Four U.S. Destinations for Family Immersion in Black History and Culture

When you think of top domestic family travel destinations, Orlando, Fla., and Anaheim, Calif., probably come to mind. However, for families wishing to experience places with a wealth of African-American history and culture, a welcoming spirit and unique attractions, the following four destinations go above and beyond.

New Orleans, Louisiana

New Orleans (also known as NOLA) may not seem like a family travel destination, but it has plenty to offer.

“There are so many cultural riches for Black families to explore in New Orleans,” said Kelly Schulz, senior vice president of communications for New Orleans & Company. “The city truly honors and preserves its African-American traditions on a daily basis.”

In fact, the architecture, food, arts and culture in the destination are unlike anywhere else in the country. Clients can follow the roots of jazz to Treme, the country’s oldest Black neighborhood, where colorful shotgun houses adorn the streets, and echoes of bamboula drum rhythms still emanate from the cobblestones of Congo Square. The square, now located in Louis Armstrong Park, is where free and enslaved people once gathered to sing, dance and play music.

Other places of interest in Treme include the New Orleans African American Museum, whose mission is “to preserve the history and elevate the art, culture and contributions of African Americans in New Orleans and the African diaspora,” and the Backstreet Cultural Museum, with its collections of costumes, artifacts, memorabilia, photographs, films and other materials that are important to New Orleans’ Black  culture. Visitors to Treme will also want to make a stop at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, a creole favorite since 1941.

Of course, a quintessential part of any NOLA experience involves spending time in the French Quarter, home to iconic Bourbon Street.

There are so many cultural riches for Black families to explore in New Orleans.

Clients can take the Creole French Quarter walking tour with Tours by NOLA, or observe more than 3,600 aquatic animals at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. From here,  it’s just a streetcar ride to New Orleans City Park. This lovely urban oasis has several kid-friendly attractions, including Carousel Gardens, Big Lake and Storyland, a whimsical garden filled with life-size storybook sculptures.

South of the French Quarter, visitors get up close to floats and props at Mardi Gras World, or they can opt for a kids’ culinary class at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.

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Art lovers should visit the McKenna Museum of African American Art, the experiential pop-up exhibits at JAMNOLA (Joy Art Music New Orleans) and visual art warehouse Studio BE.

Outside the city limits, Cajun Encounters’ swamp boat tours travel through Honey Island Swamp, where alligators, raccoons and wild boars are common sights. West of the city, Whitney Plantation — the only museum in Louisiana with an exclusive focus on the lives of enslaved people — offers a 75-minute self-guided tour via the museum’s app.

Hampton Roads Region, Virginia

As one of the oldest parts of the U.S., the Hampton Roads region of Virginia allows visitors to experience the foundations of American history, as well as enjoy family fun. Clients should spend a few days each in Williamsburg and Virginia Beach for a balance of enrichment and relaxation.

Williamsburg forms part of the “Historic Triangle,” along with Jamestown — the first English settlement in the Americas — and Yorktown, site of the famous Yorktown Battlefield. In nearby Hampton, visitors can check out Fort Monroe, formerly known as Point Comfort. This is where the first Africans were brought from Angola to America in 1619, ushering in the era of slavery in what would become the U.S.

Virginia Beach has its own historical sites, as well. First Landing State Park is where English colonists arrived in 1607. Virginia Beach is also home to the Cape Henry Lighthouse, which features not one, but two lighthouses completed in 1792 and 1881. The original lighthouse was the first federal construction project under the new U.S. government.

Aside from storied sites, the Hampton Roads region has a number of family-friendly entertainment venues. Visitors can go on a treetop adventure at Go Ape, or get up close with animals at Virginia Living Museum. Another option is spending the day at Busch Gardens amusement park and the adjacent Water Country USA. Children won’t want to leave Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor waterpark and resort that offers year-round fun for the whole family.

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Of course, there’s also the oceanfront of Virginia Beach to explore. During summer months, the city offers several special events, such as movie nights during the Family Great Adventure Movie Series. The Virginia Beach Boardwalk also has a beach playground, separate bike lanes for cyclists, a mix of eclectic shops and hip oceanside restaurants, such as Waterman’s Surfside Grille.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago is a visually stunning city known for iconic architecture, from houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright to towering skyscrapers. For a deeper understanding of the city’s architecture, clients should take the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise, and walk along the Magnificent Mile to observe the city’s grandest avenue — and do some shopping, too.

