Grand View Research reports that demand for educational travel could grow an average of 15% annually through 2030 for families with kids under 15 years old. A small, but growing, community of worldschooling households makes the road their full-time classroom, but those in traditional schools can also combine travel with education. Bring learning to life for your children with these trips designed to take them beyond the school walls and into the world.
1st to 3rd grades: Stay local
Keep educational trips close to home for the youngest learners. These early years are when students learn about civics, or what it means to be a good citizen, as well as national symbols. A visit to your state capitol shows young learners important symbols, such as the state flag, flower and bird, and significant people in your state’s history.
Second graders learn about Native Americans, allowing families to visit tribal lands or archaeological sites in their area. Research your visit in advance to ensure you visit respectfully.
Third graders dive deeper into civic participation. Families can combine travel with civics by volunteering at a cleanup day while on vacation or attending a local parade or festival happening in the destination.
4th grade: National parks
Thanks to the Every Kid Outdoors program from the National Park Service, or NPS, families of fourth graders receive free admission to national parks, lands and waters for a full year. Fourth graders learn geology, history, ecology, archaeology and conservation across the 85 million acres managed by the NPS. With 433 sites across all 50 states, there is something for every fourth grader to enjoy.
5th grade: Boston
Fifth graders learn Revolutionary War history, and Boston offers endless opportunities to go back in time. Walk the Freedom Trail to explore sites like the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church, and see where the ideas of the Revolution took hold. Throw replica tea chests overboard at the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, and visit the site of the first public school in America, which educated founding fathers like Benjamin Franklin, Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
6th and 7th grades: New York City
Sixth grade covers world history and ancient civilizations. If you’re able to do it, Rome with kids is an unforgettable learning experience.
If visiting the actual ancient sites of Rome or Cairo isn’t a possibility, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is the best thing closer to home. The Met is the largest museum in the Americas, and shares 5,000 years of history and art across its vast collection. It is one of the best museums in NYC for kids. Middle schoolers are the perfect age to appreciate it.
Seventh graders continue world exploration with an introduction to world religions and cultures, which also touches on migration. Visiting the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island introduces young people to New York City’s important role in immigration. The city’s vibrant cultural neighborhoods, like Koreatown and Little Italy, offer glimpses of the diverse groups that now call the Big Apple home.
8th grade: Washington, D.C.
Eighth graders study United States history, including the Constitution. Show kids the real thing with a visit to the National Archives before diving into the rich history of the country at one of the many free Smithsonian museums. Contact your member of Congress ahead of time for a chance to visit the White House, or join an official tour of the U.S. Capitol to see the government in action.
9th grade: UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Ninth graders start a tour through world history that culminates in 10th grade. Bring this history to life at one of the 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S. These locations are recognized for their outstanding universal value and significance in the common heritage of humanity. Sites in America include everything from the adobe village of Taos Pueblo in New Mexico to Monticello in Virginia, giving families a huge variety of history to explore.
If you’re looking to travel further, the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt or the Acropolis in Greece make for unforgettable trips. Visiting Cairo with kids is not as intimidating as it sounds, and 9th graders will have the perspective to appreciate and remember this ancient wonder.
10th grade: Hawaii
Tenth-grade students study the world wars, and they can visit Pearl Harbor in Hawaii for a deeper understanding of what brought the U.S. into World War II. Tenth graders also learn about colonialism, and Hawaii offers the opportunity to examine its colonization before its annexation and eventual statehood. World travelers can head to Europe for an exploration of the major sites of either world war.
11th grade: Atlanta
Eleventh grade teaches modern U.S. history, including the Industrialization Era and the Civil Rights Movement. Atlanta is home to several Civil Rights sites, including the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. The city is also the birthplace of one of America’s most recognizable companies, The Coca-Cola Company. It offers a look into industrialization and capitalism at the World of Coca-Cola museum, a perfect stop for families bringing the classroom to life.
12th grade: Virginia
By the end of high school, students learn the origins of democracy, what influenced our Constitution and the forces shaping our government today. Take these budding adults to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson’s estate in Virginia. Here, they can examine the ideals and principles he enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights and how they still apply today. Pair Monticello with a visit to Colonial Williamsburg to fully immerse yourself in life at the founding of our country.
Pack your bags
Educational travel is on the rise, and families are driving the immersive travel trend with a desire to expose their children to new perspectives and cultures. From living museums to breathtaking nature, there is an educational trip to combine learning and fun for students of every age.
Ashley Wali is a Seattle-based travel journalist and curator of Wanderlux, specializing in luxury family travel, sports tourism and wellness travel. She shares stress-free family trip planning advice to make luxury travel affordable and approachable.
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