Rediscovering America’s Story

Travel

Audio By Carbonatix

When you think of travel this summer, I’m not just inviting you to pack a suitcase—I’m inviting you to bring your sense of wonder back to the places that made us. Because the moment is just upon us: our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. And thanks to The Heritage Foundation, you now have a bespoke guide to help you see and understand better where our story was written.

Why this matters

In a time when so much of our public conversation about history seems muddled, complicated, or even rewritten, the Heritage Foundation’s newly released Heritage Guide to Historic Sites cuts through the fog. The interactive online map lists battlefields, presidential homes, and museums across America—and goes a step further: each site is graded on its “historical accuracy” (A, B, or C). 

President of the Foundation, Kevin Roberts, put it plainly:

“The next 250 years of our Republic depend on whether we can rekindle a true understanding of what it means to be an American—the rights and responsibilities of American citizenship.” 

That’s a stirring charge—and for you, dear reader of That Passport Life, it means your next vacation can be more than selfies and margaritas. It can be a pilgrimage.

How it works

Go online. Browse by state. Explore sites in the original 13 colonies first, and soon all 50 states. The listing filters by “accuracy rating” so you can opt for places likely to tell a faithful story. The site designates grades: “A” for consistently balanced tone and scholarly standards (for example, the estate of Mount Vernon earned an “A”).  Then plan your stop.

Imagine pulling up your map in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and saying: Let’s go to a site rated “A” and dig in. That’s a different vacation mindset.

Why it’s winsome

Here’s where the tone shifts: you’re not being lectured. You’re being invited. To wander the quiet halls of a museum, to walk the sod-covered ridge of a battlefield, to stand where presidents tossed aside their baggage and helped birth a nation. The Guide transforms places you might pass by into destinations of the heart. Think of:

• Kids wide-eyed, learning that history is alive.
• Families with backpacks and water bottles, yet stopping in their tracks at a sign: “Here history happened.”
• Couples meandering, hand-in-hand, through corridors of power and remembrance.

This is travel with a purpose—and that purpose is joy.

Tips for getting the most out of it

1. Pick your grade: Start with an “A”-rated site. You’ll be more confident the storytelling is solid.
2. Go early or off-peak: Historic sites get busy. Beat the crowds, linger longer.
3. Bring context: Tell your companions, “Here’s why we’re here,” instead of just “Hey, let’s take a picture.”
4. Pair it with local flavor: After your visit, find a local café, bookstore, or walk—connect place with people.
5. Reflect: On the drive home, ask: What did we learn? What surprised us? What do I want to remember?

The big takeaway

In short—this isn’t just about going places. It’s about remembering why those places matter. It’s about owning the story of America, with all its beauty and complexity, rather than letting others spin it on our behalf. The Heritage Guide hands you that compass. Use it. Make your summer not only scenic—but meaningful.

Pack your bags and your curiosity. Because next time you say “I vacationed,” you might really mean “I rediscovered.”