Kid-Friendly Adventures
Looking for things to do with kids that the grown-ups will enjoy too? These kid-friendly adventures include zoos, science museums, beaches, easy trails and silly challenges, and every one comes with its own kids' version of the mission.
An adult should always be with kids on a mission, especially near water, roads, heights and wildlife. See the safety page for more.
106 ideas in 10 states and anywhere
Amble Anywhere
31 ideas
Zoo or Aquarium Day
Zoo or aquarium day. Wander, photograph your favorite animals, and each crown a winner.
Mission 15Dark Sky Stargazing
Stargazing at the darkest sky near you. Lie back on a blanket and find three constellations.
Mission 20Geocaching
Try geocaching. Find a hidden cache or two near you with the free app.
Mission 25Neighborhood Photo Walk
A walk with a photo prompt at every step. Hold the shutter to move on.
Mission 30Bob Ross Painting Night
Bob Ross paint-along night at home. Pick an episode and paint happy little trees side by side.
Mission 31Split Coloring Page
Split coloring page game. Tear a page in half, each color your side, then put it back together.
Mission 33Tourist in Your Own Town
Be a tourist in your own town. Visit the spot locals never go and take the cheesiest photo.
Mission 36Pumpkin Patch to Pumpkin Night
Pumpkin patch, corn maze and carving night. Find the coolest pumpkin, then carve it at home.
Mission 37Chess Night
Chess night at home. Play a best-of-three match, and teach as you go if one of you is new.
Mission 39Blind Taste Test Night
Blind taste test night at home. Blindfold each other, taste chips or sodas, and guess the brands.
Mission 40Kite Flying Day
Kite flying day. Fly a kite on a breezy day in an open park or beach; whose goes highest?
Mission 43Order for Each Other
Order for each other at a local spot. Pick something they'd never choose, then rate it.
Mission 44Paddle and Picnic
Paddleboard and picnic. Rent boards, drift along the water, then picnic on the shore.
Mission 45Holiday Window Art
Holiday window art at home. Each decorate a window with chalk markers, then score each other.
Mission 53Dog Park Name Game
Dog park name game. Sit by a busy dog park and guess each dog's name before the owner calls it.
Mission 54Hide and Seek in the Woods
Hide and seek in the woods. Play best of five on a wooded trail; longest hidden wins.
Mission 55Track an Animal
Animal tracking after rain. Find tracks in the mud, follow them, and figure out who left them.
Mission 56Model Rocket Launch
Model rocket launch. Build a kit, count down together, and chase the parachute.
Mission 58Invent a Board Game
Invent a board game at home. Design it, playtest it, fix the boring parts and name it.
Mission 59Cardboard Arcade
Cardboard arcade at home. Build games from boxes, hand out tickets and open a prize counter.
Mission 61Chain Reaction Machine
Build a Rube Goldberg machine at home to do one silly job. Film the run that finally works.
Mission 62Plane Spotting Picnic
Plane spotting picnic under an airport landing path. Guess where each plane came from.
Mission 63Creek Boat Regatta
Creek boat regatta. Build boats from bark, sticks and leaves, then race them downstream.
Mission 64Puddle Expedition
Puddle jumping on a rainy day. Suit up and splash in every puddle you can find.
Mission 65Ice Excavation Race
Ice excavation race. Freeze treasure in ice overnight, then race to dig it out.
Mission 66Wild Blackberry Picking
Pick wild blackberries in late summer, race to fill a cup, then bake something with them.
Mission 68Stop-Motion Movie
Make a stop-motion movie at home with toys, then throw a premiere with popcorn.
Mission 70Learn to Juggle in an Afternoon
Learn to juggle at home. Make three beanbags and go for ten catches in a row.
Mission 73Metal Detecting Hunt
Metal detecting treasure hunt. Borrow a detector and fill a junk jar and a treasure jar.
Mission 75Spider-Eye Safari
Spider eye safari. Hold a light by your eyes at night and find the sparkles in the grass.
Mission 76Sleep Out Under the Sky
Sleep under the stars with no tent. Watch the sky all night and make coffee at sunrise.
