The most-saved kids’ activity in every state, according to Yelp—and what it says about how we’re parenting right now
You’ve heard the advice: Let your kids be bored. Great in theory. Less great on day three of self-directed play when someone’s drawn on the couch and you know summer break is just around the corner.
Yelp just released its Most Saved Kids’ Activity in Every State list, and it’s basically a crowdsourced cheat sheet from millions of parents who’ve been exactly where you are—staring down a long afternoon with no plan and a kid who just said “I’m bored” for the fourteenth time.
The list spans all 50 states and DC, pulling from the kids’ activities that parents are actually bookmarking on Yelp—not just searching in a panic, but saving for later. There’s children’s museums, trampoline parks, ropes courses, play cafes, aquariums, and everything in between. (You can browse the full list and save your favorites directly in the Yelp app.)
What parents are really looking for
The data reveals some interesting patterns about what families want right now and, not surprisingly, a lot of it tracks with what we already know about this generation of parents.
Indoor play spaces saw a jaw-dropping 61,420% increase in Yelp searches, along with a 27% jump in play cafe searches. Searches for children’s art classes rose 34%, and kids’ arts and crafts climbed 32%. Parents are clearly building a rotation of reliable, weather-proof, screen-free options that they want bookmarked and ready to go.
“One area I expect to keep growing is STEAM-focused play,” says Tara Lewis, Yelp’s VP of Consumer Expansion and Trend Expert. “Parents are looking for screen-time alternatives that still feel engaging. These are the kinds of places where kids don’t even realize they’re learning, and parents get to feel great about how they spent the afternoon.”
Cold weather states want adventure, not just containment
One standout finding? Parents in colder climates aren’t just looking for somewhere warm to park the kids—they want action. (I’ll say, however as a Vermonter who has raised two kids in arctic temps for a good portion of their lives, this does not surprise me in the least. We’ve resorted to foot races in a half empty mall or sneaking into hotel pools more than once over the years.)
“In colder states, families do tend to save indoor options as you may expect, but many of those favorites are high-energy and adventurous, not just quiet, contained play,” Lewis says. Think ropes courses in Connecticut, warrior gyms in Maine, and ninja obstacle courses in Minnesota. Meanwhile, Southern and Mid-Atlantic families gravitated toward nature and animal-centered experiences like adventure zoos and aquariums.
The summer hack you didn’t know you needed
If you’re already mentally planning your summer lineup (or dreading it—no judgment), Lewis has one suggestion most families overlook: play cafes.
“Most families eventually need a break from the sun and the constant sunscreen-and-snack routine,” she says. “Play cafes are a great in-between option: kids get a safe, indoor play space to explore, and parents can sit nearby with a coffee.” Her advice? Search for all-weather spots on Yelp now and save them to a collection so you’ve got an air-conditioned backup plan ready when you need it.
The bottom line
Whether you’re surviving a rainy Tuesday, road-tripping to a new state, or just trying to find something (ANYTHING) that doesn’t involve a screen, Yelp’s list is worth bookmarking. Because the best parenting hack isn’t having all the answers. It’s having a list of good-enough plans saved in your phone for when the boredom hits.
Browse the full state-by-state list on Yelp and start saving your favorites.
source https://www.mother.ly/entertainment/yelp-most-saved-kids-activities/
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