Cernys’ Journeys Virtual Road Trip Journal
Come along with us on our Virtual Road Trip of the US. You can either follow along or create your own journeys!
Those who know us, know we severely struggle with Wanderlust (a strong desire to travel), so sitting idle has not been an easy task. Hence, how we came up with our Virtual Road Trip of the US. A few months ago we were going on Spring Break and had plans for weekend getaways.
Luckily, we have been able to travel to places we have yet to go from our home. Although not the same, we are enjoying spending time together “traveling”, learning together, and most importantly, creating a list of places we want to go in the future when we are able. We have really enjoyed virtually exploring our wonderful country in a way that is not so conventional.
Here is how we have been doing it…
Every day we focus on one state. We learn about the history, notable people from the state, find out what museums are there, tourists’ attractions, etc. Then we watch videos, create art projects, listen to music, and talk about it together as a family. We have then been doing a daily vlog on our Cernys’ Journeys Kids YouTube channel to document our daily journey. During our daily Vlog recording the kids go and color in the state we are focusing on, which gives them a perspective of where in the country it is located, so they are learning their US geography as well. The kids and adults are all equally learning which is fun! It’s really a Win-Win all around.
If you are interested in going on your own Virtual Road Trip click on the link for a list of resources from our previous blog article to help you get started or come up with your own ideas.
Below are easy links to the individual states…
I wanted to have a spot where all of Cernys’ Journeys Kids YouTube videos are as one-stop-shop. Of course, we have only just started, so I will be adding the states as we go along. Feel free to click on the individual links to take you to the state you are interested in taking a road trip to.
Alabama: Learn with us about Rosa Parks, Civil Rights Activist, Helen Keller, The US Space & Rocket Center, and Mars.
Alaska: Travel with to learn about Alaskan Wildlife and The Northern Lights.
Arizona: Find out about the Sonoran Desert, desert wildlife, Butterfly Wonderland, and The Grand Canyon. And we will show you how to make your own butterfly.
Arkansas: Discover the honeybee and honey, talk about milk (I know strange, but find out why!), President Clinton, The Clinton Presidential Library, Diamonds, and where you can get your own activity guide all about Arkansas.
California: We invite you to learn with us about the San Diego, The San Diego Zoo, Los Angeles, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, San Francisco, and the Golden Gate Bridge
Colorado: Explore the Rocky Mountains, skiing, The Denver Mint, Dinosaur Ridge, and Tyrannosaurus Rex.
Connecticut: Join us in one of the original 13 colonies, Connecticut. We will explore helicopters, Mystic Seaport Maritime Museum, and how Connecticut was influential in the Revolutionary War.
Delaware: See Channel Whelk Shells, the Delaware state shell, a log cabin, Bombay Hook, which is a refuge for many migrating birds, the Underground Railroad, and the Delaware History Trail.
Florida: Come with us to the Everglades National Park, Manatees, Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain, and Nasa’s International Space Station.
Georgia: Journey to Georgia to the Georgia Aquarium, The World of Coke and learn about civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.
Hawaii: Aloha! Let’s talk about hibiscus and make your own, learn about volcanoes as we visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Pearl Harbor.
Idaho: Check out Craters of the Moon National Monument, Sacagawea, Idaho potatoes.
Illinois: Come with us to Chicago, learn about the Great Chicago Fire, The Willis Tower aka. Sears Tower, movies filmed in Chicago, The Ferris Wheel, and the 50+ museums in the city.
Indiana: What’s a Hoosier? Explore the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, agriculture, farming, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Indianapolis Children’s Museum, and Purdue. Boiler Up!
Iowa: Learn about John Deere and go to the Tractor and Engine Museum, explore the Effigy Mounds National Monument, roam the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium, and talk about beavers.
Kansas: Take a whirlwind trip with us to The Wizard of OZ, learn about sunflowers, and our 34th – President Dwight Eisenhower.
Kentucky: Race to learn about Thoroughbred horses, The Kentucky Derby, the Happy Birthday song, and Mammoth Caves National Park.
Louisiana: Get Jazzed about New Orleans, The French Quarter, Jazz Music, Louis Armstrong, and alligators.
Maine: Behold the beauty of The Finback Whale, Nubble Lighthouse, and Arcadia National Park.
Maryland: Follow along to Fort McHenry National Monument, Francis Scott Key, The Star-Spangled Banner, and tour the outdoor monuments and memorials of Washington DC.
Massachusetts: Travel back in history at Plymouth Rock, The Mayflower, Pilgrims, The Freedom Trail, the USS Constitution, and Bunker Hill and have some fun with Dr. Seuss.
