What activities to do with a 11- and 12-year-old grandkids?

[jjmb120]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

[Indy-Guy]

Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park | Florida State Parks (https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/ellie-schiller-homosassa-springs-wildlife-state-park)

Orlando Attractions | Things To Do In Orlando - WonderWorks Orlando (https://www.wonderworksonline.com/orlando/)

Showcase of Citrus - Florida's Fresh Air Attraction(R) (https://showcaseofcitrus.com/)

Just a moment... (https://crumpslanding.com/)

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Depends on your budget, how long they're going to be here, and what their interests are.

[Stu from NYC]

First responders rec center

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

First responders rec center

That's great for around 10 minutes.

[Papa_lecki]

I would do a compbination of things. I wouldnt put them in a car and drive them around central florida all week

1) pick a few day trip destinations and let them pick 1 or 2. Beach might be a good idea
2) 10 year olds love the pool,
3) putting courses or pitch and puts in the early evening, when they are slow
4) corn hole, shuffleboard
5) golf cart tour

[jacksonla]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

They would love the Safari Wilderness in Lakeland. You drive your own car, following a guide on an ATV. That guide talks to you about the animals on your car radio. You get to pet/feed camels and more.

[Cupcake57]

Swamp Fever, not far west of Wildwood. Grandpa gets to hold an alligator!

[retiredguy123]

Let them play video games and text on their smart phones (just kidding).

[Stu from NYC]

That's great for around 10 minutes.

They do have a bunch of electronic games to play.

Also a great teaching moment about what first responders do for the rest of us

[PugMom]

a fun day trip is Wild Florida drive-thru safari, and @ the end of the trail is a petting zoo of all kinds of critters. if they enjoy that, you can take them to LunaSea llamas & other farm animals. in your own backyard, you have SumterLanding, the fave sq for the grandkids. have a nice lunch @ restaurant of choice, then go across from the old Sonny's for a mini-playground area. after that, head over to häagen-dazs , then @ 4pm the boat rides begin. if the kids like music, bring them to listen to our bands, & when they get bored of that, you have the movie house nearby. hope the suggestions help, best of luck!!!! :coolsmiley:

[Keefelane66]

We asked our 4 granddaughters what they would like to do for day trips all agreed Disney. Stayed at Pop Century Resort discounted room rates for Florida Residents and discounted passes for grandchildren under 16. Then a day at Kennedy Space Center. Next year Universal.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If your budget allows and you have interest, rent a pontoon for a day-ride around the Lakes. The Dora Canal is one of the prettiest miles of water in the state and there are docks at the edges of swamps where you can tie down and grab some fried gator nuggets all throughout. You can also tie down at downtown Lake Dora, and stretch your legs on the way to lunch at any of around a dozen local restaurants there.

Cost for pontoon rental is around $350 for a full 8-hour cruise, and the boats seat up to 10 people. You have to pilot it yourself and the price includes fuel.

[Shipping up to Boston]

I know a few houses they can egg?! (Just kidding)

I agree with an earlier post....you’re a stones throw away from Disney. An 11/12 year old is the perfect age. Or Universal, SeaWorld etc.

[Eg_cruz]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!
Stay away from Lake Weir it is not a safe water at this time.

Close by is Leesburg Mall has a game area, Go Karts, Pool tables, Bowling and Laser Tag
Ocala and Clermont have a trampoline parks
Beach is always a win

[Sabella]

So happy I moved to an adult community.

[wwwson]

Take them zip lining up in Ocala. I took my granddaughter and it was excellent.

[mikemalloy]

Take them zip lining up in Ocala. I took my granddaughter and it was excellent.
My granddaughter and her friend just did that and had a great time. It’s called The Canyons. Age limit is 10 and 70 lbs.

[TJandDee]

Check out camp villages a program put on by The Villages Parks & Recreation dept for grandkids 3 to 16 years old.

[bruce213]

Skip the big parks go to fun spot. A lot less $ and more time on the rides not wait in lines.

[GoneFishing]

Swamp Fever, not far west of Wildwood. Grandpa gets to hold an alligator!

This is a really good air boat ride. We loved it.

[rmagee]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Silver Springs State Park in Ocala; glass bottom boat tours.

[Rodneysblue]

Have them weed the garden and lawn, clean windows, paint interior rooms. Then reward them with trip to one of the amusement or theme parks for a day. Not joking. This is what I did when I visited my grandparents, and I enjoyed every minute of it with them.

[njpugjr]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!
We took our grand kids to the Gator world park on Rte 44 just outside the Villages. Thay loved it. The got to hold one with it's mouth taped closed. They also got to fed babies, hotdog on a fishing pole.

[Lottoguy]

Sky Zone in Ocala is fun for that age!

[garykoca427@gmail.com]

Gatorland in Orlando is a must. The kids will love it, and it is not too pricey like Disneyland and Universal are.

[Regorp]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Paynes Prairie Park near Gainesville has about 50 Bison which is awesome to see for all ages. Part of our countries history and they are so cool

[Vickim]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

The CAT boats around the lakes then through Dora Canal . Granddaughter loved it the height of her trip last year. Cat boat adventures ! Way fun

[JudyMonin]

Camp Geneva in Fruitland Park had horseback riding. You need to contact them for information.

[Cliff Fr]

Why is Lake Weir unsafe?

[Pairadocs]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Ours that age really liked Gator Land. We've done several of the "biggies", like a stay at Disney and all the Disney parks, but that's a pricey option to do over and over. So, we took them to Gator Land, reasonable entrance with Florida resident option, and they 10 and 12 year old LEARNED and great deal about gators and crocks which they had only previously seen in a zoo briefly.

