100 Fun Things to Do with Kids: Family Activities for Today, This Weekend, and Every Season

Looking for fun things to do with kids today, this weekend, or on a rainy afternoon? Here are 100 family activity ideas that actually work, from free ideas at home to the best day out with kids in your city. Each idea links to real, parent-rated places in our directory of 11,000+ kids activities across the US, so you can go from idea to plan in a couple of minutes.

Table of Contents

• Things to do with kids today (quick and close to home)
• Fun family activities for the weekend
• Indoor activities for rainy and cold days
• Outdoor adventures and family outings
• Active kids: climbing, jumping, and sports
• Learning that feels like play
• Seasonal and holiday ideas
• Birthday places and party ideas
• Free and low-cost things to do at home
• Find things to do with kids near you

Things to do with kids today (quick and close to home)

When you need something to do with the kids today, keep it simple: close by, no booking, and easy to leave if someone melts down.

1. Try a new playground. Pick one you have never visited. Our best outdoor playgrounds list ranks thousands by parent reviews.
2. Cool off at a splash pad. Free in most cities and perfect for toddlers. Browse splash pads.
3. Visit the library story time. Free, indoors, and usually followed by a pile of new books.
4. Go to an indoor playground. Great for burning energy on hot or wet days. See indoor playgrounds.
5. Feed the goats at a petting zoo. Short, sweet, and a hit with under-fives. Find petting zoos.
6. Play a round of arcade games. Set a card budget before you go. See family arcades.
7. Take a nature walk with a scavenger list. Pinecones, a feather, a smooth rock, something red.
8. Bounce at a trampoline park. An hour of open jump wears out even the busiest kids. Browse trampoline parks.
9. Have a picnic lunch at the park. Same sandwiches, much more fun.
10. Go for ice cream and a walk downtown. Low effort, high reward.

Fun family activities for the weekend

Weekends give you time for a proper family outing. These ideas work for a half day or a full day out with kids.

11. Spend the day at a zoo. Go early when the animals are most active. See zoos for kids.
12. Ride the coasters at a family-friendly amusement park. Check height limits first. Compare top family amusement parks.
13. Visit a farm. Pick berries in summer, apples and pumpkins in fall. Browse farms and agritourism.
14. Make a splash at an indoor water park. Fun in any weather. See indoor water parks.
15. Paddle a calm lake. Many outfitters rent family kayaks and life jackets. Find kayaking for kids.
16. Hike a short trail with a payoff. A waterfall, a lookout, or a creek to splash in. See hiking with kids.
17. Catch a kids theater show. Matinees are short and kid-paced. Browse kids theaters.
18. Plan a museum morning. Arrive at opening, leave before the meltdown. See kids museums.
19. Take a day trip to a nearby town. New playground, new bakery, new memories.
20. Go to a minor league ballgame. Cheap seats, fireworks nights, and kids run the bases afterward.
21. Rent bikes and ride a paved trail. Look for rail trails, which are flat and car-free.
22. Try mini golf and go-karts at a family fun center. Older kids love the competition.
23. Visit a botanical garden. Many have dedicated children's gardens.
24. Go to a farmers market. Give each kid a few dollars to choose a snack.
25. Plan a family game day out at a bowling alley. Bumpers make it fair for everyone.

Indoor activities for rainy and cold days

Bad weather does not have to mean a day of screens. These indoor ideas are our most-searched in winter, and our city guides for places like New York and Chicago go deeper.

26. Climb at an indoor rock climbing gym. Bouldering walls need no ropes and suit kids from about age 4. See indoor climbing for kids.
27. Try a drop-in gymnastics open gym. Foam pits and trampolines, with coaches watching. Browse indoor gymnastics.
28. Explore a science center. Hands-on exhibits beat any rainy afternoon. See science centers.
29. Go to an aquarium. Calm, dark, and fascinating for every age.
30. Visit a children's museum. Built for touching everything.
31. Watch a movie at a sensory-friendly or discount matinee.
32. Go ice skating at an indoor rink. Skate aids help little ones stay upright.
33. Try a paint-your-own pottery studio.
34. Go to a kids class at a craft store. Many offer cheap weekend workshops.
35. Visit an indoor mall play area. Free and dry when you just need to get out.
36. Play laser tag. Best for kids about 7 and up.
37. Try an escape room built for families. Look for kid-level rooms.
38. Spend an afternoon at a planetarium show.
39. Go swimming at an indoor community pool. Most have cheap family open swim.
40. Visit a bookstore with a reading nook and let each kid pick one book.

Outdoor adventures and family outings

The best family outing ideas get everyone outside and moving. Pick one for your next sunny weekend.

