Fun Things to Do

Fun Things to Do Near Over 60 Major Cities or at Home

If you’re looking for activities with your family, you just stumbled upon a tremendous resource. No matter what type of fun you’re planning, from rainy day crafts to exciting attractions to explore in a nearby city, or the perfect location for your child’s next birthday party, you'll to find lots of great options here. Please enjoy and share!

Whether you’re looking for fun places to visit that are close to home or are trying to plan your next family vacation, you'll find lots of great recommendations, ratings by ages, and insider tips here.

New York City

If you’re looking for the top tourist attractions and things to do in New York City, we've got a great selection for you! Our hand-picked list of over 50 activities in NYC includes family favorites like Central Park and its popular zoo, as well as world-famous structures like the Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building. Families that love museums should also check out our pages on the Museum of Modern Art and the the New York Hall of Science, which are both fun and educational. You can also find information on the city’s top parks, including Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and Brooklyn Bridge Park.

Los Angeles

There are lots of things to do in LA. This thriving metropolis is home to dozens of wonderful family attractions, from museums and science centers to gorgeous beaches and fascinating archaeological sites. Some recommendations include Long Beach and its excellent aquarium, the La Brea Tar Pits, which are one of the most famous excavation sites in the world, and Knott’s Berry Farm, which is one of the most popular theme parks in the entire country.

Chicago

The Windy City is another wonderful place to visit for a family vacation since it features hundreds of exciting places to explore. Some of the best educational museums in the world are located in Chicago, including the Museum of Science and Industry and the Field Museum, which is the home of Sue, the biggest Tyrannosaurus rex ever found! Other things to do in Chicago include Millennium Park, which is home to the “Bean” sculpture, and Navy Pier, where you can ride the Ferris wheel and enjoy spectacular views of Lake Michigan.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, the second largest city on the East Coast of the United States, is a great holiday destination and has plenty to offer. Home to the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and other historical sights, it attracts many tourists from all around the world. The city is well known for its arts and culture, as well as its rich history. Some of the more popular things to do in Philadelphia include the Philadelphia Zoo, Art Museum, Camden Aquarium, the Licery Bell, and Independence Hall. Sightseeing in “Philly” is very convenient since the city has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city and most attractions are in walking distance.

San Francisco

San Francisco's 49 square miles of restaurants, museums, parks, wildlife and cultural activities attract year round crowds. The city's well connected transportation system and compact, distinct neighborhoods are convenient for first-time visitors. San Francisco is also a great walking city - (hills and all!) with spectacular views and outdoor parks to enjoy. Some things to do in San Francisco include Alcatraz, Fisherman's Wharf, Coit Tower, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. The vast museum scene features gems like The California Academy of Sciences and The Exploratorium.

Atlanta

There are tons of things to do in Atlanta, especially if you’re interested in history. If your child is learning about civil rights in school, places like the Martin Luther King Jr. Historical Site should definitely be added to your itinerary. Another popular place is the World of Coca-Cola attraction, where you can learn all about the history of the world’s most popular soft drink. We’ve also included outdoor activities like Centennial Olympic Park, which was used for the 1996 Summer Olympics.

Houston

Did you know that Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States? Its historic connections to NASA make Space Center Houston one of our favorite attractions in the city. Other things to do in Houston include the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Houston Zoo, and Brazos Bend State Park, where you can see all sorts of animals ranging from deer to alligators!

Dallas

We’ve also created a list of over 75 exciting activities in Dallas that are sure to keep your family entertained no matter the season. Top picks include The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Dallas World Aquarium, and the Frontiers of Flight Museum - but they are just a few of the many attractions we’ve reviewed for you. Be sure to visit our section featuring all sorts of things to do in Dallas.

Many More Family Fun Locations

Looking for a different location from one of the ones we mentioned above? Don't fret, on Tipspoke we have resources on so many *morelocations*.

You can find fun activities whether you're planning a vacation, a day trip, or just trying to find an activity for a few hours in your home city.

If you are planning a vacation and need a quick way to find flights for the best price, you may want to try the Google Flights search tool. It can help you find flights from airports all over the world, compare prices, and find the cheapest times to fly.

Fun at Home

We understand how hard it can be to keep little ones entertained after school, on weekends, and during vacations, so we’ve compiled a huge list of fun at home featuring lots of hands-on activities designed for families with children of all ages.

In addition, we’ve included a handy guide at the top of each and every page that shows how appropriate we think the activity is for toddlers, kids, tweens, and teens on a scale of 1 to 5. Want to know more? Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular areas of Tipspoke:

Arts & Crafts

This arts & crafts list contains over 500 creative activities to do with your child, including fun things to draw, instructions on how to make your own jewelry, and tips to help you create everything from musical instruments to your favorite Sesame Street characters.

Family Games & Activities

One of our favorite nights of the week is family game night. While board games are always a big hit, sometimes it’s fun to do something new. This family games list features over 100 activities that are fun for the whole family, including ideas like planting a “pizza garden” together in order to learn about nature and promote healthy eating habits.

Science Experiments

Are you in search of fun activities to do with friends? This list features dozens of kid-friendly science experiments that are both fun and educational. We recommend making fireworks in a bottle or learning about chemical reactions by trying the shiny penny experiment.

Magic Tricks

Our list of over 50 family-friendly magic tricks is a sure-fire way to impress visitors. Young magicians will love learning tricks like this magically appearing coin trick, while older children hoping to be the next Houdini can try more difficult illusions like the disappearing teacup!

Jokes for Kids

If there’s one thing you can never have too much of, it’s laughter. On our jokes for kids, you’ll find dozens of kid-friendly jokes that are sure to make them crack a smile when they’re feeling down,

Riddles & Brainteasers for Kids

We also have a list of mind-bending brainteasers and puzzles that are fun for children and adults alike. More of a riddle person? We've got lots of tricky riddles that will keep them thinking while you’re driving to your next activity on our and riddles for kids pages.

Online Activities

If you’re interested in exploring some fun and educational kids and family activities online, we have a few recommendations! Below are some of our favorite online resources that can help you have fun with your kids, including some fantastic educational resources.

Online Science Fun

If you’ve got an aspiring astronaut in the family, you should definitely check out the NASA website, which is full of fascinating information related to aeronautics and space exploration. You can learn all about the International Space Station, view the latest photos from Mars, and check out the NASA Kids’ Club page, which features over a dozen educational games.

Both the National Geographic and Smithsonian Institution websites are jam-packed with educational information about the world around us, from animals and the environment to archaeological sites and foreign cultures. Both sites are great for teens due to the diverse range of educational topics they cover, but they also include special kids’ pages for younger visitors that feature lots of awesome activities.

Educational Fun

While TED talks were originally focused on technology, entertainment, and design, today they cover pretty much any topic you can think of. If you have a curious teen who loves to learn, you’ll surely be able to find a talk or two (or ten!) that you can watch together.

The largest library in the world is a phenomenal educational resource for both children and adults. While it’s most often used for research purposes, the Library of Congress website also offers tons of resources for children, including book recommendations, poems, and science facts.