These eight U.S. vacation destinations offer unique STEM experiences and activities that both kids and adults are sure to enjoy.
Sometimes it seems like no matter what type of vacation you plan for your family your kids will still get bored and restless. This year, consider a getaway that involves STEM. Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities stimulate kids and adults of all ages and could also help motivate your child toward an interesting and well-paying career with an average salary of over $100,000.
We’re not just recommending STEM because of the potential future salary either; STEM opens up a world of opportunities. We know that many kids become interested in STEM at early ages but, for various reasons, many give up on pursuing careers in this area. Only about 9% of STEM workers are Black, 40% of Black college students switch out of STEM majors before earning a degree and there has been no change in the share of Black workers in STEM jobs since 2016. Similarly, only 8% of STEM workers are Hispanic and this group has seen only 1% growth in representation in STEM since 2016 (Pew Research). In addition, women comprised just 27% of the STEM workforce as of 2019. Overall, however, employment in STEM occupations has risen by 79% since 1990 and current projections expect there to be more than 821,300 STEM job openings in the next 10 years (iD Tech). So, the opportunities in this field are abundant.
To make choosing a destination easy for you, we’ve compiled a list of eight U.S. vacation destinations that offer unique STEM experiences and activities that both kids and adults are sure to enjoy.
San Francisco and Silicon Valley
Admittedly, the San Francisco area is an obvious choice, but we couldn’t leave it off the list because it’s still a must-see tourist destination. The Golden Gate Bridge alone is a masterful feat of engineering and, if you plan ahead, you can do more than just drive across it. Visit the Golden Gate Bridge Welcome Center to learn about the science and engineering that went into the bridge’s construction through interactive and historical exhibits. Across from the bridge you can visit Muir Woods, a great place to take in the marvels of nature in the form of towering redwood groves. Golden Gate Park is also home to the California Academy of Sciences, a center filled with activities, exhibits and events that will inspire both your and your kids’ curiosity. With penguin feedings and a four-story rainforest you can walk through, this is a stop no one will soon forget.
Plan a day at the Exploratorium at Pier 15 in San Francisco for indoor and outdoor activities that let visitors of all ages be a part of the action. A quick trip (about an hour drive) to nearby San Jose will bring you to The Tech Interactive, a family-friendly science and technology center on a mission to “inspire the innovator in everyone.” With hands-on activities, experimental labs and design challenges, this center empowers kids and adults to believe they can solve the small and big challenges of the world by innovating with creativity, curiosity and compassion.
Houston
Many people hear “Texas” and think of oil rigs or the popular city of Austin, but guess what? Oil rigs encompass all four pillars of STEM and Austin is becoming a hot technology hub of the South. That said, we want to recommend Houston, a city about 2.5 hours away from Austin. Home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, you can visit Space Center Houston, explore the center, get behind-the-scenes tours, experience virtual reality spacewalks and even have breakfast with an astronaut on Saturdays and select Fridays.
Another popular STEM-centric attraction is the Houston Museum of Natural Science, which showcases one of the largest collections of gems and minerals in the U.S. and also offers a planetarium, a butterfly center and a series of temporary traveling exhibits that highlight various facets of STEM in unique and fascinating ways. We also recommend spending some time at the Houston Arboretum and Nature Center where you can explore different habitats on your own or take part in a guided nighttime family hike for the possibility of spotting some nocturnal animals. Spend time in the Arboretum’s Discovery Room to search for woodland creatures, crawl through the prairie underground and learn about life in wetlands, savannas and the bayou.
Boston
In the Northeast, make Boston your STEM destination of choice and go on a real-life quest at Boda Borg. Your family will choose a quest and work together using a variety of STEM and other skills to overcome a series of both mental and physical challenges. If you succeed in one quest, you go right into the next. If you fail, you have a chance to try again or choose a different quest. Do quests one day and an interactive scavenger hunt at Boston’s Museum of Science the next. With IMAX and 4D films, a planetarium, design challenges and more, you can learn and have fun at the same time. Also, consider visiting the Ecotarium, a museum of science and nature where you can explore indoor interactive exhibits, check out live animal habitats, participate in Science Discovery programs and hike forest and meadow nature trails around the 45+ acre campus.
Need a day that’s a little more sedate? Take a guided tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to learn about MIT history and architecture and several of the inventors and innovations that came out of this prestigious university. Or go to the Charles River Museum of Industry & Innovation for a different look at the technical and business innovations that helped develop the Boston area as well as the country. And if your family loves the water, save time for some sailing, kayaking or paddleboarding in the Charles River afterward.
Washington, D.C.
Because Washington, D.C., is so known for its politics, it’s easy to forget its appeal as a STEM destination. But where else can you find the super-cool International Spy Museum, which invites your kids to become a spy for a day and follow clues throughout the interactive museum. This museum also invites you to learn about daring spy operations, view real artifacts from the international spy trade and test your skills as a code-cracker. When you’ve had your fill of espionage, explore the National Air & Space Museum on theNational Mall or, if you’re planning to travel before Fall 2022 when the current renovation is projected to be complete, to visit its sister museum, the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in nearby Chantilly, Virginia.
