Must-Have Activity Books To Pack for Vacation

by Jennifer Garry

Background credit: Yevgenij_D/Shutterstock

If there’s anything that parenting has taught me, it’s to prepare for the in-between moments when everything can quickly turn disastrous. You know the ones. They’re the times when you’re traveling from point A to point B (note: it doesn’t matter if this takes minutes or hours), when you’re waiting in a long line, or when you’re sitting in a crowded restaurant. Unfortunately, these are the times it’s easy to forget to plan for — and when all hell will inevitably break loose.

There are only so many snacks you can pass to the back seat or games of “I Spy” you can play in your hotel room in the wee hours of the morning. So quiet activities that keep your kids busy and spark their imaginations become the unlikely heroes of every vacation.

These travel-worthy activity books have something for everyone: coloring, stickers, games, and more.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in 2021 and updated in 2023.