Hatteras NC on the Outer Banks has a long and interesting history. Not much is known about the Native Americans who thrived here before the Europeans, came, but here are the highlights of what has happen there since:

Historians believe Amerigo Vespucci, the man both continents in the Western Hemisphere were named after, anchored in the waters off of Hatteras on his first landfall in 1497. Over the next century, French and Spanish explorers and British settlers followed and in 1663, an English colony was officially established in Carolina. The first plantation on the Outer Banks, which grew cattle and corn,  was set up in 1664 by Sir John Colleton and became its first permanent English settlement.

In the early 1700’s, this isolated area became a pirate stronghold and was home to Blackbeard and his crew until he was captured and beheaded by the British in 1718.

Whaling, fishing and cattle and sheep ranching drove the area’s economy throughout the 18th century and small towns sprang up along the barrier islands. During the Revolutionary War, British warships anchored off of Nags Head and raided the villages, so the islanders formed a militia and successfully protected themselves until the war ended. North Carolina then became one of the 13 original United States.

More than 500 vessels have wrecked in the hazardous currents off Hatteras’ shores. In effort to help ships avoid these perilous coastal waters, known as the Graveyard of the Atlantic,  construction of the lighthouse at Cape Hatteras began in 1794.

The quiet dunes of Hatteras became embroiled in the Civil War in 1861, when the Confederates built forts to guard the inlet. Less than a month later, they fell to Union forces, but the retreating rebels took the lighthouse’s lens with them, effectively shutting down the strategic beacon.

Near the end of the 19th century, vacationing sportsmen and tourists began coming to the island to hunt and fish, but coastal life was generally quiet until the second World War, when more than 100 ships were lost of to German submarines. The area was dubbed Topedo Junction.

In 1953, the area stretching north from Ocracoke Island to Nags Head was designated as the first National Seashore in the United States. Today, Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one of our most visited National Park areas, drawing nearly 7 million visitors year.

To learn more about Hatteras, visit the Outer Banks History Center or read the Insider’s Guide to North Carolina’s Outer Banks.

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So you’ve taken the family on a whirlwind tour of the southeast and find yourself in the lovely metropolis of Atlanta. There are plenty of enticing Atlanta attractions that appeal to adults, but what can you do to entertain the kids?

Although I’m not sure why a landlocked city owns bragging rights to the world’s largest aquarium, Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta is flush with 8,000,000 gallons of water and the creatures needed to make it come alive. There are five themed galleries-Cold Water Quest, Tropical Diver, River Scout Georgia Explorer and Ocean Voyager and you’ll want to see them all. This place is highly interactive with touch pools, a giant see through underwater tunnel and an educational 4D Wondershow. Set aside a whole day for this attraction and be sure to buy your tickets online before you go.

Atlanta’s also home to one of the country’s oldest zoos, Zoo Atlanta, In addition to the expected, there are plenty of baby animals, a playground, the Wild Like Me interactive play area, an endangered species carousel and a miniature train ride. There are also special programs you can take part in if you’re timing’s right, like the very hands-on Keeper for a Day and Family Nightcrawler overnights.

To old timers, Myrtle Beach is all about laid back family vacations at the beach-lazy days spent strolling in the sand and sultry evenings on the boardwalk with sticky cotton candy and a poket full of quarters for playing skee ball. The only golf anyone played involved windmills and clown obstacles on astro turf-covered miniature golf courses. Boy, has that changed!

Today, Myrtle Beach is all about golf. With over 90 courses along the 70 mile stretch of coast known as the Grand Strand, it may well be the most golf-rich area in the the country. The mild climate allows for nearly year round play and the variety of links ranges from ultra exclusive to bargain basement.

With so many to golf courses, it’s sometimes difficult to choose which ones to play during your visit. Numerous golfing websites offer club reviews and star ratings based on playability, course layout, conditions, scenic beauty and other factors. In addition to the top courses in the area, some also flag the worst Grand Strand golf courses in an effort to keep the entire area from suffering reputation problems caused by just a few.

The best way to get real Myrtle Beach vacation deals is by booking a special package that includes lodging along with carts and greens fees. Sometimes, meals and entertainment are also included and you usually get to choose which courses you wish to play. At under $70 bucks a night for an off-season Stay and Play package, it’s almost cheaper than staying home. So, do some shopping and snooping around before you book your next golf trip to the Myrtle Beach. You’ll be glad you did!

About 20 miles north of Fredericksburg in the Texas Hill Country, a huge pinkish rock protrudes up out of the earth that magically draws visitors to it. Enchanted Rock is a Texas state natural area on more than 1600 acres along the Big Sandy. The rock itself covers 640 acres and rises 425 feet above the surrounding topography. At about a billion years old, it’s one of the oldest exposed rocks on the continent.

Enchanted Rock is a mecca for rock climbers with more than 45 established climbing routes and a 1000 foot long fissure to keep things really interesting. Mountain biking, hiking and picnicking are popular activities and the variety of birds and other wildlife attracts nature lovers by the droves. Spring is particularly stunning, with fields of wildflowers as far as the eye can see. If you’re visiting Central Texas, spend a hour or a day at Enchanted Rock and become enchanted, too.

Those of us from the more normally sized states have a hard time envisioning the true proportions of Texas. No matter how you try to cross it, it’s an enormously long drive and you can sometimes see the sun rise and set and rise again before you finally get where you’re going. The only way to digest the Lone Star State is in small chunks and one of the tastiest portions is Texas Hill Country.

Just a bit south of the dead center of Texas, this region is dotted with rugged hills, limestone caverns, clear streams, lush orchards and vineyards and stunning fields of bluebonnets. Hill Country’s a cool, welcoming place for a shoulder season Texas family vacation. Here are a few recommendations for kid friendly activities in Central Texas that adults will enjoy, too:

The Bertram Flyer is an historic train that runs 3 hour excursions into the Hill Country on weekends. It’s a cool way to see the country side and you can pack your own picnic for the ride. Holiday tours are available to make Halloween and Christmas extra special for children.

Colorado River Canyon Cruises take you on a two hour ride among the cliffs, waterfalls and wildlife. Take either a scenic dinner or lunch tour and, in the winter and early spring, you’ll see eagles, too.

Longhorn Cavern State Park - there’s no better place to be on those hundred plus degree Texas days than deep in a cool, dark cavern. This one has the expected crystal formations and weird rocks, but it also has an interesting history as a shelter for Native Americans, a hideout for outlaws and a Confederate stronghold during the Civil War.