Growing up as a military kid meant moving every two years, but it also meant exploring the country from coast to coast. If you are headed on a road trip, trying to stay busy, or want to be a tourist in your own city, here are some of my favorite things to do and see in some of my favorite cities.
 
Boston:

• Freedom Trail historic sites
• Lunch at Faneuil Hall
• Every cannoli flavor possible at Mike’s in the North End
• Tour Fenway Park

 
New York City:

• Color Factory interactive art museum in Soho
• NIKE x KITH dessert and clothing store
• 9/11 Memorial and Museum
• 360 skyline views from Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Plaza
• Award winning cheesecake and deli food at Juniors
• World renown art at the MET & Guggenheim

Philadelphia:

• Go into haunted prison cells at the Eastern State Penitentiary
• Visit the Liberty Bell and tour Independence Hall and the Betsy Ross House
• Climb the Rocky steps at the Museum of Art
• Grab food and dessert in Reading Market.

 
Washington D.C:

• Connect with your inner James Bond at the Spy Museum
• American History Museum
• MLK and Lincoln Memorial
• See space shuttles at the Udvar-Hazy Air and Space Museum

 
Savannah:

• Haunted city ghost tour
• Visit the Forrest Gump bench
• Eat and shop your way through the Historic District

Atlanta:

• Taste your way through World of Coke
• See the MLK Historical Sites
• Shop at Atlantic Station
• Visit the High Museum of Art (where Black Panther was filmed)

 
Orlando:

• Feed alligators right outside the city at Gator World
• Disney World (Star Wars Land just opened!)
• Travel to Cape Canaveral to see the Kennedy Space Center launch site

 
St. Louis:

• City views from the top of the Arch
• Explore the endless turns of the City Museum
• See sculptures and splash around the City Garden

 
Memphis:

• Eat authentic BBQ on Beale Street
• Explore the costumes in the Elvis Themes Hard Rock Café
• Rock out while touring the Gibson Guitar Factory
• Visit the Jungle Room at Graceland, Elvis Presley’s former home
• Stand on the Historic Lorraine Motel Balcony at the National Civil Right Museum

 
Amarillo:

• Bring spray paint and leave your mark on Cadillac Ranch right outside the city
• Have a bigger and better Texas experience at the Big Texan Steak Ranch

 
Dallas:

• Get in touch with former President J.F.K at the Sixth Floor Museum
• See a replica of the Oval Office at the George W. Bush Presidential Library

 
San Diego:

• Take a short trip to La Jolla to see the seals
• Explore the San Diego Zoo and take a gondola ride over the animals
• Wander through an aircraft carrier at the USS Midway Museum
• Go to Coronado island for pizza at the ferry landing or Moo Licks blue vanilla ice cream
• Try the San Diego based chain Burger Lounge for the BEST grass fed beef burgers