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Bucket List Ideas: Be Brave Together

1. Go on a roller coaster

Once your child meets the height requirements of a white-knuckle roller coaster, be brave and go together! Find a great roller coaster near you on our list of the best amusement parks in the US.

2. Feed a giraffe

Head to a zoo that allows visitors to feed these gentle giants! Check out our list of the best zoo in every state.

3. Ride a bike solo

Help your child practice riding a bike and when they're ready, be brave and let them go!

4. Take to the slopes

Let your child test out skiing down the slopes—after a class or two, of course. Find a great place near you to go skiing.

5. Pet a tarantula

Work up the courage to pet a giant creepy crawly together like a tarantula or centipede.

6. Go to a haunted event

If you don't mind a good jump scare, go to the scariest haunted house or haunted hayride you can find at Halloween. A good ghost tour works, too!

7. Try a zip line

Take consecutive trips down a zip line, and don't look down!

8. Hit a horseback riding trail

Happy trails to you! Some places have height, weight, or age requirements, so check before booking a ride.

9. Go rollerblading

Go rollerblading together at the beach. Bonus points if you dress up Barbie-style.

10. Try a new food

Get takeout or cook a cuisine you've never tried before. Extra points for trying something exotic that no one in your family has eaten!

11. Go canoeing, kayaking, or rafting

Head to calm waters and paddle with an older child. Be sure to get advice, tips, and lessons from an experienced guide, if you need it. Or plan a family rafting vacation.

12. New family hair color!

Get some temporary hair color in a striking hue and dye the whole family's hair. Don't forget to take pictures.

13. Run a 5k

When your kids are old enough, train for a 5k together, even if running's not typically your thing.

When it gets dark tell spooky stories as you go backyard camping. 

Bucket List Ideas: Adventures at Home

14. Camp out in the yard

Spend a summer night gazing up at the stars, singing camp songs, and snuggling up in your sleeping bags  to go camping in your own backyard.

15. Get up and see the sunrise

Set your alarm clock, pack a snack and go to the ocean, a lake, or the top of a mountain—somewhere beautiful where you can watch the sunrise.

16. Get a pet

You'll never forget bringing home your child's first pet, whether it's a fish, dog, or gerbil. (Or rock! Parents with allergies can totally just get a pet rock!)

17. Hatch a butterfly

Discover the magic of metamorphosis and then have a butterfly release.

18. Get locked in

Get creative and turn a room at home into a mysterious escape room. Here's one idea: Use a combo lock to secure a box containing the "key" to unlock your door. Then leave clues and puzzles around the room that correspond with each number in the lock.

19. Make the ultimate pillow fort

Help your kids make the ultimate pillow fort. Then launch balled-up sock "snowballs" at each other from behind the safety of your fort.

20. Have a movie sleepover

Change into your PJs, snuggle up in your bed, and watch a movie together. We've got you covered for family movie night suggestions.

21. Stay up all night

Party 'til the sun comes up! (And by party, we mean play board games in PJs, or something like that!)

22. Make ice cream

Use an ice cream maker, make ice cream in a bag, or make snow ice cream!

Celebrate a birthday in your own backyard! 

23. Host a backyard birthday party

Instead of hosting your child's birthday party at an outside venue, invite a manageable group of friends over for a house party. Play classic games like pin the tail on the donkey, limbo, and a bubble gum blowing contest.

24. Design an ultimate scavenger hunt

Hide consecutive and challenging clues at home or all over your town for an unforgettable family scavenger hunt.

25. Plant a garden

Plant some seeds and care for a simple flower or vegetable container garden together. Or, try an indoor herb garden in small pots.

26. Have a lemonade stand

Set up a lemonade stand and help your child donate some proceeds to a charity of their choice. Check your local rules about whether a permit is needed.

27. Do a fabulous birthday morning surprise

Plan an over-the-top birthday surprise like posting a lawn sign or filling their bedroom with balloons while they are sleeping the night before their big day.

28. Go puddle jumping

In the middle of a downpour, grab your rain boots and raincoats and splash through puddles together.

29. Plant a tree

Plant a tree when your child is young, and take pics of their growth near the tree every year.

30. Do s'mores and a singalong

Make a batch of smores (via firepit, fireplace, or microwave) and sing campfire songs.

