Adventures for Big Kids (Ages 6-9)

We pulled these 46 big-kid adventures out of our full catalog of kid-friendly spots in Hawaii, New York, Texas and Oklahoma. Every listing has the ages it suits, what it costs, how long to budget, parking notes, and what to pack.

46 adventures found

Captain Cook Monument Snorkel Trail

Captain Cook, HI

Snorkeling
Ages 8–18+ Free

Steep hike down to world-class snorkeling in a marine sanctuary with dolphins. Free. Better for ages …

Halawa Valley Cultural Hike

Halawa, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Guided cultural hike through an ancient valley to a 250-foot double waterfall. Paid entry. Better …

Kalalau Trail (First 2 Miles to Hanakapi ai Beach)

Hanalei, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

Dramatic cliff-hugging trail to a wild Na Pali Coast beach. Paid entry. Better for ages 8 and up. A …

Kilauea Iki Trail

Hawaii National Park, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Walk across the floor of a volcanic crater through hardened lava in Volcanoes National Park. Paid …

Pololu Valley Trail

Hawi, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Steep trail to a remote black sand beach in a dramatic cliff-lined valley. Free. Better for ages 6 …

Pacific Tsunami Museum

Hilo, HI

Museum
Ages 7–18+ Paid

Hilo Bayfront museum on the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis with survivor accounts, photographs and a wave …

Koko Crater Railway Trail

Honolulu, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

1,048-step staircase up a volcanic crater with panoramic coastal views. Free. Better for ages 8 and …

Maunawili Falls Trail

Kailua, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Jungle hike to a swimmable waterfall pool through lush windward forest. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Electric Beach (Kahe Point)

Kapolei, HI

Swimming
Ages 7–18+ Free

Unique snorkeling with dolphins, turtles, and rays in warm power plant outflow. Free. Better for …

Secret Beach (Kauapea)

Kilauea, HI

Nature
Ages 6–18+ Free

Stunning hidden beach accessed by a jungle trail on Kauai north shore. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area

Kula, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Cool mountain forest of redwoods and pines on Haleakala that feels like the Pacific Northwest. Free. …

Sliding Sands Trail (Haleakala)

Kula, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

Hike into a volcanic crater through a Mars-like landscape of cinder cones. Paid entry. Better for …

South Point Green Sand Beach (Papakolea)

Naalehu, HI

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike to one of only four green sand beaches in the world at the US southernmost point. Free. Better …

Queen's Bath

Princeville, HI

Hiking
Ages 10–18+ Free

Dramatic ocean-filled lava pool for experienced families in calm conditions only. Free. Better for …

Ahihi-Kina'u Natural Area Reserve

Wailea, HI

Swimming
Ages 6–18+ Free

Snorkel over lava reef in a protected marine reserve with abundant sea life. Free. Better for ages 6 …

Nakalele Blowhole

Wailuku, HI

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Natural ocean blowhole shooting water 100 feet high on a dramatic lava coast. Free. Better for ages …

Blue Mountain Trail

Blue Mountain Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Popular fire tower hike with panoramic views over Blue Mountain Lake. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Storm King State Park

Cornwall-on-Hudson, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Rugged Highland trails with dramatic Hudson River panoramas. Free. Better for ages 7 and up. A …

Sleeping Beauty Mountain

Fort Ann, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Moderate summit hike with one of the best Lake George panoramic views. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Zoar Valley Multiple Use Area

Gowanda, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Wild 600-foot gorge with old-growth forest and deep swimming holes. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. …

Snowy Mountain Trail

Indian Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Challenging hike to the tallest peak in the southern Adirondacks with fire tower summit. Free. …

Indian Head and Rainbow Falls Trail

Keene Valley, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Epic hike past a 150-foot waterfall to the iconic Ausable Lakes cliff-top view. Free. Better for …

Poke-O-Moonshine Fire Tower Trail

Keeseville, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Short steep hike to a fire tower with views of Lake Champlain and the High Peaks. Free. Better for …

Forked Lake Campground

Long Lake, NY

Camping
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Mostly paddle-in shoreline campsites on a quiet Adirondack lake, a real step up from car camping for …

Niagara Gorge Trail

Niagara Falls, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike the bottom of Niagara Gorge with boulder scrambles and whirlpool rapids. Free. Better for ages …

Buck Mountain Trail

Pilot Knob, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Challenging summit hike with sweeping Lake George views from 2,334 feet. Free. Better for ages 7 and …

Ampersand Mountain

Saranac Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Challenging hike to a bald summit with 360-degree Adirondack panorama. Free. Better for ages 8 and …

Pharaoh Lake Wilderness

Schroon Lake, NY

Hiking
Ages 7–18+ Free

Pristine wilderness lake with backcountry camping far from the crowds. Free. Better for ages 7 and …

Giant Ledge Trail

Shandaken, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Popular hike to dramatic cliff-top viewpoints in the Catskill Mountains. Free. Better for ages 6 and …

Slide Mountain Trail

Shandaken, NY

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Free

Hike the highest peak in the Catskills at 4,180 feet. Free. Better for ages 8 and up. Easily a full …

Overlook Mountain Trail

Woodstock, NY

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Fire tower hike past ruins of an old mountain hotel near Woodstock. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. …

Broken Bow Lake Paddleboarding

Broken Bow, OK

Paddleboarding
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Stand-up paddleboard rentals and lessons on crystal-clear Broken Bow Lake. Paid entry. Better for …

David Boren Hiking Trail

Broken Bow, OK

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Free

Premier 12-mile trail system with lake views and flexible routes in Beavers Bend State Park. Free. …

Canyon Lake Gorge

Canyon Lake, TX

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Guided tours through a limestone gorge with dinosaur tracks and fossils. Paid entry. Better for ages …

Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site

Comstock, TX

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

4,000-year-old rock art and dramatic canyon views on the Rio Grande. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 …

Reimers Ranch Park

Dripping Springs, TX

Rock-Climbing
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Premier Central Texas rock climbing with 18 miles of trails. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A …

Franklin Mountains State Park

El Paso, TX

Hiking
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Largest urban park in the US with aerial tramway and desert hiking. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 …

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site

El Paso, TX

Rock-Climbing
Ages 6–18+ Paid

World-class bouldering with ancient pictographs in El Paso. Paid entry. Better for ages 6 and up. A …

Northshore Trail

Flower Mound, TX

Mountain-Biking
Ages 6–18+ Free

26 miles of lakeside singletrack mountain biking trails. Free. Better for ages 6 and up. A half-day …

Big Bend Ranch State Park

Presidio, TX

Hiking
Ages 8–18+ Paid

300,000-acre desert wilderness along the Rio Grande for experienced families. Paid entry. Better for …

Jacob's Well Natural Area

Wimberley, TX

Swimming
Ages 6–18+ Paid

Crystal-clear artesian spring swimming hole in Wimberley TX - swimming requires advance online …