01
Offer two or three choices
“Climbing, caves or chips by the sea?” is easier to answer than “What do you want to do?”. Choice gives teenagers some control without handing them a blank planning document.
Exeter + Devon · roughly ages 11–16
Less “I’m bored.” More “that was actually decent.”
A practical activity finder for parents and young teenagers — from caves and climbing to calm walks, museums, beaches and low-cost mini-adventures.
46researched local ideas
14free or low-cost picks
Indoor + outdoorbecause Devon has weather
No accountfavourites stay on this device
The activity finder
What could work today?
Filter by the barriers that actually matter: weather, budget, travel and whether everyone has the energy for “an experience”.
46 matching ideas. Showing the first 9. Times, prices and availability can change, so use the official link before setting off.
No filters applied.
Decision fatigue mode
Let the page choose.
It will pick from your current filters. Parents retain the legal right to reject “a three-hour hike in sideways rain”.
No choice yet
Set any filters you care about, then press the button.
A low-pressure parent guide
The outing is the setting, not the test.
A good day does not require constant conversation, matching enthusiasm or a perfectly curated memory. Often the win is simply shared time with enough room for a chat to happen naturally.
This guidance reflects advice from the NHS, YoungMinds and NSPCC. It is general parenting information, not medical advice.
02
Talk side-by-side
Walking, driving, cycling or doing a task together can make conversation feel less like a formal interview. Do not force a big chat; leave enough quiet for one to emerge.
03
Let them own one decision
They choose the playlist, route, lunch stop, photo challenge or final activity. A small piece of genuine control can change the tone of the whole trip.
04
Build in an exit route
Agree how long you will try something and what happens if it becomes too busy, tiring or overwhelming. Predictability is useful for everyone and especially helpful for sensory or anxiety needs.
05
Do not demand visible gratitude
A teenager can enjoy a day while looking impressively neutral. Judge success by whether you shared time safely — not by whether they performed delight for the family newsletter.
06
Check before solving
When a conversation starts, ask whether they want ideas, practical help or simply to be heard. Curiosity and non-judgement make it easier for teenagers to explain their choices.
Free-ish mini adventures
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Not every memory needs an admission fee.
These work well as two-hour plans, backup plans or ways to make a familiar place feel less familiar. Set the budget before leaving so “free-ish” does not quietly become “why did we buy a decorative sword?”.
Exeter photo mission
Draw five prompts from the photo generator below, choose a neighbourhood or the Quay, then compare results over a drink.
Teen-planned train stop
Give them a budget and let them choose a reachable station such as Topsham, Exmouth or Dawlish. Their job: one thing to see and one place to eat.
Geocache or landmark hunt
Use a geocaching app or create your own route around a park, Dartmoor village or the Quay. The shared objective removes pressure to “just go for a walk”.
Skills swap
Your teenager teaches you a trick, game, edit or playlist skill; you teach them something practical in return. Finish at a local park, court or café.
Sunset and hot chocolate
Pick a safe viewpoint, beach or riverside spot, take blankets and make the timing the activity. Check weather, tides and parking first.
£5 charity-shop challenge
Choose a theme — funniest mug, best mystery object or outfit for a fictional character. Set firm rules about what is actually coming home.
One-hour short-film challenge
Write, film and edit a 30–60 second trailer using only a phone. Pick a genre, three required props and a dramatic Devon location.
£10 picnic build-off
Split the budget, choose one savoury item, one sweet item and one wildcard each, then take the result to a park, beach or the Quay.
City-wall detective route
Follow Exeter’s free City Wall Trail and award points for the oldest detail, best hidden viewpoint and most dramatic historical fact.
Beach clean + reward
Take gloves and a safe litter bag, clean a short stretch together, then finish with chips or a drink. Avoid sharp or hazardous items.
Park mini-olympics
Choose five deliberately silly events: longest throw, trick-shot attempt, fastest lap, balance challenge and a parent-versus-teen final.
Library culture swap
Each person chooses one graphic novel, film, album, game or book for the other to try. Add a café review meeting a week later.
Free farm-trail taste test
Walk Greendale’s free animal trail, then give each person a small fixed budget to find the most unusual local snack or drink in the farm shop.
Coastal-train photo relay
Take the train to Dawlish Warren or Exmouth. Each person gets one stop to choose a photo subject, a short walk and a snack — no committee meeting required.
A phone-camera side quest
Turn any trip into a photo mission.
Choose five prompts rather than demanding endless posed family photographs. The point is noticing, experimenting and comparing interpretations — not producing a flawless Instagram campaign before lunch.
Random mission
Your five prompts
One set for both of you, or each generate a different set and swap halfway through.
Photograph people only with permission. Be considerate around homes, schools and private property, and keep phones safely away on roads, cliffs and near water.