41. Go camping, even in the backyard. A tent and flashlights are all you need.
42. Spend a day at the beach or a lake shore. Bring a bucket, a shovel, and lots of sunscreen.
43. Go fishing at a stocked pond. Many parks run free kids fishing days.
44. Fly a kite at a big open park.
45. Look for wildlife at a nature center. Rangers often run free kids programs.
46. Go geocaching. A free app turns any walk into a treasure hunt.
47. Visit a state park with a nature playground or a short loop trail.
48. Go horseback riding at a stable that offers pony rides for little kids.
49. Try stand-up paddleboarding together on calm water.
50. Go stargazing away from city lights. Bring blankets and hot cocoa.
51. Ride a scenic train or trolley. Toddlers especially love it.
52. Explore tide pools at low tide if you live near the coast.
53. Visit a sculpture park where kids can roam.
54. Join a community cleanup day at a local park or beach.
55. Find a corn maze or hay ride in late summer and fall.

Active kids: climbing, jumping, and sports

For kids with energy to burn, these active ideas tire them out in the best way.

56. Learn to rock climb as a family. Many gyms let parents and kids climb side by side. Start with our kids climbing gym guide.
57. Book a ninja warrior class. Obstacle courses are a huge hit with ages 6 to 12.
58. Try a family yoga class.
59. Go roller skating at a rink with family skate nights.
60. Play at a batting cage. Slow-pitch machines suit young hitters.
61. Take a swim lesson or a family swim at the Y.
62. Shoot hoops or kick a ball at a local field. See outdoor sports for kids.
63. Try a tumbling or parkour class.
64. Go to a ropes course or zipline park. Many have low courses for kids.
65. Have a family race day. Sack races, relays, and a homemade medal.

Learning that feels like play

These ideas sneak learning into a fun day out.

66. Visit a history museum with a kids gallery.
67. Tour a working farm and see where food comes from.
68. Take a factory tour. Candy, ice cream, and crayon factories are classics.
69. Go to a hands-on coding or robotics workshop.
70. Visit a nature preserve and use a field guide to identify birds.
71. See a live animal show at a zoo or wildlife center.
72. Plant a small garden and let kids own one pot or row.
73. Visit a fire station open house. Kids get to sit in the truck.
74. Go to an aviation or train museum.
75. Do a kitchen science experiment. Baking soda volcanoes never get old.

Seasonal and holiday ideas

Some of the best family memories are tied to a season. Browse all seasonal kids activities for camps, festivals, and holiday events near you.

76. Sign up for summer camp. Popular camps fill by spring. Browse summer camps for kids and families.
77. Pick pumpkins and run a corn maze. See fall festivals and pumpkin patches.
78. Go trick-or-treating at a kid-friendly Halloween event. See Halloween activities.
79. Drive through a holiday light display. Find Christmas events for kids.
80. Ring in a noon New Year's countdown for little ones. See New Year's Eve kids activities.
81. Plan a spring break staycation. Browse spring break activities.
82. Hunt eggs at a community Easter event. See Easter activities.
83. Make Valentine's Day crafts together. Paper hearts, handmade cards, and heart-shaped pancakes.
84. Do a Valentine's Day kindness challenge. Leave notes for neighbors, teachers, or grandparents.
85. Bake Valentine's cookies and deliver them to friends.
86. Plan winter break outings with indoor backups for bad weather. See winter break activities.
87. Volunteer at a Thanksgiving food drive. See Thanksgiving activities for kids.
88. Build a snow fort and finish with hot cocoa.

Birthday places and party ideas

Looking for birthday places for kids? These venues usually offer party packages with a room, food, and staff to run the fun.

89. Trampoline park party. High energy, minimal cleanup.
90. Indoor playground party. Ideal for ages 2 to 7. See indoor playgrounds.
91. Climbing gym party. Staff handle gear and safety. See climbing gyms.
92. Arcade or bowling party. Great for older kids and mixed ages.
93. Gymnastics gym party. Foam pits and obstacle courses for ages 3 to 8.
94. Indoor water park party. Book early for weekends.

Free and low-cost things to do at home

Not every day needs a ticket. These free activities are perfect for a slow day at home.

95. Build a blanket fort and read inside it.
96. Have a family dance party with everyone picking one song.
97. Put on a backyard talent show.
98. Cook a meal together, with kids choosing the menu.
99. Set up an obstacle course with pillows, chairs, and tape.
100. Make a family bucket list of everything on this page you want to try next.

Find things to do with kids near you

Ready to turn ideas into plans? Pick your city to see every top-rated indoor, outdoor, and seasonal activity in one place:

• Things to do with kids in Las Vegas
• Things to do with kids in Orlando
• Things to do with kids in Denver
• Things to do with kids in Miami
• Things to do with kids in New York
• Things to do with kids in Chicago
• Things to do with kids in Los Angeles
• See all cities