10 Awesome Airbnb Online Experiences for Families

You and your kids can learn a new skill, make a new recipe, and more with Airbnb’s Online Experiences.

By Katelin Walling May 19, 2020

Airbnb isn’t just for renting places to stay when you’re on vacation anymore. Now you can learn from experts, hobbyists, athletes, chefs, and more in Airbnb’s Online Experiences. So if you’ve already livestreamed zoos and aquariums, taken virtual museum tours, listened to this week’s episodes of the best podcasts for kids, watched a few documentaries, and made some crafts, why not learn a new skill with your kids?

Through Airbnb’s Online Experiences you can learn magic tricks, learn how to make cheese, visit an animal sanctuary, and more—all from the comfort and safety of your home! Bonus: You can participate in experiences with hosts from around the world, so your kids can be exposed to other cultures too!

Here are the coolest Airbnb Online Experiences you can participate in today.

Family Storytime with Rescue Kitties
Length of class: 1 hour
Cost: $10 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 2-9
Host’s country: United States
The founders of Brooklyn Cat Café have figured out a way to bring the rescue cats to your home (without all the cat hair)! First, you’ll hear a story and then you’ll make a related craft using materials you likely already have at home (a list of materials will be included in your confirmation email). Bonus: This is a social impact experience, and 100 percent of what you pay will go to the cat café, the headquarters of Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition, which works to reduce homeless animal populations through adoption, education, trap-neuter-return, and outreach.

Secrets of Magic
Length of class: 1½ hours
Cost: $19 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 7 and older
Host’s country: United Kingdom
Martin, who has been performing magic since the age of 12, will perform tricks and tell “heartfelt & inspiring stories of truly magical moments that have happened while entertaining children in hospital, which helped me discover what the true secret of magic really is,” Martin says. Then, using a deck of cards, a coin, and a roll of toilet paper, Martin will teach you the ins-and-outs of a few magic tricks you can perform on your own.

Learn to Craft a Pop-Out Book
Length of class: 1½ hours
Cost: $18 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 10 and older
Host’s country: United States
You’ll learn how easy it is to create pop-out books using materials you already have around the house! Kit, the host of the experience, has been teaching art and bookmaking for more than 20 years in the San Francisco Bay area.

Dance like a K-pop star for Beginners
Length of class: 1 hour
Cost: $21 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 5 and older
Host’s country: Korea
Is your kid obsessed with BTS or another K-pop group? Well, now they can learn to dance like their favorite group! Brian, who is a self-proclaimed K-pop dance lover, will teach you the moves to popular K-pop songs. This experience is taught in both Korean and English.

Remote Rescue Goats
Length of class: 1 hour
Cost: $12 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: All
Host’s country: United States
Take a virtual trip to an animal sanctuary in the Catskills Mountains of New York where you’ll meet the sanctuary’s goats, learn their background, and hear their rescue stories. “Be prepared for lots of goofy fun facts and jokes about goats—we are full of them!” says host Megan.

Origami and the Culture of Japan
Length of class: 1½ hours
Cost: $9 per person
Class size: 3 maximum
Recommended ages: 12 and older
Host’s country: Japan
Host Manami, who has lived in Tokyo her whole life, will teach the traditional folded paper craft and discuss the culture and traditions behind origami. “I am also looking forward to interacting with you through answering your questions, exchanging cultural differences and similarities, and sharing the joy of creating things together,” she says. This experience can be hosted in Japanese or English.

Family Baking Experience
Length of class: 1 hour
Cost: $20 per household
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 2-7 with a parent
Host’s country: United States
In this experience, Natalie will walk you and your young child through baking cookies from scratch! Natalie will talk through the ingredients and the recipe, and answer questions throughout the process. Then, after the cookies come out of the oven, you can all enjoy them together!

Meet a Real Life Shark Scientist
Length of class: 1½ hours
Cost: $17 per person
Class size: 8 maximum
Recommended ages: 7 and older
Host’s country: South Africa
Through a selection of images and videos, you'll virtually dive into the clear waters of a Mozambican marine reserve with Justin, a marine biologist, to learn about the large fish and sharks that live there. And you can get all of your sharky questions answered! Bonus: This is a social impact experience, so 100 percent of what you pay for this experience goes to The RockHopper Fund, created to ensure that the African Shark Conservation Lab can continue its work.

Virtual Visit to an Animal Sanctuary
Length of class: 1 hour
Cost: $25 per person
Class size: 10 maximum
Recommended ages: 2 and older
Host’s country: United States
Join the caretakers at Charlie’s Acres, a 32-acre sanctuary in the heart of California's wine country, and meet a variety of rescue animals! You can “help” feed cows, rub pig bellies, chill with turkeys, and take a walk with Johnny, a spunky little goat who uses a wheelchair. Bonus: This is a social impact experience, so 100 percent of what you pay goes toward the care of the rescue animals.

Family Affair Cook Pasta with Silvia
Length of class: 1½ hours
Cost: $12 per person
Class size: 4 maximum
Recommended ages: 6 and older
Host’s country: Italy
Have you ever wanted to learn how to make pasta from scratch? Chef Silvia, who teaches adults and kids at Gambero Rosso Cooking School and at Eataly in Rome, will share her pasta-making knowledge with you!