It’s Spring Break time! If your family is having a staycation like we are, I’ve got a fun way to rediscover your city with a Spring Break Scavenger Hunt. Whether you are new to a city or have live there for years, this scavenger hunt will give you a chance to explore your city through the eyes of a tourist. You might be surprised by all of the hidden gems right in your own backyard during this little adventure!
I lived in Philadelphia for almost 20 years and I never visited the Liberty Bell. Never visited the Betsy Ross House. Never visited Independence Hall. Never visited the Ben Franklin House. And the list goes on. Now that I live so close to the nation’s capital, I want to make sure my family takes time to learn all about the history and culture of the city before we become jaded and start taking it for granted. So I decided that a scavenger hunt during spring break would be the perfect opportunity to have some fun and learn about the city on our staycation.
Each morning I gave Journey an envelope with clues to where we would be visiting that day. Once she figured out where we were going and we arrived at the location, I gave her another envelope with a list of things she needed to find while we were there. We had so much fun that she can’t wait to do it again!
Here’s how you can create your own Spring Break Scavenger Hunt in 5 easy steps:
1. Identify the places you would like to visit. It can be places you have been before but haven’t visited in a while as many tourist attractions, museums, etc. are always rotating exhibitions and activities. You can also pick a few places off the beaten path that you have never visited before. Visit your city’s convention and visitors bureau website or travel websites like wikitravel.org to find a list of interesting places to visit.
2. As you are selecting your locations, come up with 3 or 4 fun facts that you child can search for when you get there. This adds a bit of a learning component to the scavenger hunt, but you can skip this piece if you feel it’s too tedious.
3. Come up with a simple, fun rhyme to give your child the clue to where you are going. Here’s a sample of the clue and a list of things to find that I used:
CLUE #1
Millions of years ago they roamed the earth large and small
Now their remains live here winter, summer, spring and fall
YOU NEED TO FIND:
- How many years ago did dinosaurs last roam the earth?
- What’s the name of the world’s largest deep blue diamond?
- Name 4 American birds that are now extinct.
- List 3 ways that humans have evolved over the last 6 million
Did you figure out the clue? It’s the National Museum of Natural History!
4. Use this printable PDF to make your Spring Break Scavenger Hunt card clues and fun facts. If you are going to visit more than one place in a day, label your clues as Clue #1, Clue #2, etc. and print one card for each clue. Note, the cards are double-sided and should be cut in half.
5. Put each clue and each list of fun facts in a separate envelope.
Although I call this a Spring Break Scavenger Hunt, this idea works during holidays, summer break, or anytime you want to do something different and have fun with your child!
Be Inspired,
