The Best Gifts for Little Travelers

The 24 crayons in this pack work like mechanical pencils (you twist them to expose the color), which means they’ll never need to be sharpened and will all vacation long—barring any rolling-under-the-seat mishaps.

Lego’s “Architecture” series lets little ones construct famous landmarks and skylines like the Statue of Liberty, the Great Wall of China, and London (complete with Big Ben and Tower Bridge). 

With 10 backgrounds and hundreds of reusable stickers, kids can create approximately a billion different situations, from the realistic (a whale swimming in the sea) to the absurd (a dino hitching a ride on an airplane).

At home, have your kids master the shape, position, and nickname for all 50 states in the union. We guarantee you’ll learn something, too.

Looking out the window for hours on end is much less tedious when you’re competing against a sibling to see who’s the first to find a red car or a license plate starting with Y.

By day, kids can spin this globe and fantasize about life far, far away. At night, LED displays nearly 90 constellations, encouraging even further imagining.

Up your child’s Play-Doh game with this sparkly edition of the classic arts and crafts classic. Not only does this Play-Doh shimmer and shine, but it comes with special tools for extra-fancy creations.

Road trips can’t be boring when you’re channeling James Corden and his parade of celebrity passengers with this Bluetooth-equipped gold microphone.

What iPhone? This handheld football game’s simple interface is meant to evoke an earlier era of gaming, but kids will still get all the joy of scoring.

This retro-looking camera lets kids point, shoot, and print wallet-sized photos for an instant souvenir.

Whether your kid is heading to a weekend with the grandparents or a family trip to the Grand Canyon, this unicorn suitcase will stash several days’ of outfits, as well as books, snacks, and toys.

If you’re not sure how many more times you can hear a certain Disney ballad, it’s headphones to the rescue. This sky blue model by JBL also limits how loud your kids can crank things up.

This HD tablet lets you keep an eye on what your kids are streaming. The quality’s so good that when they’re done, you’ll want to borrow it to binge-watch grown-up stuff. 

Introducing the ultimate multitasker for kids. This suitcase is so much more than a travel bag for packed items: it works as a foot stool, a bed for airplane seats, and a mode of transport for tired legs. Bonus: it comes with stickers!

Help your little one see the world with these specially designed binoculars. No focusing required, perfect for small hands. 

Featuring planes, trains, and much, much more, this book will help any child see the truth behind the cliché: it really isn’t about the destination, but the journey instead.

Bright and colorful, this journal will help children chronicle their adventures on the road with imaginative prompts and plenty of space. 

Dr. Seuss’ whimsical classic has a great message about the benefits of being open to new experiences. 

There’s nothing like fun facts and gorgeous photos to drum up excitement about exploring. Lonely Planet Kids’ beloved travel book, organized by continents, takes young minds all over the world without leaving their room.

If you’re headed to sunny shores, you’ll want to invest in a rashguard. This one offers major sun protection—UPF 50 .  

This star-patterned swimsuit zips up for stress-free maneuvering over a diaper or pull-up.

The must-have rain boot for adults, shrunk down for maximum adorability (and puddle-splashing capabilities).

A durable in-between jacket with tons of pockets for storing shells, buttons, rocks, pine cones, candy, and anything else your adventurer acquires along the way.

Think of these sandals as water shoes that can be worn to the snack bar, the movies, or Europe. Their versatility, comfort, and durability means that the only reason you’ll get replacements is because your kid outgrew them and needs a new pair. 

Velcro keeps these shoes firmly anchored to even the fastest feet. And, through its One for One program, Toms donates a pair of shoes to a kid in need for every pair purchased. 

Breathable and adjustable, this hat can go where your child goes. Keeping this hat (or any hat, for that matter) on his head is an entirely separate matter.

They dry fast, they thwart UV rays, and they convert from pants into shorts. Columbia’s outdoor pants are genius for young hikers and campers.

These boots are not only super comfy, super adorable, and free of troublesome laces and straps, but they’re also essentially weather-proof, so tiny toes will stay toasty.