Amble Alaska
2 ideas
Mendenhall Glacier and Nugget Falls
Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau. Walk the flat trail to a roaring waterfall beside the blue ice.
Mission 3 · Downtown FairbanksFish Camp and Dioramas at the Morris Thompson Center
Morris Thompson Center in Fairbanks. Walk through a year in Interior Alaska and find the fish camp.
Amble California
29 ideas
Echo Park Swan Boats
Swan boats on Echo Park Lake in LA. Pedal past the fountain and the lotus beds, skyline behind.
Mission 2 · Downtown Manhattan BeachManhattan Beach Pier and Roundhouse Aquarium
Manhattan Beach Pier near LA. Walk to the end and visit the tiny free aquarium at the tip.
Mission 4 · Golden Gate Park, San FranciscoGolden Gate Park: Tower and Bison
Golden Gate Park in San Francisco. Ride up the free de Young tower, then go find the bison herd.
Mission 5 · San Marino, near PasadenaThe Huntington Gardens
The Huntington in San Marino. Each pick a garden and lead your group on a tour of it.
Mission 7 · Griffith Park, Los AngelesGriffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory in LA. Watch the sunset over the city, then look through a real telescope.
Mission 11 · La Jolla, San DiegoLa Jolla Cove Sea Lions
La Jolla Cove in San Diego. Watch the sea lions from the cliff path, count them and find a pup.
Mission 12 · El Prado, Balboa Park, San DiegoBalboa Park Free Garden Crawl
Balboa Park in San Diego. Crawl its free gardens, from the lily pond to the cactus, and crown one.
Mission 16 · Exposition Park, Los AngelesCalifornia Science Center and Endeavour
California Science Center in LA. Stand under Space Shuttle Endeavour, ready to launch.
Mission 17 · Buena ParkKnott's Berry Farm
Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park. Ride GhostRider, explore Ghost Town, split boysenberry pie.
Mission 18 · Hollywood Hills, Los AngelesPhotograph the Hollywood Sign
Hollywood Sign photo from Lake Hollywood Park in LA. Compete for the best shot with the letters.
Mission 20 · East ArcataArcata Community Forest Redwoods
Arcata Community Forest in Humboldt. Hike the redwoods and stand inside the biggest stump you find.
Mission 22 · Bald Hills Road, near OrickOld-Growth Redwoods at Lady Bird Johnson Grove
Lady Bird Johnson Grove near Orick. Walk the old-growth redwoods, then lie down and look up.
Mission 23 · Big Sur coast, south of CarmelBig Sur: Bixby Bridge to McWay Falls
Drive Highway 1 through Big Sur. Photograph Bixby Bridge, then McWay Falls pouring onto the beach.
Mission 24 · Park Boulevard, Joshua Tree National ParkJoshua Tree Boulders and Stars
Joshua Tree National Park. Climb Hidden Valley's boulders, find Skull Rock, then stay for stars.
Mission 26 · Embarcadero, San FranciscoAlcatraz Island
Alcatraz Island in San Francisco. Tour the cellhouse and find the cells from the 1962 escape.
Mission 29 · Southern Big Sur, between Esalen and LuciaBig Creek Cove Vista Point
Big Creek Cove on Highway 1 in Big Sur. Frame the arched bridge and watch for otters and whales.
Mission 31 · Downtown Sacramento, near Old SacramentoCrocker Art Museum
Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento. Each pick the painting you'd hang above your couch.
Mission 32 · Placerville, El Dorado CountyPlacerville Community Observatory
Community Observatory in Placerville. Look through big telescopes on a free public night.
Mission 33 · Giant Forest, Sequoia National ParkGeneral Sherman and Moro Rock
Sequoia National Park. Stand under General Sherman, the biggest tree on Earth, then climb Moro Rock.
Mission 34 · West Shaw Ave, FresnoForestiere Underground Gardens
Forestiere Underground Gardens in Fresno. Tour a hand-dug home with trees growing to skylights.
Mission 35 · Sequoia National ParkCrystal Cave Tour
Crystal Cave in Sequoia National Park. Tour a glittering marble cave behind a spider-web gate.
