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lkplatow

Vacation with teens - where to go, what to do?

lkplatow
9 years ago

Every summer, we usually spend a few weeks at my inlaws' house at the beach, but the last few years, we have also gone on a quick vacation in mid-June, right after the kids get out of school. My oldest is heading into high school next year so we figure we'll try to do a trip every year til she doesn't want to hang around with us anymore. The first year we went to Universal Studios in Florida and last year we went to Niagara Falls.

I have absolutely no clue where to go this year, and I am looking for advice. If you feel like helping me plan, I am basically putting a braindump below!

1. We live on the east coast and would like to avoid a really long flight - so Hawaii/Australia/Japan is out. So is Antarctica (sorry mtn!)

2. The kids will be 14 and 11 in June and we are mainly looking for stuff that will interest them. Amusement parks, aquariums, water parks, etc. are good. Looking at scenery, historic sites, art museums, sitting around on the beach doing nothing, anything involving lots of drinking -- not so much.

3. We are not huge city people -- my husband may get sent to London for business this year so we'd have the opportunity to tag along and camp out in his hotel for free. But he did not think we would like it -- he said it is crowded and dirty and city-ish, and for the money (we'd be looking at almost $6K in just airfare), he would rather go on a family vacation to somewhere not-so-urban.

4. I am not good at vacation planning. There's a reason we go to the same beach every year -- I hate doing all the research and figuring out all the where to go and what to do and how to get there and is there going to be enough to keep us busy. I'd much rather just book something and show up and have it all figured out by someone else.

5. DH and I do not drink and we are fairly health conscious. So I am a bit worried that we won't get our money's worth out of an all inclusive thing like a cruise where everyone is charged for unlimited food and alcohol. I am the sort of person who would be tempted to eat way too much just to feel like I'm getting my money's worth. And I really don't want to come back with an extra 10 lbs.

So now to some specifics:

None of us have ever seen the Caribbean, so I was considering a cruise or one of those all inclusive resorts. People seem to either really love or really hate cruises, and I have no idea which side I would be on as I have never taken one. Anyone with experience either with a cruise or one of the island resorts? Especially if you have taken kids, I'd love to hear about it! I have seen some resorts/cruises that offer things like scuba or snorkling, parasailing, or dolphin swims -- we'd definitely be in to stuff like that. But I have no idea -- like I said, I have heard some horrible things about cruises.

If we did cruise, I was thinking of taking one out of Baltimore or NYC -- I can't see paying $1500 in airfare on top of the cruise. So that would eliminate Disney cruises as they only leave from Florida. I could be persuaded otherwise, I suppose, but I'd like to keep cost and hassle to a minimum and cruising out of a port we could drive to would definitely be easier than flying to a cruise. If we did a resort, then obviously we would fly.

We were also considering Las Vegas, as I have never been there either. I don't think of it as a typical "kids" vacation destination, but when I looked into it, it does seem like there are some cool amusement parks, aquariums, and other tacky tourist stuff (wax museums, etc) that would be right up our alley. And maybe it would be possible to skip over and see the Grand Canyon? I am not sure how kid-friendly the town is overall though -- I think it may be a little too "what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" for a family vacation.

I would also consider California or the west coast, but again, I am not sure exactly where to go or what to do. I have been to San Francisco and to Seattle but I just don't remember there being that much there for kids to draw us all the way across the country and amuse us for a week.

I do love New England and have been there several times (not with the kids) but again, I don't know that there's enough there to keep the kids busy.

And we never did go to Disney when we were in Florida -- we did all the other parks but passed on Disney. The kids aren't dying to go there, but maybe we should just to see it -- it seems to be the thing to do.

So suggestions are welcome -- and feedback is especially welcome on cruises/resorts in the Caribbean as I think that is the direction we are leaning (though again, at this point it is really wide open).

Thanks!!!

{{gwi:1491575}}

This post was edited by lkplatow on Tue, Jan 27, 15 at 20:20

Comments (67)

  • deegw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    My kids love visiting DC and we have gone many times It's a city, of course, but it is clean and easy to get around and never seems over crowded to me. The downside is that June might be muggy and uncomfortable.

    I am in the process of planning a summer trip to San Diego with my 17 yo and 21 yo. The 17 yo wants to go to the beach and do outdoor activities and the 21 yo wants to sightsee and it seems to be a good combination of both.

