Kennedy Space Center

You’ll want to give yourself the whole day to explore NASA’s launch headquarters. The John F. Kennedy Space Center is kind of like a space themed amusement park—only it’s real. Every United States Space launch since December 1968 has taken place at the Kennedy Space Center. You’ll get to do some pretty awesome stuff when you visit. High points of the day will be touching a moon rock and standing under the largest rocket ever flown. The complex is huge. Visitors have the option to do everything from flight simulations to lunching with an astronaut. Wander the rocket garden, the astronaut memorial and the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame. Children, or “junior astronauts” as they are called here, can lift off in a spacecraft, climb a moon rock wall, crawl through rocket tunnels and slide to the surface of the moon at the Children’s Play Dome.

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Statue of Liberty

The colossal Statue of Liberty is located on Liberty Island and is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy around the world. The 305-foot statue is as tall as a 22-story building and was a gift from the people of France commemorating the alliance between France and America during the American Revolution. At the time, France was still under the rule of a monarchy but was on the verge of democracy and the gift was meant to call attention to the recent achievements of the United States and inspire the French people to build their own democracy. You’ll need to purchase a ticket to explore the inside of the Statue of Liberty and advanced reservations are required to visit the Crown. It’s also important to keep in mind that visiting the Crown means climbing stairs, including a narrow spiral staircase inside the Statue’s body. Unfortunately, you will not be allowed access to the Torch, which has been closed since the “Black Tom” explosion of July 30, 1916.

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Niagara Falls

The majestic Niagara Falls straddle the Niagara River, which flows for 35 miles between lake Erie and Ontario. The falls also straddle the boarder between Canada and the United States. There are three waterfalls total. On the American side, you’ll find American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side, is also known as Rainbow Falls. As you might have guessed, it gets its name from the misty rainbow that is usually present at its base. There are lots of ways to view and explore Niagara Falls using the man-made observation platforms, boat tours and even touring the falls by aircraft. You can get close enough to drench yourself in the thundering spray or choose to stay dry and take in the sight from a nearby bridge. Either way, the important thing is to avoid going for a swim like several not-so-famous daredevils have over the years. Entering the water is illegal—not to mention, deadly.

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Fenway Park

Home of the Boston Red Sox since it opened in 1912, Fenway Park is the oldest ballpark in major league baseball. Another way to describe the age of the ballpark is to say the Titanic sank just a few weeks before it opened. A truly historical landmark, the ballpark still has a hand-operated scoreboard. Of course, the stadium has undergone renovation since 1912 to ensure structural integrity and several improvements have been made. One such improvement was the addition of a wall to block homerun balls from flying out of the park and into the windows of the apartment building across the street. If you attend a game planning to catch a baseball as a souvenir, try to remember that the balls are coming at an average speed of 100 miles per hour. The ballpark has four resident EMTs to give first aid to visitors who think they can catch a ball at that speed without putting down their hotdog.

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The Freedom Trail

During your East Coast tour, bring your walking shoes and hit the Freedom Trail. The Freedom Trail is a red—mostly brick–path that guides pedestrians through some of Boston’s most historical landmarks. From start to finish, the trail measures 2.5 miles. Along the way, you’ll hit 16 official historical sites. The subject of the sites centers around the American Revolution and its contributors. You can download an audio tour on MP3 for a two-hour narrative to guide you along your way. You’ll get to see some important stuff, including the Bunker Hill monument, the site of the Boston Massacre, Paul Revere’s house, and the USS Constitution—just to name a few. In addition to the 16 official sites along the Freedom Trial, there are dozens of unofficial things to see that are just steps off the path. These extras include The Black Heritage Trail, the John Adams Courthouse, and the print shop that published The Boston Gazette.

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