Carolina that displays artwork by the masters. See works by Renoir, da Vinci, and others, or simply stroll through and admire the house itself.

29. Smithsonian Museums in DC

Who can talk about must-see museums without bringing up the Smithsonian, the biggest museum in the world? Just make sure you know what you want to see before you arrive because there’s a lot to do between all the art, history, and science displays. Explore historical design, culture, and nature, and maybe even stop at the Smithsonian National Zoo as well.

30. Roanoke Island

Experience the history and mystery of Roanoke Island at Roanoke Island Festival Park. Multiple voyages sailed and landed at the island, with settlers building it up as a colony, but the settlers mysteriously disappeared.

Take a tour of the recreated settlement, see what it was like on the ship Elizabeth II, and explore the culture and history of the Native American town.

31. Amish Country

For a different kind of living history, visit the Amish country in Ohio. You can visit cultural attractions and interact with the locals, who love to show their heritage. See the farmsteads and daily chores, and learn the unique story of the people that live there. If you pay attention, you may even get to witness the way they come together to achieve a common goal.

32. Cape Canaveral Space Launch

It might be tricky to line your trip up with an actual launch, but there’s still plenty to do at the visitors center. Visit the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame, the Rocket Garden, and more. You might even get an encounter with a real astronaut!

33. Shenandoah

At Shenandoah National Park, you’ll be able to watch wildlife, visit the exhibits, and even get a good view of the night sky.

You can take a hike to see nature and try to spot wildlife. At the various exhibits, you can learn about the history of the park and its ecosystem through interactive activities. If you’re there at night, you’ll find Big Meadows to be a spectacular place to watch the stars.

34. Charlottesville

At Charlottesville, you can find several historical sites, including the homes of Thomas Jefferson (the author of the Declaration of Independence), James Madison (the father of the Constitution), and James Monroe (the fifth president of the United States).

If you visit the campus of the University of Virginia, you can also find poet Edgar Allen Poe’s room and listen to a recording about his time at UVA.

Don’t Forget to Document Your Travel Adventures

Conclusion

The southeastern part of the United States has so much to offer in the way of American History, wildlife, science, and so much more. I hope this list has been helpful for your travel plans. What are some of your favorite educational and fun places in this area? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below!

Happy Travel Homeschooling!