The 20 best kids' days out

From the Space Center Houston to a Savannah ghost tour, the ultimate guide to family fun.

Looking for exciting things to do with the kids this spring break? Here, are 20 inspired ideas for a great day out.

1 Chicago

One of the Windy City's most family-friendly attractions is the Navy Pier (www.navypier.com), an arts and entertainment complex on Lake Michigan. Some of the major sights are the Ferris wheel, which reaches up to 150 feet and offers great skyline views, the carousel with 36 hand-painted animals and carriages, an 18-hole miniature golf course, a rock-climbing wall and the Funhouse Maze, a video and audio spectacular with spinning light tunnels and bubble hallways. There is also an IMAX theater and the Chicago Children's Museum, with numerous educational exhibits including Dinosaur Expedition, Water Ways and Treehouse Trails. You can also take the family on a sightseeing cruise along the lake-while you're there, check out the dozens of shops, restaurants and cafés.

2 Buffalo/Niagara

The Niagara Falls are a must-visit sight and one of the best ways to view them is from the deck of the Maid of the Mist (www.maidofthemist.com), a boat that cruises to the base of the American Falls and Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side. The Maid of the Mist, one of the country's oldest tourist attractions, has been operating since 1846 and everyone from Teddy Roosevelt to Prince William has enjoyed the ride. Plastic ponchos are provided (plan on getting wet!) and as the vessel gets closer to the thunderous-sounding, cascading water, the spray completely envelopes the passengers-it truly is a magical experience. Afterward, visit a Ripley's Believe it or Not in the town of Niagara Falls-it has a section on the daredevils of the falls, including those who went over in a barrel.

3 Atlanta

The new Georgia Aquarium (www.georgiaaquarium.org) in downtown Atlanta (across from Centennial Olympic Park) is the largest aquarium in the world with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The stats are mind-boggling: more than 100,000 sea animals are housed in eight million gallons of fresh and marine water. One of the many highlights is the Tropical Diver-The Coral Kingdom exhibit, sponsored by AirTran Airways. It's a paradise under the sea with mesmerizing jellies, seahorses, fairy basslets and yellow-head jawfish. Beluga whales, sea lions, penguins, octopi, eels and sea turtles are just a few other nautical critters on display. There is also the River Scout, where you can get up close and personal with freshwater creatures like arapaima, the largest freshwater fish in the world, which can be found in the Amazon. When you need a break, stop by the Café Aquaria for a bite to eat.

4 Los Angeles

Rev-heads, rejoice! For a day of fuel-injected fun, head to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles (www.petersen.org) where four floors (and more than 300,000 square feet) dedicated to the history-and future-of the automobile await. Located at the corner of Wilshire Boulevard and Fairfax Avenue, the museum features classic, race and concept cars, vintage motorcycles and TV and movie stars of the four-wheel variety. In the interactive Children's Discovery Center you can dress up in historical motoring attire for a photo op in a 1910 Model T Ford, and kids can even test their skills in a real-time computerized driving simulator. And don't miss an exhibit forecasting the exciting possibilities for automobiles of the future.

5 Orlando

Orlando is theme park heaven and one of the major draws is Universal Orlando Resort (themeparks.universalstudios.com), which promises paradise for family thrill-seekers thanks to two ride-filled theme parks. At Universal Studios Florida you'll get a glimpse into the world of movies and TV, with behind-the-scenes attractions, a new Shrek movie in 4-D and the exciting Revenge of the Mummy-The Ride. At Islands of Adventure, cutting-edge rides await at five themed islands-Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, Jurassic Park, The Lost Continent and Seuss Landing. Be sure to brave the Jurassic Park River Adventure; a dino-spotting raft ride that culminates in an 85-foot plunge in total darkness as you try to escape from a T-Rex.

6 Newport News / Williamsburg

Go back in time at Colonial Williamsburg (www.history.org), the world's largest living history museum. The 301-acre historic area in Williamsburg, Virginia, has hundreds of restored, reconstructed and historically furnished buildings. Costumed interpreters tell the stories of the men and women of the 18th-century city-black, white, native American, slave, indentured and free-and the challenges they faced. Visit the courthouse, the apothecary, the market square, the parish church and the local tavern. Meet patriots like Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry, and learn about the lives of colonial children. There are numerous restaurants, including the casual King's Arms Tavern and the more formal Regency Room.

