Family Vacation Activities adventure local outings nature Travel
Getting Your Family to Love the Outdoors
(so that you can get back out too!)
If you loved hiking or camping before HAVING YOUR baby, it’s so important to teach your baby to love it too so that you can get back outdoors!
Start planning your outdoor experiences.
Make a list of the things you’d like to do. Include realistic things that you can do now that are comfortable and easily accessible. But, also include a few things that are stretch goals that you’d like to be able to do someday. Those will keep you motivated to keep going.
For each outdoor adventure you take, get yourself comfortable with the outing before you ever leave the house. Map out where bathrooms are, think about any snacks and meals, consider what gear and clothing you’ll need.
Then do it! Eventually, you will find things won’t take as much planning, but being over-prepared ensures that you won’t run into as many unexpected problems.
How to Survive — and Enjoy — Vacations with Teens
Start small and work your way up to bigger adventures
If you’re not outdoorsy, but want to spend more time in nature, taking baby steps will ease you in and create a snowball effect for embracing the great outdoors. It will also help you narrow down which experiences you really like and which ones are just not for you.
For example, before you go camping for a whole weekend, do an overnighter outside. Sit by a fire, cook outdoors, sing songs and tell scary stories, all with the expectation that you are going home at the end of the night. (This can also be done in your backyard.) Once you are comfortable with that, try camping overnight somewhere familiar and close to home (so you can bail in the middle of the night, if you need to).
Same with hiking. Start with a walk in a flat nature preserve. Then seek out longer hikes with more inclines. Just like setting realistic expectations, you are building a foundation and nurturing your relationship with nature. Start small and build the trust over time. Jumping into something well beyond your comfort zone is dangerous and a sure-fire way to make you never want to try that activity again.
One of the things I love to do is attach a theme to the outing. The boys caught on and just went with the flow. Hope always wanted an outfit that matched the theme.
Oh, now that all my kids are raised I have the most important tip for both play and adventure… My sister Tammie was just mesmerized by the sea lions one day at the Buffalo Zoo. She could have stayed there the whole day just watching them swim. My mom gave her the time and space to enjoy those delightful little things. She even got her picture taken by the local newspaper. I should have been more like that. Little Hopey’s mind or mood didn’t always match the activity planned for that moment. So it didn’t go smoothly. We both ended up frustrated.
Hopey says her happiest memories were always the sensory activities and free play time. Stop and let them relax a bit, avoid dragging them around to this or that because “it’s on the schedule.” It didn’t take me long to learn how to ask if she was ready to move on and to just let her enjoy the environment and the activities in our path. It came naturally for me hiking and playing in nature but in a public place like a zoo or theme park…not so much. I kind of made peace with it by saying that we choose the event and perhaps the path we took. However, we settled into her pace once we got there. It was so much more enjoyable.
Say yes to adventure
As adults, we often find that saying no to non-preferred activities becomes a habit. Particularly, if you are not outdoorsy, saying no to a hike, canoe trip, or camping weekend will come out without even considering the experience. But sometimes there are opportunities to get outside all around you if you just start looking for them and saying “yes” when they come up. Friends are more likely to start asking you to do outdoor things if you make a habit of saying “yes!” to experiences you previously said no to. The more you agree to being outdoors, the easier those yesses will come and the more opportunities will arise.
How to Get Kids Involved
Taking a family trip offers an exciting opportunity for bonding, learning, and exploring a new place together. Involving everyone in the trip-planning process is just as important as involving everyone in the trip itself, and that includes the kids!
Children may have varying levels of interest in the idea of “trip planning.” But they’re sure to become enthusiastic once they start to explore all of the fun things you can do together.
By involving kids in planning your family trip, we get them engaged on a deeper level. It’s hard to please everyone with every plan on the road. But when kids feel included in the planning process, they’ll have a better understanding of the trip as a whole. If there’s a portion that they’re not particularly enthusiastic about, they’re less likely to become agitated or bored if they have a say in what’s coming next.
Building anticipation for your family vacation can be a bonding experience in itself. So get everyone involved right from the very start, and you may find that the whole experience will be more rewarding. Here are a few tips to help you through the process…
Make planning your family trip fun!
It’s to be expected that everyone will be anxiously awaiting your big family trip. But don’t forget to enjoy the planning portion! Planning for a trip is naturally a fun and exciting experience. Research actually indicates that people are happiest in the planning stages of travel.
Don’t forget to make it fun for the kids, too! Planning for your travels can involve kid-family research. Consider what type of planning activities your children will most enjoy, and build that into your planning process.
While the adults might be excited by price comparisons and spreadsheets, kids are going to be more engaged if the planning is visual and interactive.
Watching movies about the destination, listening to music from the culture, reading books, and browsing family travel blogs as a family are all great ways to get the kids involved. A chalk board that kids can write ideas on helps create a visual reminder of the fun to come and encourage them to be creative.
Learn about your destination together.
We all know how brilliant our kids are. Their brains are little sponges, ready to soak up information and experiences. Travel is such a wonderful opportunity for children to learn about different cultures and people. Take advantage of the educational opportunity by learning about the destination as a family.
Being informed about a culture is important for travelers of any age. Your trip will be much more enjoyable and informed if you do a little research and prepare yourself for the cultural differences. This applies to kids as well. If they’re prepared for your family trip, they’re less likely to be overwhelmed by the newness of it all.
Volunteering as a family opens up unique opportunities to learn about a new culture together. But it’s particularly important to have an understanding of the culture and the people you’ll be working with and helping. By informing your kids about the significance of the issues you’ll be working on, you’ll give them a deeper appreciation for the importance of their involvement. Kids should understand that they can make a difference, too!