Mission 39 · Christmas Circle Community Park, Borrego Springs, CA 92004Borrego Springs Sculptures and Stars
Borrego Springs metal sculptures at sunset, then a dark desert sky full of stars.
Mission 40 · Near Burney, Shasta CountyBurney Falls
Burney Falls near Burney. Walk down to the falls where water pours straight out of the cliff.
Mission 41 · Lassen Volcanic National ParkBumpass Hell, Lassen Volcanic
Bumpass Hell in Lassen Volcanic. Walk the boardwalk over bubbling mud pots and steam vents.
Mission 42 · Near Tulelake, Siskiyou CountyLava Beds Caves
Lava Beds National Monument near Tulelake. Explore lava tube caves on your own, lights off.
Mission 44 · Old SacramentoCalifornia State Railroad Museum
California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento. Climb aboard giant steam locomotives.
Mission 46 · Camino, east of PlacervilleApple Hill Orchards
Apple Hill near Placerville. Pick apples, watch cider pressed, and rate the warm farm-stand treats.
Mission 52 · San Simeon, Central CoastHearst Castle Tour
Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Tour the hilltop palace and find the famous Neptune Pool.
Mission 57 · Movie Road, near Lone PineMobius Arch at Sunrise
Mobius Arch in the Alabama Hills near Lone Pine. Frame Mount Whitney through it at sunrise.
Amble Florida
8 ideas
Little Havana and Calle Ocho
Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami. Sip a cafecito, watch the domino games, find the roosters.
Mission 7 · Key LargoSnorkel at John Pennekamp
John Pennekamp in Key Largo. Snorkel a living coral reef in America's first undersea park.
Mission 9 · Old Town, Key WestMallory Square Sunset Celebration
Mallory Square in Key West. Join the nightly Sunset Celebration with street performers.
Mission 10 · Whitehead St, Key WestHemingway Home and the Six-Toed Cats
Hemingway Home in Key West. Tour the writer's house and meet the six-toed cats.
Mission 18 · Delray BeachMorikami Japanese Gardens
Morikami Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach. Walk the quiet paths and feed the giant koi.
Mission 19 · South OrlandoGatorland
Gatorland in Orlando. Walk over a swamp of alligators and watch them leap for dinner.
Mission 59 · Cedar Key, Nature CoastCedar Key
Cedar Key on Florida's Nature Coast. Wander the old fishing village on stilts and eat clams.
Mission 60 · Juno BeachSea Turtle Walk at Juno Beach
Night turtle walk on Juno Beach. Watch a giant loggerhead lay her eggs under the stars.
Amble Idaho
1 idea
Amble Kansas
1 idea
Amble Missouri
1 idea
Amble Oregon
19 ideas
Voodoo Doughnut Run
Voodoo Doughnut in Old Town Portland. Pick the weirdest doughnut and rate it out of ten.
Mission 6 · Sellwood, PortlandOaks Park
Ride something at Portland's Oaks Park, then skate the old roller rink. Loser buys the treats.
Mission 12 · Cannon BeachHaystack Rock
Explore the tide pools at Haystack Rock in Cannon Beach at low tide. Find a starfish and a puffin.
Mission 17 · TillamookTillamook Creamery
Watch cheese get made at the Tillamook Creamery, then each try an ice cream you'd never pick.
Mission 20 · HillsboroRice NW Museum of Rocks and Minerals
Tour the Rice rock museum in Hillsboro. Each pick the crystal you'd keep if you could.
Mission 22 · AstoriaAstoria Column
Climb all 164 steps of the Astoria Column and send a balsa plane flying off the top.
Mission 24 · Washington Park, PortlandOregon Zoo
Visit the Oregon Zoo in Portland's Washington Park. Each find the animal most like you.
Mission 38 · Central Eastside, PortlandOMSI
Spend the day at OMSI. Each find the experiment that blows your mind.
Mission 43 · NewportOregon Coast Aquarium
Walk under the sharks at the Oregon Coast Aquarium. Each pick a favorite creature.
Mission 46 · South end of Wallowa Lake, near JosephWallowa Lake Tramway
Ride the Wallowa Lake Tramway up Mount Howard. Lunch at the top, lake far below.