Michigan: Explore Frederik Meijer Gardens, President Gerald Ford, The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library & Museum, and The Henry Ford Museum.
Minnesota: Get creative as you learn about Charles Schultz and The Peanuts Gang, Voyageurs National Park, and Crayola Experience at The Mall of America
Mississippi: Check out Jen Henson, the muppets, the Mississippi River, Teddy Bears, and Vicksburg National Park.
Missouri: Find out why we do the mouthwash challenge, go to the Gateway Arch, Mark Twain, Tom Sawyer, and Huckleberry Finn, State Caves, stalactites, stalagmites, and bats.
Montana: Dare to be like Evel Knievel, Glacier National Park, Grizzly Bears, The Grizzly & Wolf Discovery Center, and The Museum of the Rockies.
Nebraska: Zip over to the Henry Dooley Zoo, the rainforest, parrots, Chimney Rock National Historic Site, and Scotts Bluff National Monument.
Nevada: Experience Death Valley National Park, The Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, and Cirque du Soleli.
New Hampshire: Wind over to White Mountain National Forest, Conway Scenic Railroad, locomotives, and the Strawberry Banke Museum.
New Jersey: Go back in history to learn about Thomas Edison, the light bulb, how to make it glow without a lamp, Thomas Edison National Historical Park, and Ellis Island.
New Mexico: Discover The Pueblo Indians, Taos Pueblo, Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Festival, Hot Air Balloons, Georgia O’Keeffe, Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and water coloring.
New York: Get excited about Niagara Falls State Park, New York City, Broadway, 9/11, and The 911 Memorial & Museum.
North Carolina: Explore the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, The Wright Brothers National Memorial, and Blue Ridge Parkway.
North Dakota: Learn about the 5 Native American tribes of North Dakota, the International Peace Garden, North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, Lewis & Clark at Fort Mandan, and the Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile Site.
Ohio: Have an out of this world experience learning about Neil Armstrong, visit the Armstrong Air & Space Museum, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, NFL, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Oklahoma: Embrace the Cherokee Nation, go to the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, talk about cowboys, rodeos, and visit the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.
Oregon: Learn about Beverly Cleary, Stellar Sea Lions, Mount Hood, and Crater Lake National Park.
Pennsylvania: Delve into your sweet tooth and join us at Hersey’s Chocolate World, Hersey’s chocolate, Fred Rodgers, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, and the history of Philadelphia.
Rhode Island: Explore the Newport Mansions, Peregrine Falcons, Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and stargazing at The Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theater.
South Carolina: Have an explosive time learning about The Civil War, Fort Sumter, plantations, Fort Hill Plantation, Ripley’s Aquarium of Myrtle Beach, and finally top it off with two cool Science Experiments – a Lava Lamp and a Volcanic Eruption!
South Dakota: Journey to Mount Rushmore National Memorial, Deadwood, Calamity Jane, bison, and Tatanka – Story of the Bison.
Tennessee: Go to The Great Smokey Mountains National Park, salamanders, Elvis Presley, Graceland, and Titanic Pigeon Forge.
Texas: Get educated about George W. Bush, George W. Bush Presidential Library, The Alamo, The Houston Museum of Natural Science, and Whooping Cranes.
Utah: Adventure to Zion National Park, Sundance Film Festival, and the Great Salt Lake.
Vermont: Get your sweet tooth at Ben & Jerry’s and take a Factory Tour, go to Marsh-Billing-Rockefeller National Historic Park, juggle your way into the circus with Circus Smirkus.
Virginia: Soak in history learning about Thomas Jefferson, Monticello, Busch Gardens – Williamsburg, The White House, and the Smithsonian Museums.
Washington: Fly with Boeing, The 737 Max, The Museum of Flight, The Space Needle, Mount Rainer National Park, glassblowing, and artist Dale Chihuly.
West Virginia: Take a trip into a coal mine, The Coal House, New River Gorge National Park, New River Gorge Bridge, The Greenbrier, and the Bunker “Project Greek Island”.
Wisconsin: Enjoy the work of Frank Lloyd Wright, Taliesin, SC Johnson Wax Headquarters, Wisconsin’s Frank Lloyd Wright Trail, Milwaukee, Harley Davidson, Milwaukee Public Museum, the Green Bay Packers and visit the Packers Hall of Fame.
Wyoming: Explore Yellowstone National Park, geysers, Old Faithful, Buffalo Bill, Buffalo Bill Center of the West, and Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility.
Make sure to join and share your Virtual Road Trip Journeys with us! 🙂