By learning about the destination you’re traveling to, children will feel more involved, better prepared, and more comfortable once they arrive in the new place. They’ll be ready to dive in and explore!
Research activities related to their interests.
What types of activities does your child enjoy at home? Incorporating their interests into your family trip is a great way to get them excited for what’s to come.
While trying new things is always going to be an important and exciting part of travel, the familiarity of activities they enjoy at home will allow your kids to connect the dots.
Do they love playing soccer? Attending a soccer game in Brazil will give them a whole new perspective of what it’s like to be an enthusiastic fan. Do they enjoy helping you out in the garden? A volunteer trip that involves farming will teach them about the importance of agriculture and fresh food. Do your kids love animals? A volunteer trip to work with sea turtles in Costa Rica could be a dream come true.
The options for incorporating your child’s interests into planning your family trip are endless. Let them tell you what kind of activities they most enjoy at home. Together, you can try to find ways to explore variations on those activities once you reach your destination.
Give them options to choose from.
Planning a family trip can be overwhelming. There are so many places to explore and things to do. Where do you even start?
You don’t want the kids to feel overwhelmed of confused by their role in the planning process. Giving them a structure in which they can contribute ideas that make them excited for your trip will keep things manageable and stress-free. Based on their interests, establish some options for them to choose from. You can discuss these options together and decide which activities should be the top priorities.
It’s great to have some flexibility when you travel. But it’s also easy to let our plans run away from us. We don’t want to disappoint our kids by making plans that fall through. So make sure that everyone understands that travel plans are flexible.
You may never know what’s going to happen on the road, but you know it’s going to be fun!
Designate a day or time that’s all theirs.
If time allows, giving kids a day that’s all theirs is an exciting opportunity for them to take a more adult role in their family trip. By giving your kids ownership of a significant portion of time, they’ll feel a sense of responsibility. That way, they know it’s not all up to the parents!
If you have multiple children you’ll be traveling with, perhaps they can split a day, or work together on crafting the ultimate kid-friendly day of adventures.
Kids are accustomed to being told what to do and following the plans that have already been set out for them. By giving them some freedom to plan on their own, you’re giving them permission to take ownership over the outcome of your trip.
In order for everyone to have the best family trip possible, it’s important for everyone to be involved in the entire process. Planning is such a fundamental aspect to travel. Involving kids in that process will make your trip more enjoyable and memorable for the whole family!
include friends and family who also love nature
–I am thankful to know plenty of people who also love to camp and hike with their kids!
Local Outings and Nature Walks
Day Trip and Walk Ideas + Tips
Field trips are essential to learning.
So often field trips are seen as something we do randomly as a break from learning. An escape from a crabby day or boring classroom.
In truth, real life experiences bring meaning to learning. They show kids how things they are learning at home or in the classroom relate to their life and the world. They deepen understanding about the books we read and the words we hear and the pictures we see.
Field trips making learning relevant.
a field trip can be a beginning,
a field trip can be a middle,
but a field trip is rarely an end.
Below are our favorite general ideas for adventures or field trips for toddlers, preschoolers and beyond.
I have divided them up into indoor and outdoor field trip ideas to hopefully help you land on the perfect idea for your next field trip more quickly.
Before you head out though – make sure you remember these two things!
Happy Adventuring and Learning.
Before the Field Trip
10 Things to Bring on a Field Trip
3 Reasons Every Field Trip Needs an Adventure Journal
Indoor Field Trip Ideas
Butterfly Garden: 5 Top Tips
City Bus Field Trip
Fire Station Field Trip
Dinosaur Field Trip + American Museum of Natural History
10+ Field Trips to Bring STEM Topics to Life
How Kids Can Help (& Learn) at the Grocery Store
Learning about Shapes at the Guggenheim Art Museum
Outdoor Field Trip Ideas
Air Show with Kids
Apple Farm Field Trip
Berry Picking with Toddlers
Bird Watching Hike
15 Fun Learning Activities for the Beach
12 Children’s Book Inspired Walks
Butterflying: Fall Nature Walk
10 Christmas Adventures to Take With Kids
Colors Car Hunt or Colors Flower Hunt
How to Go for a Fairy Hunt
Fall Nature Walk
Signs of Fall Hunt
Farm Field Trip Tips
Finding Round Shapes Nature Hunt with Printable
Fishing with Kids
Japanese Taiko Drumming
Neighborhood Walk with Printable Scavenger Hunt
Pond Walk
Puddle Walk for Rainy Days
Spider Web Hunt with Free Printable
Sculpture Hunt with Printable
Thankful Walk with Printable
Tips for Tide Pooling with Kids
12 Walk Ideas for Toddlers
Zoo Field Trip with Printable Scavenger Hunt
Animals
Community Helpers
Dinosaurs
Engineering / Building
Fall
North America Vacations and a Carribean Criuse
North America family vacations
California road trip
By Victoria
A California road trip is the stuff of dreams for kids and adults alike. Drive the iconic Pacific Coast Highway, stopping at gorgeous beaches, charming towns, redwoods, and cities along the way.
And then head inland for Yosemite, the gold rush towns of Tuolumne and lesser-known gems like Yolo and the Shasta Cascade region. And of course there are the world famous theme parks, including Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood.
There are endless fun things to do in California with kids and you can pick and choose a California road trip itinerary to suit you, perhaps focussing on the great outdoors or getting in a good mix of nature and city time. We’ve travelled extensively in California, both when the kids were babies and older, and it’s been a hit every time.