You can also explore the wonders of nature and science at the National Geographic Museum and the National Museum of Natural History, a Smithsonian institution that boasts a 13-foot African Bush elephant and a mega-toothed shark, a tropical pavilion of butterflies, an insect zoo, a collection of dinosaur fossils and exhibits about our oceans and how genomes are unlocking life’s code.
There are a ton of STEM-centric activities available in Washington, D.C., but you can find even more in nearby Bethesda, such as the new KID Museum, and Baltimore, such as the famed National Aquarium, which is home to more than 750 species of aquatic life.
Central Florida
If you’re going to Florida, plan to drive or rent a car because it’s worth exploring the central part of the state from east to west for these STEM destinations. The Kennedy Space Center on the east coast of Florida is an absolute must-see. There you can learn about the history of space exploration, the brave astronauts and their missions and the technology behind space travel and the rovers exploring Mars. You can also get a close-up view of Space Shuttle Atlantis and engage with more than 60 interactive exhibits that illuminate the history, technology and impact of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program.
Next, head west to toward Orlando where you’ll find Disney’s famed EPCOT Center, as well as the Orlando Science Center – a hands-on museum where your kids can learn and have fun exploring and interacting with exhibits about technology, engineering and nature. Similarly, Orlando Wonderworks bills itself as an “amusement park for the mind” and does not disappoint. With an exhibit that literally turns your world upside-down, an extreme weather zone, an imagination lab and more, you and your kids are sure to enjoy loads of action-packed entertainment. If you’re still up for another STEM adventure, head over to Wild Florida to explore a 4,200-acre nature preserve at the head of the Everglades on an airboat and learn all about the ecosystem where alligators, snakes and other marshland animals thrive.
With all these choices in Orlando, you could stop there – or you could mosey west to Tampa where MOSI (The Museum of Science and Industry) will keep your kids’ brains and bodies active with over 100 activities ranging from building a robot, to figuring out optical illusions and exploring another world in the NASA-funded Mission: Moonbase, a simulated lunar colony. Tampa’s Florida Aquarium is rated one of the best in the U.S. and teaches visitors about animal, ocean and coral conservation while giving them an up-close look at many of the birds and animals that call our coasts and seas home. We also recommend setting aside a day for family fun at Busch Gardens. Rollercoasters are thrilling examples of engineering and their highly accredited zoo is home to more than 200 species of animals. Plus, you can sign up for animal tours and encounters that give you close-up, behind-the-scenes looks and insights into animals including gorillas, sloths penguins and giraffes. Who knows, you might just have a budding zookeeper or veterinarian in your family.
Three Emerging Tech Cities to Consider
While the first five suggestions on our list are fantastic STEM vacation destinations, Seattle and burgeoning tech cities like Chicago and Philadelphia are also exciting tourist destinations that have plenty of STEM activities to offer.
Seattle
In January 2022, WalletHub ranked Seattle as the top U.S. city for STEM jobs, and it also happens to be a terrific destination for including STEM activities in your family’s vacation. Head to the Pacific Science Center for their Tinker Tank Makerspace, laser shows and tropical butterfly house, and then explore other STEM destinations in the Seattle-Tacoma area. And don’t miss the Boeing Future of Flight aerospace experience, which offers an interactive backstage pass to Boeing’s Everett factory so you can see how airplanes are made; the Boeing Gallery, which showcases the company’s legacy and current areas of innovation, including space and hypersonic travel, sustainable fuels and autonomous aerial systems; and a number of other exhibits and interactive experiences that you and your kids are sure to enjoy.
Chicago
Over the past several years, Chicago has been quietly transforming into a land of tech opportunity. Google, LinkedIn and Salesforce all have offices in the city and, in addition to the jazz and the great food the city is known for, Chicago offers plenty of spots that showcase STEM. Visit the Chicago Architecture Center to learn how Chicago became a “city of architecture” and take a boat, bus, train or walking tour of all the iconic buildings across the city. Other STEM-centric destinations include the Museum of Science and Industry, which aims to inspire the next generation of innovators, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium.
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, or “Philly” as the locals call it, is best known for being the birthplace of American liberty but it also has a thriving tech scene, which helped birth TechGirlz, an organization motivating future tech leaders by facilitating free tech workshops for middle-school-aged girls in Philadelphia and across the country. In addition to touring historical sites and battleships, consider exploring The Franklin Institute, one of the country’s longest standing interactive science centers and a popular field trip destination for local schools. There are also many other STEM-centric destinations to visit in the area, and an hour-or-so trip up the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike will bring you to the award-winning Da Vinci Science Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania.
Safe Travels
Consistent exposure to the different and exciting aspects of STEM can help motivate your kids to choose a hobby or career path that allows them to engage with science, technology, engineering and math in new and fulfilling ways and develop the skills, courage and confidence to solve problems that affect their households, communities or even humanity. Plus, choosing STEM destinations to explore on vacation can be a ton of fun for the whole family, so get out there and enjoy!
