Big Kids Activity Guides

Activity guides for kids ages 7–12 — hands-on adventures, STEM museums, outdoor explorations, and more in every city.

Other guides:Cost Guides·Toddler Guides·Rainy Day Guides·Free & Cheap Guides·3-Day Itineraries

Best West Yellowstone Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

West Yellowstone gives school-age kids 111 activities and most of the best ones are genuinely impossible to replicate anywhere else — you're…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideTokyo, Japan

Best Tokyo Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Tokyo has 196 activities built for kids who need more than a playground — from whitewater kayaking and go-kart racing through city streets t…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSan José, Costa Rica

Best San José Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

San José is one of the best Central American cities for kids in the 6-12 age range — there's genuine adventure here, not the watered-down ve…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideRome, Italy

Best Rome Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Rome has 163 activities for big kids, and the best ones turn the city's ancient history into something interactive rather than just somethin…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuidePunta Cana, Dominican Republic

Best Punta Cana Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Big kids in Punta Cana don't want to sit in a resort pool all day — and they don't have to. Between dune buggy tours, dolphin encounters, a …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuidePrague, Czech Republic

Best Prague Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Prague is an exceptional city for kids ages 6-12. Medieval streets become treasure hunts. The Vltava River becomes a paddleboarding adventur…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideParis, France

Best Paris Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Paris has 148 activities that work for kids ages 6–12, and the best ones have nothing to do with standing in a museum queue for an hour. Big…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideLondon, UK

Best London Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Kids aged 6–12 are London's best audience. They're old enough to understand the history, climb the things, and actually remember what they d…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideLisbon, Portugal

Best Lisbon Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Lisbon has 145 activities flagged for school-age kids, and the best ones feel nothing like sightseeing — they feel like being dropped into a…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideIndianapolis, IN

Best Indianapolis Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Indianapolis punches well above its weight for families with school-age kids. The Children's Museum alone could anchor a full day trip, but …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideHuntsville, AL

Best Huntsville Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Kids ages 6-12 in Huntsville get access to the good stuff — the outdoor adventures, the hands-on creative studios, the immersive experiences…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBuenos Aires, Argentina

Best Buenos Aires Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Buenos Aires keeps school-age kids engaged because the city actually has things to do — real outdoor adventures, helicopter flights, a world…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBarcelona, Spain

Best Barcelona Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Barcelona has 146 activities flagged for school-age kids, and the best ones don't feel like sightseeing at all — they feel like adventures. …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBar Harbor, ME

Best Bar Harbor Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Bar Harbor has 109 activities rated for big kids, and the best ones involve actual adventure — climbing granite cliffs, kayaking past seals,…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBangkok, Thailand

Best Bangkok Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Bangkok is a city that rewards curiosity, and school-age kids are the perfect age to get the most out of it. Elephants, escape rooms, roofto…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideVancouver, Canada

Best Vancouver Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Vancouver has 31 activities that land with the 6-12 age group, and the city's biggest advantage over most family destinations is that kids c…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideToronto, Canada

Best Toronto Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Toronto has 33 activities that genuinely hold the attention of 6-to-12-year-olds, and the best ones involve either doing something hands-on …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideNassau, Bahamas

Best Nassau Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Nassau has 31 kid-tested activities for the 6-12 age group, and the best ones involve sharks, pirates, and swimming with actual pigs. School…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMontreal, Canada

Best Montreal Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Montreal has 33 family activities that genuinely work for kids ages 6-12, and the standouts are things they can't get anywhere else — walkin…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideGulf Shores, AL

Best Gulf Shores Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Gulf Shores has 10 kid-tested activities for the 6-12 age group, and the best part is that five of them are completely free. From a 500-acre…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideCharlotte, NC

Best Charlotte Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Charlotte has 38 family activities that genuinely work for kids ages 6-12, and the standouts involve real experiences — floating in a wind t…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideCancún, Mexico

Best Cancún Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Cancun has 31 kid-tested activities for the 6-12 age group, and the ones that get the biggest reactions involve wading through underground c…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideCabo San Lucas, Mexico

Best Cabo San Lucas Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Cabo San Lucas has 33 kid-tested activities for the 6-12 age group, and the ones that get the biggest reactions involve watching 40-ton whal…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBreckenridge, CO

Best Breckenridge Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Breckenridge has 27 kid-tested activities for the 6–12 age range, and the standouts involve going underground in a real gold mine, solving e…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideAsheville, NC

Best Asheville Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Asheville has more outdoor adventures that make school-age kids feel like legit explorers than almost any city on the East Coast — and 11 of…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideWilliamsburg, VA

Best Williamsburg Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Williamsburg Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Williamsburg is more than a colonial history lesson. The area around it — Hampton Road…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideWashington DC, DC

Best Washington DC Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Washington DC Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) DC is one of the best cities in America to bring a kid who's hit that age where they …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideVirginia Beach, VA

Best Virginia Beach Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Virginia Beach Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Virginia Beach's outdoor spaces are the real draw for kids who want to actually do s…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideTampa, FL

Best Tampa Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Tampa Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Tampa has a lot going for families with school-age kids. The combo of theme parks, real outdo…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSt. Louis, MO

Best St. Louis Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best St. Louis Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) St. Louis is an underrated destination for school-age kids. Most families think Gateway A…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSedona, AZ

Best Sedona Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Sedona Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Sedona hands big kids exactly what they want: real adventure, real heights, and real braggin…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSeattle, WA

Best Seattle Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Seattle Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Seattle rewards the curious kid. There's enough real adventure here — lighthouse hikes, act…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideScottsdale, AZ

