12 Fun Field Trips to Take Every Year - Freedom Inside the Box

Updated March, 2022

I am constantly thinking about fun activities and adventures to go on with my young child. One of the ways I do this is by trying to visit a new place every month. These family activities for all ages are a great way to get out and explore while learning and having fun. My favorite is when it takes an entire day. This standard adventuring of mine has resulted in me making a list of 12 activities to do every year.

1. Art Museum

This is where my list starts because it is the activity I’ve been doing the longest. I don’t even particularly like art, or find art museums interesting. But going to them always proves to be a lot of fun. I live near Denver and Boulder, so I have a number of options. There is a small art museum at CU Boulder that I’ve been to a few times and found interesting enough. Then in Denver, the art museum is free on the first Saturday of every month. So this is free and fun.

The aquarium is the first stop in my animal exploration trips. It is easy to enjoy year round because everything is inside. I always learn a lot, even if I go to the same one over and over again. I’ve been to a few aquariums across the U.S. and I will say some are better than others. The Denver aquarium is not my favorite, whereas I think it’s safe to say we’ve all heard how amazing the Chicago aquarium is. Or sometimes zoos, like the Omaha Zoo, have a little aquarium in them. Just plan to do some research before you go.

2. Aquarium

3. Zoo

You had to know if I have the aquarium that of course I have the zoo on this list. I spend the entire day at the zoo and I go every year and I still manage to learn something new every time. Plus I can’t help but love all the animals. In the off months a lot of zoos offer free days, although I tend to go in the summer or fall so I can see all the animals. I will say, even more than aquariums, not all zoos are created equally. I happen to live near the Denver Zoo, which is one of the most amazing zoos in the country. However, I’ve been to a LOT of zoos and can say not all of them are worth giving your money to. The Omaha Zoo was pretty great. The John Ball Zoo was okay. The Zoo in Hawaii and Japan were both kind of sad. Zoos should be about animal conservation, so if the zoo near you isn’t, consider withholding your money a little longer.

This one varies each year and changes based on where I am. It includes anything from the butterfly pavilion to the botanical gardens to the garden of the gods. The point is to see beautiful plants and sometimes animals and to learn about them. It isn’t exactly the same as actually being in nature, but it’s to help build that connection at least.

4. Nature Sanctuary

5. Museum of Nature and Science

Wrapping up my educational opportunities is the Museum of Nature and Science. Now I don’t know if this type of museum exists everywhere, but this gives you an idea of what it offers. The Denver Museum of Nature and Science has exhibits on space, gems, animals, Egypt, health and wellness, and dinosaurs. There is also always one or two rotating exhibits, so there is often something new to see. I always go right at opening and have yet to make it all the way through and see everything before it is closed. With my kids I’ve taken to going for just a few hours each month and checking out one exhibit at a time.

This one isn’t for everyone, and I know that, but I love theme parks. Around here we have at least two that I know of and I go to both of them every year. It’s an easy way to hang out with friends and enjoy a day. Plus, most of them have a nice little kids section that have almost no lines for the little ones. If you are fortunate enough to go during a weekday also, we have found that Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays have the fewest lines.

6. Theme Park

7. Water Park

Some people would argue that a water park is the same as a theme park, but I have to disagree. A water park has very different rides and you wear a bathing suit all day. Even if there is a water park in your theme park, you certainly don’t spend the whole day there. So this is just splashing fun, great for the summer months. Again, all the water parks I’ve been to also have a section for younger children as well.

I don’t actually know if you can go to a renaissance fair in every state, but you can in Colorado and at least a good handful of other states as well. We go every year with the kids and they simply love it. The music, the animals, the jousting, the costumes; it’s great. I will admit to bringing both of my children when they were under one and both of them getting sun burn. So be sure to bring sunscreen.

8. Renaissance Fair

9. A Convention

Okay, you already know I’m nerdy. I go to multiple conventions every year. But even if I didn’t, I would still encourage everyone to find a convention they like and attend it. It doesn’t even have to be an anime convention like the ones I attend. I recently went to a convention that was all about art and writing and creating. I learned a lot and I didn’t even have to dress up. Go to conventions both for the experience and for the learning opportunities. As long as you attend a family friendly convention, there will be activities for your child to do as well.

When I say fair, I don’t mean walk down a sidewalk where there are tons of booths of people selling things and that’s it. I mean a real, old fashioned fair, with Ferris wheels and fun houses and cotton candy. Ride some rides, eat some junk food. Live that sweet, young summer life.

10. A Fair

11. Ice Skating

I am not a particularly good ice skater, for the record. Going once a year isn’t enough to make me very good at it. I do enjoy it though, and it’s especially fun if you have an outside rink in your area during the winter. I feel like my activity list can lean a little heavy towards summer activities, so ice skating is a nice winter one to get you out of the house.

How my beach loving self landed in land locked, dry as sin Colorado, I’ll never know. I love the beach. If I had to pick one place to go every year and give the rest up, it would be the beach. I think of sunshine and sand and water. Ocean or lake, I’ll take either one. In 2020 we found a nice little outdoor stream that didn’t really have a beach but offered me a close second.