20 Best Places to Take Your Younger Grandchildren for a Day Out
If you have younger grandchildren, finding places to take them for a day out can sometimes be hard. Depending on their age and abilities, there are some things that their older siblings can do that they just can’t. If you are looking for some places to take your young grandchildren for a day of fun, check out these suggestions.
1. Children’s Museum
The children’s museum is a great place for young kids to keep their minds, eyes, and hands busy. There are all kinds of exhibits and things to learn about and play with. A children’s museum is designed to spark curiosity and creativity through hands-on exhibits that engage kids in learning about the world around them. Whether it’s exploring science, art, history, or culture, children’s museums offer interactive experiences that cater to young minds and budding imaginations.
Budget-Friendly Children’s Museums in the United States
If you’re looking for a fun and affordable day out, consider visiting some of these inexpensive children’s museums across the country:
- Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia, PA): This museum encourages hands-on play with exhibits like Wonderland and River Adventures. It’s a great place for kids to explore their senses and creativity.
- Admission: $22 for adults and children
- Parking: $16 on site
- Children’s Museum of Cleveland (Cleveland, OH): The Children’s Museum of Cleveland offers a vibrant and interactive experience for kids and families with its seven unique exhibits, including Adventure City and Wonder Lab. It’s a top destination in Cleveland for learning through play, providing a fun and educational outing for children.
- Admission: $15 for adults and children; Free for children 11 months and younger
- Parking: Free on site
- Children’s Museum of Houston (Houston, TX): With a focus on STEM activities, this museum offers exciting exhibits for every age, interactive secret spy missions, and so much more!
- Admission: $19.95 for adults and children; Seniors $17.95; Free for children 11 months and younger
- Special Prices:
- Houston CityPASS®: Save 50% on admission to Houston’s top 5 attractions, including the Children’s Museum Houston. Tickets are valid for 9 days and can be purchased online for instant mobile delivery.
- Texas Lone Star Card: Offers free admission for up to 6 individuals for cardholders and their immediate family members.
- Open Doors Program: Partners with local non-profits to provide free museum visits for families with low income. An Open Door pass allows one-time admission for up to 6 people.
- Museums for All: Provides free or reduced admission for SNAP beneficiaries. Present an EBT card and photo ID for admission for up to 6 family members.
- Parking: $8-$10
2. Children’s Theater
Checking out a local children’s theater production with your grandchildren can be a magical way to spend an afternoon or evening together. It’s not just about watching a play; it’s about diving into a world of imagination and creativity that captivates young minds and old alike. Sharing these experiences can spark conversations, inspire dreams, and create lasting memories that you’ll both cherish. Attending a live performance also offers educational and cultural benefits, introducing children to the arts in an engaging way.
3. Petting Zoo
Kids love animals so taking them to the petting zoo is a great option. They will learn about and see all kinds of different animals.
4. Farmers Market
Teaching our kids to eat healthy is important and what better way than with a trip to the farmer’s market? Before you go, you could pick out some healthy recipes to cook together so you can gather your ingredients while you are there. There is nothing like fresh fruit and vegetables from the farm!
5. Build a Bear Workshop
This could be a super fun outing for the two of you. If you’re not familiar with Build a Bear, kids can pick out the shell of the stuffed animal that they want, and then employees stuff it at the workshop and you can also add on things like clothes and accessories. If you and your grandchildren have favorite superheroes that are sidekicks or love two characters in a movie that are good friends, then you could each stuff one of the duo. For example, Lilo and Stitch, matching teddy bears, or even bears dressed in your favorite sports team.
6. The Ice Cream Parlor
Take your grandkids to the ice cream parlor and let them choose their favorite treat. This could be an ice cream cone, sundae, or frozen treat with lots of mix-ins. They will love spending time with you and you will love watching them eat until the last bite is gone.
7. Out to Lunch
Taking your grandchildren out to lunch at one of their favorite restaurants is a delightful way to indulge in some quality bonding time. It doesn’t even have to be a fancy place; sometimes, the best memories are made over a simple meal at McDonald’s or a local diner!
8. To the Movies
See if there is a matinee of kids’ movies showing at your local theater. Matinees usually are lower priced so this will save you some money for snacks and a drink. They are usually shown in the early afternoon to early evening so this way no one is out super late.
9. To the Beach
Gather up the beach towels, sunscreen, shovels, and sand buckets, and head to the beach. Spend the day splashing in the waves, building sandcastles, and searching for seashells. You could even pack a picnic lunch to eat by the waves. Don’t forget your life jackets.