Kids will love visiting Grant Park’s Buckingham Fountain, which was inspired by the ornate fountains of the Palace of Versailles in France. Within the park are Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium — part of the Museum Campus; Maggie Daley Park, which has a Play Garden and a family-friendly climbing wall; and Millennium Park, where people flock to snap cool pictures of the reflective sculpture known as “The Bean.”

A short walk from Grant Park is Navy Pier, home to Crystal Gardens and the Chicago Children’s Museum, as well as Pier Park rides, arcade games, boat tours and a number of diverse places to eat.

Chicago is also one of the best cities to bike, given the numerous trails throughout the city. Visitors can rent a bike at Bobby’s Bike Hike, which offers tandem and child tag-a-long bikes, as well as biking food tours that include a tasting of the city’s famous deep-dish pizza. A notable place to stop along the 18.5-mile Lakefront Trail is Oak Street Beach, where visitors will have to decide which view is better: the view of Lake Michigan or the city skyline.

Chicago also has options of special interest to Black families.

“The city is home to thriving African-American communities that most visitors might not even know about if they do not travel outside of downtown Chicago into such neighborhoods as Bronzeville and Hyde Park,” said Naomi Hattori, acting vice president of global development at Choose Chicago. “In these areas, visitors can experience local communities that are rich with Black culture and home to thriving family-owned businesses.”

To understand the city’s African-American roots, clients should begin in Bronzeville and visit the Bronzeville Walk of Fame, the Monument to the Great Northern Migration and the DuSable Museum of African American History. Also worth a visit is the Bronzeville Children’s Museum and the South Side Community Art Center. Visitors can reserve one of Choose Chicago’s in-person “greeter tours,” which are led by locals from Bronzeville and other neighborhoods in the city.

The city is home to thriving African-American communities that most visitors might not even know about if they do not travel outside of downtown Chicago.

If your clients are looking for something eclectic and diverse, Hyde Park has it all — walking distance to the lakefront, a 10-minute train ride from the downtown loop and shopping at unique boutique stores. It’s also a favorite spot for local Black artists.

The arts-inspired Sophy Hotel — and the property’s Mesler Kitchen — provides a great spot for dinner and cocktails in Hyde Park. The Promontory is also a good place to chill, relax and catch live music. Visitors should also check out the Instagrammable sensation Can’t Believe It’s Not Meat, which is locally owned by a Black female entrepreneur.

Denver, Colorado

Colorado features endless outdoor adventures for the whole family, and its capital, Denver, makes a great base for family travelers to explore the state’s cultural and historic attractions.

Crystal Egli and Parker McMullen Bushman, founders of Inclusive Journeys, are outdoor enthusiasts who are focused on bridging the inclusivity divide among people of color, the places they travel and conservation efforts in the communities they inhabit. The company is developing a digital “Green Book,” with support from the Colorado Tourism Office, to guide community members toward welcoming spaces, based on ratings from within the community.

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“Giving businesses the ability to demonstrate the work they are doing toward cultivating a diverse customer base — while at the same time providing individuals the tools to navigate travel and leisure planning with confidence and ease — is a win-win for both travelers and the tourism industry,” Egli said.

Instead of visiting the popular Rocky Mountain National Park for outdoor activities, Egli and Bushman recommend that travelers visit Colorado’s lesser-known state parks, such as Cherry Creek State Park, Chatfield State Park, Steamboat Lake State Park and Vega State Park. Another place to experience the bountiful Colorado scenery is Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. This gorgeous red rock park contains a naturally formed theater where live concerts are held. It’s also a wonderful place to catch a sunset and go hiking.

Downtown Denver also has several family-friendly attractions that are within close proximity of each other. Larimer Square, Denver Zoo, Denver Botanic Gardens, the Children’s Museum of Denver and Elitch Gardens amusement park are great places to spend the day.

For a more historical context of the city, clients should visit Denver’s Welton Street Historic District and its Five Points Neighborhood, also known as the “Harlem of the West.” These areas of the city formed the commercial and cultural hubs for African Americans during segregation. Today, they are filled with museums dedicated to Black history, live music venues, Black-owned restaurants and the new Five Points Outdoor Mural Gallery.

Egli and Bushman recommend that families check out the Whittier Cafe, the Black American West Museum (temporarily closed) and any of the city’s local parks.

“While visiting these spaces, be aware of your impact,” Egli said. “Not just the location, but the people you are sharing the spaces with.”