10 Places Every Kid Should See

The Field Museum (Photo: Courtesy The Field Museum)

Last year, we picked 15 U.S. landmarks every child should see before they turn 15, and you didn’t always agree with our picks. This time we asked you to help us put together the definitive family vacation checklist.

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What made a monument worthy of inclusion? It needed to be fun, educational, and especially magical through the eyes of a child. It needed to inspire adults to tap back into that childlike sense of wonder. And it needed to have universal appeal.

Of course, the surest way to rile folks up is to publish a list, and this case was no different. Our nominations process was fierce and brought out the full range of emotions in our audience—passion, joy, sadness, anger. You spoke up to nominate 562 attractions and voted over 138,000 times.

So how did we arrive at the final list? As we explained in the rules, we used your votes—combined with factors such as geographic and thematic diversity—to guide our selection-making process. And we automatically eliminated places that had made our story last year. The final list for 2012 represents the best that our nation has to offer our children.

The Field Museum
Chicago

Across its nine acres of floor space, the Field showcases giant robot wolf spiders, 23 Egyptian mummies, and the biggest Tyrannosaurus rex fossil ever dug up, in one of the broadest arrays of natural wonders under one roof. The collection of dioramas hold a dizzying array of species, from African lions and giraffes to Arctic penguins and polar bears, and it’s a favorite childhood fantasy to slip inside one of the magical timeless worlds.

Kids 12 and under can dress up like animals, dig up dinosaur bones, and explore a pueblo home at the Crown Family PlayLab. Friday nights from mid-January to mid-June, the museum hosts sleepovers, where children 6 to 12 and their parents can sleep right next to the dinosaurs (the 2012 nights are sold out, so book early for 2013). Talk about a dream vacation.

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America’s Best Cities for Dating

Look for love in all the right places, because these 10 U.S. cities rank tops for their dating-friendly credentials. Expect dating pools distinguished by diversity or a high proportion of singles (enhancing your chances of meeting Mr. or Ms. Right), superlative dating venues (rendezvous-ready restaurants, bars, museums, and more), and/or stunning natural settings, primed for swoon-worthy outings. Ready to get your dating game on?

Austin (Photo: Thinkstock)Austin

Austin’s music scene isn’t all that rocks – this city’s dating scene doesn’t skip a beat, with singles comprising more than half the local population (thanks largely to the University of Texas campus). For a Texas-size dose of top-notch dating potential, try a toe-tapping night out at some 200 live-music venues (test your inner cowboy or cowgirl at The Broken Spoke honky-tonk), or hit up the nightlife hotbeds in the Warehouse District or on Sixth Street. Plus, year-round sunshine and the great outdoors combine for date-worthy dips at Barton Springs Pool, hiking or biking the Greenbelt, or getting out on the water on Lady Bird Park (a kayak for two, anybody?).

Boston (Photo: Thinkstock)Boston

This renowned hub for higher education (50-plus institutes call the Boston area home, including heavyweights like Harvard and MIT) buzzes with the youthful energy of undergrad and post-grad singles looking to pair off. Grab your squeeze and head out on the town for the bustling pub scene (try the historic Bell in Hand Tavern), top venues for sporting events (don’t miss a Red Sox game at Fenway), or strolls along the Harborwalk and the Charles River Esplanade. Foodie-minded duos, meanwhile, can seek out romantic Italian eateries in the North End neighborhood (try Trattoria di Monica) or the food stalls of historic Quincy Market.

Chicago (Photo: Thinkstock)Chicago

 

Cosmopolitan Chicago is made for dating: Check out world-class art museums (like the Art Institute of Chicago), comedy clubs (Second City is unsurpassed for laughs), theaters (second only in concentration to Broadway), and sporting venues (catch a Cubs game at Wrigley Field). Then, continue your rendezvous well into the night at smoky blues clubs or trendy rooftop bars showcasing Chi-town’s cityscape. Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Lincoln Park or the Lake Michigan waterfront for biking, jogging, or simply unwinding. Or, take your date to new heights – literally – with a whirl in Navy Pier’s Ferris wheel, or in winter, a little ice-skating in the sky at the rink atop the John Hancock building.

Miami (Photo: Thinkstock)Miami

Make your way to Miami for its sun-kissed beaches and sexy locals known to show off teeny bikini- and swim trunks-clad bods. A sizzling nightlife scene infused by sensual Latin flavors (clubs pumping salsa, meringue, and more) commands the night, while the beachfront beckons active types who can jog, bike, or rollerblade under the sun. Of course, simply frolicking in the waters off the white-sand beaches or lingering over a sunset-view cocktail (try DiLido Beach Club) or savory seafood meal (The Redfish Grill’s beachfront patio is tops), are perfect tropical-inspired dates all their own.