If you’ve read any history of the Revolutionary War, you know how fickle and lucky we were to be triumphant in our quest for freedom. That’s evident throughout the city of Boston and within the surrounding countryside. Standing in the spots that made history can make the past come to life for the whole family. This trip is about what was, and now is.

Point Reyes National Seashore on the California coast offers a mix of habitats and settings, places where you might spot a sea otter, or maybe a great egret wading through a marsh in search of a meal. Sit back and spend five minutes enjoying this setting.

Ponies in the morning mist-they’re a sight to see at Assateague Island National Seashore. You might awake in your dune country campsite to find them gazing right back at you. More likely, you’ll spot them throughout the day roaming free about the 48,000-acre seashore’s beaches and marshlands.

All sorts of fun, useful items can be created using your national park photos and Rebecca Latson has a few suggestions for you.