Let’s be honest for a second. We’ve all seen those travel commercials: the ones where a perfectly manicured family laughs in slow motion while frolicking through a meadow. In reality, family travel often looks more like a frantic search for a clean restroom while your youngest has a meltdown because their cracker snapped in half.
I’m Edin Chavez, CEO of Photoguides, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned from years of traveling and capturing the world through a lens, it’s that the "perfect" trip isn’t about avoiding chaos; it’s about choosing activities that actually keep everyone engaged. Welcome to Day 1 of our 30-day blog series dedicated to making family travel actually fun.
Whether you are looking for cheap weekend getaways or planning a cross-country expedition, here are the top 10 family travel activities that won't leave your kids (or you) staring at a phone screen.
1. Wildlife Encounters (Beyond the Standard Zoo)
There is a massive difference between looking at a lion through thick glass and actually interacting with nature. Kids lose their minds (in a good way) when they get to feed a giraffe or see a bison in the wild.
Take the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, for example, where you can get eye-to-eye with giraffes, or the Audubon Zoo in New Orleans where the "Insectarium" lets kids taste cricket cookies. If you’re heading to Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the simple joy of spotting a prairie dog can keep a toddler occupied for an hour. For the best organized nature tours, I always check Viator to find local guides who know exactly where the animals are hiding.
2. Kayaking and Whale Watching
Nothing beats the salt spray on your face and the thrill of a massive tail fin breaking the water. If you’re near Monterey Bay, kayaking is a game-changer. You’re at eye level with sea otters and seals, which is infinitely more exciting for a ten-year-old than a standard boat tour.
If you’re worried about capturing these moments without dropping your phone in the ocean, check out my guide on essential photography gear. A good waterproof housing or a rugged action cam is a lifesaver here.
3. "Easy-Mode" National Park Hiking
I know what you’re thinking: "My kids won’t walk to the mailbox, how are they going to hike a National Park?" The trick is choosing the right trails. Instead of a vertical climb, look for "interactive" hikes.
In Zion National Park, the Riverside Walk is flat, paved, and leads right to the water. In Joshua Tree, the rock formations at Skull Rock are basically nature’s version of a jungle gym. These spots are also a goldmine for family photos. If you want to see how I process my landscape shots to make those desert colors pop, you can peek at my work on Edin Fine Art.
4. Ghost Tours and Spooky History
If your kids are a bit older (or just really into Halloween), a ghost tour is the ultimate way to sneak in a history lesson. Walking through the French Quarter in New Orleans or the historic streets of Key West at night with a lantern-wielding guide is atmospheric and genuinely fun.
It’s way more engaging than reading a plaque on a wall. Plus, these tours often lead you to some of the most photogenic spots in the city. You can find some of the highest-rated spooky experiences on Viator.
5. Driving on the Beach and Bonfires
Forget the struggle of carrying four chairs, a cooler, and a tent across a mile of hot sand. Destinations like Grover Beach in California allow you to drive your vehicle right onto the sand.
Setting up a basecamp directly out of your trunk makes life ten times easier. End the day with a bonfire and s'mores. It’s one of those core-memory-building activities that feels like a movie. While you're at it, grab your camera and practice some long exposures of the fire. I’ve written more about these kinds of experiences in my photography booking experience section.
6. Winter Thrills: Tubing and "Pizza" Skiing
If you’re traveling in the winter, skip the high-stress black diamond runs and head straight for the tubing park. Mammoth Mountain has Woolly’s Tube Park, which is essentially a high-speed snowy playground.
For the little ones just starting out, "pizza-ing" down a bunny hill provides a sense of accomplishment that’s hard to beat. If you're looking for the best gear to capture the action in the snow, I’ve got some updated camera reviews for 2024 that cover the best weather-sealed options.
7. Interactive Museums (The Cool Kind)
We’ve all been to those museums where you have to whisper and you can't touch anything. Avoid those. Instead, look for spots like the National WWII Museum in New Orleans or the quirky World Famous Crochet Museum in Joshua Tree.
These places are designed to be touched, explored, and experienced. They offer a "choose your own adventure" vibe that keeps kids moving. When you’re inside, the lighting can be tricky for photos. To help with that, I often recommend using sky overlays for any outdoor museum shots where the weather didn't cooperate, or checking out my educational category for low-light tips.
8. River Rafting and Canyoneering
For families with teenagers, you need to up the ante. White water rafting in Moab or canyoneering in the Utah desert provides just enough adrenaline to keep them from complaining. It’s about teamwork and getting a little dirty.
I’ve spent a lot of time documenting these types of adventures on the Photoguides blog, and the smiles are always genuine because the "fun" isn't forced: it’s built into the activity.
9. Unique Local Transport
Sometimes the journey really is the destination. Instead of an Uber, take a mule-drawn carriage in the French Quarter or a steamboat cruise down the Mississippi. In Key West, the Conch Tour Train is a classic for a reason: it’s breezy, easy, and gives you a great layout of the land without anyone’s legs getting tired.
These rides are also the perfect time to snap candid photos of your family just relaxing. If you’re struggling with the "perfect" family portrait, remember that the best shots are usually the ones where no one is looking at the camera.
10. The "Photo Scavenger Hunt"
This is my personal favorite. Give your kids a "mission." Whether they use an old point-and-shoot, a phone, or even a disposable camera, give them a list of things to find:
- A blue door
- A local dog
- The weirdest piece of art
- A "secret" alleyway
It turns a standard walk through a city like Williamsburg or Downtown Golden into a game. You can even offer a prize: like a trip to one of the best breakfast places in Cape Coral or Laguna Beach.
Making It All Work
I know travel can be stressful. The secret is to stop trying to make it "perfect" and start making it interesting. If a plan fails, pivot. If the kids are tired, find a park. And always, always bring a camera.
At Photoguides, we’re all about helping you capture those real moments. If you’re just starting out and want to improve your travel photos, feel free to download our guides or browse our latest reviews.
Travel is one of the best gifts you can give your family. It broadens perspectives, builds resilience, and: if you pick the right activities: it’s a whole lot of fun. So, pack the bags, grab the kids, and get out there. You’ve got this!
Stay tuned for Day 2 of our series, where we’ll dive into the best foodie spots for families who are tired of chicken nuggets. Happy travels!