You could extend your California road trip up the coast, going from San Francisco to Seattle. We did this when the boys were really young and we loved it. Or you could also just focus on an Oregon road trip, which is a great place to get outside and experience the Pacific North West lifestyle.
See our guides to things to do with kids in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento and Tuolumne County.
Southern USA road trip
By Victoria
Another great USA road trip is to explore the Southern States, taking in Charleston, Savannah, New Orleans and more. The southern states are a riot for the senses, filled with picturesque towns, exquisite local food and the sounds of country, jazz and blues.
Kids can enjoy horse and carriage rides through Charleston, explore the art of Savannah and go to the amazing Mardi Gras museum in New Orleans (or even better, catch the real thing!).
The Blue Ridge Parkway is another fantastic place to explore, basing yourself in the hip and outdoorsy town of Asheville from where you’ll find plenty of kid-friendly hikes. It’s particularly gorgeous in the fall.
We did a southern road trip, starting in Atlanta and looping through the Blue Ridge Parkway, Asheville, Charleston, Savannah and New Orleans. A good extension would be to add Nashville and Memphis too, perfect for music-loving families.
New York City
By Victoria
New York City is a bucket list destination for all ages with plenty to do for kids and adults alike. Children will likely be awed by the sheer size of it and all its skyscrapers. And older kids will get a kick out of spotting sights from their favourite movies or TV shows.
There’s an abundance of famous museums, galleries and sights, plus no end of kid-friendly attractions, from zoos to Central Park.
Go at Thanksgiving for the Macy’s Parade, or visit around Christmas to see all the lights. It gets fairly hot in the summer, so perhaps best saved for spring or fall.
We loved visiting New York with a baby as it’s easy to navigate and it was the perfect age for allowing us to do all the things we wanted to do as grown-ups! We even ate at a Michelin Star restaurant!
Another great option for a USA city break is Chicago – see our guide to the best things to do in Chicago with kids.
Orlando’s theme parks
By Cora at Inside Our Suitcase.
Orlando, Florida is a fantastic bucket list destination for families and one of the most fun family vacations. After all, what child doesn’t want to go to ‘The Most Magical Place on Earth’.
The city is perhaps best known as the home of the Walt Disney World Resort, which includes four theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios and EPCOT) as well as two waterparks. [Note from Victoria: We have a guide to Disney World with kids too as well as a full guide to where to stay at Disney World]
Honestly, the Walt Disney World Resort is more than enough to keep most families entertained for at least a week.
However, being Orlando, the family entertainment capital of the world, there’s still more to see, do and experience, including the epic Universal Studios Orlando Resort, home to Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Volcano Bay, SeaWorld, Gatorland, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, the Orlando Eye, and WonderWorks.
Meanwhile, just a short drive away you’ll also find Kennedy Space Center, LEGOLAND Florida and a number of incredible, white sandy beaches.
The climate in Orlando, Florida is tropical so during the summer months (June to August) you’ll experience severe heat and humidity, while in the fall you may experience hurricanes and tropical storms. As such, it’s well worth planning your travel times well in advance and opting for Winter/Spring if possible.
(Note from Victoria: If you’re heading to the West Coast instead, we’ve written a full guide to visiting Disneyland with toddlers and Disney California Adventure including how to reduce wait times and save money. You can see all out theme park guides here.)
Hawaii
By Marcie Cheung at Hawaii travel with kids
One of the best family vacation destinations is Hawaii. It has everything from amazing kid-friendly beaches to Hawaiian luaus to shave ice to swimming with dolphins.
The main four islands are Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. Read our post to find out about the best Hawaiian island for kids, since the answer varies depending on the age of your kids and their interests. But Hawaii is definitely a blast with kids of all ages, including babies and toddlers.
It’s spectacular any time of year, although the winter months tend to get a decent amount of rain. Ideally, your trip will be 7-10 days, or 2 weeks if you plan on island hopping.
I recommend staying at a resort with an amazing pool area and possibly a kitchen and/or laundry facilities. The Disney Aulani Resort or the Hilton Hawaiian Village are great kid-friendly resorts on Oahu.
On Maui, the Honua Kai Resort & Spa or the Hyatt Regency Maui are popular options. The Grand Hyatt Kauai or the Koloa Landing Resort are amazing on Kauai. The Hilton Waikoloa Village or the Fairmont Orchid are top family resorts on the Big Island.
[Note from Victoria: Also see our guide to all the best things to do in Hawaii with kids]
The Florida Keys
By Victoria
One of the top bucket list family beach vacations in the USA is a visit to the Florida Keys. We did an amazing Florida Keys road trip, which combined with Miami and the Everglades, was a perfect complement to visiting Orlando, and made our 2-week Florida itinerary less theme-park heavy. This is a good idea if everyone in your party isn’t equally enthusiastic about Disney!
The Florida Keys are particularly fun for families as they’re about as close to the Carribbean as you can get in the USA, and with that comes a laidback approach and perfect holiday vibes. There are some brilliant Florida Keys family resorts to choose from.
While renowned for romantic retreats and the lively nightlife of Key West, the islands are a playground for all ages, and there’s plenty to do in the Florida Keys with kids. From water adventures to wildlife centers and kid-friendly museums, you could easily fill up your days with activities.
Our itinerary takes you from Miami to Key West, stopping in the Evergladres, Key Largo and Marathon en route. Some of best things to do in Key West are the Key West Aquarium, the Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, and sunset at Mallory Square. And don’t miss the turtle hospital in Marathon.
No trip to Key West with the family would be complete without trying some key lime pie! Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe is a popular spot.