10. Library
The library is a great place to take the kids for a day out. If you look ahead, sometimes they have classes or events for young kids to take part in. There is also story time. You can also sit down and read together in peace and quiet without a lot of distractions. Kids will love looking through the many books on the shelves and picking a few out to take home as well. Don’t forget your library card or if you are not from the area, make sure you have your grandchild’s card or one of their parent’s cards.
11. Playground
Take your younger grandkids to the local playground and let them burn off some steam. You can watch them run around and climb on all the equipment, catch them at the bottom of the slide, and push them on the swings. They will love the fresh air and spending time with you.
12. The Park
There are two kinds of parks you can take your grandchildren to. One is a local park in your area and the other is a state park. If you go to a local park, pack a picnic and some balls or frisbees to play with together.
If you can make it to a state park in a day, it may be worth the trip. Some parks have nature trails where you can hike and see wildlife, picnic tables to sit at and enjoy lunch, and some even have a swimming pool.
I remember going to Hyner Run State Park in Ronovo, Pennsylvania as a kid, and their swimming pool was full of mountain water. When you jumped in you would get goosebumps at first but after you got used to it, it was so refreshing on a scorching day.
13. On a Picnic
Pack a picnic lunch and take your grandkids to the park or even a lookout where you can enjoy some beautiful scenery while eating your meal. To make it even more fun, choose some easy recipes and make the food with your grandkids in the morning before you go in the afternoon.
14. The Fair
The fair is a great place to take your grandchildren. There are all kinds of things to see, from farm animals to crafts. You can eat all kinds of food, from pizza and gyros to fried pickles and french fries to ice cream cones and fried Oreos. Let’s not forget the orangeade, lemonade shake-ups, and slushes. As for entertainment, there are shows at various stages around the grounds and big-name talent at the grandstand, lots of rides they can go on, and games they can play. Going to the fair is a great idea for a day out with your grandkids, full of fun, food, and entertainment.
15. Indoor Playgrounds
If you live in an area with bad weather or experience extremely hot summer days, taking your grandkids to an indoor play area is a fantastic way for them to stay active. Simply search online for indoor play places or playgrounds to find options near you.
16. Trampoline Park
Trampoline parks aren’t just for jumping. Other attractions include bumper cars, climbing walls, rope courses, dodgeball, and a playground made of tubes. These are just some attractions at the local trampoline park in my area. Yours may have some of the same or different attractions.
This is a great way to spend time with your grandkids, let them burn off some energy, and watch as they brave their fears and try new things. If possible, you will want to take another adult with you so that you can keep an eye on everyone if you have multiple grandchildren with you.
17. Out to Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so why not enjoy it with your grandkids? There are several perks to this outing. One, restaurants aren’t always super busy in the early morning hours. Two, breakfast typically costs less than lunch or dinner, so your bill will be lower. Three, you can sit and relax and not feel you have to hurry to get through your meal. With a quieter atmosphere, it will probably help your grandkids chill out too.
18. Shopping
Set a budget and take your grandkids out on a small shopping spree. You could go to an outdoor mall with lots of different shops or to your favorite department store. Let them pick out something that they have been yearning for for a while, but also let them know this isn’t going to be an all the time thing. Treat it as a special occasion so that you can enjoy each other’s company and have fun too.
19. The Bookstore
If your grandkids love books, the bookstore is the place to be. Make sure you set a limit of how many books they can pick out so you don’t go over budget. Children’s books can be expensive, especially picture books for younger children. I know this from the author’s side of things, I’ve published three of them!
An alternative option would be to take your grandkids to a local used bookstore. Used bookstores are awesome, have great selections, and are much lower priced than their chain counterparts. Your grandkids won’t care as long as they are getting books they want. It also feels good to support a local business and your local economy, so go check one out. You won’t be disappointed.
20. The Toy Store
Kids love the toy store. They are kind of hard to find now since Toys R Us went out of business and toy stores like Kaybee Toys don’t exist anymore. Still, you may find an independently-owned toy store in your town. Do an online search and see if you have one.
If not, you can always take them to the toy section of your favorite department store, and even Barnes & Noble has a section of kids toys now. They do in my local store, anyway. Books and toys under the same roof? A win-win for sure.
There are all kinds of fun places to take your young grandchildren for a day out. So block out some time to enjoy with them, pick something to do from this list, and get ready for a great day ahead!
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Originally published August 26, 2024
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