  • localeater
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Similar family here, we have two that will be 16 and 14 this June and we try to do a week in mid-June before the summer gets away from me.
    If you haven't done DC with the kids yet it has to be on the must do list. We loved an April week in DC. Though, I am not sure about June.
    Quebec City is a great city with kids and I know you don't love cities- neither do we and we are also not entertained by shopping. We did a VRBO right on the river which is also a bike path, so when we went to the old city we biked, parked bikes, and walked, its a very hilly city. Lots of street performers to sit and enjoy. I felt comfortable allowing my kids some reign to explore together and come back in an hour. An old fort- yay, a bee museum outside the city with a honey tasting- my kids still talk about this, canyon st anne, with zip lining, rock climbing, hiking and a day at a water park north of the city. A waterpark where everything is in French is extra special :) Can you say piscine à vagues? We also had days where we biked well beyond the city and explored parks, found lunch makings and picnicked.
    I wont do a cruise(except maybe someday Alaska), we would feel trapped, and I am not spending all that money to get seasick, and I really just don't like boats much, I don't see the point.
    Vegas- is terribly smoky which I find very offensive- was there for meeting recently wouldnt find it fun with kids.
    Flying to Vegas driving the strip at night to see all the pretty lights and then hiking Zion - great trip!
    Zion, Bryce, Arches, Canyonlands, Painted Dessert all over the Grand Canyon- absolutely.
    No one mentioned Pennsylvania! Biking the rail trail in New Hope, Hershey Park, Valley Forge, Chocolate Factory tour, Amish farm visit- nice easy trip and don't forget to spend a day tubing the Delaware water gap.
    Maine- my home state. Camp in a lean-to at one of the Baxter state park's base camps and climb Mt Katahdin, the eastern terminus of the Appalachian Trail, swim in a swimming hole the next day as you recover, then go on a (nonviolent) moose-safari and head to the beach. Popham St Park is a wonder, the ocean changes the topography daily, there is an island to hike to, if the tide is right and life guards to rescue via kayak the daily trekkers who lose track of the tide and get stranded, you might see the horseshoe crab migration, and you will collect a slew of sand dollars. Spend a day on a working lobster boat hauling traps. You could go to Bar Harbor and Acadia too, or you could head further Downeast to Cutler, Eastport, Lubec- where the sun rises over the US, don't forget to get a lighthouse passport and see how many you can collect.
    California- we really loved SanDiego, but we were only there three days and we mostly biked and we rented Jet Skis.
    Redwoods are still on our list!
    Do keep us posted on what you pick, I still have no plans for this June either and your post made me realize I need to get cracking.

  • Annie Deighnaugh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I second deee's suggestion of DC...if you haven't been, it's a wonderful city to spend time in...all the museums, the white house and capitol, the memorials, the zoo, the mint, Arlington cemetery, take a ride on C&O canal with the rangers, rock creek park, all easily accessible, the planes fly right into Reagan and you can take the metro from there to get around.

  • mtnrdredux_gw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    But the OP says they dont like cities, historic sites, or museums... So why DC?

  • fawnridge (Ricky)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We go to Jamaica twice a year to a resort that has no kids, just couples. However, the all-inclusive resort next door is called Beaches, Negril and it's designed for families. There are watersports galore, a pirate castle, and of course an amazing beach with water that's always warm. You can also go zip-lining off the resort or swim with the dolphins at another off-resort company.

    The nice thing about the place is that there is an "adults only" section you can go to while your kids are on the beach if you want some peace and quiet for yourselves.

    Airfare is very reasonable from anywhere on the East Coast.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Beaches website

  • robo (z6a)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Cruises don't include alcohol so you'll be saving yourself a bit of cash there if you don't drink.

    In-laws took us on an Oasis-class RC ship in the Caribbean. It was a good choice with the nephews (8 and 10) as they had a taste of freedom and could explore the very large ship. It was a bit like a floating resort. There were lots of kids' activities and a movie theatre but not sure about activities for 14-16 year olds.

    If you did choose a cruise I would pick a giant ship for the activities and sports facilities, and I would pick at least a 7 day cruise to avoid the weekend partiers.

