favorite vacation with teens?
 

We are starting to look for a grand vacation for our sons before they leave for college next year. Any ideas?

what are you interested in and where do you all live? Would you want to drive or fly? Estimated budget?

High end budget? Hawaii

Mid range? Mexico (Cancun)

Low end? Myrtle Beach

What do they like to do?

I saw an amazing show last night on the Travel channel about Yellow Stone park. There is so much more to do there then watch the geysers. Are they the outdoorsy type? The fishing and hiking looked fabulous not to mention the wild life ( the wolf and Grizzly population is increasing and a huge suuccess story)
What about a sailing trip in the Carribbean?

What about a jaunt over to Europe?? Again, what do they like and what is your budget?

Costa Rica. Check out the Latin America board. Lot's of great info and helpful posters on there.

as mentioned, much depends on not only where you are leaving from,but how much time do you have and what interests you and your boys. If you want active or more restful and if the former, what activities.

Your boys would enjoy an all-inclusive resort in northern Minnesota. They want to waterski, play golf, meet a couple of summer gals who will break their hearts, down a few cocktails, and enjoy a late-night smoke on the swings. They don't want to see important sites and don't care to be enriched.
Thought you'd like to know.

If your boys love the outdoors, a river rafting down the middle fork of the Salmon River in Idaho, kayaking in Baja california or Belize, skiing in summer in Chile.

Hawaii is always a sure bet for teens. Besides the beach they can take surfing lessons, and you can island hop to get the different character and activities of various islands.

We went to Guatemala before my daughter went away to college and had a blast. Went to Lake Atitlan and then to Antigua where we planned to take language lessons but instead took salsa dance lessons - but not all boys would enjoy that (but my 16 year old son did). Then to the ruins in Tikal. You could combine that with a trip to Belize and snorkeling or scuba diving there.

Since teens like to go places where there are other teens, for more ideas check out familytravelforum.com, which has many stories and suggestions for this often difficult to please age group.

I second Costa Rica. Loved it. And it was an easy and relatively inexpensive trip.

White water rafting down the Colorado with a hike up the Grand Canyon. Great bonding for a family and memories they will never forget.

Yellowstone Park, Grand Tetons, Costa Rica. My 2 teenage sons loved all of these trips.

Thanks so much for all of your help! Here are some answers to your questions, we are living on the East Coast, but can travel anywhere from here. We have cruised the Caribbean, been to Florida and Mt. Rushmore recently. We are interested in some nature fun and city fun. Medium budget. Thanks!

Cruise the California coast from LA and North... big city fun and plenty of nature

My two as teens liked the CA coast, Austin TX, Yellowstone/ Montana and one of them liked Hawaii. Also San Diego and Portland were a hit with both.

Some spots enjoyed include:

Corcovado Tent Lodge, Costa Rica
corcovadotentlodge.com/reviews.htm

Houseboat on Lake Powell/ Nat'l Parks
lakepowell.com

Iceland
Check out the icelandair.com site, many are amazed at what Iceland has to offer - great outdoor activities and lots of fun during the city part of your stay in Reykjavik

New Zealand
wildernesslodge.co.nz/lakemoeraki
and the one at /arthurspass/
and go bungy jumping/ visit winery/hike
the glaciers and rain forests

Australia
east coast/ Sydney/ Blue Mtns

Alaska

California coast

and lots of options in Europe if that interests you

Yellowstone
Europe
Cancun

My kids enjoyed all 3...

I asked my graduating son last year where to go. He chose Yellowstone ( I was hopng Mexico or Hawaii) We had lots of fun, but it was a lot of time in the car. Yellowstone is a BIG place, and to see it all requires more driving than we expected.
Second son is more the athletic type, and he wasn't into the whole geysers scene. he felt like if you've seen one you've seen them all. We stopped and did some awesome rock climbing in City of Rocks in southern Idaho, and he liked that.

California (Los Angeles) is a blast for kids that age

One of our favorite trips with teens was Death Valley (in the Spring) : rolling down sanddunes, moonlight hikes, letting them drive bizarre moonscape backroads, and more.

woodysagoodboy- We've done some travelling with my 3 kids when all were in their teens. I read your response to my 19 year old son and we both thought it was quite funny and true.

Thanks, KathyK.

Still say, Costa Rica. Easy flight with no time change. Continental or Delta.
You can fly into San Jose, spend a night at Arenal to visit hot springs and see the volcano, and 2 nights in Monteverde to see the cloud forest and go on the hanging bridges and zip lines, and then head over to Manuel Antonio or Tamarindo for some great beach/surfing action.

They will see toucans, howler monkeys, sloth, snakes, frogs, exotic birds of all kinds. Just really fun.

Food is very inexpensive, as is everything there.
One of our lunches (3 people) was 2 orders of lobster tails (huge), 1 stuffed lobster, 1 shrimp cocktail, 1 beer, 2 sodas, 3 pie. With tax and tip--$43. And it was delicious.

We have a senior this year and she picked Alaska. I wasn't too excited since I'm more of a beach person but the more I've researched the more I think it will be the perfect combination of scenery and activities. We are renting an RV for 17 days and seeing as much as we can.

When our son was 20 and our daughter was 18 we rented an RV in Alaska and it was awesome. Our daughter who was at first ticked we weren't going to a tropical island for vacation admitted on the second day that Alaska was incredicle and she loved it!

There are a lot of great ideas here. Costa Rica (never been) sounds like it would be fun too. Wherever you end up have a great time!

It depends so much on the kids. We took my 2 stepdaughters with us to London and Paris when they were 11 and 14 - and 8 years later they're still talking about the trip - esp Paris - even though they've both had some other great vacations since then.

Don;t know if it's because it was their first exposure to europe, or the chance to use their French, or because it was their first "grown up" vacation where they could do things by themselves - but they still do the "remember when" every time we see them.

Rafting on the Salmon River was the best trip I ever took with my parents.

Second was either Explora in Patagonia or Maui.

I agree - Alaska was my older kid's favorite. We took a HAL cruise then rented a car and for two weeks we had great family time. Then, this spring - last month - we took a farewell cruise to Belize, Cozumel and Progresso. (Farewell to our graduating daughter). That two was great. There is a lot to do on cruises and especially in the ports.

Since you posted your questions on the US board, I'm thinking you mean this vacation to be within the US? The Alaska suggestins are great. But. . . if you can get on a Colorado River trip, it would be an unforgettabe experience for all of you.

Consider a Camping trip to the Black Hills of SD and Yellowstone NP. That will be a trip to remember as they head to college...

When my kids were teens we took them to Myrtle Beach one year and ended up going back for the next ten. They hang-glided, jet-skied, bungee jumped, played volleyball, golfed;they did it all. They made lots of friends and still keep in contact with them. its a great place for teens

Peru: You can also add the Amazon and the Galapagos Islands if you want more. Machu Picchu is AMAZING. The country is fascinating. See it before it's ruined.

Mexico: Great for the entire family with a little bit of everything. South of Cancun on the Riviera Maya you can stay at a lovely beach resort. You can go 3-wheeling on the beach, snorkeling, horseback riding, boating, etc. For a little adventure, you can rent a car and drive out into the countryside to Chichen Itza and other ruin sites. Prices can be very reasonable.

Alternatively, every member of your family could choose one or two place you would like to visit then have a family meeting to decide.

Come to El Salvador, Central America. I am a tour guide, and young people enjoy visit to volcanoes, boat ride at mangrove forest or lakes, surfing is practiced here.Mayan pyramids, city tours, rafting, if they enjoy adventure. Need more information? My e-mail is [email protected]