Bring Kids to These UNESCO Sites in the Eastern United States

UNESCO World Heritage sites mark some of the world’s most significant cultural and natural landmarks, and many travelers “collect” these places, planning itineraries to include them. Twenty-three of the sites are right here in the United States. Children can begin their own collection of UNESCO sites during family travels, gaining a better understanding of American history and the natural world.

The world’s most extensive cave system, Kentucky’s Mammoth Cave, features more than 365 miles of cave passageways and shows various stages of the earth’s evolution. Your children can see almost every type of cave formation, including stalagmites, stalactites, beautiful gypsum flowers and needles, and rare mirabilite flowers, as you explore its huge chambers and passages.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia is an icon of American history, the building where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were signed. In the Assembly Room, kids see and hear about the events of the nation’s founding and how these documents impacted the spread of democracy worldwide.

The towering Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor is not only an impressive work of art and engineering, but also a powerful symbol of welcome to millions of immigrants and refugees from all over the world. Kids love the boat ride to get there, and if the interior is open (access may be limited due to COVID-19) they can go to the top to look out from inside the crown.

At Florida’s southern tip, Everglades National Park is a wild sanctuary for more than 20 rare, endangered and threatened species such as the Florida panther, alligator, crocodile and manatee, as well as a breeding and migratory habitat for more than 400 species of birds. Nowhere else in the United States can you find such a mixture of subtropical and temperate wildlife.