Are you planning a big trip to the U.S.? Or embarking on a cross country tour in which you’ll be visiting a bunch of different cities? In addition to our awesome family activity guide, we have now set out to cover the most fun and family friendly activities to do in each mid to major city in America.
City Guide: Fun Things to do with Kids:
- Raleigh, North Carolina Recreation centers, marble museums, kids’ parks and nature reserves – your kids will love Raleigh!
- Houston, Texas Looking for a fun boat tour? Spacious park? Plenty of fun things to do with kids in Houston!
- New York City, New York There is no shortage of fun things to do with your kids in New York City: Central Park, the Bronx Zoo, and much more will have your kids entertained for days!
- Salt Lake City, Utah Taking the kids to Salt Lake City? Plenty of fun things to do here, including boondocks, kids’ museums, trampoline parks, and playlands!
- Charlotte, NC Charlotte is a great place for kids to have fun, as they can choose from the Nascar Hall of Fame, a variety of kids’ museums, parks, and nature centers.
- Fort Worth, Texas Kids will love running around in Forth Worth – Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Forest Park Miniature Railroad, and their incredible log cabin villages will fascinate your kids.
- Virginia Beach, VA Virginia Beach is a really fun city with plenty of kids’ activities! Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia Beach Adventure Park, and a Pirate cruise are just a few of the awesome things to do with kids in this gorgeous VA town.
- Las Vegas, Nevada Vegas is an underratedly fun city for kids with plenty of fun things to do! M&M’s World, Cirque du Soleil, and a ton of kid-friendly museums will be perfect for the family!
- Columbus, Ohio This Ohio town is a delight for kids with plenty of things to do, including a number of museums, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, a ton of fun parks, and the amazing Chadwick Arboretum!
- Jacksonville, Florida This sunny Florida city has tons of things for kids to do, including hands-on childrens’ museums, zoos and wildlife sanctuaries, beaches, and even water taxi tours!
- Louisville, Kentucky Louisville has a never-ending list of things to do with kids, including fun science centers, the Louisville Slugger Museum, the Kentucky Derby Museum, zoos, waterfront parks, and nature centers.
- Napa, California Napa might not be known as kid-friendly but there are definitely tons of things to do with kids in Napa, including the Jelly Belly Factory, safaris, family fun centers, parks, and even Child-friendly Wineries!
- Indianapolis, Indiana Bring your kids to Indianapolis for a ton of fun things to do, including museums, the NCAA building, tons of parks, zoos, and more!
- Nashville, Tennessee Your kids will love Nashville – tons of green parks, fun museums, discovery centers, and of course, the Country Music Hall of Fame!
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin There is no shortage of fun things to do with kids in Milwaukee, including parks, gardens, a pizza factory, and of course the famous Harley Davidson Museum!
- Detroit, Michigan Take your kids to Detroit and you’ll find plenty of things to do, including museums, adventure centers, and the amazing Comerica Park Detroit Tigers’ baseball stadium!
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Looking for fun things to do with kids in Oklahoma City? There is no shortage of fun activities – zoo’s, parks, botanical gardens, and the amazing Frontier City Theme Park!
And if you want a quick overview of the top family-friendly activities in the entire country, we’ve covered the top 10 things to do in America:
Best Family Friendly Activities in America:
When traveling through the United States of America, there is really no shortage of fun family outings for parents, teens, and kids.
Every city has something. If you asked us to quickly name the top activities to do in the entire country, it would be really difficult. So instead, we asked Google, which says that the following are the most popular family things to check out in America:
Walt Disney World
There is something for everyone in one of the countless attractions here! The complex boasts four theme parks including Animal Kingdom, Hollywood studios and Epcot. With two water parks, a shopping village, hotels and campgrounds on site, you will never have to leave the Disney bubble. You’re guaranteed to make a lot of new furry friends too!
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona is home to the Grand Canyon and surrounding national park. The canyon is a natural red rock bed carved out by the Arizona river. It can be viewed from up high in a helicopter, on the skywalk or from one of the many viewpoints. Seasoned hikers can make their way to the river and a number of day hikes are also available.
Statue of Liberty
Originally a gift from France, the statue of Liberty couldn’t be a more iconic American landmark! You can visit the museum in the statue’s podium and for the sporty among us, climb the 354 stairs up to the crown. Helicopter rides and cruises are also a great way to take in the splendor of this monument.
Central Park
Spanning an impressive 341 hectares, this man-made park is an escape from the hustle and bustle of Manhattan. You’ll find plenty to do there including a zoo, rowing boats on the lake and the Natural History museum. It’s great for those who like to keep active with running, various sports grounds and ice skating in the winter.
Golden Gate Bridge
Ten years in planning and four years in construction, the bridge opened to the public in 1937. This suspension bridge links San Francisco bay to the Pacific Ocean, specifically the northern San Francisco peninsula to Marin County. Totally walkable at 1.7 miles, the bridge is accessible to cyclists and wheelchair users too.
Empire State Building
Standing tall at 103 levels, the Empire State Building is home to some of the biggest companies in the States. But you’re not there to see the offices! An elevator will whisk you up to the observation deck on the 102nd floor where you can enjoy 360 views of Manhattan from early in the morning until after sunset, when the city begins to sparkle.
Niagara Falls
The falls are split right down the middle by the Canada-US border. Whichever side you’re on, take a boat tour right into the falls. Made up of three water falls; the Horseshoe falls, the American falls and the Bridal Veil falls, they’re naturally occurring wonders with a little human intervention to help preserve their beauty.
Bryce Canyon National Park
A little less famous than Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon is equally as impressive. Not least because it’s not technically a canyon but a collection of giant amphitheaters made of red and orange colored rock formations. There are hiking trails for everyone in the national park and the canyon is best seen at sunrise or sunset.
Rocky Mountains
The Rockies stretch all the way from New Mexico up to Canada, spanning 3,000 miles through ten states and provinces. The stunning mountain range can be enjoyed by driving along the 48 mile Ridge Road or by hiking one of the various trails. Colorado is home to the Rocky Mountains National Park.
Yellowstone National Park
Unsurprisingly, there is no shortage of things to do at Yellowstone which is located in Wyoming and extends out to Idaho and Montana. Animal spotting, hot springs, hiking, geysers, alpine rivers, canyons and forests can all be experienced by visitors to this natural expanse which sits on top of the Caldera supervolcano.
