National Geographic | THE COMPASS

National Geographic

THE COMPASS

Got family travel plans this summer? Try out ideas for getting kids off their screens on long trips. We’ve also got 25 tips for including nature in your vacation plans—no matter where you go. Then, find out the truth about a secret ingredient rumored to be lurking in your ice cream.

Three children in a car

PHOTOGRAPH BY LWA/ DANN TARDIF/ GETTY IMAGES

TAKE A TECH BREAK

Shift the kids’ focus away from the device to what’s going on IRL. A bit of advanced planning can ensure that no one complains about the downtime.

A child flies a kite in the air with the parent and city in the background.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CLOVER NO. 7 PHOTOGRAPHY/ GETTY IMAGES

NURTURE THAT NATURE

One of our tips for getting outside on a family vacation is to fly kites together. The kids get it airborne while older folks keep the kite away from trees.

FIND MORE IDEAS

Parent’s Escape: Learn the traditional distilling techniques for mezcal, sometimes called tequila’s cousin.

BOREDOM BUSTERS

A family taking a selfie on the beach

PHOTOGRAPH BY ERIKA LARSEN

CAPTURE THE MOMENT

No more lame vacation shots of your gang. A Nat Geo photographer shares her tips for perfecting the family selfie.

A giant bear sculpture facing an building window.

PHOTOGRAPH BY ANDREYKR, DREAMSTIME

ART, BUT SUPERSIZE IT

Check out the larger-than-life sites with the kids in this photo gallery of gigantic sculptures around the world.

ADVERTISEMENT FOR TENNESSEE TOURISM

Tennessee Tourism

Tennessee: Home of Family Fun

To discover where kids have the most fun in Tennessee, we went straight to the source. Using a device called the laugh tracker, we measured kids’ giggles and heartbeats at popular destinations to create the best travel advice possible for parents.

FOLLOW THE LAUGHS

GOOD READS

Protect your family from ticks. Learn what to look for and how to deal if you spot one.

Sorry, kids. Experts reveal the truth about the five-second rule.

What does the whale say? Scientists are getting closer to decoding their secret language.

Can scientists ‘solve’ stress? They’re trying.

Children likely know the big bad wolf won’t eat grandma. But how about these other wolf myths?

Impress the kids! With these multi-purpose tools, you can fix anything.

FROM THE CURRENT ISSUE

NGK Magazine Cover

In our May/June issue, younger kids can meet octopuses and wild cats called ocelots, discover fun facts about the planet Mercury, and play games that teach skills like identifying and counting.

Not a subscriber? Subscribe to Nat Geo Little Kids magazine for just $34 a year (6 issues).

INSPIRE KIDS TO EXPLORE THEIR WORLD WITH THESE FUN PRODUCTS

Check out the latest product reviews and recommendations
from Nat Geo’s editorial team.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

Weird But True! World 2025

This fact-filled book features wild wonders and amazing photos from around the globe.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF SOLO STOVE

Solo Stove Titan

Toast marshmallows, hot dogs, and more on this lightweight camping stove.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

All About the National Parks Flash Cards

Kids will be national park experts after playing with these flash cards.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZON

Midwest Homes pet carrier

Road-tripping with the family pets? Keep them comfortable and safe in this roomy carrier.

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Beaver on a white background.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JOEL SARTORE, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, PHOTO ARK

Are there beaver (pictured above) secretions in your family’s vanilla ice cream?

A. For sure
B. Probably not
C. It depends on the brand

CLICK HERE FOR THE ANSWER

WHAT WILL WE EXPLORE NEXT?

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