Little Feet, Big Fun: Top 15 Places To Take Toddlers In 2024!

Explore 15 exciting places to take toddlers, spotlighting adventures that fill their little worlds with fun, learning, and unforgettable moments, starting right now!

Contents show

This list of favorite places has grown with my oldest and so far has been a hit with our 1 year old as well! I hope this helps to guide you and your little crew on some fun outings.

🌟 Planning Memorable Toddler Outings! 🌟

This post may contain affiliate links. For my full disclosure policy click here.

Adventurous Spots: Explore various spots like the petting zoo, beach, and your own backyard for a delightful toddler day!
Snacks are a Must: Always pack healthy snacks to keep their energy steady.
Be Prepared: An extra change of clothes and backup shoes can save the day.
Safety First: When visiting water spots like the beach or pool, keeping a close eye and using safety gear is a must.
Timing is Everything: Schedule outings when your toddler is well-rested and fed to make the most of the day.
Flexibility: Be ready to change your plans as toddlers are unpredictable and might need a change of pace or scenery.

Outside Places to Take Toddlers

1. Petting Zoo

A petting zoo is a perfect spot for busy toddlers, allowing them to run around and touch some animals.

Petting zoos are usually not as busy as large city zoos. You can get close to the animals and teach your toddler about gentle touches.

I have a whole post on why petting zoos are great outdoor places to take toddlers.

2. The Zoo

A large zoo is probably too big to do it all in one day, so pick your child’s favorite animals and visit them first.

Look for a kid-only zone that you can take advantage of and let them run around and burn some energy. They will usually have some interactive exhibits too.

Zoos can also be great in fall and winter as they also have indoor exhibits with a little outdoor walking in between.

Learn why zoos are such fun places to take your toddler! Get tips and tricks on getting the most out of your day.

3. Go To A Beach

The beach, offers chances for both free play and physical development. Making it an ideal toddler playground!

For example, building sand castles is fun and teaches about textures and forms. Scooping and shoveling also help physical development.

Safety and sun protection are vital at the beach. Ensure you pack essentials like a hat, sunscreen, and a life jacket. Always keep a close eye on your toddler, especially near the water.

Beach must-haves:

4. Check Out a Park Outside Your Neighborhood

Going to a new park is one of my favorite activities to do with toddlers!

A park is a great place for little ones – stairs, slides, and swings will help burn a lot of energy and help improve their strength and gross motor skills.

If you have a local park you always go to, adventure away from home and check out some others that are nearby. That will keep things interesting for everyone.

According to Help Me Grow, ‘playgrounds and outdoor spaces are ideal for free play because there are endless opportunities to explore and interact with the world. Children can race through a play structure, run in open spaces and create their own games based on what’s available.’

5. Splash Pad

This is one of my favorite activities to do with my toddlers in the summer! A great way to cool down and expose your toddler to water is a splash pad. You can get as wet as you want by avoiding the big sprays, or get soaked and run through the whole place!

These are such fun places for toddlers!

What to bring to the splash pad:

Swimsuit
Swim diaper
Water shoes
Towels (don’t forget one for yourself)
Hat
Change of clothes
Diaper bag

6. Fair/Food Festival

Summer and Fall tend to have a lot of food festivals that include an area for families. Check them out and take your toddler on rides, play games and expose them to new food.

Let your toddler try some age appropriate rides (ex. Carousel or Ferris Wheel) with you to get them exposed to new things.

Keep your eyes out for face painting, balloon animals, and fire trucks to explore.

7. Pool

Indoor or outdoor pools are great places for toddlers. Indoor pools often have kid-designated pools that are shallower and warmer. They are great for introducing your kid to pools. But the big ones can be just as great.

8. Your Own Backyard

Set up your own backyard adventure spot for your toddler.

This is also a great idea if you’re planning a toddler playdate.

Use what you already have, but mix it up!

Water Table – add bubbles to it today.
Toddler Pool – If you don’t already have a toddler pool, this one is our favorite. If you already have one, you can add a bunch of beach balls or a bunch of fish to catch.
Sandbox – bury plastic dinosaurs or farm animals and give them a bath afterward.

Some other no prep toddler activities to do in your backyard:

‘Paint’ the fence with paint brushes and a bucket of water
Scavenger hunt
Color the driveway
Car Wash/Bike Wash

9. Fruit Picking

Make fruit picking a two-part adventure: enjoy harvesting apples or berries and then have a baking session at home.

Farms often host family-friendly fall activities, and engaging your toddler in baking using child-oriented cookbooks, like ‘Sesame Street Let’s Cook!‘, can turn freshly picked fruit into tasty treats.

toddler hands rolling up balls of cookie dough

Here is our daughter rolling up some no-bake cookies from Little Helpers Toddler Cookbook

Fun Places For Toddlers – Indoor Activities

On cold and rainy days, or when you need shade from the sun, these indoor activities for toddlers offer new experiences. They help burn energy, improve motor skills, and grow their vocabulary.

10. Concert

I took my daughter to her first The Wiggles concert when she was about a year and a half and she loved it. She danced in her seat and loved interacting with her new friends in the seats next to us.

