There is more to Argyll and Bute than stunning scenery. This sparsely populated Scottish Council is culturally and historically significant. The megaliths found in Kilmartin Glen and several of the Hebrides were made by Bronze and Iron Age peoples. Argyll is the birthplace of the Scottish nation; the Kingdom of Dalriada was founded here in 500 AD. And birthplace of Celtic Christianity; Saint Columba established a mission on the Isle of Iona in 563 AD. Argyll was the seat of the Lords of the Isles. Clans and castles proliferated in medieval times. Over the centuries, many a battles was fought in Argyll. The Norseman fought the Scots in Argyll. Scottish clans duked it out in Argyll for nearly four hundred years. The native language of Argyll is Gaelic. The region is home to Highlanders and crofters. More than one scotch whiskey is distilled in Argyll.

Online maps are a great travel planning resource as well as a means to get the kids involved in a family vacation. Use online maps of Scotland to pinpoint your family travel destination, identify points of interest, plan your itinerary and map your trail. Use online maps to teach kids map reading skills and learn about the history, geography and politics of the land.

Books are a great way to introduce younger children to a new adventure and get teens and tweens ready for a family trip. Take a journey through Scottish literature and explore Scotland through tartan myths and books. Learn more about Scottish authors such as Alexander Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Get recommended reading lists for family travel to Scotland and find age appropriate children's books that are designed to spark the interest kids and go beyond Peter Pan.

There is more to Scottish music than bagpipes. Scotland has a rich tradition of music and song. Learn more about Scottish ballads, fiddle and accordion bands as well as strathspeys and reels. But don't limit your exploration of sound to music. Explore Scottish wildlife through song. Listen to Peregrine and Black Grouse as well as other species of birds and learn to identify birdcalls before you depart on a trip to Scotland.

There is more than the BBC in Scotland for news. Read Scottish news online and brush up on Scottish current events from politics to economics and from sports to entertainment. Discover what the Scots are reading.

There are a variety of online resources that make preparing for a family holiday in Scotland fun. Use online resources to learn more about Scotland. From haunted castles to history and wave powered stations there's lots of neat stuff about Scotland that is interesting and exciting. Find out whose ghost wanders the halls of the castles you plan to visit. Discover how wave power works and why this and other types of renewable energy are important.