  • Sueb20
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Another vote for national parks. My kids aren't particularly "outdoorsy" but all really enjoyed Grand Tetons and Yellowstone (that was one trip), Yosemite and San Francisco (all in one trip), and Grand Canyon, Bryce, and Zion (all in one trip). Acadia and Bar Harbor are fantastic, too -- lots of nature but also a fun downtown area. It's been about 6 years since our Yellowstone/GT trip and DD, who was 7 at the time, still asks to go back to Jackson Hole whenever we talk about future trips.

    I know it's a city, but there is a lot to do in Chicago. San Diego and San Francisco, too.

  • tibbrix
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    A cruise would be my last vacation of choice, but i have always heard that the cruise from Boston to Bermuda is a blast. And it's not one of those gargantuan hotels with a propeller things.

  • deegw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Mtn I suggested DC because I am not a city person and get claustrophobic easily but I really enjoy visiting there. My 17 yo has the attention span of a gnat but still finds plenty of things to pique her interest when we visit and we have been multiple times.

    The only downside would be the heat and humidity during June.

  • robo (z6a)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I like cruises but I think I was a dolphin in a past life. Put me anywhere in or on the water and I am happy. I love just sitting on my deck and watching the waves and the sunset, smelling the salt air, feeling the wind, listening to the seabirds. A common condition for Nova Scotians, I believe. I also apparently love all the things that 90 year olds love, like Florida, trivia nights, cheesy musicals, watching classic movies outdoors, and all you can eat buffets. AND I get seasick (one thing the bigger boats are better for).

    If you end up cruising, I know it sounds like witchcraft but pack a few Seabands. I was intensely skeptical of them but they totally did work for me on all but the roughest of seas. Placebo or not, it was better than being dosed on gravel all the time.

  • bonnieann925
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I haven't read all the responses, but we have been on several cruises. First of all, drinks are not included so for a non-drinker a cruise is a good value. As for the food, yes it's plentiful, but depending on the cruise line you can opt for specialty restaurants where you won't overeat.

    We have cruised out of Florida, San Juan, Boston and Barcelona. To be able to drive to your departure port will save airfare. We like the Boston to Bermuda cruise for that reason, among others.

    As for where to go in the Caribbean, we prefer the Southern itinerary, with stops to St. Thomas, Barbados, Antigua, etc. Our children really enjoyed the variety of activities afforded by a cruise. We were on the go non-stop. They shared a cabin adjacent to ours and they were konked out early every night!

    Check out www.cruisecritic.com. There are message boards and there may be one for family cruising.

  • mtnrdredux_gw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I was happy to let my kids have freedom on a cruise with 67 passengers, all of whom we met. I would worry about them, frankly esp a young girl, among 2500 strangers on a big ship. I would not give my kid autonomy in that situation.

  • robo (z6a)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Depends on the parent. In this case the boys ran between decks by themselves and made a few other friends such that they ran between cabins. But their parents are fairly free range (and we live in a city where they have autonomy and can range 1-2 km by themselves).

  • Annie Deighnaugh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Why? Because it meets some of her other criteria, like getting her money's worth...no vacation planning required...it's not a big unmanageable city like LA or NYC...it's not far for her to go...the smithsonian is far more than just an art museum...the zoo is fun...and a lot more interesting than sitting around on a beach.

  • bonnieann925
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Cruising out of Baltimore limits your options, but they are still fine. You won't get deep into the Caribbean, but you can plan a cruise that affords you/your family many of the excursions on your list: parasailing (our girls really enjoyed that. I almost had a heart attack!), snorkeling, swimming with the dolphins and more.

    Leaving out of NY really doesn't expand your options much due to the travel time. You will get to the Bahamas and Coco Cay.

  • tinam61
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    While I think DC would be a good trip for a family with kids, I would not go in June. I would suggest some of our favorite areas, Charleston, Savannah and islands on the east coast, but again, that is not somewhere we go in June (heat/humidity). Also, you mentioned you go to the beach at another time during the summer.

    I do second the idea about national parks and even state parks. Many of the states parks in our part of the US have great lodges to stay in, or there are cabins, some waterfront. Most have lakes for swimming, boating and fishing. Several of our state parks (TN) have golf courses. Most have some time hiking trails. Some are located close to cities/areas you might like to explore.

    I like the idea of the PA trip, although we have not been there in summer, so I don't know the temps/humidity.

