I need suggestions on areas to vacation, June or July 2001 with two teenage daughters (15 & 17). Do not like a real slow pace, like to keep on the go. Any ideas from parents who have vactioned with teenagers would be appreciated.

We had two vacations when ours were teens that stand out in their minds and ours as being about the best family vacations ever. The first was to Bermuda, the second, Washington, DC.

Bermuda is expensive but for a one time occasion it was worth ever pence--what great memories! DC is far more economical and between the museums of the Smithsonian, the memorials, tours of Capitol etc everyone will have plenty to do.

We did San Francisco/Monterey/Big Sur with them in their early 20s--also one of our more memorable vacations.

Paradise Island in the Bahamas if you like water. The Atlantis has pools, slides, beaches, aquariums, nearby shopping, ferries to town, etc.

It is expensive and does have a casnio. But there is plenty to do without ever dropping a dollar in a machine or on a table.

Ya, Atlantis is a very fun resort and you will never be stuck for something to do!

Also Cancun is a non stop-action packed vacation. The resorts have great activity coordinatiors, and there is a lot of night life (for everyone), and there is a lot of day trips to do (Mayan ruins, sea doo aventure rides....etc...)

Good Luck Happy travelling!!!!

Hi

Remembering back to my teenage years, the one vacation that really stood out was going to the Grand Canyon (might sound trite but it was memorable), Bryce and Zion National Parks. Although angst-ridden as a teenager, I found these trips managed to broke through my wanna-be-cool outer shell. I had so much fun taking the mule ride down into the Canyon, riding horses with my brother in Bryce and inner tubing down the river in Zion. These were definitely highlights of my adolescence. I should mention also that the scenery is incredibly beautiful, something that breaks even the most hardened teenager.

Have a blast whatever you decide.

Darla-how about letting us know what part of the country you are from and where some of your previous vacations have taken you. Are your teenagers boys/girls and what type of things do they enjoy(ie.outdoors,shopping,museums,etc.)? I have a two teenagers (15 and 18) and would be happy to offer some suggestions with more information. Debbie

Sorry-took time out to scold the dog and did not reread your post about your daughters(having a senior moment again?). Anyway,for major cities for that age and season of the year with the heat-I would suggest San Francisco;Chicago;New York and Boston. For great family vacations-Glacier National Park with horseback riding and rafting/Yellowstone and Grand Tetons with rafting or even up to Maine for great eating,shopping,beach activities,etc. Rafting out West for my kids has been one of their favorite things to do.Have you ever thought about going overseas with the cheap fares?How long would you be gone?Debbie

I have to be honest..Some vacations were horrible! I guess it depends on the teen and the destination. You are smart to consider it carefully!I would NOT go to any area that has clubs and gambling with a teen again. I remember one time in Mexico our (14 year old)daughter slipped out to go to a disco. Scary to me..paranoid mom.

Anyway we enjoy Catalina Island (CA) and
Santa Cruz (CA). When my daughter was that age Hollywood and Universal Studios was an exciting destination.I think your children's interests have to guide you or it can be trouble!

Ask them. If you get an "I don't know/care" answer, flip through travel papers/magazines together. Get input. Let them plan/help with planning. Had some successful & surprising trips, such as taking an RV through Alaska, visiting Kentucky Horse Park, Mammoth Cave, hiking Dry River in NH, canoe ride in Okefenokee (with gators!) - all were ideas from my kid. Worst trips were ones we wanted to do and he came along (e.g., annual weeks at the beach, he is now totally bored).
Have fun

I agree with Gail's recommendation to avoid areas that have a lot of adult activities. This past December-January, I took my then 15 year old daughter and her girlfriend to Key West, and I didn't relax for a minute! They were very taken in by the bars and clubs which they were not even allowed to enter without ID, and it was very difficult to keep them amused and out of trouble. Again, as with the question of bringing small children on vacation, much depends on the children and their interests. I like GOL's idea of soliciting ideas from the children themselves. My daughter and I had a very nice vacation that arose from her request to go to the Caribbean; I researched and found a family-oriented resort that had a program for teens and she really enjoyed it. If you're interested, the resort was the Franklyn D Resort in Runaway Bay, Jamaica. Good luck and have a good trip wherever you go!

When I was a teenager my favorite places to go on vacation were Chicago and New York. I also loved Florida's beaches along the gulf. Yellowstone National Park was a big hit, and I also think teens would adore San Francisco (although I did not go there until I was an adult, my friends with teenagers report it was their kids' favorite). Also, I just got back from a trip to the Grand Canyon, where I took an overnight mule ride and stayed in a cabin on the floor of the canyon one night -- within our group of 10 there was a family from England with two teenaged daughters 15 & 17, and they were having the time of their lives! They had been in the U.S. for 3 weeks -- rented an RV and drove from LA to San Francisco to Yosemite to Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon. They said their favorite was San Francisco and then the Grand Canyon. Hope this helps.

My experiences with my daughter (now age 19) have been similar to Lisa's. She loves the excitement, the pace and the entertainment and cultural opportunities available in big cities. Beginning at age 14,each year we visited one city, touring San Francisco, Chicago, NYC, Toronto and then a return trip to NYC the final year. All kids are different but she gets bored with the scenic beauty of nature that I find inspiring. I'll reserve my "scenic beauty" trips for the future when she's off on her own. When we traveled Coastal Hwy 1 in CA (she was 12 at the time) I stopped for the umpteenth time to gape in awe and snap pictures. When I asked why she didn't get out of the car her response was "This spot looks just like all the other ones we've stopped at on this road!".