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NEW YORK(CNNMoney.com) -
People are naturally curious. They take things apart and put them back together....they peer under the hood as their mechanic works on the car...they watch cooking shows carefully to see how the experts do it.
They may not intend to be a clockmaker, a engine repairman, or a chef -- they just like to watch.
Helping to satisfy that curiousity are many production facilities all across the country that invite the public inside.
Manufacturing legacy
The United States became an economic dynamo thanks largely to its ability to mass produce cost-competitive, finished goods. To do so, factory designers, engineers, and managers had to constantly come up with innovative ways to increase production.
And that legacy is not totally a thing of the past.
Factories all over the country still churn out a huge variety of products every day. Some of these manufacturers believe it's good public relations to open up their doors to visitors. A memorable factory tour can harden casual product awareness into long-term enthusiasm for it.
Some factory tours are appropriate for the whole family. Who wouldn't want to watch candy being made or pastries baked? But there are also many factories that appeal to more specialized tastes.
Guitarists love visiting the Martin Guitar plant in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Corvette fans enjoy paying their respects at the assembly plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Ice cream lovers head straight for Ben and Jerry's when they're in Waterbury, Vermont.
Whatever your interests, it's easy to integrate a factory tour in family vacation plans. And tours can be extremely good values. Few charge very much for their tours and many are free of charge.
It's an affordable way to satisfy that insatiable curiousity.
See more on 8 fun factory tours here.
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Travelers are being squeezed by a shrinking number of airline seats. For that story, click here.
High gas prices have not detered vacation travelers. Click here for more.
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