(FORTUNE Magazine) – BEN & JERRY'S FACTORY

Where: Waterbury, Vt., half an hour east of Burlington. Why it's so great: You get to slurp down whatever ice cream has been churned that day, plus gawk at the Flavor Graveyard, where flavors that flopped have their own headstones. Cost: $3. More info: www.benjerry.com.

JACK DANIEL'S DISTILLERY

Where: Lynchburg, Tenn., an hour from Nashville. Why it's so great: It ain't because you get free booze--because you don't. (The county's dry.) But you do get to see whiskey seep through giant vats of charcoal. Cost: None. More info: www.jackdaniels.com.

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER FACTORY

Where: Louisville. Why it's so great: You can witness simple wooden cylinders transform into the stuff of Major (and Little) League dreams--then take home a miniature Slugger bat. Cost: $8. More info: www.sluggermuseum.org.

MACK TRUCK ASSEMBLY PLANT

Where: Macungie, Pa., an hour from Philly. Why it's so great: It'll make you feel like a truck-crazy kid again. Just one caveat: You'll have to walk a mile and a half to see every step on the vast assembly line. Cost: None. More info: www.macktrucks.com.

PARAMOUNT STUDIO LOT

Where: Hollywood, of course. Why it's so great: If you're lucky, you'll catch a glimpse of Kirsten Dunst or Dr. Phil--and maybe even get someone's autograph. Cost: $35. More info: www.paramount.com/ studio.

TABASCO FACTORY

Where: Avery Island, La., 140 miles from New Orleans. Why it's so great: The island is a pepper-sauce factory and nature preserve (egrets! black bears!) all rolled into one. You get tastings and recipes too. Cost: The 50-cent toll to reach the island. More info: www.tabasco.com.

U.S. BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING

Where: Washington, D.C. Why it's so great: Watching the presses spew out 8,000 sheets of currency an hour might just inspire you to make some money yourself. Cost: None. More info: www.moneyfactory.com.

YUENGLING BREWERY

Where: Pottsville, Pa., 2½ hours from Philly (see photo). Why it's so great: You'll venture into a deep, dark cave where the nation's oldest brewery used to age and ferment its beer, then sip and compare six types of Yuengling in a beautiful bar built at the factory in 1936. Cost: None. More info: www.yuengling.com.