Try to visit sometime between March and May. This way the weather will still be relatively mild and you’ll also be able to avoid the intense crowds of winter.
New England Road Trip
By Victoria
We fell head over heels for New England and spent a whole month there on an epic New England road trip. If you’ve a fan of the Gilmore Girls, I can guarantee you’ll love it. And even if that reference is lost on you, so long as you like charming towns, forests, a wild coastline and quaint islands, New England will win you over.
We started by driving from Boston up to Maine, stopping in the towns of Portsmouth, Ogunquit, Camden and Portland before landing in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Next, we went across New Hampshire to Vermont and down through Connecticut, before rounding back to Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard. The landscapes are spectacular and you have no end of farms and towns to explore.
One of the highlights for us in New England are the amazing places for families to stay. I’ve put together a guide to the best New England family resorts, including the best in Maine and Vermont. But perhaps best of all is the glamping, which lends itself perfectly to the landscapes. Fortland, just off the coast of Portland was my favourite, but I also recommend these places too.
The National Parks of Utah
By Stephanie at The Unknown Enthusiast
Doing a road trip around southern Utah is a great bucket list trip for families, full of epic landscapes and hikes.
There are five national parks in Utah (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion, and Bryce Canyon). While these are all family friendly, I think Arches and Bryce Canyon are best for children, because there are plenty of easier hikes, and the rocks formations you’ll see when hiking in Arches and Bryce are unforgettable.
The smaller Goblin Valley State Park, between Canyonlands and Capitol Reef, is also perfect for kids as they can freely wander and explore the small, squat rock formations (the goblins) clustered throughout the valley. Or go explore narrow slot canyons found throughout the region.
Visiting in spring and fall are the best times as the weather isn’t too hot yet. If you do visit in summer, take advantage of the cooler mornings and evenings, and rest during the middle of the day. About 5-7 days is enough time to see and do a lot in Utah.
This trip is best with kids who can hike and climb safely by themselves. This will vary from kid to kid, but elementary school and up is a great age range for exploring southern Utah.
The Archway Inn in Moab (near Arches) is a great hotel, as it offers large family rooms and has a pool and playground on site.
Canadian Rockies road trip
By Anu Agarwal of Destination Checkoff
A Canadian Rockies road trip is a bucket list family vacation to experience during the summer months of June to September. During summer the lakes are a beautiful turquoise and the towns of Banff and Jasper are alive with locals and tourists.
Flying in and out of Calgary airport is the best way to do this road trip if you’re not local to Alberta. From there, go through the beautiful Banff and Jasper National Parks, the picturesque Lake Louise, and the scenic Icefields Parkway Drive.
First stop is Banff National Park. Moose Hotel and Suites in Banff town is a great family friendly hotel with suites. And Banff gondola, Banff hot springs and hiking are some popular activities to do in Banff in summer.
Next stop is Lake Louise, which is the most beautiful lake in this region surrounded by mountains. Then you will drive on the scenic Icefields parkway, which is one of the most beautiful drives in the world, to reach Jasper National Park.
Jasper has Maligne Canyon and Maligne Lake to explore, as well as excellent hiking. Tekarra Lodge is a great place to stay with families in Jasper.
Kids of all ages will enjoy the scenic road trip, but older kids and teens might enjoy and appreciate the excellent hiking opportunities, lakes, glaciers, and waterfalls. All ages will enjoy walking on the Athabasca glacier in Icefields parkway.
You should plan at least 6-7 days for this road trip so you can spend a few days in both Banff and Jasper National Park and take in the amazing sights.
Caribbean cruise
By Ruby at A Journey We Love
I love an inclusive family resort vacation and not having to worry about cooking food after a long day of exploring. That’s why I think a Caribbean cruise is a great bucket list thing to do for a family. Just pick the number of days you want to go on vacation and then customise the trip how you like.
Want a more energetic and activity-packed trip? Some cruise lines have onboard waterparks, shows, flow riders, and other sorts of fun activities and games onboard. Want to relax by the pool and just watch shows? You can do this on all of them!
The best part about cruising is that you pay once for everyone’s fare and then a lot of onboard activities are included. It’s often a really affordable vacation, plus it’s super convenient, giving you the ability to visit a few island countries without worrying about travel between them, finding hotels or working out what to do on the island.
Think of doing a cruise as a sampler of what each island has to offer without the commitment of staying longer than a day. Mexico is one of the more popular ports, where you can take shore excursions in Costa Maya or Cozumel.
Cruises are also great for multigenerational travel. There are plenty of things to do for all ages, from toddler to grandparent. And the kids can also be left in a kids’ club, so you can have date nights with a loved one or have adults-only time together.
nd can be challenging. You can also take cheap domestic flights with Air Asia. There are airports in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau. Sabah is intrepid, so we recommend this for a family with older kids (over 5 years old).
Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary
By Babs at Mums on Flip Flops
When you think of a bucket list-worthy family trip, what comes to mind? Chances are, you’ll be thinking about exploring one of the new Wonders of the World or visiting one of the Disney Parks. But what about getting up close and personal with elephants? That’s exactly what Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand offers. This ethical sanctuary is perfect for visitors of all ages (even babies!) and offers an amazing opportunity to learn about these beautiful creatures.
Located just outside the city, Elephant Nature Park is easy to get to and you can visit for a day, book an overnight stay or volunteer for a week (if your kids are 16+). There are over a hundred elephants living at the park, each with their own unique story. You can learn about them all, as well as how the sanctuary works to protect them and keep them safe. There are also plenty of other animals at the park that you can meet, including horses, water buffalos, dogs, and cats.
