My family is planning a week-long vacation for early August. My husband and I will be traveling with our 22, 20 and 16 year olds. We're looking for a destination that has nice resorts/hotels, is near some interesting sites and offers fun activities for everyone. We want to relax as opposed to travel around. I'm concerned about going to the Caribbean given it will be the beginning of hurricane season and Hawaii seems far for a week (We live in Maryland). I want to give the 20 somethings some independence so being near some nightlife would be ideal. We run the range from adventurous to not so adventurous. Suggested destinations have included Cancun, Cozumel, Playa del Carmen, Cabo San Lucas. I have little time to spend planning and would like to decide soon. Any thoughts/ideas/inspiration?

ttt

Wouldn't organize your life around avoiding hurricane season. It runs May 15-Nov. 30 in the Pacific and June 1-November 30 in the Atlantic/Gulf. www.nhc.noaa.gov.

All the Yucatan suggestions you received sound good for your children, though Playa del Carmen is much tamer than Cancun-more "adult." My children, 6-9 years at the time, loved Playa del Carmen, though you've got to drive/ride to see many interesting sites. It reminded me of an upper end cruise, though they reportedly have good golf and nightlife. Cozumel is terrific for water activities and mixing.

You might get more responses on a carribean board.

If Mexico interests you, try either Carribean or Latin America boards. I have been to both Cancun and Playa del CArmen. Cancun has a reputation of being party central and it can be based on where you go, but I just loved Playa. It is not only more relaxed but the beaches are great. It doesn't feel like an American resort plopped down in Mexico, like Cancun.

Take a cruise -- everyone will get together several times a day, each kid cn find individual things to do, day stops offer choices for adventurous and not-so, food will meet everyone's needs, August ships have programs for all ages...

BAK

I just saw some great stuff on Gulfport Mississipi if you are interested in staying in the U.S. There are casino's and clubs plus snorkeling and air boats and stuff you might want to look into.

Hi JCinMD, not to take away from your thought of going to Mexico but I have had family members and also friends go to Mexico in August and everyone has said they would never do it again due to the heat. So just wanted to mention that in case you want to check into the temps and the humidty in Mexico during that period.

I have always gone to the westcoast of Mexico, but in January and or February. Weather was always wonderful. The natives always told us the summertime was not the time to go vacation in Mexico. Not sure about Cabo San Lucas though. Have you thought about Canada?

you can't plan hurricanes sometimes there are none (sept is your worst time - being from md i know you know that). Bermuda may fit your bill.
If the caribean is out, what about costa rica, or san diego, bermuda (bermuda seems to mis alot of the hurricanes)

I'm a lover of Mexico travel, but August is the worst month weather-wise. And if you're worried about hurricanes, that would apply to the places you mention like Cancun and Cozumel (as they are on the Caribbean side).

Puerto Vallarta on the west coast is a great town, if you don't mind it hot, humid with some rain showers. IMO it feels like "real Mexico" there, not a Miami beach style strip like Cancun. Or Ixtapa/Zijuatenejo is another nice spot.

I'm not a fan of Cabo, again because it is an intensely concentrated tourist-only resort destination not to mention expensive. And the Baja peninsula is a desert (compared to the more lush areas, mountains, and jungles along the west coast between Mazatlan to Acapulco).

As others have suggested, also read on the Latin America and Caribbean boards here on Fodors.

What about Miami/ South Beach? Still would be hot as hades, but lots of fun and lots to do. I think the "kids" your ages would love it. Not a lot of "sites" but you could do a day trip to the Everglades and head down to the keys for snorkeling another day. NOT all the way to Key West, but at least as far as Pennekamp and maybe Islamorada.

JC, you are just as likely to get hit with a hurricane in Maryland in August as you are in the caribbean. As others have said, almost everywhere on the planet north of the equator is hurricane season in August.

Agree with Miami Beach.