31. Have a water balloon fight

On a hot summer day, put on your swimsuits and challenge your kids to a wild water balloon and water gun fight. Here are our other favorite summer water games to try, too.

32. Throw a watch party

Binge-watch a season of your child's favorite show together. Make it extra special by wearing character shirts, eating fun snacks, and decorating with all the character paraphernalia you have at home.

33. Have a cardboard box race

Make a cardboard box car and zoom your child around the living room. 

34. Take matching PJs pics

Take pics in matching holiday jammies.

35. Invent a holiday

What does your family love the most? Pick a theme and a day, and invent your own holiday. Someday your kids will celebrate it with their kids!

36. Put on a show

Learn some magic tricks or get a giant bubbles kit and put on a backyard show together.

Everyone can make their own pizza just the way they like it! Photo by Ally Noel

Bucket List Ideas: Get Creative

37. Make portraits

Take turns drawing portraits of each other; keep doing this at every age and stage!

38. Record yourselves reading a book aloud

Bonus points if you do character voices for the dialogue.

39. Make pizza together

It's surprisingly easy to make dough and sauce, and kids will love putting on all the toppings.

40. Create a storybook

Write a story together and make illustrations. Bind the pages together like a book.

41. Do hand-print crafts

You'll treasure that tiny hand-print turkey one day!

42. Make a shadow portrait

Shine the light just right and trace your child's shadow silhouette.

43. Track everyone's height

Keep track of kids' heights on a door or wall. Mark yours, too!

44. Keep a kid quote book

Take note of hilarious quotes from your kids (and their age at the time) in a special notebook or in an ever-expanding note on your phone.

45. Do a science experiment

You'll never forget their look of wonder at seeing a homemade volcano erupt.

46. Come up with a special family cookie recipe

Take a basic cookie recipe, and have everyone in the family add a favorite ingredient or flavor for a one-of-a-kind treat that you can make for special occasions.

47. Make a family journal

Keep a journal of all your special days and outings. Little ones can help illustrate it.

48. Birthday cake traditions

Come up with a tradition for each birthday in the family. It can be a favorite cake that you make year after year, a favorite flavor that you make variations of each year, or even a specific color cake!

49. Play April Fools Day gags

Choose something simple and play the perfect April Fools Day trick on them. 

Create magical moments at a favorite theme park. Photo by Gina Massaro

Bucket List Ideas: Family Travel and Adventures

50. Go to a Disney Park

Take the trip of a lifetime to the mecca of family destinations. Matching family t-shirts are optional. Orlando's Walt Disney World or Anaheim's Disneyland, it doesn't matter!

51. Take a beach vacation

Spend the days building sand castles, jumping over waves, and collecting seashells on a beautiful beach.

52. See the Grand Canyon

Plan a trip to Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona, like the Griswolds! It'll take your breath away.

53. Visit a big city

Take a trip to an exciting city like New York, Los Angeles, or Washington DC.

54. Go camping

Rent a cabin or break out the tents and go camping.

55. Take a big road trip

Instead of flying, pack up the snacks and boredom busters and take an epic road trip.

56. See a waterfall

Plan a trip to see Niagara Falls in New York, Yosemite Falls in California, or Yellowstone Falls in Wyoming.

57. Take a trip to another country

Take the kids on their first trip outside the US. 

58. Do a cruise or an all-inclusive resort

Your whole crew will come home feeling pampered and more relaxed when you never have to leave your ship or all-inclusive resort.

59. Visit local historical site

Travel to see Revolutionary or Civil War sites like Gettysburg, Boston, or Williamsburg.

60. See all the states

Try to see as many states as you can before the kids leave high school.

61. Visit national parks

As many as you can! Sure we mentioned the Grand Canyon already, and Zion or Yellowstone are pretty stunning. But some of the best are off the beaten path. Check out our National Parks Travel Guide for inspiration.

Take me out to the ball game! Photo by Elsa Simcik

Bucket List Ideas:  Local Outings

62. See a show

Buy tickets to see a live performance of their favorite character or at a professional theater.

63. See a concert

There's nothing like live music!

64. Watch a professional sports game

Snag tickets to see your family's favorite team in action.