One of the best things about Elephant Nature Park is that it’s an ethical sanctuary. This means the animals here have been rescued from terrible conditions elsewhere and are now able to live out their days in peace.
You’re not allowed to ride them obviously (that is animal cruelty!), but bathing, feeding, and petting them isn’t allowed either. The staff at the park works tirelessly to make sure every visitor leaves having learned more about these animals and why it’s so important to protect them.
You feel in everything they do that the animals come first, which means that you can enjoy your time at the park with a clear conscience. Observing and learning about the elephants along with your children makes visiting Elephant Nature Park an experience that’s hard to forget. It’s definitely a bucket list item for families!
6o Mom And Me Anywhere Activities while you are away from home
64 of the Funnest Outside Activities for Kids
Get some fresh air!
Whatever the weather, it’s always a good time to get outside. From water play to crafts and more, there’s plenty of fun in the great outdoors to be had by all. Here are our favorite outside activities for kids that keep them active and engaged all year long.
(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)
Have a picnic
Picnics are tried-and-true outdoor activities for kids. Bringing a blanket and a basket out into the yard or to the park makes any meal special.
Learn more: Picnic Food Ideas/Love and Lemons
Camp in the backyard
Set up a tent, or bring out blankets so the kids can make one of their own, and spend the day outside. If it’s an actual tent and your kids are old enough, let them sleep out in the backyard for a night (or two).
Play snail
Play a version of hopscotch that involves a snail shell.
Go stargazing
A clear night is a great time to see stars. Here is a guide of five constellations that kids can spot.
Outside movie night
Outside movie nights are memorable activities for kids. Set up a projector screen (could also be a white sheet) or pull a TV to where you can see it from outside and cue up a favorite movie.
Kick hopscotch up a notch
Make hopscotch more challenging by writing directions for what kids should do when they land on each square. Turn around, do a jumping jack, stomp like a dinosaur, all the way down the sidewalk.
Learn more: Clever Ways To Play Hopscotch/Crafty Morning
Play Duck, Duck, Splash
It’s like Duck, Duck, Goose, but instead of goose, you’re carrying a water spray bottle or squirt gun, and you splash the person you want to chase.
Learn more: Duck, Duck, Splash/Inspiration Made Simple
Play water balloon volleyball
Using a beach towel as a springboard, launch a water balloon over the net. The other team tries to catch it in their towel and launch it back over. If the balloon breaks on your side of the net, the other team gets a point.
Learn more: Water Balloon Volleyball/It’s Always Autumn
Stage a car race in the driveway
Use sidewalk chalk and other obstacles (sticks, rocks, pool noodles cut in half) and create a racecourse for cars.
Learn more: Outdoor Racetrack/Mum’s Grapevine
Play Frisbee tic-tac-toe
Turn an old sheet into a tic-tac-toe board with some tape, then use Frisbees (or beanbags) of different colors, or with Xs on half, to play tic-tac-toe.
Image: Frisbee Tic-Tac-Toe/Living Well, Spending Less
Play field hockey with pool noodles
Use pool noodles as sticks, balloons for the ball, and two laundry baskets for goals. The pool noodles move the balloons across the lawn to score goals in the laundry basket.
Learn more: Pool Noodle Hockey/Joyful Parenting
Sail in a paper-boat race
Create paper boats, then us straws to create wind while racing them in a kiddie pool or tub.
Make frozen suncatchers
Gather items from outside—berries, evergreen boughs, twigs, leaves. Then, put out a plastic lid or pie plate as a mold. Fill the mold with water and arrange the elements. Leave it outside overnight to freeze in winter or pop it in the freezer in the summer. Then, remove the ice from the mold and you have a suncatcher to prop outside on your window to admire.
Learn more: Frozen Suncatcher/Run Wild My Child
Make a DIY obstacle course
Obstacle courses are fun outside activities for kids. Pull out all the outside gear for this one. Use jump ropes, Hula-Hoops, pool noodles, and whatever you have to create an obstacle course.
Learn more: DIY Obstacle Courses
Paint with flyswatters
Dip a flyswatter in paint, or put dots of paint on paper, and use the flyswatter to spread the paint around.
Learn more: Fly Swatter Finger Painting/Little Bins for Little Hands
Melt crayons in the sun
Looking for outside activities that incorporate repurposing items you no longer need? Gather up old crayons and paper plates and aluminum foil. Place the aluminum foil on top of the paper plates. Then, put the crayons on the foil and place it in the sun. You can put the crayons inside of cookie cutters to give them shape. Once they are done melting, you can take them out of the cookie cutters and have new crayons.
Learn more: Sun-Melted Crayons/Happy Hooligans
Build a birdhouse
It’s easy to create a bird feeder using materials that you can find around the house, from plastic containers and spoons to oranges and birdseed. To make it more interesting, make a few bird feeders and hang them in different spots in your yard so you can see what kinds of birds visit each.
Learn more: Bird Feeder Ideas/Spruce Crafts
Catch fireflies
Catch fireflies in a jar to observe the insects. Release them at the end of the evening.
Learn more: Guide To Catching Fireflies/Homesteading
Create a fairy garden
Find things from around the house, like spools, clay, broken pots, and more, to create a fairy garden. Or purchase a fairy garden kit at Amazon to get you started.
Learn more: Fairy Garden Tour/A Beautiful Mess
Go on a bug hunt
Scavenger hunts are classic outside activities for kids. In this version, they’ll hunt for bugs. How many different types of bugs can they find in the backyard? Bring a magnifying glass or jar to catch and observe them.