7 Dallas

Dallas is more than just cowboys and oil. In fact, the Big D has a vibrant cultural scene and the epicenter is the Arts District, a 60-acre complex chock-a-block with world-class museums. One of the most recent additions is the Nasher Sculpture Center (www.nashersculpturecenter.org), a 55,000-square-foot, sunlight-infused space with contemporary sculptures from Alberto Giacometti, Henri Matisse and Henry Moore on display. The adjoining 1.5-acre garden features reflecting ponds and fountains amid weeping willow and magnolia trees. Another must-visit on any cultural tour of the city is the Dallas Museum of Art (www.dallasmuseumofart.org), which dates from 1903 and has an impressive collection of works from such artists as Georgia O'Keeffe, Andrew Wyeth, Andy Warhol and Roy Lichenstein.

8 Washington, DC

Your kids will love the Steven F Udvar-Hazy Center (www.nasm.si.edu), a branch of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, housed in a massive hangar-the size of three football fields-at Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia. The Air and Space Museum on DC's National Mall currently has just 10% of its impressive inventory on display, so the new 176-acre facility provides a $311 million venue in which to showcase more than 300 historically significant aviation and space artifacts, including the restored B-29 "Enola Gay" plane which dropped the first atomic bomb, the space shuttle "Enterprise", a recently retired Air France Concorde and high-tech military toys like the sleek SR-71 "Blackbird" reconnaissance plane and the F-4 Phantom Fighter (shuttle buses run between the two museums).

9 Minneapolis

Kids and shopping might not necessarily mix, but that all changes when you're talking about the Mall of America (www.mallofamerica.com), one of the country's largest malls (located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a 15-minute drive from Minneapolis). Aside from hundreds of stores including Abercrombie & Fitch, Sharper Image and the Vikings Locker Room, the official team store of the Minnesota Vikings, there is also a 14-screen multiplex and the Lego Imagination Center, with more than 90 full-sized models made entirely of Lego, including dinosaurs and astronauts. But the best part is The Park, the largest indoor family amusement park in the nation, with the spiraling Timberland Twister rollercoaster, Paul Bunyan's Log Chute and SpongeBob SquarePants-The Ride.

10 Tampa

The family will have a ball at Busch Gardens (www.buschgardens.com), a massive amusement park in Tampa Bay, Florida. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the many roller coasters, including the Kumba, Montu and Python, not to mention the brand new SheiKra, Florida's tallest coaster. The three-minute ride carries passengers up to 200 feet at 45 degrees, then hurtles them 70 mph back toward the ground at a 90-degree angle. There are also cool water rides like the Stanley Falls Log Flume, the Congo River Rapids and the Tanganyika Tidal Wave, where you are assured of getting absolutely soaked. Tots can enjoy the rides in the Land of the Dragons with a three-story treehouse and fun slides. And don't miss a visit to Myombe Reserve where a new baby gorilla, "Bolingo," was recently born.

11 Denver

One of the best ways to experience the breathtaking scenery of the Rocky Mountains is by hot air balloon. Longmont Hot Balloon Company (www.aircolorado.com), located in the town of Longmont (a half-hour drive from downtown Denver), offers hour-long trips that depart in the wee hours of the morning-so you can watch the sun rise over the majestic peaks. Once airborne, you can see for more than 100 miles on a clear day-sights include such naturally beautiful areas as Estes Park, Rocky Mountain National Park and Longs Peak. The brightly colored balloons, piloted by FAA-certified pilots, can reach up to 5,000 feet. Once back on the ground, passengers are treated to a glass of Champagne, juice and a Continental breakfast to celebrate their exhilarating

12 Boston

Quack, quack. The famous Duck Tour (www.bostonducktours.com) is one of Beantown's most beloved sightseeing excursions, and always a huge hit with children. Travel around the city in a banana-yellow, open-sided duck (an authentic renovated WWII amphibious landing vehicle) as your tour guide points out all the major attractions and makes you quack like a duck. You'll pass the gold-domed State House, Bunker Hill, Boston Common, Copley Square, fashionable Newbury Street, Quincy Market, historic churches and other colonial-era highlights. Then, the vehicle pulls up its wheels and splashes right into the Charles River where it floats along, offering terrific views of the city's skyscrapers including the 52-story Prudential Tower and Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.

13 Memphis

Memphis is, of course, a city of music, with countless blues and jazz clubs on Beale Street. The music of the city's favorite son, Elvis Presley, lives on (some say he literally lives on, too!), so be sure to make a pilgrimage to the King's 14-acre estate Graceland (www.elvis.com). Take the Mansion Tour, with an audio guide narrated by his daughter, Lisa Marie. You'll see the living and dining rooms, the kitchen and the famous "jungle" den. The tour highlight is the Trophy Room, featuring the music legend's vast collection of gold records, stage costumes, jewelry and other personal items. You can also check out his car collection, which includes his famous pink Cadillac. Finally, you can visit the Meditation Garden, where Elvis and family members are buried.

