With three young children and another on the way, vacationing has become a bit more difficult over time. Have you ever tried riding in a van for 9+ hours with a 4-year old, 2-year old, and 1-year old, all the while being pregnant? No? I don’t recommend it. Adding to the challenge of vacationing with young children is the expense of traveling long distances. So, to cut down on expense and extended driving time, we’ve learned the art of “staycation” trips.
Talk to anybody who is stationed at or lives near Camp LeJeune, and they will tell you that fun family-friendly activity spots are scarce. We know this from personal experience. We have been stationed there for several years now. But, just as the old saying goes, “It is what you make it.” So, our family decided we were going to figure out a way to have fun without having to travel too far. Believe it or not, there actually are some really fun and educational places to go around here. There are five, in particular, that we love.
Believe it or not, there actually are some really fun places to go at Camp Jejune Click To TweetUSS NORTH CAROLINA BATTLESHIP (WILMINGTON)
Roughly an hour away, the USS North Carolina Battleship is an incredible, historical site to see! She was the first fast battleship utilized in World War II. As a visitor, you can decide to either take a guided tour of the ship or just explore for yourself. Our children have had an absolute blast running around all the compartments of the ship.
From the mess hall to the sleeping chambers, what life was like for its occupants during World War II really comes alive as you get to see and experience all the sections of the ship. Another great thing is that they do special events on certain holidays, including a fireworks display for the 4th of July!
FORT MACON STATE PARK
Located near Atlantic Beach and only about 45 minutes away, Fort Macon State Park has become a family favorite for us! Fort Macon is a fort that was built during the Civil War and then re-opened for use during World War II. If you go at the right time, you can get the opportunity to watch miniature Civil War re-enactments. It truly is a neat place to explore, with lots of rich history!
An added bonus to the state park is that you can walk along the beach and enjoy the beautiful scenery.
NORTH CAROLINA AQUARIUM (FORT FISHER)
There are a couple aquariums within driving distance of Camp Lejeune, but the NC Acquarium at Fort Fisher is our absolute favorite and probably our kiddos’ second favorite place to go (first on their list coming up). This aquarium is so interactive with hands-on and extra educational exhibits.
The aquarium staff does its best to really engage the young audiences. They know that if they don’t keep the children entertained, the experience isn’t quite as fun. The workers are always incredibly patient and enjoy showing off the different types of sea species. Above all, my boys’ favorite part about the aquarium is the diving show. They do a diving show every day, where the divers actually talk to the kids while under water. It is very exciting for the children!
MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM (RALEIGH)
And now for my kids’ absolute favorite place to go . . . the Marbles Kids Museum! I have to admit that it is actually really fun for us parents too. We may or may not have just as much fun as the kids, if not more. Even though it is about two hours away, it is more than worth the drive. This is definitely an all-day venture and believe me, you could be there all day and still not experience the whole place!
So, what exactly is the Marbles Kids Museum? It is what you would call a “please touch” museum. From a huge train set to a “barn” full of animals, a submarine to a big pirate ship, the opportunities are endless. It’s like one big interactive playground, full of costumes and anything else a child could dream of.
Like I said earlier, you could truly spend all day there and still not see everything. The building is two floors and is enormous. We have been there a couple times now and still have not made it through the whole thing. No need to worry about germs or illnesses because they are very sanitary! Another bonus is that they are very inexpensive and even offer a military discount!
THE BEACHES
Last, but definitely not least are the beaches! One could not live in the Camp Lejeune area and never make it to a beach! There are several available beaches to go to, both on and off base. Whether you are there to see a sunrise
[bctt tweet=”One could not live in the Camp Lejeune area and never make it to a beach!”
or to just enjoy some fun during the day,
you can’t help but be in awe of the gorgeous splendor displayed before you. Going to the beach is definitely an all-time favorite for anyone living in this area!
If you’ve ever lived on or near Camp Lejeune, what were some of your favorite staycation spots?
I married a Marine too! His term ended 20 years ago but we spent plenty of time at Camp Lejeune. We live in north Georgia so we are still close enough to visit these wonderful places. This information is helpful to anyone visiting the area.
What a fun list! If we’re ever in the area, I’ll have to remember to check some of these out with my family. On another note, it’s a great reminder that there are some fantastic and fun places within just a few miles of my own home. Thanks for posting!