Learn more: Bug Hunt/Family Corner
Make mud pies
Get dirt, add water, and use old cake pans and plates to create mud pies. Decorate them with flowers and leaves.
Learn more: Make Mud Pies/Sparkle Stories
Have a bike parade
Decorate bikes with streamers, balloons, and flags. Then, bike around the neighborhood. Better yet, get other kids involved in the fun and keep the parade going. You might associate bike parades with the 4th of July, but Memorial Day, Labor Day, even the holidays (think: adding Christmas lights to bikes) are all good excuses for a bike parade.
Construct a cardboard fort
Get a bunch of cardboard boxes, tape, paint, and markers and see what your kids can make out of them.
Learn more: Cardboard Box Fort Ideas/Backyard Summer Camp
Make a rock garden
Search for rocks—the smoother the better. Then, paint them and create a rock garden. You can also get a rock-painting kit that comes with inspiration from Target.
Learn more: Rock Garden Ideas/SheKnows
Map the neighborhood
Look at maps of your city. Then, have your kids take a paper and pencil and walk through their neighborhood, making their own map.
Learn more: Nifty Neighborhood Maps/Crayola
Hold a neighborhood scavenger hunt
Beforehand, walk around your neighborhood and make a list of things that the kids are sure to find (stop sign, red house, mailbox shaped like a barn). Then, give your kids the list and see if they can find everything on your list.
Learn more: Scavenger Hunt Printable/Miss Merry
Play water limbo
Use a hose as a stick and spray water in a stream for kids to limbo under.
Learn more: Water Hose Limbo/Great Camp Games
Toss water balloons
There are plenty of outside activities for kids using water balloons. For this one, fill up water balloons and have kids start close together. Toss the balloon, then take a step back. Repeat until the balloon bursts, then start over.
Learn more: Eco-Friendly Water Balloons/Cool Mom Picks
Buy it: Bunch O Balloons at Amazon
Build igloos
The night before, fill various containers with water and different food coloring and freeze it. Then, pop the ice out of the molds and let kids build with it until it melts. Or get serious and freeze water in bread pan molds and use them as bricks to build an igloo.
Learn more: Make Igloos/Burlington Free Press
Slip-n-Slide
Make your own Slip-n-Slide with a plastic tarp, secure it on a hill, and run the hose down the middle. Have kids slide down on their bellies or on pool floats.
Learn more: Build a Slip-n-Slide/All Things Thrifty
Buy it: Water Slides and Body Board Set at Amazon
Throw sponges at targets
Draw a bull’s-eye on the driveway and give points to each circle. Then, put a bunch of sponges in a container of water. Have kids stand at a starting line and throw the sponges at the target.
Learn more: Sponge Bullseye/KiwiCo
Have a sponge relay
This game is great for a group of four or more kids. Put two buckets out for each kid or team. Fill one bucket with water and sponges; the other bucket stays empty. The kids have to transfer water from the full bucket to the empty one using just the sponges. Whoever fills their bucket first is the winner.
Learn more: Sponge Relay/Flying With Four
Paint with squirt guns
Fill a squirt gun with paint (or paint mixed with water if the paint is thicker), then aim it at a piece of paper or bedsheet to create spray art.
Learn more: Squirt Gun Painting/Fireflies and Mud Pies
Buy it: Squirt Guns at Amazon
Play water balloon dodgeball
Use water balloons in a game of dodgeball.
Read outside
Get blankets, chairs, tents, whatever you need to make a cozy reading nook. Bring out a pitcher of lemonade and a stack of books. This activity is best when it’s nice and cool outside—no bugs and no humidity.
Learn more: Ways To Enjoy Reading Outside/Honestly Modern
Clean the cars
Get a plastic tub. Fill half with dirt and trucks and cars, the other half with soap and water. Then, sit back and relax as your children put vehicles through car wash after car wash.
Learn more: Clean the Cars Sensory Bin/Busy Toddler
Blow big bubbles
See how big a bubble you can create with homemade solution in a kiddie pool and a bunch of different bubble wands. A Hula-Hoop or rope both make good giant bubble creators.
Learn more: Homemade Giant Bubbles/Happy Hooligans
Buy it: Giant Bubble Making Kits at Amazon
Play parachute games
Stretch out a parachute and put balls on top, then shake the parachute but try not to let the balls roll off. Lift the parachute and see how many people can run under it before it comes down. Sit under the parachute and create a tent. These are just a few ideas for how to play with a parachute.
Learn more: Parachute Games/Backyard Games
Buy it: Play Parachute at Amazon
Make a sensory table
An old train table repurposed as a water table, or a coffee table, now with bins for sand and water. Water and sensory tables are a fun way for kids to play creatively.
Learn more: DIY Sensory Tables/The Empowered Educator
Play classic games
The games you played when you were a kid never go out of style. Teach your child the classics:
Red Rover, Red Rover
Red Light, Green Light
Mother May I
Kick the Can
Learn more: Classic Recess Games
Host a s’mores party
Start up the fire pit and make s’mores, the quintessential outdoor dessert. You can stick with the classic—graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate—or try one of the options at the link below.
Learn more: S’mores Recipes Six Sisters’ Stuff
Learn how to play cornhole
Cornhole is the classic game that involves throwing beanbags at a target. The team with the most holes in wins. You can make your own or buy a set. Either way, cornhole is a game that kids will work to master.
Learn more: Make Your Own Cornhole Game/HGTV
Buy it: Junior Cornhole Game Set at Amazon
Make sidewalk chalk art
Use painter’s tape to mark off shapes on the sidewalk. Then, color in each space with chalk. The result is a Pinterest-worthy chalk art design.