Best Scottsdale Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Scottsdale Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids in the 7–12 range are done with passive entertainment. They want to do something re…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSavannah, GA

Best Savannah Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Savannah Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Savannah works for big kids in ways that surprise parents who expect a city full of histor…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSanta Cruz, CA

Best Santa Cruz Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Santa Cruz Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Santa Cruz delivers the kind of trip where school-age kids come home with actual stories…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSan Juan, PR

Best San Juan Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best San Juan Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12) San Juan hits differently with school-age kids. You've got actual castles they can run thr…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSan Francisco, CA

Best San Francisco Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

San Francisco is one of the best cities in the country for school-age kids who want more than a theme park. The variety here is real — hands…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSan Diego, CA

Best San Diego Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best San Diego Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) San Diego is one of the best cities in the country for big kids — and not just because of…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSan Antonio, TX

Best San Antonio Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best San Antonio Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids are done with the toddler play centers. They want to do real things — race kar…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideSalt Lake City, UT

Best Salt Lake City Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Salt Lake City Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids ages 6–12 need more than a playground. They want to feel capable, challenged, a…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuidePortland, OR

Best Portland Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Portland Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids ages 6–12 have an opinion. They know what's cool and what isn't, they'll tell you whe…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuidePigeon Forge, TN

Best Pigeon Forge Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Pigeon Forge Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Pigeon Forge is genuinely built for the 6–12 crowd. The whole strip is designed around…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuidePhiladelphia, PA

Best Philadelphia Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Philadelphia Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Philadelphia is genuinely great for the 6–12 crowd. This is the age where kids want to…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideOuter Banks, NC

Best Outer Banks Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Outer Banks Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids at the Outer Banks have a specific advantage over toddlers: they can actually …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideOrlando, FL

Best Orlando Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Orlando Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids in this age range have opinions. They know what they want, they'll tell you when they'…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideNew York City, NY

Best New York City Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best New York City Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12) New York City is made for kids old enough to actually process what they're seeing. Th…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideNew Orleans, LA

Best New Orleans Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best New Orleans Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) New Orleans rewards kids old enough to actually absorb it. The city has real history, r…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideNashville, TN

Best Nashville Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Nashville Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) A kid between 6 and 12 in Nashville is in the sweet spot — old enough for real adventure,…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMyrtle Beach, SC

Best Myrtle Beach Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Myrtle Beach Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids in Myrtle Beach are done with sandcastles and ready for something they can br…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMoab, UT

Best Moab Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Moab Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Moab is one of the few places where a 10-year-old can come home with a story that genuinely im…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMinneapolis, MN

Best Minneapolis Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Minneapolis delivers for school-age kids in ways that catch a lot of families off guard. Free zoo animals, sledding hills with city views, s…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMilwaukee, WI

Best Milwaukee Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best Milwaukee Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Milwaukee punches above its weight for families with school-age kids. It has a genuinely …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMiami, FL

Best Miami Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best Miami Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids are done with playgrounds that bore them in 10 minutes. They want challenge, novelty…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideMaui, HI

Best Maui Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Maui Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids on Maui don't need manufactured fun. The island hands it to you. Ziplining above rain…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideLos Angeles, CA

Best Los Angeles Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Los Angeles Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids are done with passive entertainment. They want to solve things, climb things, …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideLas Vegas, NV

Best Las Vegas Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Las Vegas isn't just for adults. For school-age kids, this city offers real go-karts, heavy equipment you can actually operate, a full indoo…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideLake Tahoe, CA

Best Lake Tahoe Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Lake Tahoe Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Lake Tahoe doesn't just hand you something to do — it dares you. Big kids in the 6–12 ra…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideKansas City, MO

Best Kansas City Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Kansas Cityeticities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kansas City gives big kids a lot to work with. Escape rooms, a live game show studio, a g…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideJackson Hole, WY

Best Jackson Hole Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Jackson Hole Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids in the 6-to-12 range are the sweet spot for Jackson Hole. They can handle real hi…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideHouston, TX

Best Houston Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Houston Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids aged 6–12 are done with sandboxes and baby swings. They want missions. Challenges. Thi…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideHonolulu, HI

Best Honolulu Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Honolulu Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Kids aged 6–12 need more than a sandbox. They want to solve puzzles, smash things, explore…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideHilton Head, SC

Best Hilton Head Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Hilton Head Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Hilton Head rewards families who know where to look. The resort island's natural settin…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideDestin, FL

Best Destin Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Destin Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids in Destin want more than sandcastles. They want speed, height, competition, and som…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideDenver, CO

Best Denver Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Denver Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Denver kids have mountains in their backyard and a city full of hands-on experiences a short…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideDallas, TX

Best Dallas Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Dallas Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Big kids want something real. They're past the tot playground phase — they want height, spee…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideChicago, IL

Best Chicago Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best Chicago Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Chicago rewards kids who are ready for real experiences. The lakefront alone is one of the …

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideCape Canaveral, FL

Best Cape Canaveral Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6-12)

Best Cape Canaveral Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Cape Canaveral has one thing most vacation destinations don't: a genuine reason to l…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBranson, MO

Best Branson Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Branson Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Branson is genuinely built for kids in the 6–12 range. The Ozark hills give you ziplines an…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideBoston, MA

Best Boston Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Boston Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Boston delivers for school-age kids in a way most cities don't. History you can actually tou…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideAustin, TX

Best Austin Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Austin Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Austin's best big-kid experiences split cleanly between outdoor adventure and high-tech indo…

Read guide →

Big Kids GuideAtlanta, GA

Best Atlanta Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12)

Best Atlanta Activities for Big Kids (Ages 6–12) Atlanta keeps big kids genuinely busy. There's a real range here — full-body VR, zipline co…

Read guide →

← All family travel guides