20 Best Places to Take Your Older Grandchildren for a Day Out
Taking your grandchildren out for the day is always a treat. However, if you have a group of mixed ages, it’s hard to figure out where to take them. You don’t want anyone to get bored because a place is too babyish or too old for them. Here are some great places to take your older grandchildren for a day out.
Local Zoo
Older kids will love going to the zoo and seeing all the different animals. This can be a learning experience also as you listen to the zookeepers talk about each species and read information about the animals on the exhibits.
According to USA Today, the 10 best zoos in the U.S. are:
- Audubon Zoo – New Orleans, Louisiana
- Brevard Zoo – Melbourne, Florida
- Cheyenne Mountain Zoo – Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden – Cincinnati, Ohio
- Honolulu Zoo – Honolulu, Hawaii
- North Carolina Zoo – Asheboro, North Carolina
- Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium – Omaha, Nebraska
- Saint Louis Zoo – St. Louis, Missouri
- San Diego Zoo – San Diego, California
- ZooMontana – Billings, Montana
Wildlife Sanctuary
Going to a wildlife sanctuary is a great way to learn about all kinds of wildlife you wouldn’t normally see at the zoo. Your grandkids will love learning about all the different animals and possibly getting up close and personal with them if the sanctuary offers a path that you can drive on.
Science Museum
If your grandkids love science, this is the place to be. You can learn about all kinds of things, from electricity to space and robots. They will probably have lots of hands-on exhibits, which will make it even more fun for your grandchildren. If you want to instill a love of science or support a STEM-minded grandchild’s scientific passion, then a science museum is truly the place to be!
Planetarium
Kids will love learning about the planets and stars at your local planetarium. Since it’s like a movie, they will love learning all about the elements that make up space. With dome-shaped ceilings and an array of celestial displays, planetariums offer a truly one-of-a-kind experience that can bring you and your grandchild closer together!
Picnic in the Park
If the weather is pleasant, take your grandkids for a picnic in the park. You can either pack your favorite foods or order lunch from the local deli to bring along. After you’re done eating, you could play games or lie down and watch the clouds go by.
Children’s Theater
Look at what’s playing at your local children’s theater and make it a date. These theaters put on shows just for kids with lively actors and sometimes you can even join in the fun.
Some of the best kid-friendly shows include:
- Annie
- Beauty and the Beast
- Caddie Woodlawn
- Finding Neverland
- The Little Mermaid
- Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
- Seussical
- You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
Miniature Golf
Take your grandkids for a few rounds of miniature golf. You can play a friendly competitive game or just play to have fun. To make it an even more special outing, let the winner choose where you eat for dinner or another special treat!
Botanical Garden
If your grandkids love helping you in your garden, they will love the botanical garden. These gardens are a beautiful display of flowers and plants. In addition, these gardens are very peaceful and serene, which is a great stress reliever. It’s a great place for kids to learn about nature. Some botanical gardens even offer classes for little fingers, so this is another idea for something you can do together.
Aquarium
If your grandkids love the sea, this is the second best place to take them when you can’t hit the beach. Aquariums have huge glass tanks of fish and other sea creatures that you can look at and learn about. Everything from colorful fish to sharks to sea turtles. Some aquariums even have special pools where you can touch some of the more friendly creatures.
Farm
Farms are a great place to take your grandkids for a visit. They can meet all kinds of animals like horses, pigs, cows, and other animals. You will also gain knowledge about how a farm operates and occasionally engage in hands-on activities like milking a cow or assisting with animal feeding. Check out farmstayus.com to look for farm-style vacations near you!
Orchard
Going to the orchard in the fall is a great day out for older kids. You can pick your own apples, go through the corn maze, try different apples, and take some yummy baked goods home. Some orchards even have a petting zoo or you can feed the goats, which is always fun!
Art Studio
If your grandkids love art and have big imaginations, an art studio is a great place to go. You can paint or draw and create your own unique masterpiece. Most of the time, there are art teachers on hand to teach different techniques or even beginning techniques if you are new.
