dfr4848

Don't know if this sounds too sedate for him, but what about a bike trip around Ireland or barge cruise through France?

dfr4848

Or Iceland? It's closer to Boston than much of the US and everything I've read and reviewed sounds very interesting and different. Our 19 yr old thinks it sounds like a great idea so it's on our list.

granniem

Discovery Cove is awesoe. Touching a Dolphin might help him with a difficult time. My grandson was dealing with emotional problems last year at age 10. He got a lot out of it

dfr4848

Or rafting trip on the Colorado through the Grand Canyon?

BayouGal

Alaska - kayaking, boat tours, flightseeing, hiking, fishing, etc.

Moab, Utah - mountain cycling, rafting, etc. (may be too hot, though)

Yellowstone area - hiking, rafting, wildlife, horseback riding, etc.

Hawaii - learning to surf, horseback riding, hiking, swimming, snorkeling, diving, active volcano, etc

Have you narrowed your travel plans down any yet?

PlumeriaTattoo

MAUI -- You can watch the sunrise on Haleakala, then bike down the volcano. You can take a helicopter over the island, do a zip line ride through the rain forest, learn to surf, snorkel or scuba dive, and do plenty of hiking to swim in pools with waterfalls. The bonus is -- it's Hawaii, so it can also be a relaxing beach day if the mood strikes.

BlueSwimmer

When I was a young teenager I loved a trip to Mesa Verde, Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak, some mining towns, etc. We drove around the area in a camper.

It was the first time I truly appreciated scenery, and I fell in love with history at Mesa Verde's cliff dwellings.

steviegene

BlueSwimmer makes a good point.... in "falling in love" with some aspect of a place.
When I was 15 I fell in love with the King Arthur books by Mary Stewart. So, when my parents took me to England that year it was a real adventure for me - because I was so interested in those stories.

So maybe if you choose somewhere that relates to a book he has read, or some movie he loves....etc

aileen679

Have you asked him what he would like to do? 16 is a bad age as they go from being a little boy to a half grown man with adult ideas in a blink of the eye. And then, just when you think you have it figured out, he's back to being a little boy again.

I think I would stay away from the Orlando type of "fun and adventure." He needs something that's more real.

good luck in finding the perfect trip. I like the idea of the Canadian Rockies. I guess that's because I live where it's flat, flat, flat!!

pepper131

I think Austin would be fun...BUT hot. If you can go on the first Thursday of the month - South Congress stays open late (10pm) with lots of music everywhere.

For adventure:
*There's zip-lining in the Hill Country through cypress trees.
*Swimming in a natural spring pool at Barton Springs.
*There are wet caves to explore at Inner Space and Cave Without a Name.
*Canoe Town Lake
*Watch the bats emerge at dusk

You can stay somwehere very civilized like the Four Seasons on Town Lake. Or some place zen like the San Jose Hotel. Or groovy/tacky-retro at the Austin Motel.

Margo_Chester

I would head for Europe, and the adventure could begin for him even before he leaves home. Have him narrow down destinations, plan the itinerary, help choose accommodations, etc. Dealing with a foreign language, train schedules, a foreign currency, and different foods can be a huge part of the adventure. Does he like to bike? Explore castles? Ancient ruins? Does he like cities or would he prefer the countryside? I hope you both have a great time planning your trip!

mel_hunt

I'd agree with the Europe suggestion. If he likes hiking and the like, try the Swiss Alps. Interlaken makes a good base for day trips to the top of the Jungfrau, or Schilthorn. Hiking down from the latter is a wonderful experience. Or try floating down the Aare river in Bern.

Last summer I took my son to Greece--we absolutely loved island hoping! We climbed to the Acropolis, snorkled, rode 4-wheelers on the beach, climbed to the top of a volcano, and participated in an archaeological dig. And that was just the first week!

I must also add that our trip together was one of the most wonderful things that has happened to us. We've always enjoyed a close relationship, but with two younger sisters (14 and 16), he (nearly 20)has had to compete for my attention at times. We both learned a lot about each other and he says he's ready to travel again with me anytime!

Best of luck!

Melissa

CBS

One of my best trips with my son was landing in Phoenix, driving to the Grand Canyon (stay on the rim, on the budget motel strip which is about 1/2 hour away or camp, lots of great Ranger talks, firelight activities, etc.) Hike as far down as you can go (double the time to come up and wear really good shoes), take a mule ride in but you will be saddle sore, hook up with a raft trip but do that fast as they book up and are expensive, then after a few days of this drive past the Hoover Dam, tour it and on to Vegas for relatively cheap luxury, great pools, cheap and good eats, lots of free stuff to look at and experience plus if you stay away from the headliners you can often see fun shows cheap (like slight of hand magic shows that wonder table to table). Let us know what you decide! You sound like a great Mom.

hills27

I second Whistler for a 16 year old boy. He'll have a fantastic time - hiking, atv tours, bear-watching, rollerblading, mountain biking, summer luge, fly-fishing, and even skiing on the glacier if you go early enough in the summer. You can even take a helicopter to hike the glaciers (unfortunately our trip was cancelled because the helicopter was being used to fight forest fires). There's something for everyone to do (and lessons for beginners on nearly everything), great restaurants (Quattro and Caramba were my favorites), and cute shops and nice spas for those who just want to relax. And the blueberries and blackberries! I think I ate at least a pint of each every day (probably more). Make sure you go on the zip line - even my 60-year old mom loved it (though she was a bit freaked on the first line but started having a blast by the second). We got a great last minute rate at one of the two Pan Pacific hotels.

Also, one of my favorite family vacations as a kid was a weeklong white water rafting trip down the Salmon River (just the family and a private guide).

Btw, Janiekins, inquiring minds want to know what happened with your White Linen party!

traveler2005

I have a 16 year old son too. He would always prefer just to stay home. However I agree with some of the spots that have been mentioned.

Canadian Rockies - We took a driving trip and included the CR a couple of years ago. We did white water rafting. None of us had ever done it. You can pick from various levels and I thought it was really a lot of fun. You don't have to do it on your own. You can pay to have an experienced person with the equipment take you - there are a number of operators. The water is beautiful in that area due to the run-off from the glaciers.

Mid-way between the parks was a spot where you can take a big specially made bus right onto a glacier. That was fun.

Have you already been to Europe? Going somewhere completely new, figuring out the public transportation, and learning how to get by with minimal language skills is an adventure too.

Debbie
Debbie