Fun Activities when Travelling at 17
 

I and a few friends want to go travelling to the USA at the end of this year, but I'm only 17 and one friend is 19 the other is 21. I'm trying to figure out if I go with them if I will slow down the fun they can have as they could go in clubs. Or are there still lots of activities which we can do? I just hate the idea that we all go travelling but half the stuff they want to do we won't be able to do because of me. Are there any fun activities which we can all do generally? Like at night?

Mellie xx

21 is legal drinking age, so even your 19yo friend isn't going to be able to do much clubbing.
Where are you planning on going? What kinds of things do YOU consider fun? Give us more info and we can try to help you find things to do.

Sorry the drinking age in the US is 21 and it is strictly enforced. So only on friend could go clubbing or to casinos, etc.

If that's why you are all coming it simply won;t work. In the evening you can go to concerts,broadway or off-broadway shows, comedy clubs (but check to see which shows let in underage kids), restaurants with music, dining in outdoor cafes/people watching and numerous museums that are open at least one night a week. As for drinking - just not possible until 21 - and IDs are checked VERY carefully - and in popular happy hour places those under 21 won;t be allowed in at all. And larger cities have sightseeing opportunities at night.

If you are coming for other reasons, there are many thing you can enjoy together.

By the way I assume you would be staying in hostels - since many hotels will not let multiple people under 21 rent a room - too many bad experiences with spring breakers trashing places.

Besides the issue of being able to check into hotels, how are you getting around? Plane? Only the 21 year old can rent a car and will have to pay an underage driver fee. I've read that Hertz sometimes waives the fee when they have a special on.

Hi Mellie,

If you turn 18 before you come to California, there are Hookah Lounges that are 18 & over, so that's something you all can do at night. As for partying, you're going to have to meet some fun people along the way to take you to a house party. As mentioned above, Clubs will check your IDs extremely carefully. Some clubs where I live in San Diego won't even accept out of state IDs.

Looks like you're coming to California. As for driving, you probably won't need a car if you go to San Francisco. Not sure about L.A. If you visit San Diego, there are ways to get around here without having a car. It will just take a little bit longer to get from place to place, but you're on vacation, so you'll probably enjoy the people watching along the way. There are activities to do at night, it just depends on the time of year, etc.

Good luck!

Agree that in NYC there is great public transit - but in many places - including parts of FL and many in CA public transit is simply not an option (very few and far between) - so renting a car is realistically the only way to get around in local areas - with flying between cities.

You have to be over 24 to rent a car...

No, some agencies will let those who are 21 rent - but at a premium.

No, some agencies will let those who are 21 rent - but at a premium.

>>but in many places - including parts of FL and many in CA public transit is simply not an option (very few and far between) - so renting a car is realistically the only way to get around in local areas -<<

To clarify -- No one (ever) needs a car in San Francisco. And San Diego has lots of options for public transport (Trollies, trains, buses)

And one can even easily visit Yosemite as a day trip or over night from San Francisco by public transport. Even parts of LA can now be seen by bus or subway.

Now driving up and down the coast -- no one really does need a car for that. But just to visit parts of CA - it can be done w/o a car.