We made a mother-daughter date day out of the concert. We took the train in and grabbed dinner after, don’t forget the toddler restaurant toys! . We have tickets booked for their upcoming show in October.

When the weather is nice, search for free local outdoor concerts. These events are less formal, allowing your two-year-old to dance anywhere!

11. Library

Get your two year old to love books by visiting the library and taking out books to read all week. They often have toddler specific programs for free that you can go to and some libraries also have toys to play with.

12. Museum

Ready for a top toddler adventure? Explore local children’s museums. Or, see if museums usually meant for adults have a kid area with touch-friendly, interactive exhibits.

13. Aquarium

We are lucky to have a Ripley’s Aquarium close by and we have visited it often. It’s such a calming activity and you can go through it as fast or slow as you want. Because of this, aquariums make one of the best places to take toddlers, in my opinion!

Tips: If your aquarium is big like ours buy your tickets in advance. This will speed up the entry time for you and your family. Toddlers hate lines!

14. Indoor Playground

Indoor playgrounds are amazing places for toddlers to play! They can work on their climbing, sliding, and running skills. The quality of indoor playgrounds ranges so check reviews and try different ones. When they are good, they make such fun places for toddlers to play

Tips:

Bring socks for everyone – its a requirement or you will have to buy a pair there
Bring snacks – most have a seating area you can bring in food
Call ahead and make sure they aren’t closed for a birthday party (or open and hosting a big one – that can be annoying and intimidating for little ones)

15. Fire Station

Give your local fire station a call and see if they would be willing to give your toddler a tour. They often do tours for daycares and elementary schools and they may let you tag along if they don’t do private tours.

Bonus: bring some of your baked goodies from your fruit-picking adventure to say thank you to the firefighters. Your toddler will LOVE seeing firefights gobble down their treats.

Tips to Make the Most of Your Day:

Make sure your toddler is at their best. Don’t try to have a big outing with your child if they are hungry, tired, or not feeling well. Pay attention to when your toddler is at their best, for us it’s mid-morning after breakfast and some playtime.
Bring snacks. No matter where you are going, bring some healthy snacks to keep that energy going. Fruit, cheese or crackers, and other low-refined sugar snacks are best. Sugar crashes are not fun!
Pack up that diaper bag. Accidents do happen and it’s better to be prepared!

Fun Places to Take Toddlers Near Me

Celebrate the toddler years by turning everyday locations into exhilarating adventures, allowing both you and the child to explore and rediscover the world together.

What is your toddler’s favorite exploration spot?

Frequently Asked Questions

What to do in the car to and from the activity?

The car is a perfect place for talking about what you did or plan to do! Asking silly, insightful and thoughtful questions can help deepen your connection with them.
Also, asking about their favorite parts of the day is a great way to help them feel smart and loved. This will also help gauge their interest in the activity.

What to bring on a toddler outing?

Snacks, bring lots of snacks! Don’t forget some extra diapers or a change of clothes, just in case!
Also, bring your PATIENCE! It’s a big world out there and can be a little overwhelming for your little one. Plans can always change!

What are fun places to take toddlers near me?

Explore these delightful destinations right in your town! Whether it’s the local library, a bustling grocery store, or even the neighborhood hardware store, every location can transform into a thrilling adventure.
Engage in interactive games like ‘I Spy’ or go on an exciting scavenger hunt. The best part? Your little one will be so entertained, they won’t even realize it’s just a typical errand run!

Where can I take my toddler to play?

If you’re lucky enough to have a museum, library, indoor playground or park near these make super fun places to take a toddler to get their wiggles out!

What are some exciting places to take toddlers for adventures?

There are numerous exciting places to explore with toddlers, including the petting zoo, the beach, public parks, splash pads, fairs/food festivals, pools, your own backyard, fruit picking farms, concerts, libraries, museums, aquariums, indoor playgrounds, and fire stations.
Each of these locations offers unique activities that can fill a toddler’s world with fun, learning, and unforgettable moments.

How can I create a fun and exciting adventure for my toddler in our own backyard?

Your backyard can be transformed into an adventure spot for your toddler by using a mix of existing toys and introducing new elements.
Consider utilizing a water table, toddler pool, and sandbox, and introduce unique activities like “painting” the fence with water, organizing a scavenger hunt, or having a car wash for toy cars.
Creative and varied activities keep the environment stimulating and fun.

What indoor activities can be engaging for toddlers during bad weather?

Indoor activities such as attending a child-friendly concert, visiting a library, exploring children’s museums or aquariums, and playing at indoor playgrounds offer new experiences while helping burn energy, improve motor skills, and enhance vocabulary for toddlers.
Be sure to check for any requirements or tips, such as needing to bring socks to indoor playgrounds, to make the visit smooth and enjoyable.

What general tips can help maximize enjoyment and reduce stress during outings with my toddler?

To ensure outings are enjoyable, schedule them when your toddler is well-rested and fed, and always bring along healthy snacks to maintain their energy.
Be sure to pack all necessary items, including extra clothing and safety gear. Be flexible with plans as toddlers can be unpredictable!
Prioritize safety, especially near water, and ensure activities are age-appropriate and safe.