14 Philadelphia

Learn about US history at the National Constitution Center (www.constitutioncenter.org), located near Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. The state-of-the-art complex reminds visitors of the crucial role the City of Brotherly Love played in the early development of America. Watch a multi-media presentation that explains the significance of the Constitution, written in 1787 and still "the supreme law of the land," visit Signers'

Hall filled with life-sized bronze statues of document signers including Benjamin Franklin and George Washington and, in DeVos Hall, check out the interactive exhibitions. Kids will love that you can recite the Presidential Oath of Office and take the seat of a Supreme Court Justice. Lunch at the Delegates' Restaurant and sample Philly's classic sandwich, the cheesesteak.

15 Grand Bahama Island

The Bahamas, comprised of 700 islands and 10,000 uninhabited cays, is known for its stretches of talcum-soft beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters. So if your family is ready for a sun-drenched getaway, head to Grand Bahama, the fourth largest island in the chain. Stay at Our Lucaya (www.ourlucaya.com), a sprawling beach resort with multiple pools, restaurants and bars. Adults can play golf or tennis and enjoy watersports like kayaking and snorkeling, and kids will love Camp Lucaya, which offers tons of cool activities to keep them entertained, such as arts and crafts (shell and Junkanoo mask painting, basket weaving), Bahamian poetry and folklore, theme parties, beach Olympics and an explorer's club where kids learn about marine life (they even get to pet a dolphin!).

16 Houston

America's fourth largest city is also called the Space City due to the fact that NASA is located here. And NASA's official visitors' center, the Space Center Houston (www.spacecenter.org) is a sight not to be missed. Located 25 miles from downtown Houston in the Clear Lake area, the $70 million, 180,000-square foot, Disney-designed facility features simulated space voyages, mission control panels and Texas' largest giant-screen theater. You can take a tram tour of NASA's Johnson Space Center where you might get to see astronauts training for missions, and you can also check out actual spacecraft such as the Mercury, Gemini and Apollo capsules and feel what it would be like to "walk in space" through a state-of-the-art simulator. There are displays of astronaut memorabilia such as spacesuits and flight photographs.

17 New York

Manhattan is jam-packed with things to do, everything from seeing the view from the top of the Empire State Building to catching a Broadway show. While you may not be as familiar with the city's other boroughs, you most likely have heard of the Bronx Zoo (www.bronxzoo.com), one of the country's largest zoos (easily reached via subway) with 4,000 animals on 265 acres. Top exhibits include the Congo Gorilla Forest, home to western lowland gorillas, the Himalayan Highlands, where endangered snow leopards roam, and Tiger Mountain, where you can watch training sessions with tigers and their keepers. Other areas include the Butterfly Garden, Bug Carousel and Baboon Reserve-with so much to see, be prepared to make a day of it.

18 Miami

This sizzling southern Florida city is the gateway to the Everglades (www.nps.gov/ever), the third largest national park in the continental United States and encompasses 1.5 million acres of rare ecosystems. The park is known for its rich bird life, particularly large wading birds such as the roseate spoonbill, wood stork, great blue heron and a variety of egrets.

It's also the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles exist side by side. The park contains a visitor center, nature trails, a full-service marina, boat launching ramps, boat rentals and camping facilities.

Activities include ranger-led nature hikes, canoeing and, probably the most fun for children (and adults!), air-boat rides through the mangroves and swamps, where you can spot turtles, snakes and, of course, alligators.

19 San Francisco

San Francisco, with its steep hills and spectacular views of the Golden Gate Bridge, is one of the country's most beautiful cities. There is so much to do (be sure to take a trolley ride and a walk through Chinatown), but one of the most exciting areas is Pier 39 (www.pier39.com), located two blocks from Fisherman's Wharf. This nautically themed, 45-acre complex brims with one-of-a-kind shops and seafood restaurants, and on the pier's K-Dock you can watch hundreds of sea lions splashing around-street performers and live entertainment add to the festive atmosphere. You can also catch a sightseeing cruise here, as well as the boat to Alcatraz Island, the famous prison in San Francisco Bay simply known as "The Rock."

20 Savannah

Savannah, the Georgian city known for its antebellum mansions and oak trees dripping with Spanish moss, is practically a living history museum. One of the best ways to get a sense of its history is through a guided tour. There are dozens offered, everything from architectural and movie tours to African heritage and carriage tours, but certainly one of the most intriguing is a ghost tour-Savannah is said to be the country's most haunted city. Sign up with Cobblestone Tours (www.ghostsavannah.com), where costumed guides lead a spooky candlelight tour through the streets and squares of historic Savannah, recounting legends, myths and tall tales surrounding the city's famous spirits, including Little Gracie and the Earl Grey Ghost.