AI for Hobbies, Travel, and Fun

The Fun Part

🔄 Quick Recall: In the previous lesson, you learned to protect yourself from AI scams — the most important safety skill. Now comes the reward: using AI for the things you actually enjoy. Travel, food, hobbies, games, and creative activities all get easier and more fun with AI assistance.

AI isn’t just for serious tasks. It’s a remarkably good companion for everyday pleasures.

Travel Planning

Creating Your Perfect Trip

Plan a [length] trip to [destination] for [who's going].
We enjoy: [interests — history, food, nature, art, relaxation]
Physical considerations: [any mobility notes, walking limits]
Budget: [rough budget or "moderate"]
Travel method: [driving, flying]
Time of year: [when you're going]

Include: restaurant suggestions, daily schedule with rest time,
and practical tips specific to the destination.

AI creates a day-by-day itinerary you can print and take with you. Ask follow-up questions: “What should I pack?” “What’s the weather like in October?” “Are there any senior discounts?”

Packing Lists

Create a packing list for a 5-day trip to [destination]
in [month]. I'm a [man/woman] in my [age]s.
The weather will be [expected conditions].
I'll need [formal dinner clothes / casual only / both].
Include medications and travel documents.

✅ Quick Check: Why is AI especially useful for travel planning compared to searching the internet? Because internet searches give you hundreds of results you have to sort through yourself. AI gives you one personalized plan based on YOUR specific needs, preferences, and limitations. Instead of reading 20 “Top 10 Things to Do in Savannah” articles, you get one custom itinerary designed for how you actually travel.

Recipes and Cooking

Cook What You Have

What can I make with: [list what's in your fridge]
Dietary needs: [low sodium, diabetic-friendly, soft foods, etc.]
Serving size: [1 person, 2 people, etc.]
Difficulty: simple — I don't want to learn a new technique
Time: under [X] minutes

Meal Planning

Create a week of simple dinners for one person.
I want variety but nothing complicated.
I'm watching my [dietary concern].
I don't like [any dislikes].
Include a grocery list for everything I'll need.

Adapting Family Recipes

My mother's pie recipe calls for [ingredients].
I need to make it without [allergen or dietary restriction].
What can I substitute? Will it taste the same?

Brain Games and Mental Stimulation

AI as Your Game Partner

Try these with ChatGPT:

Trivia: “Give me 10 trivia questions about American history. Wait for my answer before telling me if I’m right.”

Word games: “Let’s play a word association game. You say a word, I say the first word that comes to mind, and we keep going.”

20 Questions: “Think of a famous person. I’ll ask yes-or-no questions to figure out who it is.”

Riddles: “Give me a riddle. Not too easy, not too hard.”

Learning something new: “Teach me one interesting fact about ancient Rome. Then tell me another. I’ll say ‘more’ when I want the next one.”

Daily Brain Routine

Set up a morning routine with AI:

Ask for one new word and its meaning
Request a trivia question about yesterday’s topic
Ask for a fun fact you probably don’t know
Do one brain puzzle or riddle

This takes 5-10 minutes and starts your day with mental engagement.

Creative Activities

Writing and Storytelling

Help me write a short story about [topic].
I'll give you the ideas and you help me put them into words.
Start with: [your opening idea]

You can also:

Write poetry together
Create a family history narrative from your memories
Write letters to future grandchildren about your life experiences

Exploring New Hobbies

I'm retired and looking for a new hobby.
I enjoy: [current interests]
Physical limitations: [any]
Budget: [free / low cost / willing to invest]
I prefer: [indoor / outdoor / both]
Social preference: [solo / group / both]

Suggest 5 hobbies with a brief explanation of each
and how to get started.

✅ Quick Check: Why is AI a particularly good tool for exploring new hobbies? Because it can suggest options based on your specific interests, physical abilities, and budget — then give you step-by-step instructions to get started with any of them. A friend might suggest jogging (not suitable for bad knees). AI, when told about your situation, suggests chair yoga, birdwatching, or watercolor painting — activities matched to what you can actually enjoy.

Key Takeaways

AI creates personalized travel itineraries in minutes, tailored to your mobility, interests, and budget
“Cook what you have” is one of AI’s most practical everyday uses — tell it what’s in your fridge and your dietary needs
AI adapts as a brain exercise partner — adjusting difficulty in real time, never getting impatient, always available
Creative activities (writing stories, exploring hobbies) become more accessible when AI helps you find the words or discover new interests
Start with one fun AI activity and make it part of your daily routine

Up Next: You’ll put everything together into your personal AI toolkit — the specific tools and daily habits that make AI a natural, helpful part of your everyday life.