Just ask any kid and they'll tell you: Ships are cool.
Almost every kid dreams of sailing to explore distant lands, battling pirates or voyaging beneath the sea in a submarine. For my 10-year-old nephew, the sight of any huge vessel on the open sea makes his eyes grow wide. "Why don't they sink?" he asks. "What's all that stuff sticking out of them?" Now, thanks to a few visits to maritime parks, his questions have been answered.
At these seafaring museums, which often combine land exhibits with actual boats to tour, families get a firsthand look at the workings of ships and their roles in history. But perhaps the best part about climbing aboard is the sense of adventure your kids will feel as they smell the salt air and feel the sea rolling beneath them.
Your family is sure to enjoy a day trip to the Texas Seaport Museum.
TEXAS SEAPORT MUSEUM
GALVESTON, TEXAS
This museum is a tribute to the history and workings of the 19th-century Gulf Coast port. Here you'll find the Elissa, a 202-foot square-rigged iron barque, the third-oldest ship afloat.
Volunteers have restored this vessel to its original condition and continue its upkeep every weekend. In addition, they'll demonstrate setting sails and handling lines. Open daily from 10 A.M. to 5 P.M. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for kids age seven to 18, and free for kids age six and under. For more information, call 409-763-1877 or click here.
Roxanne Nelson is a freelance writer with a home port in Sausalito, California.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Updated July 2005.
