As you’re planning your summer adventures this year, we encourage you to try something new. Instead of the standard diet of museums, national parks, and theme parks, you and your family can combine education and activity with tours very few people think about. We’re talking about manufacturing destinations, where you can experience everything from historic sites and (yes) museums, to active plants. Who knew?
The Alliance for American Manufacturing rounded up a helpful and fascinating list of 44 Manufacturing Destinations Worth the Detour and grouped them by region, to make your planning even easier. From bathtubs, crayons, and aircraft, to cars, (silicon) chips, and jelly beans, there’s something to suit every family.
What You Can See in Each Region
Tours and visits in the Midwest include various household goods, kitchen and bath products, motorcycle powertrain operations (Harley Davidson!), cars, outdoor apparel, mining, woodwind instruments, agricultural equipment, woolen blankets, footballs. Some of the highlights:
- Kohler: one of the USA’s best-known manufacturers of kitchen and bath products, offers a tour that includes a walk through their foundry.
- Wilson Football Factory takes you behind the scenes to see how NFL footballs are made.
- Ford Rouge Factory Tour guides you through one of the most famous factories in the USA and gives you a look at the F-150 production line.
In the Northeast, you can explore the manufacturing process behind crayons, chocolate, metal goods, lighters, steel, tiles, coins, baseball bats, paint, ice cream, teddy bears, oysters (a hatchery), guitars, and beer—not to mention the Thomas Edison Museum. Some of the possibilities:
- Ben & Jerry’s will tell you all about how one of our favorite ice cream makers got its start—and they’ll give you a sample.
- Paul Reed Smith Guitars shows you how the music happens, from raw wood to finished instrument.
- Bethlehem Steel Plant steelworker guides walk you through one of the USA’s most significant industrial sites.
In the South, your manufacturing options cover baseball bats, cars, bourbon, hot sauce, aircraft, aerospace, and currency. Some of the standout activities:
- Kennedy Space Center, where a kid-friendly tour takes you past the Vehicle Assembly Building and teaches you about space.
- Tabasco Factory Tour shows you how and where our favorite pepper sauce has been made for generations.
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing teaches you all about the background and process for making paper money (but no samples).
In the West, manufacturing sites are less plentiful, but every bit as interesting, with options that include candy, wine, microchips, aircraft, outdoor gear, dairy products, beer, coins, wool, and golf clubs. Fan favorites:
- Jelly Belly Candy Company, where (kid-friendly) self-guided or guided tours show you how the sweets are made.
- Boeing (a Razorleaf customer) offers Future of Flight to inform visitors about modern aircraft manufacturing and gives tours of the largest manufacturing facility in the world.
- Coors Brewery takes you behind the scenes of the largest single-site brewery in the world—and offers samples!
No matter your interest or your region, there’s bound to be a tour to pique your interest. So when you hit the road, make a stop and one or more—or even all—of the 44 listed tours. And tell ‘em Razorleaf and the Alliance for American Manufacturing sent you.
For more options, locations, and options, see 44 Manufacturing Destinations Worth the Detour.
