It’s always so exciting when the time to take a vacation finally rolls around. However, as much as it’s great to get away, there’s still the question of how to keep your little ones busy.
Fortunately, you don’t need to spend hours trying to come up with ideas—we’ve got a few to get you started. 
13 Kid-Approved Vacation Activity Ideas
Whether you are sailing from any port to unique destinations or heading to your favorite spot at the beach, here are a few kid-safe activities you can engage in.
1. Arrange a Scavenger Hunt
It doesn’t matter where you decide to vacation; a scavenger hunt is the perfect way to keep your kids busy for an hour or two without them getting too far. Get them to search for specific leaves, rocks, or birds if you’re in nature or visiting a national park. Another idea is to buy some cheap disposable cameras. Your kids can then use them to search for and photograph objects of a certain color or that start with a specific letter.
Taking photos will also encourage your kids to get creative, and they’ll have some wonderful keepsakes to take home with them.
2. Pack a Craft Suitcase
If you have room for an extra smaller bag, you can plan a few craft activities ahead of time and bring everything along with you. This is ideal for those quieter, rainy days. Think clay creatures, coloring competitions, or jewelry making. Plus, supplies such as clay, crayons, and beads are affordable and small enough to travel with. You could even give each child a DIY coloring suitcase with paper and crayons that they can carry around with them or enjoy in the car.
3. Discover Geocaching
This is one that even the adults will enjoy. Geocaching is an activity that relies on GPS coordinates to locate hidden containers filled with random little treasures. There are millions of geocaching containers located around the world, and the idea is to locate them and put them back for the next person to find. It’s an exciting little treasure hunt and many of the caches are themed, which adds an extra element of fun.
You can download the Geocaching app to get started and find locations in your area.
4. Visit an Interactive Museum
Not all kids love the idea of visiting a museum, but interactive museums are a game changer. And they’re not that difficult to come by either. If you’re traveling locally, you’ll find some of the best interactive museums in Boston, Las Vegas, Denver, San Francisco, and New York. Here are a few top picks:
5. Start an ‘I Spy’ Mission
This is a fun activity for when you’re on the road or even once you arrive at your destination. Before you leave, print out a few sheets with pictures of different objects and a checkbox next to each. Give your child a new sheet, clipboard, and pencil, and get them to tick off the objects as they spot them. Just make sure they would be able to find the objects during the trip!
6. Meet the Local Wildlife
There will almost always be an opportunity to meet the local wildlife at your vacation destination. Whether it’s the local zoo, a bird park, or a boat trip to see the dolphins, take some time out to see what the area has to offer. Visiting a local nature reserve is also a great option because you can challenge your child to spot the different animals, birds, and plants out in the wild as you stroll or drive around.
7. Cook-Off!
If you’re planning to cook your own meals while you’re away, get the kids involved. Not only will it keep them busy, but it will make them feel valued and included too. Baking something fun together is always a good option as it doesn’t require any knives. You can also keep an eye out for any farm-to-table experiences in the area. By visiting a local farm, your children can pick fruits and vegetables, meet the farm animals, and even make something delicious using fresh ingredients.
8. Engage In Sports Activities
If the weather permits, use this as an opportunity to get active outside. If you’re staying at a resort, find out whether you can hire bicycles for a few hours. Many resorts even offer cycling tours. Otherwise, if there’s a pool, there should be water activities on offer, too. You can even pick up a football at a local store and spend time throwing or kicking a ball around. Great for burning off any extra energy so that your kids will be ready to color or watch a movie afterward.
9. Make a Note of Local Markets and Festivals
If you feel like getting out for the day, find out about any local markets or festivals that might be taking place. These venues usually cater to kids, and since safety is a priority, you’ll have some extra peace of mind. What’s more, a little delicious food and even some music make for a great day out for the whole family—one less day you need to worry about keeping your little ones entertained.
10. Book a Themed Walking Tour
If your kids are a little older, why not book a themed walking tour? These tours will give you the chance to explore the area while capturing your child’s imagination.
For example, you will find a pirate-themed walking tour in St. Augustine, a historical tour in Salem, and a chocolate and candy factory tour in Jacksonville. These kid-friendly tours are all age-appropriate, so they’ll be thoroughly entertained.
11. Create Your Own Beach Competitions
If you’re heading to the beachy paradise for your next vacation, keep your kids busy by challenging them to a sand castle competition. Who can create the biggest or most creative sand castles?
Another idea is beach bowling. Grab a couple of plastic bottles and coconuts, and let the games begin! A bucket relay race can also be fun. Kids fill small buckets with water from the ocean and race to pour it into a larger bucket. The first team to fill their bucket wins.
12. Time for Family Trivia
Get those little minds racing by creating a few trivia games you can play during your vacation. The questions could be about family members, your destination, or general fun facts that your kids will be able to guess. You can even create simple prizes or let the winner pick what everyone should do next or where you should eat out.
13. Turn Every Outing Into an Adventure
If you’re not sure your child is going to enjoy a particular outing or they’re putting up a fuss, turn it into a role-playing adventure. Your kids could be pirates, detectives, or explorers who need to solve mysteries around your destination. Make up a story and let them play it out. It also helps to give them an objective, such as creating a map of the area, gathering magical items to complete a mission, or rescuing a stuffed animal.
Family Fun at Every Turn
A family vacation is the perfect opportunity to create lasting memories while ensuring your kids stay safe and entertained. With a bit of preparation and research ahead of time, your little ones won’t even have a chance to feel bored!
Note: This is a collaborative post
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