65. Get to the circus

Get tickets to see a humane circus.

66. Ride a train

Take a train ride somewhere fun. Go anywhere, as the journey is more important than the destination. (Deep!)

67. Get lost in a corn maze

If you live near cornfields, try getting lost in a fall corn maze.

68. Go to the movies...in costume!

When a favorite character appears on the silver screen, see the movie in full costume together.

69. Go on an ice cream tour

Commit to visiting 4-5 local ice cream shops back to back and sharing a small cup from each to see which spot takes the crown as your family favorite.

70. Visit a Local Food Factory

What do they make where you live? From a local candy shop to a world-famous chip factory, see what your part of the world is famous for.

71. Jump in a lake

Head to a lake where a lifeguard's on duty, and jump in!

72. Do a polar plunge

Sure it's cold, but you'll never forget an ocean or lake swim in the dead of winter!

73. Go Sledding

In the snow or sand!

74. Snorkel

You can go snorkeling at a beach resort or in a local pond; it's the act of seeing what's under the surface together that counts.

75. Have a rock-skipping competition

Who is the family champ?

76. Pick your own

Tree, pumpkin, berries...everything tastes sweeter or looks better when you pick your own from a farm.

77. Forage together

Wherever you live, there's something wild growing that you can eat! Take a class, get a book, or only pick things you know are safe, but see what you can hunt and gather for yourselves, even in a big city.

78. Go to a Medieval festival

Get the whole family dressed up and have a great time. Most states and cities have a summer Renaissance Faire or a Medieval Times show nearby.

79. Relive your school days

Show the kids your Alma mater.

80. Try a fancy restaurant

Get all dressed up and enjoy a special meal together.

81. Go to a water park

Head to a water park for the day. (Sunscreen required!)

82. Go fishing

It's a great time to talk, take in a little sun, and make great memories.

83. Explore Your City

Play tourist in your town! Each of our cities has a list of 100 awesome things to do—discover the best things to do in NYC, LA, Chicago, DC, San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Miami, Orlando, Long Island, New Jersey, Westchester, or Connecticut!

84. Get lost... and find your way home

In nature or in the city, use a compass or a map to have an adventure where you don't know how to get where you're going!

Bucket List Ideas: Parent-and-Me Time

85. Chaperon a field trip

You may need to take an aspirin afterward, but chaperoning your child's field trip makes for a memorable day.

86. Attend school events

Sign up to attend a grownup-and-me event at your child's school whether it's a sweetheart dance, bingo night, or family breakfast.

87. Take advantage of Take Your Child to Work Day

Assuming you don't work from home and your employer is game, let your kids see where you work and introduce them to your colleagues.

88. Take parent-child classes

You'll treasure the memories of itty bitty soccer, yoga, or music classes.

89. Volunteer

Find a place to do a community service project together.

90. Teach them a special skill

Do you have a special talent like playing guitar, chess, or tennis? Pass it down to your child by giving them some informal lessons. Then turn the tables and let them teach you their special skills (like video games or how to change a phone's password!).

Bucket List Ideas: Family History

91. Make a baby book

Whether it's a formal project or a simple notebook, document all the "firsts": foods, teeth, words, steps, favorites, and more.

92. Interview grandparents

Record your child interviewing their grandparents or great-grandparents about their childhood.

93. Show off your old neighborhood

Drive by your childhood home, favorite local spots, and your elementary school (or "visit" via Google Earth). 

94. Attend (or host!) a family reunion

Meet the whole extended clan.

95. Take an annual family photo

Pick a meaningful time of the year and take a photo every year with you and the kids.

96. Visit the greats

Let your kids meet the oldest members of the family like great aunts and uncles. Don't forget to take plenty of photos!

97. Draw a family tree

Help your child learn about family history by making a family tree.

98. Make food from your country of origin

Have your child pick one of your family's countries of origin, look up recipes from that place, and make a new food together. 

99. Come up with your own New Year's Eve tradition

We've got some cool suggestions from around the world, but you can also invent your own!

100. Make a time capsule

Box up a favorite shirt they've outgrown, maybe an old favorite toy, printouts of today's news, a letter to your future selves, and lists of some of your favorite pop culture things from today. Be sure to hide it or bury it somewhere you'll have access to in the future!