First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to any readers here in the US (or anywhere in the world, wherever you’re celebrating!). And even if you don’t celebrate this holiday, I’m still grateful for you! I’ve enjoyed this blogging journey so far, and can’t wait to see where we go next. But for now, with the holidays approaching, it’s time to go ahead and share another wish list.
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As a young girl, I spent many hours riding in the backseats of my grandparents’ cars, visiting Florida state parks, traveling up the East Coast, driving Route 1 in California, and winding through the Blue Ridge mountains. Michael and I may not have children (though I do have five young siblings, all ages 9-14), but I do know a lot about what it’s like to travel as a child. Here are some gift ideas for your little wanderer.
TOP TRAVEL GIFTS FOR KIDS AND TEENS FOR 2017
A Darling Sweatshirt
This sweatshirt* is super stylish and will help keep your little lady warm on a long flight. The pockets are handy for storing all the little knick-knacks she’ll pick up along the way.
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Travel Activity Bundle
I wish this Travel Bundle Kit* was around when I was a kid! Not only is there a journal to record their thoughts, but there are other activities included, like tangrams. As a bonus, there are scratch-off cards to help mom and dad give incentives when the kids are getting antsy!
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Cool Backpack
Another Etsy find! This vegan leather backpack looks light and stylish – perfect for helping your young adventurer blend in with their surroundings! Use the zipper pocket on the back side to help keep items secure. I have a feeling this backpack will continue to get good use even after you’ve returned home.
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A Neat Book
I spent hours poring over Lonely Planet’s The Travel Book, so I was pleased to see they offer a condensed version as part of their Lonely Planet Kids series! This book provides information about every single country on Earth, which makes it perfect for learning about your next destination or just inspiring a future world traveler.
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A Mini Suitcase
One of the best things about kids is how cute all of their miniature-sized things are! The Kids’ Carry-On* from Away is no exception. It’s just as durable as the full-size suitcases but is made for smaller human beings. You can read my initial review of my Away suitcase here (updated here).
The cost is a little tough to swallow, but I know I went through numerous suitcases as a kid (for whatever reason, I always tried to sit in/on them), and I’m sure a sturdy suitcase like this would have saved my parents money in the long run. (Save even more – $20 – by using my referral link here!).
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A Clever Tracker
Kids aren’t necessarily known for their ability to hang on to their possessions. Having a few Tiles on hand to track their things can make their traveling experience much smoother. The tile trackers emit a noise once a button is pushed in the mobile app – perfect for those, “but I just had it!” moments in the airport. If you have a tough time convincing them that this is a gift for them, not for you, just let them hit the button on the tile a few times (it’ll cause your phone to make a sound).
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A Sweet Pillow
How cute is this neck pillow/stuffed animal* combination? Help convince your little guy or gal to leave their most beloved plushy at home on your next trip (because who knows how they’d ever get to sleep again if they lost it!) by presenting them with one of these morphing mammals.
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Nice Shades
One of the few style constants in each of the cities I’ve visited is these sunglasses: Ray-Ban’s Wayfarers. They’re classically cool, and I recently discovered that the brand actually manufactures a pair sized for children ages 8-12. Cool-looking and handy, as sunglasses are a great way to help filter light when adjusting to a new timezone!
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Bingo!
I purchased my brothers and sisters these License Plate Bingo games for Christmas last year, and they love them! As they spot cars on the road with license plates from different US states, they just slide the little red window over. The first one to get five in a row wins!
*this item is no longer available, and a similar product is linked
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What are your little ones’ favorite things to do while traveling?
Still looking for more inspiration? Check out other gift guides for kids and teens: 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2019 | 2018
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