The place: Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia

Who visited: Michelle and Doug LeRoy of Holly Springs, North Carolina, and their kids, Katie, age 14, Annie, 10, and Maggie, 7

Why they loved it: On this famed 105-mile route, it's easy to get a "wow" from young passengers, says Michelle. Along with eye-popping vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Skyline Drive features trailheads for numerous kid-friendly hikes. After consulting a ranger at the Byrd Visitor Center, the LeRoys chose the Dark Hollow Falls Trail, where the younger girls loved rock-hopping at the base of the cascade. "The minute you get off the road, you feel like you're deep into nature," marvels Michelle. Admission to the park is $15 per car ($10 from December through February).

While you're there: Don't miss Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson's historic home near Charlottesville, about 30 miles east of the park's south entrance ($15 for adults, $8 for kids ages 6 to 11). The house's clever innovations and "quirky little nuances" fascinated her kids, says Michelle.

For more information: Call 540-999-3500 or visit the National Park Service site. For Monticello, call 434-984-9822 or visit Monticello.org.