Help? Where to go with an 18 year old boy?
Aug 21st, 2014, 09:06 AM
#21
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Forget the museums and sculpture gardens, take him to the beach. He specified California and Greece.
First, I'd have a talk with him to discuss the options. If he really wants to go to CA, that would be a cheaper destination, for sure.
18-year-olds are at that betwixt & between age, and they really don't enjoy hanging out with adults, for the most part.
Go to a beach destination you both can enjoy.
First, I'd have a talk with him to discuss the options. If he really wants to go to CA, that would be a cheaper destination, for sure.
18-year-olds are at that betwixt & between age, and they really don't enjoy hanging out with adults, for the most part.
Go to a beach destination you both can enjoy.
Aug 22nd, 2014, 04:55 AM
#22
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Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all of your suggestions! Let me clarify that he is not a typical 18 year old man. He has some learning issues which is why at a young age I told him that I would take him somewhere when he graduates so that he would stay in school and get his education (e were told he may not ever graduate). He is however, going onto College, so we are very proud of him! This is why, I am asking for suggestions. He cannot think outside of the box, in regards where to go, as he will just keep going to the same place. I do LOVE some of the other suggestions and plan on giving him five options for him to choose. We are very close, so I know that he wants to have this trip and has talked about it for years. I just want to make it something special and not something that is run of the mill. Thanks again everyone!!!!
Thank you for all of your suggestions! Let me clarify that he is not a typical 18 year old man. He has some learning issues which is why at a young age I told him that I would take him somewhere when he graduates so that he would stay in school and get his education (e were told he may not ever graduate). He is however, going onto College, so we are very proud of him! This is why, I am asking for suggestions. He cannot think outside of the box, in regards where to go, as he will just keep going to the same place. I do LOVE some of the other suggestions and plan on giving him five options for him to choose. We are very close, so I know that he wants to have this trip and has talked about it for years. I just want to make it something special and not something that is run of the mill. Thanks again everyone!!!!
Aug 22nd, 2014, 05:29 AM
#23
Definitely somewhere out of the country. I still think Greece would be good, and you could maybe add a bit of Turkey. UK, France and Italy are kind of standard for first trips to Europe, but Eastern and Central Europe are also interesting and can be cheaper (aside from Switzerland!). Think Austria and Hungary, or the Balkans.
Aug 22nd, 2014, 07:03 AM
#24
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How about some form of activity related holiday. in Europe http://www.neilson.co.uk/ have a great reputation. a friend has been taking his teenagers their for years and has always had a great time. Another thought is http://www.cycling-for-softies.co.uk/
Aug 22nd, 2014, 08:24 AM
#26
<and plan on giving him five options for him to choose. We are very close, so I know that he wants to have this trip and has talked about it for years>
That's fantastic, thanks for the follow-up. It sounds like it will be a special trip for both of you!
That's fantastic, thanks for the follow-up. It sounds like it will be a special trip for both of you!
Aug 25th, 2014, 06:28 PM
#28
It's funny you should mention your nephew is not typical and has LD -- because the way you were phrasing your description of his indecisiveness and not knowing where he wants to go, his responses were the same as my son's for the first 24 years of his life, and he also has the same issues. He did have definite ideas about video games, however but that is an issue for another day . . . .
After years and years of travel with our son, over 10 times to Europe and countless trips up and down the California coast, here are some options to consider in addition to your nephew's great ideas. -- based on my son's interests and summer travel -- I hope that's your plan.
Scandinavia. In particular Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Why these places? Because they are, to a young person, less watching a movie and more of being in a movie. Meaning, you're not so much museum hopping to see great art as you are experiencing being and having fun. For example, in Stockholm in summer you have parks, and castles and seeing horses parading. Even swimming beaches. The Vasa Museum to see the old warship is amazing for all ages. Skansen, the open air museum and zoo is a little like experiencing history without even knowing it. One of the best sculpture gardens in the world (IMO) is located in Stockholm: the Millesgården. My son LOVED it. Not known to many.
