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Presidential Digs! The Coolest Presidential Homes You Need to Visit

Written by Suzy Guese

President’s Day weekend frequently morphs into a giant commercial of mattress sales and department store discounts. However, if you’d rather spend your weekend taking advantage of some cheap flight deals rather than being busy with some bargain bins, you can honor past leaders of the United States by heading to their “other” White Houses. From the oldest US presidential birthplace in Massachusetts to paradise politicking in the Florida Keys, we’ve rounded up some of the coolest Presidential homes to take a peek at for President’s Day.

George Washington’s Mount Vernon

In terms of presidential homes, you have to start at George Washington’s Mount Vernon. The 500-acre estate, which is complete with three gardens, acted as the home of George and Martha from 1759 until his death in 1799. Showcasing 18th-century farm life, Mount Vernon features the original house, lush gardens, grounds, and even the tombs of George and Martha. The home of America’s first president sits 16 miles south of Washington D.C. along the Potomac River. It remains one of the most visited homes in America to this day.

Teddy Roosevelt’s Sagamore Hill

Set on 100 acres overlooking Long Island Sound (and just under 40 miles outside of New York City), you can dive into Theodore Roosevelt’s adventures at Sagamore Hill. The 23-room Victorian estate acted as the summer family retreat for the 26th President of the United States from 1885 to his death in 1919. Roosevelt and his wife raised six children in the home, which has been painstakingly preserved. You can see loads of animal heads and skins along with a deep appreciation of Roosevelt’s travels as a Rough Rider in Cuba, a big game hunter in Africa, and an adventurer in the Amazon. A nature trail at Sagamore Hill makes for a pleasant walk as it leads to a picturesque beach.

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Harry S. Truman’s Little White House

If you are going to milk the presidency, you might as well choose to stay in the balmy Florida Keys and call it the Little White House. Harry S. Truman did just that. The Harry S. Truman Little White House sits just a short distance from the beach in Key West, Florida. Built in 1890 as an officer’s quarters for the local naval base during the Spanish-American War, the home was later converted into a private residence in 1911. Not only did Truman spend 175 days of his presidency (from 1946 to 1952) in the home, but the structure also acted as the temporary home of Thomas Edison and has hosted other presidents like Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton.

Adams National Historical Park

If you want to get the most bang for your buck when figuring out presidential homes to fly to on cheap domestic flights, the Adams National Historical Park delivers. It’s the birthplace of both the second and sixth presidents and is also considered the oldest presidential birthplace in the US. The first father and son presidents, John Adams and John Quincy Adams, both called the Adams National Historical Park home. At the site, comprised of a number of restored buildings, you can learn all about America’s real Adams family. In addition, you can peruse the 18th-century formal garden, covered in thousands of annuals and perennials. The Adams National Historical Park sits approximately 10 miles south of Boston in Quincy, Massachusetts.

The Lincoln Home

Most of us would think of Lincoln’s log cabin when talking about his residence but you won’t find any trace of Lincoln logs in Springfield, Illinois. Rather, the city is home to the Lincoln Home, a Greek Revival-designed house with Italianate details. Lincoln started his family in the home, which he purchased for a cool $1,500 from Reverend Charles Dresser (who married Abe and Mary Todd). It was here in Springfield that Lincoln shaped his social and political beliefs. The house remains the only home owned by the 16th president and is totally worth searching out cheap flight deals to go visit.

Have you visited some presidential digs we left off the list? Share your experience with us in the comments below.

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