Looking for a little family fun while you plan your next big trip? Check out these fun and creative travel themed activities – all perfect for spending time as a family. From building your own Lego city to mixing up mock-tails in the living room, there’s something for the whole family to enjoy!
Family-Friendly Travel Themed Activities
Here are some fun ideas for travel-themed activities you can do without ever leaving your home.
Build a Lego City Together
Legos are fun for adults, too! Building a whole Lego city, or really any other large, intricate Lego set, can be a great project for the family to do together.
Building with Legos has so many benefits for kids including fine motor skills, following instructions and paying attention to detail. They’re great for adults too, as any break from the norm is good for the brain.
So grab your favorite skyline- and get building!
Cook Your Way Around the World
Bring your kids into the kitchen with you to cook! Experiment with recipes from all the different countries on your bucket list!
You'll create lifelong memories for the whole family. Make it even more fun by starting a Family Recipe Journal and putting all of your favorite dishes into it.
Jigsaw Puzzle of a Place You’d Love to Visit
A family jigsaw puzzle is a great on-going activity. Pick one with an image of your favorite travel destination (or one on your buucket list) for a bit of inspiration.
Set it out on a table, or use an extra-large foam board so it can be moved out of the way for dinner time. You can work on the puzzle together as a family here and there, or individually as each of you feels like spending some time on it.
You can even use puzzle glue to keep it together and frame it later.
Go Backyard Camping
You don’t have to leave your yard to have an awesome family camping experience. In fact, for families with small children, backyard camping might be the best option!
You’ll save time and energy on packing, still have the convenience of the restrooms, and be close by in case anyone gets scared and changes their mind at the last minute. Your kids will never forget their camping experience, even if you don’t leave your back yard.
And of course, when they're ready to graduate to real camping, you'll be all set for the challenge. All you need is a great tent, perhaps a little portable fire pit, and s'mores ingredients!
Wind Powered Cars for Kids
You might not be going on a road trip anytime soon, but you can still have fun building these wind powered cards for kids. You just need some matchbox cars, a hair dryer, and basic craft supplies for hours of fun!
This activity is sure to entertain the little ones for hours. And I have to admit, it was pretty fun for the adults too.
Do Some Virtual Travel
Check out these virtual travel opportunities - you can visit epic museums, tour cities around the globe, and even revel in our beautiful national parks. There are even virtual theme park rides.
All without leaving the comfort of your couch!
Send a Postcard
Who says you have to be travelling to send a postcard? Decorating cards for friends and family is a great bonding activity that also teaches children to care for others.
So grab some pretty postcards of your favorite travel spot, and send a little love around the world.
Have a Family Movie Day
In need of a family activity that keeps things low-key and relaxed? Family movie day can be an extra-special way for everyone to relax and have a great time together.
Grab some movies that inspire your wanderlust! Some good choices are 7 Years in Tibet or Into the Wild. Both are on Amazon Prime video, which has a free 30 day trial.
Can't Fly? Build a Plane!
Kids love these little throwback airplanes. I remember building these as a kid, and they've hardly changed at all.
Assembling them, getting the wings just right, and seeing how far you can make them fly is such a classic childhood activity.
Get Inspired with an Atlas Made for Kids
This book includes easy-to-read, simple road maps of each state and Washington, D.C., and a map of the United States. State symbols, cool things to do, boredom busters, fun facts, wacky roadside attractions, and games accompany the maps.
The fun activities with stunning photographs will keep kids engaged for hours. And maybe they'll even help pick your next great destination!
Make Mocktails!
Wish you were lounging beach-side with a cocktail in your hand? Me too.
Have a little fun with the family mixing up these tasty and beautiful family-friendly mock-tails. And I won't tell anyone if you decide to spike yours with a little something extra.
Bring the Bird-Watching to You
I've always loved bird watching, and tend to sneak off with my camera and a big lens to check out the local birds whenever we visit a new place. So why not bring the bird watching home?
Building a birdhouse together is a family activity that keeps on giving. Not only will your kids love building the birdhouse with you, but they will get to decorate it themselves, and then enjoy all the feathered friends that it attracts to your yard.
Don't forget to grab some bird seed too!
Ask 501 Questions: A Travel Game
Not actually traveling right now? Stuck in your house instead? That doesn’t mean you can’t pretend and and play a fun travel game!
Gran a comfy spot in the living room, pretend you’re stuck in the car on a long road trip, and break out this fun book of 501 Travel Questions.
Build a Train Set
Inspire a love of trains and get excited for a future train adventure by building your own train set right in your living room.
Trains are not always thought of when it comes to transportation or traveling anymore, but a train journey is such an adventure, it’s an important (and really fun) one to teach our kids about!
Travel Cross-Words Puzzles
Pit your worldly wits against family and friends, or just challenge yourself, with this ultimate travel trivia book.
With head-scratching questions on everything from geography and culture to history, wildlife and transport, it's a fun and challenging activity for all ages.
Play Olympic Ring Toss
The Olympic games may be up in the air - but you can reenact your own summer games right at home.
Ring Toss is one of those games that the entire family can enjoy, no matter the ages. Challenge your family members to name Olympic games, locations, athletes, or any other facts about Olympic games while you play!
Color Around The World In 50 Pages
Coloring is so relaxing - it's no wonder adult coloring books are all the rage.
This travel-inspired coloring book highlights some of the most iconic city landmarks ever created, and allows you to talk about those places with your children as you color. You may just be inspiring their future travels, and your own too!
Quiz Yourself, and your Family Members
Perfect for family night or rainy days, this quiz book is full of travel-related questions that will stump adults and kids alike.
You’ll have fun, laugh together, and learn a few things about travel while making memories to last a lifetime, without leaving your living room!
Have a Walkie Talkie Adventure
Have to stay home? Let your kids pretend they’re on an epic adventure while they explore the great wonders of the ...back yard.
Pretend they’re on a safari, out in the wilderness, or anywhere they can imagine themselves being, as long as they communicate and check-into home-base through their walkie-talkie!
Make Your Own Water Bottle
We always pack our own water bottles when we travel. They're handy to have when out sightseeing and more eco-conscious than disposable bottles.
So have some fun with the kiddos, and let them decorate their very own water bottles!
Have a Cruise Themed Party
Cruise cancelled? No worries - make your own little cruise themed party at home with these fun decorations.
Pair them with some fun cocktails and a few great recipes, and you'll feel like your on vacation without ever leaving home.
Travel Themed Scrapbook
This is the perfect time to start making albums from all those travel photos that have been piling up. (If you need to print them first - you can grab some inexpensive prints here.)
Let the kids in on the fun with this adorable scrapbooking kit complete with stickers, ribbons, and stencils.
Vacation Fun Mad Libs
Nothing makes my son laugh quite like these madlibs books. I remember doing these with my own mom as a kid, and somehow they're still just as entertaining today.
Grab this travel-themed madlib book and let the giggles begin.