State

If you've ever wished your Hogwarts letter had arrived, there's one weekend in Ohio that might make up for it. Each summer, downtown Kent is whisked away from the world of the Muggles and transformed into a charming, wizard-themed spectacle called the Wizardly World of Kent. This all-ages celebration brings out the cloaks, wands, and wide-eyed wonder in visitors of all stripes—and you don’t have to be a die-hard fan to get swept up in the magic.

Every Labor Day weekend, the skies above Colorado Springs transform into a floating dreamscape of drifting giants. It’s not a mirage—those really are hundreds of hot air balloons rising against the dramatic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. If you’re looking to kick off September with something equal parts whimsical and wondrous, the Colorado Springs Labor Day Lift Off is the answer.

If watching a movie under the stars with the Hollywood sign glowing in the distance sounds like a dream, you’re in luck. At the Rooftop Film Club at the Montelban Theatre, that dream comes to life—complete with cozy deck chairs, city lights, craft cocktails, and a big-screen lineup of crowd-pleasing classics.

Right off the palm-lined stretch of Silver Springs Boulevard, you’ll find a place that’s part throwback, part hangout, and 100% fun. Park & Rec isn’t your average bar—it’s a neon-lit tribute to childhood joy with just enough adult flair to keep things interesting. Imagine a space where you can sip cocktails in a vintage arcade, crush friends in Skee-Ball, and belt out ‘90s karaoke jams under a disco ball. Sounds like your kind of playground? It absolutely is.

Looking for a day of adrenaline-pumping fun that doesn’t involve sweltering in the Texas heat? Just off Grand Parkway in Katy, there’s a high-octane escape where the air conditioning is crisp, the games never end, and even Grandma might surprise you behind the wheel. Welcome to Andretti Indoor Karting & Games—a sprawling, multi-sensory playground where friendly competition meets next-level entertainment.

Tucked between the winding country roads and whispering pines of South Carolina’s heartland, there's a little slice of Main Street magic that feels like it was pulled straight from a storybook. Welcome to Little Mountain Unlimited, a delightfully offbeat shop in the quiet town of Little Mountain—where antiques, oddities, and old-fashioned charm collide in the most enchanting way.

If your kids are climbing the walls and you’re running out of rainy-day miracles, Mt Playmore in Austin might just become your new favorite lifesaver. This Texas-sized indoor playground isn’t just big—it’s one of the largest of its kind in the state, and it’s engineered for maximum family fun with minimal stress.

If you’ve ever wanted to step straight into a technicolor dream of flower power, free spirits, and groovy tunes, Hippie Fest in Rockbridge, Ohio is your portal to peace and love. It’s not just a throwback—it’s a full-on sensory revival, where lava lamps glow, bell bottoms twirl, and the scent of incense rides the breeze alongside acoustic guitar riffs.

Tucked just off the shoulder of US-285 in Centerville, Colorado, lies a place where rocks rock—and not just the musical kind. If you’re the sort of traveler who brakes for quirky roadside stops, The Rock Doc might just become your new favorite detour. What looks from the outside like a humble roadside rock shop is, in reality, a glittering haven of minerals, fossils, and geologic wonder that captures the spirit of the West with a whole lot of heart.

There’s something magical about standing eye-to-eye with a giant Pacific octopus or watching sea otters playfully tumble through kelp beds like aquatic acrobats. At the Monterey Bay Aquarium, it’s not just about exhibits—it’s about feeling like you’ve slipped into another world, one pulse and tide away from the surface.