I wish I had a suggestion for this thread, but I am in a similar situation ( single mom & 14 yrold daughter) and ANY suggestions that people post to your delima, I would greatly appreciate it as well!

Good luck to us both lol

Roadtip up to visitsedona.com Mogollon Rim

GC Las Vegas Death Valley lonepinechamber.org(Whitney Portal)

Yosemite.com Ahwanee Lodge or Curry Cabins

carmelcalifornia.com Big Sur down to LA/Anaheim and back.

lasightseeing.net

mapquest.com clasic directions distances cheap fun

How about a cruise? Maybe to Alaska? Keep you cool, entertained and give you all breathing space.

Or a dude ranch maybe?

Not quite a cabin in the forest, but some very nice lodging near Glacier NP in Columbia Falls Montana. The closest airport is Kalispell. Stayed there with DW for our 30th anniversary.
Some nice shops and restaurants in Whitefish. All the hiking you want to do in the high country of Glacier NP.
http://www.meadowlake.com/

We were in the same boat, looking for a retreat for our family with two teenagers. Having my wife's family in Northern Michigan to visit last July for a wedding we decided to turn the time spent there into a summer vacation as well. I think you will find doing further research <a href"http://www.boyne.com/Summer/index.html">Boyne Mountain Resort </a> is quite a unique place. We have decided to make it a yearly event and have even talked about purchasing a summer home in the area because we enjoyed ourselves so.

I think hetismij's suggestion for a cruise was a good. Florida has several cruise lines with many destinations available. I've been on at least ten cruises in my life and have loved every one of them.

for mom: all meals are included and outdoor adventure packages available.

for dad: there is a plethora of food served all day, and if yours is a carribean destination, there'll be plenty of fresh and delicious seafood.

for teen: there are lots of stores on the ships as well as at the cruise destinations. and every ship i've been on has a pool with a hot tub on either side of it.

if a cruise is not what you're looking for, orlando, florida is a very good place to accomodate most of your needs (with a compromise, of course). Orlando has plenty of theme parks with adventurous rides, water parks, plenty of seafood restaurants and buffets, luxurious accomodations, and plenty of malls and shoppin oppertunities.

hope this has given you some ideas.