Mission 47 · Joseph, Wallowa ValleyJoseph, Oregon's Bronze Town
Hunt the bronze statues on Main Street in Joseph. Tour the foundry that casts them.
Mission 49 · Frenchglen, Harney CountySteens Mountain Loop
Steens Mountain Loop near Frenchglen. Drive to the summit and look a mile down onto the Alvord.
Mission 50 · Below Steens Mountain, north of FieldsAlvord Desert
Walk onto the Alvord Desert, a dry lakebed under Steens Mountain, and stay for the Milky Way.
Mission 51 · Hwy 78 near Crane, southeast of BurnsCrane Hot Springs
Soak in the big hot spring pond at Crane Hot Springs near Burns under a huge high-desert sky.
Mission 53 · Post, Crook County, east of PrinevillePost, the Center of Oregon
Stand near the middle of Oregon in tiny Post, east of Prineville. Split a milkshake at the store.
Mission 56 · Jacksonville, west of MedfordHistoric Jacksonville
Stroll the gold-rush streets of Jacksonville. In summer, picnic at a Britt concert on the hill.
Mission 57 · Rogue River, downtown Grants PassHellgate Jet Boat on the Rogue
Blast down the Rogue River into Hellgate Canyon on a jet boat from Grants Pass. Hold on tight!
Mission 59 · Winston, south of Roseburg (off I-5)Wildlife Safari
Wildlife Safari in Winston. Drive past giraffes and rhinos and race to spot the most animals.
Mission 60 · Hwy 101, just south of FlorenceOregon Dunes Buggy Tour
Ride a dune buggy over the Oregon Dunes near Florence, then roll down onto the Pacific beach.
Amble Rhode Island
1 idea
Amble Texas
4 ideas
Galveston's Strand and Pleasure Pier
Galveston's Strand and Pleasure Pier. Watch taffy pulled, then ride a coaster over the Gulf.
Mission 36 · Downtown WacoDr Pepper Museum
Dr Pepper Museum in Waco. See where the soda was born, then share a float at the soda fountain.
Mission 39 · Big Bend Ranch State Park, Lajitas to PresidioThe River Road along the Rio Grande
River Road (FM 170) from Lajitas. Drive along the Rio Grande through Big Bend Ranch.
Mission 61 · Texas Tech campus, LubbockDinosaurs at Texas Tech
Museum of Texas Tech in Lubbock. Go on a free dinosaur hunt and find the biggest skeleton.
Amble Washington
9 ideas
Ferry to Bainbridge Island
Ferry from Seattle to Bainbridge Island. Photograph the skyline shrinking from the back deck.
Mission 15 · Vancouver, WAPearson Air Museum
Pearson Air Museum in Vancouver, WA. Explore vintage planes and pick the one you'd fly.
Mission 20 · Olympic Coast, south of ForksRuby Beach
Ruby Beach on the Olympic coast. Climb over driftwood and photograph the sea stacks.
Mission 23 · West SeattleAlki Beach Sunset
Alki Beach in West Seattle at sunset. Find the mini Statue of Liberty and count the ferries.
Mission 30 · Near Neah Bay, northwest tip of the Olympic PeninsulaCape Flattery
Cape Flattery near Neah Bay. Walk the boardwalk to the far northwest tip of the lower 48.
Mission 33 · Wilburton Hill Park, BellevueBellevue Botanical Garden
Bellevue Botanical Garden. Cross the swaying ravine bridge and each find the bloom of the day.
Mission 40 · End of the Mount Baker Highway (SR 542), east of Glacier, WAArtist Point at Mount Baker
Artist Point at the end of the Mount Baker Highway. Stand between two giant peaks.
Mission 51 · Colville National Forest, near Metaline FallsSullivan Lake, Colville National Forest
Sullivan Lake near Metaline Falls, WA. Hike the shore and look up for bighorn sheep.
Mission 59 · Ilwaco, mouth of the Columbia RiverCape Disappointment
Cape Disappointment near Ilwaco. Storm waves, two lighthouses, and where Lewis and Clark ended.