Being a kid is great. You’re mind is open to all the possibilities the world has to offer, and things are still constantly amazing. There is a magic to childhood that just doesn’t doesn’t quite transcend into adulthood.

Traveling while you’re little is interesting. Many times you won’t remember exactly what you loved about your favorite trips when you’re an adult, but many of your first experiences with things like animals, boats, science, and art all happen on these kinds of outings. It’s important to see things when you’re young – and with that in mind we present this list of five places every kid should visit before they’re five.

5. The Zoo – Kids love animals. Animals can be inspiring on many levels, and a high quality zoo can really showcase some amazing creatures in habitats very similar to their original natural surroundings. A trip to see elephants, tigers, lions, bears, gorillas, and other animals can create an early love and appreciation for the world around us and the other creatures living in it.

4. A Museum – These days many museums are not the stuffy silent libraries that they once were. Now they feature interactive exhibits where kids can build pyramids, fly planes, explore the surface of Mars, and learn how bubbles work. There are great interactive science programs at many of your local museums designed specifically to get the youngest minds interested in learning. These kinds of exhibits can spark an interest in the learning process that can carry on throughout school, and the rest of your child’s life.

3. The Beach – Again, we’re talking about the ages of inspiration here, and if their is anything out there that is more inspiring that seeing the ocean consume the horizon – I don’t know what it is.

2. NASA – For a few generations kids dreamed of being “Astronauts”. You don’t hear about that near as much anymore – mainly because the Space Race ended – and without it, competition and drive for space exploration has dwindled. That doesn’t mean, however, that there aren’t ways to instill that love of space and the possibilities of tomorrow into the hearts and minds of the next generation. In Houston and in Florida NASA has fascinating programs for kids of all ages to come and explore and learn. It’s an amazing experience for a child, and well worth the trip.

1. A Play – There are only a few years in your life when you can truly believe what is happening on a stage in front of you is, or could be, real. Plays are an amazing way to bring a world to life in front of us on a stage. More engaging than a movie, plays and theatre can be fascinating and captivating events for kids. Whether you’re traveling to New York to see Beauty and the Beast on Broadway, or just going to a community theatre play of the Velveteen Rabbit in your hometown, the magic of the stage can captivate you kids in ways that movie theatre never will.