If you are looking for a unique way to spend a family vacation you may want to consider a trip to one of the many former mining towns of the Southwest. Many of these towns are known as ghost towns because very little remains of the town except for the shells and foundations of buildings that were once full of miners looking to find their fortune. A number of these towns have been turned into vacation resorts and amusement parks of sorts, offering a unique opportunity to experience a bit of life as it was centuries ago.

What can you expect to do on a trip to one of these former mining towns? Many of these towns feature some of the activities that initially drew so many to them in the first place. Some allow visitors to pan for gold or tour old gold mines. One of the big features of almost every mining town is an extensive set of railroad tracks, and many of these trains have been restored and provide visitors with a scenic trip through the town.

The Old West has much to offer in the way of family adventures. You may consider a wagon train trip to see what life was like for the first pioneers in this country. Another great plus of these kinds of trips is that they are usually relatively inexpensive compared to other kinds of family vacations, and they offer a great deal of educational benefits. A quick search on the Internet will pull up a number of mining towns that have been restored for visitors. Why not start planning a trip to one for your family today?