    How about a trip to a mountain area? It would be cooler and there are usually several outdoor activities. We have the smoky mountains here in TN, and areas in NC would also be nice. The Highlands, Asheville, Boone, Blowing Rock, etc. in NC are all great with many activities and in all of those locations you have several day-trip options also. Helen, GA is another nice mountain area.

    tina

  • bonnieann925
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Cruising out of Baltimore limits your options, but they are still fine. You won't get deep into the Caribbean, but you can plan a cruise that affords you/your family many of the excursions on your list: parasailing (our girls really enjoyed that. I almost had a heart attack!), snorkeling, swimming with the dolphins and more.

    Some of the itineraries include a stop at Port Canaveral, which would allow for a trip to Disney if you wanted to do that.

    Leaving out of NY really doesn't expand your options much due to the travel time. You will get to the Bahamas and Coco Cay.

    http://cs.cruise.com/cs/forms/CruiseResultPage.aspx?skin=1&phone=888-333-3116&pin=&did=1&mon=8%2f1%2f2015&pid=8420

    Look at the Royal Caribbean option.

  • lkplatow
    Original Author
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You guys are AWESOME with suggestions....please keep them coming.

    I am a bit too overwhelmed to respond to you individually, but some things I wanted to respond to:

    We are local to Pennsylvania, so we have seen all the PA stuff - that is a great suggestion though, if there are other vacation planners following this thread who have not done it.

    We have done DC many times -- my sister lives there and we usually stop for a few days on our way to or from the beach. She works for the Smithsonian and her husband works for the government, so between them, we have seen most of the attractions. Yes, DC is a city, but to us it is not overwhelming since we had locals to ferry us around and it's also not really dirty or crimey (at least where we were.) I'd like to go to NYC at some point but I am a bit intimidated as I wouldn't know my way around and I really don't like crowds and the general "dirtyness" of big cities.

    Regarding the sleaze in Vegas -- my husband tells me that similar stuff is all over London (the inside of every one of those cute red phone booths is plastered with very explicit ads for escort services and strip bars). Obviously, I'd rather not expose my kids to that in either place.

    I am concerned that we will be very cramped in London -- I assume my husband would try to get an upgrade in hotel room size, but we do like to spread out and usually get a suite if we can. That would also be an issue for a cruise, I guess, unless we got two adjoining staterooms.

    As far as touring the west and scenery/nature....I like that. I want to see the grand canyon. But let me tell you about Niagara Falls -- I have always wanted to see it and I loved it. I could have stood there and watched the water for hours -- I was mesmerized. My kids on the other hand? After about 5 minutes it was "can we go now?" "I'm hungry!" "This is boring." "It's just water, mom. How much can you look at water?" They diid enjoy the other stuff in the area (there are shows and touristy museums and we did a jetboat tour of the river and the maid of the mist) but the actual beautiful majestic falls held their attention for about 5 minutes. So I'm not holding out much hope for the Grand Canyon/Yosemite/etc.....I think it will be the same thing only without the other stuff so they'll just be bored.

    Quebec City is definitely on my list for one of these years -- my daughter is just finishing first year French and no one else in the family speaks it, so I figure we'd be better off waiting til she's a bit more fluent. (Right now, as she tells me, "I know the words for all the breakfast foods, but not much else")

    I will definitely think about a drive up to New England -- we have friends in Boston we could stay with but I wasn't sure there'd be enough for the kids to do. Before we had kids, we went to New England every year and did sightseeing and antiquing and such but I don't think they'd be into that. But maybe if we made a big driving tour, we could find places to stop that they would like like resorts and ziplining and whale watching etc. (but ugh -- that requires planning, LOL!) But the cold ocean....I guess there'd be no beach swimming in New England in June!

    I have no idea if I get seasick....I guess I'd find out rather quickly. I have always been ok on ferry boats and such but that's about the limit of my boating experience.

    Thanks for the feedback on Atlantis -- my husband was looking and that is where he wanted to go. But then we started looking for reviews and found some horrifying ones (including one where a guest was sexually assaulted). I suppose that could just as easily happen anywhere but it still gives me pause.

    Thanks also for the feedback on the Royal Carribean cruise - we were looking at a ship that has onboard surfing but again, reviews are mixed. As far as islands go, I don't think we can get most of the southern islands mentioned via cruising unless we sail out of Florida -- the cruises that leave from Baltimore/NYC seem to go mostly to Bermuda and the Bahamas. But if the southern islands are better, I could see about flying down.

    Ack - it is all so overwhelming!!! Maybe easier to just stay home, LOL!

  • funnygirl
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Apparently London has changed since we were there last (it has been a long time). Too bad because we enjoyed it so much as well as England in general. May need to rethink a return trip:(.

  • tibbrix
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Well, I suppose I should sing Cape Cod's praises, right?

    Whale watches; deep sea fishing; usually warm enough to swim in June (can never predict weather, though!); new aerial/zip-line park being built now, in Sandwich; day trip to Martha's Vineyard or Nantucket (easier from mid and upper cape than from Lower and Outer Cape); I've got ropes on trees that teens put up to swing out over the pond and drop from;

    If you are not averse to gay people and men in women's clothing, Provincetown is a blast, and kids your age can even walk into town by themselves (cannot get lost!) and are perfectly safe. You and your husband could sit and watch the water and set the kids loose and not have to worry one iota. It is a very colorful town! Ptown Inn is at the very end of land, where the Pilgrims first landed, and they have a HUGE outdoor pool in the shape of a pilgrim hat, which is also on the harbor. I think they also have game rooms. (Sandwich with the aerial park is about an hour from Ptown) but straight down Rt. 6, so a very easy drive. Cape Cod is very easy to get around.

    Plimoth Plantation is just over the bridge.
    Bring or rent bikes and ride the LONG and flat Rail Trail; stop at maybe Marconi Beach in Wellfleet and go for a swim; have lunch at Pearl on the marina in Wellfleet, or pack a lunch and eat on the beach. Lots of places to hop on the Rail Trail, which runs from Dennis to Wellfleet.

    Boston is one hour from the bridge.

    This post was edited by Tibbrix on Wed, Jan 28, 15 at 11:53

  • robo (z6a)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If you don't like being squeezed---get two staterooms. The double bunk staterooms are very tight.

    I really enjoyed our recentish trip to London and didn't find it any sleazier than any large city. We stuck to the downtown. Except I guess weekends in the West End seemed a little rowdy.

    It was my first introduction to the public urinal (these ones pop out at night)
    {{gwi:2134784}}

  • mtnrdredux_gw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Sleaze doesn't come to mind at all with London, and certainly no more than Philly or NY, or for goodness sakes, Vegas!. You may want to ask DH a few more questions, LOL!

  • outsideplaying_gw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We were (again) in southern Utah last fall and we did see a lot of young people, more so than usual in the National Parks. Not teenagers, as school was in session. But I can remember taking our teens to the parks and they even remember more about it now than I thought they did.

    There is more to do than just 'look at something'. Ride the horses in Bryce and Zion, the mules in the Grand Canyon. Quite an experience. Hike some short trails, or go on a Ranger-led hike. Most are short but fill up a few hours of the day, and the scenery can't be beat. In Yellowstone there are 4-5 distinct areas that are all very different. And I never get tired of 'finding' a herd of elk or buffalo. And there are places to go white-water rafting. We flew in and out of Las Vegas, but didn't stay except overnight and caught a concert (The Eagles) there.

    London is almost a second home as I've spent a lot of business time there, and sometimes weeks or a month at a time. Several hotels there have apartment-type rooms or suites that might work for you should you decide to go. I think the kids might enjoy London more than you think. Take them to SoHo, do some London Walks walking tours (cheap and they can pick the ones that interest them), a pub or two (they can go in, eat and get a feel for what one is like), the Tower of London (fun guides, prisons, and you get to see the Crown Jewels), and just walk around the city or ride the buses and let them get a taste of what the city is all about. It's really a small city once you've learned some of the layout and not hard to walk around with a good map available at most hotels.

  • GaryFx
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    There's plenty for the kids to do in and around Boston.

    Within Boston: The U.S.S. Constitution, the aquarium, the Museum of Science, Duck Tours.

    Outside: Salem (several witch-trial museums), The Mayflower II (if you don't mind replicas), Plimouth Plantation, whale watch trips.

    Further out: Canobie Lake Park (amusement park in southern NH), Franconia Notch (further north), Old Sturbridge Village.

    You didn't mention (or I missed mention) of outdoor activities, but there are numerous places where you can rent bikes and enjoy the day. You can also rent canoes in Concord, but with no interest in historic sites, that would only be a couple of hours.

    Edit to add: I also agree with everything Tibbrix wrote about Cape Cod, but I'll add that driving on and off the Cape during weekend rush hours is murder, though early June won't be as bad as July/Aug.

    This post was edited by GaryFx on Wed, Jan 28, 15 at 12:24

  • MarinaGal
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We had a great time in San Diego last summer. Stayed in La Jolla and spent time at the SD Zoo, the Wildlife Safari Park (amazing!!!), Legoland/Waterpark (better for younger kids but still of great interest anyone who likes Legos there were lots of happy young teens there). In San Diego, you can kayak, paddle board, sail, parasail, surf - so many ocean activities. Usually great weather. Plus you could drive to LA and do one of the amusement parks there. Downside of San Diego: traffic, but we got around that by staying on east coast time and doing everything early.

    I know a lot of people don't love all inclusive resorts, but my family loves the Beaches resort in Turks and Caicos. Huge resort, lots to do - on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Lots of ocean activities, but some of them you do pay extra for. Snorkeling, paddle boards, kayaks, sailing, water park are included. The staff is great. It's a very easy place to stay if you are okay with a big resort.

    We spend our summers on Cape Cod and I agree with everything Tibbrix said - that would be another great choice!

  • Sueb20
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    You just can't compare Niagara Falls with Yellowstone. Trust me. Yellowstone, to me, was like being on another planet. It is just sooo cool. Go online and look at some pictures. In addition to walking and gaping at the geysers and sulphur pools and bison, we also went on an alpine-slide sort of thing, a sunset safari tour, river rafting, horseback riding, and shopping/eating downtown. My boys were 13 and 16 at the time, my DD was 7. All of us had the best time.

    We spent about 20 hours in Vegas at the end of our Grand Canyon/Bryce/Zion trip. We all hated it, and it was 117 degrees in late June. Again, between Vegas and London there's no comparison.

  • Danahills
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    How about Mt. Rushmore and the Black Hills of SD. Plenty to see and do. Custer State Park with a wildlife tour, the Badlands, which are a mini Grand Canyon, Spearfish Canyon, Deadwood, many caves to tour, a drive through wildlife park with bears, etc, and many, many museums and tourist type things to do. Most people that come to the Black Hills are very pleasantly surprised by all that is here and there is a lot to do for all ages.

  • artemis_ma
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    One of the best vacations I ever took was a week on a schooner in Penobscot Bay, Maine. That one was actually my college graduation present, but there were a few teens aboard and they were having a blast. On our tour we stopped for lobster dinner on a deserted island, and did mid-week plunges into the ocean to clean off (it is in many ways a "roughing it" experience. They also have 3-day excursions should that be enough "roughing it" for you at a time. Up a bit further north is Acadia National Park, and there are a lot of good fun things to do along the coast. In Searsport there's a "colonial village" to explore -- while most of your kids probably don't do museums, this doesn't really feel like one. Lighthouses are fun. Do some research in advance and you should find some off-the-track coastal eateries which are almost always awesome -- and less pricy.

  • artemis_ma
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    PS, if I ever do a real cruise, I'd love to go on an Alaskan one. Yes, it is a major air fare flight, but there might be more kid-friendly stops, and I'm suspecting they cost less than Caribbean?

  • funnygirl
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We did a southwest trip a few weeks ago including a stop in Vegas to visit family and Zion. Absolutely hated Vegas (except enjoyed visiting the old strip) and having cigarette smoke clinging to me 24/7. Zion was fabulous and we also enjoyed Sedona but not sure whether kids would appreciate it or not.

  • tibbrix
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    If I wanted to cruise the Caribbean, I'd fly to the Caribbean then contract one of those private boats that takes you from island to island and you live on the boat.

  • tibbrix
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Speaking of Cape Cod, if you want to rent a house/cottage, as opposed to using hotels, go to weneedavacation.com. Wonderful site that caters only to Cape Cod and the islands; local well-run business. For other places, check and see if there are also "boutique"rental Web sites. They're much better than the huge sites like HomeAway, VRBO, AirBnb, etc.

  • deegw
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Marinagal - Where did you stay in La Jolla? Did you like it? I have been looking at La Jolla for our San Diego trip in June.

