Archive for December, 2009

NYC National Parks Offer Glimpse of History

Wednesday, December 9th, 2009

If you are thinking about vacationing within New York, making your plans ahead of time is really the best thing you can do. There’s simply so many things to see and do that you must have at least a general idea of exactly how you wish to pass your time before you are able to commence. New York is one of the greatest cities on earth, it did not get that way without a reason and it has a long history that is a huge part of its majesty.

New York

If I were to select the way to spend my time in New York and what wonderful things about New York City to introduce my children to, I would choose to introduce them to those things that bore the most historical significance. I would want my kids to comprehend the history of our country whether good or bad and I want them to someday instill in their own children the importance of that history.

Through visiting the national parks first, I am able to enjoy the benefits of the cost since free is great nearly anyway you slice it, particularly if both you as well as your kids are getting an education. Ellis Island is a great place to go to, although I think I will show them the statue from afar instead of riding that ferry to it. There is simply so many things to do within this beautiful city and every second is important, however I want them to have a wonderful time as much as I wish them to gain a few incredible pieces of knowledge. Insights which they can share with friends at school as well (something other than the newest DS game that is about to be released).

A few of the essential national parks I’d like to take my kids to are: Federal Hall, where Washington was sworn in, Grant’s Tomb, the birthplace of Theodore Roosevelt, and finally Clinton Castle, that was designed in order to keep encroacher’s out. I would additionally like to take them to Saint Paul’s Church, though not for spiritual purposes, but for Religious freedom issues. I believe there is an important lesson to be learned there even now, maybe particularly today.

I think the lessons which may be learned about the history of our nation within NYC are just as essential as the lessons that can learned in Washington or even Philadelphia. Our nation has taken many steps along it’s road to democracy and we have fallen a couple of times along the way. There would have never been the Witch trials in Salem, the Civil War, or the Civil Rights Movement, but we’ve made it very far and still have a long way to go. I want my children to learn the lessons of our past history and to look toward the future with anticipation.

I think these are the examples that we can get from the state parks and these are much more valuable than any lesson we can learn in toy stores or by tossing a Frisbee in Central Park. I want my children to go to museums and toy stores and witness new cultures, I also want them to go to their home with a deep notion of the history of our important nation.