Learn more: Geometric Chalk Art/A Sprinkle of Pink
Buy it: Colored Sidewalk Chalk at Amazon
Play bocce ball
Make use of a flat area in your yard to set up a bocce ball game. Each player needs two same-color balls. Then they toss the ball to see who can get it closest to a white marker.
Buy it: Bocce Ball Set at Amazon
Play backyard putt-putt
Create a real mini-golf challenge around your yard, taking all the hills, dips, and obstacles into consideration. Either use objects you already have—croquet wickets, boxes with holes cut out, PVC pipe, cups. Or purchase a mini-golf kit.
Learn more: Backyard Mini Golf Course/Kix Cereal
Buy it: Mini Golf Kit at Amazon
Make your own bubble foam
No matter how you slice it, foam is fun. And making your own foam is extra fun. Mix two parts water with one part tear-free bubble bath. Add food coloring. Mix with a hand mixer on high until it reaches the foamy consistency you like.
Learn more: Bubble Foam/Busy Toddler
Start a garden
Gardens provide plenty of outdoor activities for kids that keep on giving. In fall, plant the seeds. Keep watch on the garden during winter. In spring, look for the first shoots, and take care of the garden until harvest in summer. Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt by Kate Messner is a picture book that explains what’s happening under the dirt in your garden, and it takes you through the entire year.
Buy it: Gardening Starter Kit at Amazon; Up in the Garden, Down in the Dirt at Amazon
Go fishing
Fill up a kiddie pool with magnetic animals (or cut out fish with paper clips attached to them) and use a magnetic pole to catch them all. Fill the pool with water, or not, depending on your child’s preference.
Learn more: Brain-Boosting Ways To Use a Kiddie Pool/Mommy University
Buy it: Magnetic Fishing Set at Amazon
Run a three-legged race
If you have an even number of kids, pair them up for a three-legged race. Use a rope or exercise band to tie kids’ legs together. For a variation, get a huge shirt and have three kids work together. One kid puts their head through the head, and two kids put their heads through the sleeves. Then, they have to run from start to finish. Kids love the challenge, and we love them learning to work together.
Learn more: Hold a Three-Legged Race/Our Pastimes
Jump rope
Jump rope is great exercise, confidence building, and fun.
Learn more: Jump Rope Rhymes and Games/Mommy Poppins
Play all kinds of tag
There are so many kinds of tag to play:
Blob Tag: When you’re tagged you join the blob.
Hot Dog Tag: One kid is the hot dog, and they tag two “buns.”
Animal Tag: Kids have to act like animals when they are tagged.
Dragon Tag: As kids are tagged, they link arms to form a dragon.
Learn more: Fun Tag Game Variations
Capture the flag
Capture the Flag’s rules haven’t changed since you were a kid. Each team tries to take the other team’s flag and get it back to their territory. But if a player gets tagged by the other team while on that team’s side, they get sent to “jail.” The game ends when one team gets the other team’s flag to their home base.
Learn more: Capture the Flag/Party Games 4 Kids
Create a business
Encourage your entrepreneurial kid to set up a lemonade stand, or decide on something else to sell. First, survey neighbors to find out what they’d like to buy. (Maybe people want Popsicles in summer but hot cocoa in winter.) Then, have your kids price out the ingredients and go shopping with you. Figure out what time of day is best to sell. And put up advertisements around the neighborhood.
Create a water wall
Kids love outside water activities! A water wall is essentially a maze for water to trickle through. Hang different objects from your house—tubes, milk jugs and cottage cheese cartons with the bottoms cut out, funnels, and anything else that water could go through—on a pegboard or simply on the wall. Then, run water through it and see how it flows.
Learn more: Water Wall/Happy Hooligans
Make a homemade water blob
A water blob is a large piece of thin plastic, folded in half, taped shut, and filled with water. Essentially, a huge water balloon that kids can play on. Make your own by folding and sealing plastic sheeting with duct tape. Then, fill the blob with water. If it springs leaks while you play, just seal them back up with duct tape.
Learn more: Water Blob Tutorial/Clumsy Crafter
Get creative with tie-dye
Tie-dying activities are best for kids to do outside, so take advantage of warm, sunny days to tie-dye shirts or pillow cases, or tie-dye a sheet and put it over a frame to make a tent.
Learn more: Tie-Dye Instructions/Lola Lambchops
Draw with shadows
Use sun and your child’s toys to create shadow drawings.
Make slime
Slime activities for kids are best done outside. Make your own slime with glue, food coloring, baking soda, and saline solution (and glitter if you’d like).
Learn more: Slime Recipe/The Kitchn
Make sun art
Collect leaves and plants, put them on the special paper, and leave them in the sun to create silhouettes.
Learn more: Sun Print Paper/Flinn Scientific
Buy it: Sun Art Paper Kit at Amazon
Create a nature weaving
Looking for outside craft activities for kids? Use sticks and string as the structure to weave in leaves and flowers. Kids will have fun collecting plants and seeing which are the best for weaving.
Learn more: Nature Weaving Craft/Craftiments
Make a worm farm
Worms are easy enough to come by. Fill a mason jar with dirt, make sure you have some worms to observe, and watch them wriggle!
Learn more: Make a Worm Jar/Homeschool Creations
Have a tea party
Bring out the fancy dishes, make iced tea or lemonade, and put out platters of crackers and cookies to add a bit of fancy to your summer. Invite teddy bears, dolls, and even dump trucks to the party to encourage pretend play.
