Family enjoying time together on vacation hiking trip. Golden Gate Bridge, over Pacific Ocean, mountains in the background. San Francisco, California, USA

10 Best Ideas for Family Vacation With Teenagers

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The teenage years are one of the most important periods for all people and, simultaneously, are the most challenging time for their parents.

It is becoming increasingly difficult to follow the hobbies of children and have common topics and interests.

However, this is the age where you can much more easily choose travel destinations to spend time with your older kids and learn more about them.

In the article, you can explore the best options to spend your family vacation with teenagers. Familiarize yourself with all the ideas and choose the best places to go with your kids.

Teenager Taking Pictures on Vacation in Yellowstone National Park, Morning Glory Geyser

How to Organize the Best Family Vacations for Teens?

Organizing a great family vacation with younger kids generally requires more effort than in the case of teenagers.

Parents need to control all their child’s steps and can’t entirely relax and enjoy the vacation. 

Organizing the best trips with teens is much simpler if you have similar interests with your teenage kids.

However, to make your holiday filled with positive emotions and vivid memories, follow several tips: 

Keep your kids busy

One of the main fears of all parents is that the kids will be bored during the trip.

And their dissatisfaction with the time spent will significantly affect other family members and make it harder to enjoy the vacation. 

Give them enough space

Teenagers value their privacy, and the lack of space can negatively affect their general condition. Sharing a bed with parents or siblings is not a good idea.

Therefore, make your vacation comfortable for the whole family and prepare enough space for everyone. 

Avoid too many early morning activities

Remember that vacations are a time to relax and take a break. Your children are unlikely to like getting up early on vacation. Let them sleep longer if they want. 

Consider children’s interests

If you love various outdoor activities like running or hiking, and your son or daughter is a homebody, they probably will not like the idea of climbing a mountain.

Thus, pay attention to their interests to have the best vacations for you and your children. 

Top 10 Ideas for Family Vacation With Teenagers

Want to spend quality time with your children but still haven’t decided which trip to organize? You are in the right place!

Below you can see the best ideas for vacations for families with teenagers. 

  1. The National Parks

The US is rich in stunning national parks, so visiting them is one of the best family vacation ideas. Such a trip will help the entire family to take a break from gadgets and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

You can organize a daily trip to a national park or even spend several days exploring numerous exciting places within your state and outside of it. 

In national parks, you can enjoy various activities such as rock climbing, hiking, mountain biking, bicycling, riding, or horseback riding.

Many parks are also excellent spots for camping and fishing. Determine your expectations from the trip and get on the road!

If you are still choosing a place for your next family vacation among a variety of American national parks, here you can see several amazing options: 

  • The Grand Canyon, Arizona;
  • Arches National Park, Utah;
  • Grand Teton National Park, North Dakota;
  • Bryce Canyon, Utah;
  • Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming;
  • Glacier National Park, Montana;
  • Haleakala National Park, Hawaii;
  • Great Sand Dunes, Colorado. 
  1. Explore the World 

In addition to the numerous American vacation spots that are worth visiting, consider showing your teen traveler other realities. You can do it by visiting various countries on the planet.

Depending on your financial opportunities and preferences, choose a closer vacation destination such as Mexico or enjoy outdoor adventures in Europe.

Organizing your family trip is always easier and often even cheaper with vacation packages. They free you from dealing with all the details of your journey, so consider such an option before buying tickets on your own. 

Add to your family bucket list such countries as Italy, France, Austria, Poland, and Spain. These countries are known for their well-developed tourism industry. Most all-inclusive properties are at a very high level there.

Therefore you can take on various outdoor activities such as excursions, museums, visiting famous attractions, and water sports if you have a vacation on the seahorse. If such options are not for you, you can enjoy a lazy beach or pool vacation.

Visiting other countries and continents is always an unforgettable experience.

You can explore with the entire family the local culture of the chosen region, meet new people with absolutely different values, learn new languages and get many other advantages.

However, such trips often are too expensive, and not all families can afford them. Vacation loans are one of the best options to get funds to spend time with your adventurous teens abroad.

You can get direct financing in one lump sum to your bank account and then repay it in small monthly installments. 

  1. Amusement Parks

One of the ways to organize the best vacations for teens is to visit an amusement park.

Today you can choose from numerous theme parks, such as water parks, Disney parks, zoological parks, and many others. Are there people who don’t like a lazy river or Walt Disney cartoons? 

You can enjoy amusement parks both with older and younger teens because most parks offer attractions for all ages.

If you haven’t chosen where to go, we recommend you visit the following places: 

  • Walt Disney World Resort – Orlando, Florida
  • Silver Dollar City – Branson, Missouri
  • Busch Gardens – Tampa, Florida
  • Wisconsin Dells (the waterpark capital of the world) – Wisconsin
  • Schlitterbahn – New Braunfels, Texas
  • The Boardwalk at Hersheypark – Hershey, Pennsylvania
  • Disneyland Park – Anaheim, California
  • Silver Dollar City – Branson, Missouri
  • Fun Spot America – Kissimmee, Florida

You can spend a day in the park or book accommodation within walking distance of it and stay there longer, trying all its attractions. 

  1. Dude Ranch Vacation

Want to enjoy the spirit and romanticism of the American West and try horseback riding? Dude ranches offer great all-inclusive vacations for families.

You can get a unique experience by spending time in the amazing environment where dude ranches take place. Such places are full of outdoor adventures.

In addition to numerous hiking trails, they can provide horseback riding, boating, ziplining, fishing, or skeet shooting.

After an emotional day, you can gather the whole family around the campfire, sing songs together, talk, share your feelings, and enjoy delicious cowboy food. 

  1. Family Ski Trip

Going to the mountains and trying ice skating, dog sledding, or cross-country skiing is a great option for an outdoor adventure for active families.

In the US, you can enjoy a variety of family ski resorts with numerous activities for everyone. Don’t worry if this is your first experience with skies!!

There are many offers for non-skiers, so you will find out what to do.

If you are still looking for the best place for a family ski trip, consider the following options: 

  • Beaver Creek,  McCoy Park, Colorado;
  • Park City Mountain Resort, Utah;
  • Smugglers’ Notch Resort, Vermont;
  • Sunday River, Maine;
  • Lake Tahoe, California;
  • Palisades Tahoe, California. 
  1. Discover a Big City Life

The US is a unique country where you can experience entirely different lifestyles.

If you are a resident of a small town or province, spending a vacation in one of the biggest American cities can be an excellent outdoor adventure. 

As a rule, New York is one of the cities teens love the most. First of all, show your children Central Park in Manhattan.

This is a large park covering 843 acres and containing fantastic walking tracks, a few ponds and lakes, and a zoo.

You can rent bikes or electric scooters to explore the park’s territory or bring a blanket with snacks and relax in the Sheep Meadow. 

Remember to take family photos on the Brooklyn Bridge! This is the most famous bridge in New York, spanning the East River from Downtown Brooklyn to Manhattan. 

If your children love history, you can show them famous New York museums. They may like the Museum of Modern Art, the American Museum of Natural History, or The National 9/11 Memorial & Museum. And don’t forget to see the famous Statue of Liberty! 

Such cities as Chicago, Los Angeles, San Diego, Houston, and Phoenix also are popular vacation destinations.

Choose the city depending on your purposes and interests and spend your next family vacation in one of the biggest and most exciting American places.

  1. Relax on the Beach Resort

The beach is always on the list of the best family vacation ideas.

Both parents and children want to relax after difficult months of work or study, so a lazy spending time in an all-inclusive resort near the beach will be an excellent option.

You can do nothing and lie under the sun, swim, and enjoy the natural beauty of your country. 

Additionally, try to find a hotel with a teen club to provide more fun activities for your children.

If you have active teens, choose luxury resorts for families with teenagers with available water sports. It can be surfing, sailing, or snorkeling. 

Enjoying the famous Waikiki Beach in Hawaii and Santa Monica in California are not the only options available in the country.

Consider also spending your vacations with teens in all-inclusive resorts in places such as: 

  • Maui;
  • Amelia Island;
  • Ocean City, Maryland;
  • Carmel-by-the-Sea;
  • Myrtle Beach;
  • Jekyll Island;
  • San-Diego.
  1. Take a Road Trip 

Summer is the best time for taking adventures, and a road trip ranks high among the most exciting teen-friendly activities, especially if you allow your children to drive and choose the road.

Staying at the New Embassy Suites in Asheville Downtown can highlight your journey, allowing you to see the country and spend quality time with your family in one of the most vibrant cities along your route.

To get the best experience from road trips, follow the next tips: 

  • Stop every 3-4 hours for a break to avoid monotony;
  • Don’t over-do the driving and take a break when it is necessary;
  • Combat potential discomfort and take comfortable clothes and shoes, blankets, and pillows;
  • Prepare food: think about snacks and package them in reusable snack bags;
  • Plan fun things to do on a long ride: take headphones, download exciting games or audiobooks, and buy a subscription to Netflix and Spotify Premium. 
  1. Explore Your Family’s History

Searching for your roots can be an excellent idea for family vacations. Explore places where you or your parents come from.

Knowledge of your family’s past can help your children understand who they are and feel more connected with their family.

The family plays a significant role in the life of each individual. That is why there are many resources where you can learn about your family history and even find several interesting documents. 

  1. Volunteering

Spending time as a volunteer is an excellent idea for vacations with teens. Such a combination of travel with volunteering will teach them to help others and give back.

Furthermore, it is a great chance to learn about other cultures and explore different countries. You can find a lot of short-term volunteer projects organized by NGOs in the US and abroad.

Examples of volunteer vacations can be the following: 

Protection of Wildlife in South Africa

South Africa is known for its safari and unique nature. Thanks to various volunteer projects, you can explore this wonderful region and see the Big Five.

They mainly rely on wildlife protection, so you can significantly contribute to South Africa’s fauna.

Volunteering with homeless animals in Nepal

Most people are aware of Nepal’s impressive mountains and treks, but not everyone knows about the serious problems of starvation, cruelty, and illness of homeless animals.

Various local organizations make efforts to help Nepal’s dogs find homes worldwide. You can become a part of such a project and allow an animal to give you unconditional love.

Preservation of the Amazon region

The Amazon is known as the most biodiverse region on Earth. It is home to over three million species that are now in danger because of climate change and deforestation.

Spend your family vacation with teenagers participating in a volunteer project in Brazil or Peru and protecting the rainforests in the region.