Oslo: Lots of stuff to see and do. The waterfront is a great place to hang out. The Vigeland's Park -- the world's largest sculpture park by one artist -- is close by tram and in the middle of Frogner Park. the park itself is open and gorgeous with geese and other neat wildlife, but the sculptures are incredible. There's also a great shave ice stand in the middle, somewhere behind the Monolith. If it's a warm day and your nephew likes to swim, there's a huge public pool right next to Vigeland's Sculpture Park. And European public pools are NOTHING like pools in the U.S. More like a country club with water slides and beer gardens. The Viking ship museum is fun and you can get there in a variety of ways, but best by boat.
Copenhagen. Aside from the Little Mermaid and the Hans Christian Andersen statue, great pedestrian streets, enough lego shops that would turn a kid who shunned them 10 years before as childish to rethink it, and two, count em, two amusement parks. Tivoli Gardens in summer is the absolute BEST. Go on one of the two days a week they have fireworks. Even if you miss that, they have great water light shows. And lots of great rides and entertainment. Also, just outside of Copenhagen is the Deer Park (Dyrehaven), and in the middle of it is Bakken, the other amusement park. I spent a decade birthday at Bakken going about 6 times on the wooden roller coaster!
This type of trip (depending on time and money) can be that short, or made longer with visits to Bergen via Norway in a Nutshell, an overnight boat trip from Stockholm to Helsinki and back through the archipelago on the Silja line; and even a trip up to Trondheim where you get as close to the midnight sun as you can without spending two days on a train, and attend the festival for St. Olav's that lasts a week, with medevil fairs, performances, and great food!
If you want to go in a completely different direction, consider a beach vacation in the south of France. One day at the beach, the next exploring a town. Different day, different beach.
After years and years of travel with our son, over 10 times to Europe and countless trips up and down the California coast, here are some options to consider in addition to your nephew's great ideas. -- based on my son's interests and summer travel -- I hope that's your plan.
Scandinavia. In particular Stockholm, Oslo, and Copenhagen. Why these places? Because they are, to a young person, less watching a movie and more of being in a movie. Meaning, you're not so much museum hopping to see great art as you are experiencing being and having fun. For example, in Stockholm in summer you have parks, and castles and seeing horses parading. Even swimming beaches. The Vasa Museum to see the old warship is amazing for all ages. Skansen, the open air museum and zoo is a little like experiencing history without even knowing it. One of the best sculpture gardens in the world (IMO) is located in Stockholm: the Millesgården. My son LOVED it. Not known to many.
Oslo: Lots of stuff to see and do. The waterfront is a great place to hang out. The Vigeland's Park -- the world's largest sculpture park by one artist -- is close by tram and in the middle of Frogner Park. the park itself is open and gorgeous with geese and other neat wildlife, but the sculptures are incredible. There's also a great shave ice stand in the middle, somewhere behind the Monolith. If it's a warm day and your nephew likes to swim, there's a huge public pool right next to Vigeland's Sculpture Park. And European public pools are NOTHING like pools in the U.S. More like a country club with water slides and beer gardens. The Viking ship museum is fun and you can get there in a variety of ways, but best by boat.
Copenhagen. Aside from the Little Mermaid and the Hans Christian Andersen statue, great pedestrian streets, enough lego shops that would turn a kid who shunned them 10 years before as childish to rethink it, and two, count em, two amusement parks. Tivoli Gardens in summer is the absolute BEST. Go on one of the two days a week they have fireworks. Even if you miss that, they have great water light shows. And lots of great rides and entertainment. Also, just outside of Copenhagen is the Deer Park (Dyrehaven), and in the middle of it is Bakken, the other amusement park. I spent a decade birthday at Bakken going about 6 times on the wooden roller coaster!
This type of trip (depending on time and money) can be that short, or made longer with visits to Bergen via Norway in a Nutshell, an overnight boat trip from Stockholm to Helsinki and back through the archipelago on the Silja line; and even a trip up to Trondheim where you get as close to the midnight sun as you can without spending two days on a train, and attend the festival for St. Olav's that lasts a week, with medevil fairs, performances, and great food!
If you want to go in a completely different direction, consider a beach vacation in the south of France. One day at the beach, the next exploring a town. Different day, different beach.
I think there are more than enough suggestions where to go so I won't add another.
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