[Pairadocs]

Silver Springs State Park in Ocala; glass bottom boat tours.

Silver Springs was another very reasonably priced outing ours really enjoyed, along with another day visit to Gator Land visit.

[Topspinmo]

Just let get on their iPhone or iPad, :22yikes: They come now attached to umbilical cord now! Disney for about 15 separate park charges. You can play tennis, pickleball, basketball, platform tennis, billiards, bocce, shuffleboard, baseball when league’s are done, swamp boat ride near, village summer camp, take in movie if can get them to stay off iPhone for hour.:mornincoffee:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

If interested in Camp Villages, here's the PDF brochure:

https://www.districtgov.org/departments/recreation/images/REC470_Camp%20Villages%20Summer%20-%20Catalog%20FINAL_0424%20v2%20lowres.pdf

Make sure you register in time for any specific activity, they don't accept "walk-ins."

[Badger 2006]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Carson Springs Wildlife Sanctuary / Gainesville /352-468-2827 / Carsonspringswildlife.org

[village dreamer]

take them to orlando for some axe throwing , whats the worst that could happen???? and i think they may have some chain saws to.:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

[Eg_cruz]

Why is Lake Weir unsafe?
Because it has a lot of red allergy in it right now, because of lack of rain and high heat

[Stu from NYC]

take them to orlando for some axe throwing , whats the worst that could happen???? and i think they may have some chain saws to.:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

Sounds like fun

[Shipping up to Boston]

take them to orlando for some axe throwing , whats the worst that could happen???? and i think they may have some chain saws to.:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:

There are rage rooms in ORL but like your suggestion, 11or 12 may be an obstacle. International Drive has a ton to do for that demo. Not too far and if you don’t want to drop the kings ransom at a WDW park....it’s not a bad consolation. Pretty decent food for kids down there as well

[Gpsma]

Shooters World would be great too

[Topspinmo]

take them to orlando for some axe throwing , whats the worst that could happen???? and i think they may have some chain saws to.:22yikes::22yikes::22yikes:


Yahoo, chainsaw juggling..:MOJE_whot:

[Robbb]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

Give them a book of matches and tell then to go play upstairs.

[2newyorkers]

There is an escape room in Wildwood. I FLY in Orlando. First Responders has putt golf and a game room. Closer to home, we did a scavenger hunt in Sumter Landing and a night time with flashlights small gift hunt. But mostly they love the pool and golf cart. We took a golf cart ride to Fenney and had a picnic in the back and then walked the trail to see turtles and gators. Stopped on the way back for ice cream at Peachwave (yogurt), Scooples, or Haagen Daas.

[fdpaq0580]

Yahoo, chainsaw juggling..:MOJE_whot:

Stay in the Villages. Take them to any one of our ponds to hunt for baby gators they can take home as pets. 😏🙄😉

[Robbb]

Grandkids are coming to visit (11 and 12 years old). Any suggestions on what to do. TYIA!!!

You could always take them for a ride on an alligator.

[Ecuadog]

Teach them how to play Beer Pong. They'll need that know-how if the intend go to college.

[PugMom]

am curious to know if the op used any of the suggestions, (not the last few, :a20:) and how the kids reacted. thx!

[Packer Fan]

Silver Springs State Park in Ocala; glass bottom boat tours.

Agree but also take them on the Kayak float down the river. You rent kayaks and float 5
Miles downstream where they pick you up. My grandsons want to do that every time they come. Wildlife is amazing

[Packer Fan]

Have them weed the garden and lawn, clean windows, paint interior rooms. Then reward them with trip to one of the amusement or theme parks for a day. Not joking. This is what I did when I visited my grandparents, and I enjoyed every minute of it with them.


My oldest grandson helps me adjust and fix our sprinklers when he is here. He LOVES it. First thing he wants to do when he walks in the door. Kids are awesome.

[PugMom]

he may grow up to be a lawn consultant in his working days! :MOJE_whot:

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

There is an escape room in Wildwood. I FLY in Orlando. First Responders has putt golf and a game room. Closer to home, we did a scavenger hunt in Sumter Landing and a night time with flashlights small gift hunt. But mostly they love the pool and golf cart. We took a golf cart ride to Fenney and had a picnic in the back and then walked the trail to see turtles and gators. Stopped on the way back for ice cream at Peachwave (yogurt), Scooples, or Haagen Daas.

Golf cart rides are great, just be sure to do it responsibly (and by extension, teach the kids responsible driving).

Seat belts, one person per seat, no standing, keep limbs and head inside.

[fdpaq0580]

Golf cart rides are great, just be sure to do it responsibly (and by extension, teach the kids responsible driving).

Seat belts, one person per seat, no standing, keep limbs and head inside.

While it's good advice, you just took all the fun out of it for kids.

[PugMom]

While it's good advice, you just took all the fun out of it for kids.

:1rotfl::1rotfl: love it! :1rotfl:

[Shipping up to Boston]

Strictly as a scared straight educational.....take them to any of the infamous and vaunted roundabouts. No child....or responsible adult should miss the ‘operating a Yamaha with your eyes closed or blindfolded’ interactive.

[jjmb120]

am curious to know if the op used any of the suggestions, (not the last few, :a20:) and how the kids reacted. thx!

We have done a lot of the good suggestions. Grandkids are enjoying!!!

[PugMom]

excellent! am so glad they're having a good time with you. they will remember this for years to come :beer3: