Family travel with toddlers and babies differs significantly from family travel with teens. It’s easier, because you don’t have to worry about packing strollers and other gear, and teens are so much more independent. But in some ways, it can still be complicated. Wondering where to go on vacation with teenagers? Here are some ideas for the best vacations for teens – so that you can have fun and create fantastic memories.
Road Trip Vacations With Teenagers
One of the best family vacations with teens is the quintessential family road trip. There are so many fantastic road trip itineraries that you can take with teens – whether you decide to rent a family RV, or use your own car and stay in hotels each night. Consider a trip through California, starting or ending in San Diego, and stopping in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Family Cruises with Teens
While I often see many families with young kids on cruises (especially the Disney Cruise Line), I think the teen and preteen ages are perfect for a family cruise. At that age, kids can take advantage of the teen clubs, and many make their own friends when they are cruising, leaving you with some free time on your own.
International Adventures With Teens
I’ve always loved traveling internationally, so I was thrilled when my kids were older and ready to be on a long flight (although I know many people who fly long distances with much younger kids). An international adventure is one of the best vacations for teens. Some fun options include Quebec City, Costa Rica, Greece, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland, England, and France.
Caribbean Vacations With Teenagers
The Caribbean has beautiful resorts and gorgeous islands that are perfect teen vacations. Whether your teens enjoy lounging on the beach, exploring the ocean, participating in water sports, or learning about sea animals, you can find the perfect destination in the Caribbean. Some of the most popular activities for teens in the Caribbean include stand-up paddle boarding, parasailing, rescuing and tagging sea turtles, snorkeling, scuba diving, and jet skiing.
Theme Parks With Teens
My kids have always enjoyed theme parks, but as they’ve gotten older, they have enjoyed them even more. Instead of chasing characters around the parks, they are running to the thrill rides. Our experience has changed – now they can spend later nights at the parks and aren’t as interested in getting there first thing in the morning (I still try to get us there at the park opening, though
Ski Vacations
I’ve only been skiing a few times, but I envy those visiting beautiful ski towns and resorts. If your teens enjoy skiing and/or snowboarding (and other outdoor activities in the snow), a ski vacation is a great idea. Depending on where you live, you can even plan ski trips for long weekends without spending a whole school vacation week there. Even if you aren’t an avid skier, most ski mountains have camp and/or lesson programs where kids (and adults) can learn how to ski regardless of their experience level.
History Vacations With Teenagers
Kids who have already learned about various historical events may find vacationing in a historical place fascinating. My kids especially loved visiting Greece after learning about it in their Ancient Civilization class. Washington, DC, and Boston, MA, are other fabulous family travel destinations.
Action/Adventure Vacations
If your kids are daredevils, consider adding some adventure or active component to your family vacation. Some adventure travel ideas include outdoor adventures such as rock climbing, ziplining, and whitewater rafting. If you aren’t sure how much adventure your family will enjoy, plan a small adventure activity during your regular family vacation to see how much you enjoy it. See more ideas for adventure vacations here.
City Vacations with Teens
My kids love visiting cities. There are many things to do, including museums, parks, landmarks, and other attractions. You’ll never get bored during a city vacation. Our favorite city to visit is New York City. It’s about 3 1/2 hours from our home outside of Boston and includes more activities than you can do in three or four trips. Read more ideas for family vacations with teens here.