Nature Hike
If you love the great outdoors, take your grandkids on a nature hike. Depending on where you live, you can hike in the forest, mountains, or on a trail. This is a great way to get up close and personal with wildlife, like squirrels, birds, and maybe even deer. It’s also a way for you to relax and bond without noisy distractions.
Outdoor Mall
Take your grandkids to the outdoor mall for a shopping trip. This doesn’t mean that you should spoil your grandkids rotten. Instead, take them shopping for special occasions like buying a prom dress, back-to-school clothes, or a dress for their first dance.
Historical Museum
Grandkids love history? They will love going to the historical museum. When you walk into a historical museum, it’s like walking back in time or time traveling. They have all kinds of cool things to look at and learn about. Your grandkids will learn about how things used to be and how people lived in the old days. You can also look for specialized historical museums as well. For example, when I lived in Illinois, we went to the Wheels O’Time Museum in Dunlap. It boasted all kinds of fascinating artifacts that made a lasting impression on me.
Art Museum
Kids will love going to the art museum and seeing all kinds of beautiful art. If your grandkids have a favorite artist, keep an eye out for traveling art exhibits like the recent Van Gogh Expo.
Indoor Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks are a great place for your grandkids to have a ton of fun and burn off some energy. They have floors that bounce so you can jump and flip. Join your grandkids and see who can jump the highest. You and your grandchild will both have a ton of fun!
Gardening
Have your grandkids over to help you in the garden. They will love learning about plants and how they grow. Another option is to take them with you to help in a community garden if you have one nearby. Shared by members of the local community, a community garden can teach others about sustainable growing practices, making them entertaining and educational!
The Bowling Alley
Take your kids for a few games at the bowling alley. If you have several grandchildren, you can split them into teams for a friendly competition. If it’s only you and one grandchild, just have fun playing together and enjoying each other’s company.
The Beach
If you are lucky enough to live near the beach, take your grandkids for a day of fun in the sun. Have fun building sandcastles, splashing in the ocean, and looking for seashells. Don’t forget the snacks, water, sunscreen, and life jackets.
Take a Day Trip
If you live near a big city and don’t want to drive there, take a day bus trip with your grandchildren. You may even ride the train to the big city in some areas. You and your grandchildren will love exploring the big city and seeing all the sights!
Bike Ride
Go to a local park and ride the bike trails around your city. You will relax, have fun, and see all kinds of sites. Both you and your grandchildren will get some exercise, sunshine, and fresh air. Looking for something a little more comprehensive? Check out Berkeley-based Backroads, a family-oriented company that specializes in designing trips that the whole family can enjoy. From biking across Europe to snowshoeing through the snow-covered Canadian Rockies, there’s no shortage of adventures to be had or memories to be made!
Go out to lunch
Take your grandkids out to their favorite restaurant for lunch. Spend your time catching up and talking about what’s going on in their lives. This is a great way to connect in a low-pressure situation, especially with teens who may have a hard time opening up.
Volunteer
If you volunteer at the animal shelter, children’s home, nursing home, or with another organization, take your grandchildren with you for the day. This is a great way for them to learn compassion, empathy, responsibility, and the joys of giving back to the community. If they enjoy it, take them with you regularly if you can. This way, you can get together on a weekly or monthly basis and spend time together. In addition, you can introduce your grandchildren to the friends you have met while volunteering.
Takeaway
There are all kinds of fun ways to spend a day out with your older grandchildren. From getting your exercise on a bike ride to spending the day being creative to enjoying a delicious meal together. Look at this list and see what appeals to you and then talk to your grandkids and see how they would like to spend the day with you. Regardless of what you choose, you’re bound to have a fun day with your grandkids. So, open your mind and get ready to make some awesome memories to last a lifetime!
Popular Articles About Activities & Entertaining Grandchildren
Originally published August 16, 2024
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