Family vacations are all about happiness and fun – right? OK, normally. But there are a few places that are more somber than sensational, and they are still worth taking your kids to.

Gettysburg National Cemetery

There’s no sugar coating it: a trip to a cemetery is downright depressing. What happened in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 150 years was tragic and today the bloodiest battle in American history is commemorated with a military park and cemetery. The park was actually created because the townspeople didn’t know what to do with all of the dead bodies left behind when the Union and Confederate armies moved on, so the federal government essentially consecrated a bunch of land to be used for a cemetery.

Yeah, it’s heavy stuff. But it’s also an important part of American history that kids tend to naturally absorb at an age-appropriate level. My six-year old remembers that President Lincoln spoke here after the two American sides fought, my eleven-year-old had a deeper appreciation for the sacrifices made before the speech was given.

Ground Zero

September 11, 2001 changed everything — not only for Americans, but for the entire world. Most of our children are too young to remember a time before that massive paradigm shift or the specific events that caused it. While terrorism is a frightening subject to bring up with little kids, a visit to the new Ground Zero Memorial is a good way to introduce the idea of the monumental event that shaped history without having to get into the politics of the perpetrators.

Vietnam Memorial Wall

It’s difficult to imagine that a low granite wall etched with thousands of strangers’ names could have an impact on anyone born within the last 30 years, and yet the power is palpable at the Vietnam Wall. This memorial is subtle and understated while still providing an opportunity to teach children about respect and patriotism.

Do you take your kids to war memorials or other potentially sad locations?

Photos by Britt Reints

This photo was taken in Saanichton, British Columbia in Canada — just north of Washington in the Puget Sound area. You don’t have to drive (ferry) that far for a great pumpkin, there are farms and patches all over the place. Stop at your leisure. Take the kids.

This post is part of the UpTake Friday Family Series.

Photo: Kam’s World via Flickr

I’ve been in Pittsburgh for a week and already feel I have a pretty good idea of what makes this city so beloved by the people who live here. (Seriously, have you ever met a Pittsburgh? They never shut up about how great this place is.) I’m staying a month and look forward to getting to know the area even better, but you don’t have to stay quite that long to get a feel for what Pittsburgh is all about. Here’s how to get to know Pittsburgh in a weekend.

Hit the Strip on Saturday morning.

Yep, Pittsburgh has a Strip – but don’t expect casinos or call girls in this riverside neighborhood. It’s more like hipster heaven, but working class folks are welcome with open arms (mainly because I suspect hipsters are hard to come by in this part of the country.) Grab a gourmet coffee and do your shopping for organic produce. You can also pick up a jar of olives as big as your head at the Greek grocer and fresh pizza dough at the Italian one. Between shops you’ll find street vendors hocking everything from Indian crafts to Steelers garb, and everyone’s busy with customers.

Visit the Senator John Heinz History Center.

The History Center isn’t a world famous museum, but it’s the fastest to understand what makes Pittsburgh tick. One half of the building is dedicated to the city’s rich sports history and the other to the inventions and technology that were created or perfected here. This unique blend of disciplines is a perfect example of the city’s industrial diversity.

Have dinner at Primanti Brothers.

There are 17 Primanti Brothers locations in the Pittsburgh with the original being on 18th Street in the Strip District. The sandwich shop serves up meat, fries and coleslaw – all of it between two thick slices of bread. Yeah, it’s unique – like everything else about the Burgh. You have to try it at least once.

Hit the Carnegie Museums on Sunday morning.

Before you go, learn to pronounce it like a Yinzer – Car-NEHG-ee. The Science Center is open Sunday mornings and is a fabulous place for kids to learn through hands-on exhibits, but the real jewels are the Art and Natural History museums. (The original T-Rex!) Unfortunately, you can’t get into these museums until noon on Sundays, which will only work if the Steelers have a night game.

Because, yes, you must…

Watch a Steelers game on Sunday.

Few cities are as passionate about their sports as Pittsburgh, and at the top of their athletic heap is the NFL team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. If you can’t get into Heinz Field to watch live (and you won’t), you can head to one of the bars on the South Side, or just step into any living room in town. Bring your black and gold and a case of beer and you’ll be welcomed with open arms.

Not football season? No problem. You can watch one of the other two professional sports teams play with everyone else.

Photos by Britt Reints

Thanks to Hurricane Irene, I only got to poke my big toe into New England this summer – just as far as Mystic, Connecticut. While I was disappointed to have to hightail it out of the Northeast prematurely, I’m glad I got to at least visit this little seaside village. It’s a great place for a short family getaway, especially as the leaves begin to change this fall.

Itinerary for a Mystic Weekend

You can book a couple nights in one of the local hotels or get back to nature at Seaport Campground. The wifi is limited to the main office, but the sites are spacious and the staff is friendly. It’s a nice campground for the money and is near the area’s best attractions.

Day 1

Head to breakfast (or brunch if you’re a late riser) at Kitchen Little, a diner that looks like a hole in the wall but offers up stellar seafood omelets. It’s a favorite among tourists and locals (when the tourists have gone home). After breakfast, keep heading down highway 27 to Mystic Seaport. Check out the shops and The Museum of America and The Sea (pick up the combo pass here to save on admission to local attractions later in your visit.) Plan to spend the rest of your day here wandering through the exhibits. Grab lunch or a snack at the Seaport, but hold off for dinner until you’re ready to leave, then head over to the infamous Mystic Pizza, inspiration for the Julia Roberts’ film of the same name.

Day 2

Start your day with breakfast at Somewhere in Time, a cafe known for their breakfast pastries. Past visitors swear by the homemade banana bread french toast. When you’ve filled up on syrupy baked goods, you’re just a short drive away from the Mystic Aquarium, one of the region’s best known attractions. You can spend the rest of your morning exploring the marine life exhibits on this compact campus, then take a lunch break at Ten Clams. Ten Clams isn’t known for it’s creative menu or fancy atmosphere, but it’s a good place to grab cheap lunch items. After lunch, hop into the car and enjoy the scenic drive up to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. This museum is by and about the local Mashantucket Pequot tribe, the owners of the nearby Foxwoods Casino. The attract is award-winning and explores the tribe’s local history as well as the larger Native American story in New England. It’s an important perspective to have before leaving the area now dominated by European descendants.

Photo: Britt Reints