Learn more: Kids Tea Party Guide/The Spruce
Make a dandelion crown
Pick dandelions and other flowers with long stems and weave them together to make crowns, necklaces, and bracelets.
Learn more: Make a Dandelion Crown/Prairie Play
Play a game of kickball
Sometimes the best games are the classics. If your child has a bunch of friends over, organize them into two teams and start a game of kickball.
Have a glow party
When it gets dark, break out a few glow sticks, put on some music, and dance the night away!
Buy it: Glow Sticks at Amazon
What are your favorite outside activities for kids? Share in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Plus, check out Wet and Wild Outdoor Science Activities.
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Incredible Weekends Across the USA
US Travel and Beyond
As much as our wanderlust hearts would love to pick up and travel the corners of the world full time, work and health constraints limit us to exploring it one weekend at a time.
Here are our favorite family travel spots and our top tips to help you plan your next best trip.
North East
From the bustle of New York City and the monuments of DC to the leaf peeping in Maryland and Vermont and everything in between the East Coast is packed with fun places for families.
Everything You Need to Know about New York City with Kids
Bonus: Unofficial Guide to all 21 Central Park Playgrounds
A Weekend in Long Beach NY with Kids
Weekend in Newport, Rhode Island with Kids
A Visit to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in MA
Top Places to go with Kids in Baltimore Maryland
A Weekend in Washington DC with Kids
South East
From the bustle of Atlanta to the quiet elegance of Savannah and the gorgeous beaches stretching along the shore, the Southeastern portion of the USA has become one of our favorites to visit with kids.
Weekend Camping Trip at Coopers Rock State Forest West Virginia
A Weekend in Spartanburg & Greenville SC with Kids
Top 4 Things You Can’t Miss in Atlanta GA with Kids
Family Camping at Tallulah Gorge State Park Georgia
7 Tips for Surviving Lines at Disney World
Midwest
We grew up in Wisconsin, our kids were born in Minnesota and for many, many years the Midwest was home. It might be considered farm land or a flyover spot to some, but to us it is one of the best places to visit with kids.
15+ Best Things to do in the Twin Cities MN with Kids
A Summer Weekend in Milwaukee Wisconsin with Kids
10+ Winter Activities to do in Milwaukee with Kids
10+ Things to do with Kids on Milwaukee’s East Side
15+ Indoor and Outdoor Things to do in the Madison WI area with Kids
A Weekend in the Wisconsin Dells with Kids
A Weekend in Traverse City MI with Kids
Deep South
We lived in Mississippi for a few years and made the most of our time exploring the food, sites, and beaches that the southern states offer. The definitions between Deep South and Southeastern seem to be blurred. I generally define the Deep South as the southern states that are East of Texas and not on the coast. Below are our top family friendly picks for attractions, culture, and beaches in the Deep South.
A Weekend in Chattanooga with Kids
20+ Best Things to Do with Kids in Jackson MS
A Weekend in Biloxi MS with Kids
Out West & West Coast
In 2018 we moved to California and started exploring the incredible natural beauty of the West Coast.
52 Things to do With Kids in San Diego California
Los Angeles Day Trip with Kids
Getty Villa, Percy Jackson & Mythology for Kids
Mt Whitney and Death Valley National Park with Kids
48 Hours in San Francisco with Kids
A Visit to Redwoods National Park with Kids
24 Hours in Portland OR with Kids
Family Road Trip from Portland to San Diego
Snorkeling in Oahu Hawaii with Kids
Canada
To our north, Canada brims with natural beauty and family friendly adventures. We have only begun to explore this fascinating and fun country.
New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island & Nova Scotia with Kids
Central & South America
To our south there are a wealth of adventures waiting to happen. We can’t wait to see where more of them take us.
Europe
I love visiting Europe. The food. The history. The culture. The languages. The architecture. Exploring even more across the ocean is one of our top travel priorities.
BELGIUM: 8 Hours in Brussels Belgium with Kids
ENGLAND: Hiking in the 100 Acre Wood
FRANCE: Paris, France with Kids and a Food Allergy
ICELAND: 10 Must Dos in Iceland with Kids
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Creative family travel guides
We don’t think you have to sacrifice creativity and style when travelling with kids. Browse our guides for creative family travel around the world. We also have a whole section on cool places to stay with kids in destinations worldwide. And guides to theme parks too.
Tips for travelling with a baby | Baby packing list | Flying with a baby survival guide | Where to stay with a baby | Ultimate guide to Home Exchange | Bucket list family vacation ideas | How to plan a road trip
Birmingham with kids | Bristol with kids | Cornwall with kids |London with toddlers | Edinburgh with kids | Manchester with kids | UK family Christmas trips
Annecy with kids | Barcelona with kids | Barcelona with a baby | France family surf camp | Majorca (Puerto Pollensa) family holiday | Croatia (Sibenik) family holiday | Trentino with kids | San Sebastian with kids
Austin with kids | Boston with kids | California with kids | Charleston with kids | Chicago with kids | Florida with kids | Florida Keys with kids | Hawaii with kids | Los Angeles with kids | Miami with kids | New York with a baby | Orlando with kids | Portland with kids | Sacramento with kids | San Antonio with kids | San Diego with kids | San Francisco with kids | Savannah with kids | Tuolumne County with kids
Family Road Trip Itineraries:
Boston to Maine |California road trip |Florida Keys road trip | France road trip | Italy (Trentino) road trip | New England road trip | Pacific Coast Highway road trip | Provence road trip | San Francisco to Seattle road trip | Southern USA road trip | Portugal road trip | Texas road trip | West Coast France road trip
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