Hawaii

First off, they’ll take a tour of Hawai’i’s basic statistics – like the fact that it’s one of the youngest pieces of land on Earth and is home to the world’s highest mountain, measured from seabed to peak. It’s also not done forming yet: Another island, called Loihi, is still in the middle of its fiery growth spurt and won’t be visible above sea level for another 30,000 years.

Like its constantly changing landscapes, the history of Hawai’i, for kids, is shown to be just as varied and complex. Starting with Polynesians from the Marquesas Islands, who arrived between 100 CE and 500 CE, Hawai’i has played host to countless other European and American immigrants and missionaries, who kept the islands under their control for 80 years. Cruising along, kids will learn about Hawai’i’s famous dance, the hula. Other unique features start flooding in, like the ukulele, the lei, and the famed tropical-print shirts of Hawai’i; for kids who want to keep the party going, notes on the islands’ many festivals and fêtes, and a string of snaps depicting lively scenes and animals from the eight main islands, will be cause for celebration.