If July 4th and all the red, white and blue that accompanies the festivities celebrating Independence Day had you feeling particularly patriotic, why not check out some of these patriotic locations while camping this summer?
Boston, Massachusetts: There’s a whole lot of history here. For starters, check out the Freedom Trail, a 2.5-mile walking trail throughout the city that highlights locations significant in U.S. history (thefreedomtrail.org.). Head to the harbor to see the Boston Tea Party Ships and Museum which offers costumed interpreters to relive the night the tea hit the sea! The JFK Presidential Library & Museum can also be found in the harbor while his boyhood home, the John Fitzgerald National Historic Site, is in nearby Brookline.
(Nearest campgrounds include Thousand Trails Sturbridge and Gateway to Cape Cod.)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Often called the Birthplace of America, it was here where the Declaration of Independence was first read publicly on July 8, 1776. The Declaration was adopted here by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, and later signed on August 2, 1776. Put yourself in the heart of the movement and visit the Independence Square buildings which include Independence Hall and Congress Hall. The Liberty Bell Center houses the Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom in America. There is also the National Constitution Center, the African American Museum, and several patriotic-focused walking tours of the city.
Thousand Trails Gateway to Cape Cod
(Nearby campgrounds include Thousand Trails Chestnut Lake in Port Republic, New Jersey, and Thousand Trails PA Dutch in Manheim, Pennsylvania.)
Washington, DC: With more than 70 museums located in our nation’s Capital, it’s a great place for a comprehensive history lesson on all things America. The Smithsonian has several museums here, plus the National Zoo, all located in DC. These include the African American Museum, the American History Museum, the American Indian Museum, and the Postal Museum – which all offer great exhibits and artifacts. Walk the National Mall which includes the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, the World War II Monument, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Interesting (and free!) walking tour ideas can be found at culturaltourismdc.org. Side trips to George Washington’s Mount Vernon and Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello are worth the time as well to get insight into the way two of our Founding Fathers lived.
(Nearby campgrounds include Pine Haven Campground in Cape May, New Jersey and Thousand Trails PA Dutch in Manheim, Pennsylvania.)
Presidential Homesteads: Another option is to visit the historic sites that were home to the men who led our country, through good times and bad. Options include FDR’s Little White House Historic Site in Georgia (camp at Pine Mountain RV Resort) Andrew Jackson’s The Hermitage, outside of Nashville or James Polk’s home in Columbia, Tennessee (camp at Thousand Trails Natchez Trace); the Lyndon B. Johnson State Park & Historic Site in Stonewall, Texas (camp at Thousand Trails Medina Lake), and of course, the First Ladies National Historic Site, dedicated to the First Ladies of the United States, located in Canton, Ohio (camp at Thousand Trails Kenisee Lake). As they say, behind every great man, is a great woman!
Read More:
- We found the most beautiful coastal views in the United States and you’re going to want to visit them.
- Charcuterie boards are everything, and this twist on the basic board promises a smorgasbord of fun!
- Stumped on what to do this month? Our handy list of what to do in July is sure to help you out.
- Embrace history this month and check out this revolutionary road trip that’s perfect for RVers!
- Explore the Thousand Trails Camping Pass and the Thousand Trails Cabin Pass.
- Find more campgrounds at ThousandTrails.com.