Cheap Summer Tour Ideas

Summer is quickly approaching and if you are looking for inexpesnive ideas to keep the kids busy or to add free stops along the way while you travel, I have a book for you....

Watch it Made in the U.S.A. by Karen Axelrod & Bruce Brumberg

is a guide to the best factory and company tours in America.  Best of all, most are free and come with freebies such a food samples or memorabilia.

This easy-to-read book breaks the option for tours down into geographic regions, and includes day planning ideas for specific areas.  If you happen to be in New Hampshire for example this summer, they recommend the Stoneyfield Yogurt Factor Tour, Anheuser Busch and Hampshire Pewter. Anheuser Bush is free and in addition to the factory tour you get to see the famous Clydesdales. I have taken this tour and recommended it, especially on a hot day because the factory is kept very cool, so bring a sweater.  Stoneyfield charges a small admission fee, but visitors get free samples. Hampshire Pewter is also free and all three have interesting gifts shops.

The book also has a section on featured tour options including color photos.  If you are a snack person, you won't want to miss Herr's Snack Factory Tour in Nottingham, Pennsylvania.  This company is so accommodating you can call ahead and find out which products are in production on a given day.  If want to see tortilla chips or prefer to see cheese curls being made, you can check the schedule. 

How about a visit to the Harley Davidson, John Deere, Crayola or Louisville Slugger facilities?  There is something in this book for just about every region, interest and age.