THE PLACE: Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum, Charleston Harbor, South Carolina.
WHO VISITED: Claire Sullivan of Barryville, New York, and her kids, Nicholas, age 12, Damon, 10, and Galen, 5.
WHY THEY LOVED IT: A decommissioned aircraft carrier, the legendary U.S.S. Yorktown, has been docked in Charleston Harbor and turned into an incredible playspace for history-loving families ($15 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6 to 11). Children are encouraged to explore the painstakingly preserved World War II craft from bow to stern. "In the control tower, Nick pretended he was leading the Battle of the Coral Sea," recalls Claire. "On the flight deck, the boys pretended to be dogfighting like real World War II pilots." There's also a submarine, a Coast Guard cutter, and a re-created Vietnam-era base camp. Many of the exhibits can be touched or climbed on. The Sullivan crew made a 50-mile detour to Patriots Point while driving from New York to Walt Disney World. The kids enjoyed it so much, says Claire, the family visited again on the drive home.
WHILE YOU'RE THERE: Travel further back in U.S. history by catching a narrated cruise from Patriots Point across Charleston Harbor to Fort Sumter, the island garrison where the Civil War began ($15 for adults, $9 for kids ages 6 to 11).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Call 866-831-1720 or visit patriotspoint.org. For Fort Sumter Tour cruises, call 800-789-3678 or visit spiritlinecruises.com.
