Family Trips on America's Byways

Tired of the "are we there yet?" chorus coming from the back seat? America's Byways offer a wide range of activities -- scenic, historic, and just plain interesting -- to suit any family.

Last Escape of Billy the Kid Pageant (NM) [1]

In New Mexico, check out the Billy the Kid Trail. Named after the notorious outlaw, this byway goes through the one-street town of Lincoln where "the Kid" made his famous last escape. The kids in your group will love visiting the hotel room where he slept. Billy the Kid's bullet hole is still visible in the courthouse wall. Come to the pageant held every year in August, an exciting re-enactment of the Kid's dramatic escape.

The Indian River Lagoon (FL) [2]

For families heading to Florida, the Indian River Lagoon Scenic Byway is a great place to visit. The byway is flanked by the ocean on one side and the Indian River Lagoon on the other -- one of the most biodiverse estuaries on our continent. The area attracts more sea turtles than any other place in the hemisphere, and many kids will enjoy looking for their nests in the summer.

Tea Party Festival in Chestertown, Maryland (MD) [3]

Or, head out to Maryland's Chesapeake Country Scenic Byway. You won't want to miss the Chestertown Tea Party Festival, held over Memorial Day weekend each year to commemorate colonial resistance to British rule. In 1773, shortly after Boston's famous revolt, local residents boarded boats in broad daylight to dump tea to protest the tax on the colonials. Kids will also want to visit the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and view some of the world's largest vessels traveling to and from Baltimore.

There's plenty for families to do and see along America's Byways!