    Thanks

  • rob333 (zone 7b)
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    US Virgin Islands. We did that this past summer and the resort had all the water stuff free. Whenever the teen son was tired of kyaking, he'd get a paddle board, or fins/goggles and snorkel. He was never bored and it was all right there, so I never had to worry where he was cause I could look over and see him! It's Caribean with the perks of being on US soil. Same currency, no passports, etc. They do drive on the left, but other than that, the same as the contiguous states.

  • legomom23
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Another vote for Jackson Hole, Grand Tetons and Yellowstone. AMazing! Yellowstone does look like another planet. And Jackson Hole is just cool. My son was 11 when we went and was not bored at all!
    It does take a little planning though, but if you go on Trip Advisor you'll find lots of helpful hints.
    Have fun where ever you end up!

  • ardcp
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    i have 2 older kids. we have not gone in a cruise mainly because i am skeptical that being on a boat with so many other people could be fun.
    my suggestion, knowing beaches are your thing is twofold:
    go to the disney water parks, they are amazing! in june i would skip the dry parks as it is super hot. also aquatica (seaworld) is awesome as well. one disney water has a swim with sharks tank (i think its typhoon lagoon) and crazy awesome water slides. the other park looks like a blizzard hit and has a crazy "ski jump" slide. they both have insane wave pools, think fake surfing! plus they are really safe so the family can split up and not worry about kids on their own. it is nice to be wet in june so your family won't roast in the FL sun.
    then i would do the west coast of fl. it is very drivable from orlando (we have rented from alamo and flown into orlando and out of tampa for no extra charge) and really beautiful. there are so many state parks that are on the beach in fl. one of my favorites is honeymoon island/caladessi island in tarpon springs (20 mins north of clearwater) there are some historical homes to see as part of the state park system and tons of kayaking/paddle boarding places. just south of clearwater is st johns pass with boardwalks along the ocean that you can see dolphins from. also passagrille beach is famous for its beauty.
    farther south is anna maria island. absolutely gorgeous and not as commercial as clearwater beach. my kids love the area and there is so much to do. we rented a house in anna maria through a realty and it was lovely. june should be off season as well.
    we have gone to marco but found anna maria and clearwater area much nicer.

  • kristine_ca
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    We took our two teens to London in 2012-- honestly saw no sleaze while there. It is nothing like Vegas. I'm sure you can find sketchy things in any city if you look hard enough, but I find Vegas sketchy overall! And our daughters loved London. One must visit: Warner Bros. Studio Tour--the Making of Harry Potter. It was really great. And I second the mention of the Tower of London. We decided to pay top dollar and got a very comfortable 2 bedroom suite in Kensington. We used public transportation to get everywhere (got passes before we left) and found it a very easy city to get around in.

    Concerning the west coast: I would not do LA, since it's a pretty overwhelming city. The two best options I think are San Diego (as another poster mentioned) and San Francisco. In S.F. you have good public transportation and lots of kid-friendly stuff. We went to the Exploratorium, Chinatown, walked across the Golden Gate Bridge, road Cable Cars, etc. And while you mentioned not loving museums, there are some in Golden Gate Park that are very kid friendly. My favorite is the California Academy of Sciences, which houses (among other things) the Steinhart Aquarium and Morrison Planetarium. Tons to do!

  • ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    as a stay at home dad to a 12 and 16 year old... i dream of sending them away .. so i could enjoy the house without all the hormones and teenage angst floating in the air .... lol ...

    hey kids.. how does a two week mine crap camp in a dark moldy basement with all the trash food you can eat sound??? ... what??? .. it only lasts a week... care to go twice ... mind if we move.. while you are gone ... i swear.. we will tell you where we move to ... lol ... honest.. honest.. we will be here.. when you get back ....

    now back to your normally scheduled program ....

    ken

    Here is a link that might be useful: link

  • suero
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    When my sons were teenagers we vacationed at Caneel Bay. They loved it. Snorkeling is great, with different marine life hanging out at each of the seven beaches, plus day trips.

  • Annie Deighnaugh
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Love Caneel Bay, but it's expensive. You could rent a place on St John...the island is lovely with 95% of it national park, and some of the best snorkeling in the world....

  • MarinaGal
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Deee - we stayed at La Valencia and we loved it! I called it my pink paradise. Lovely vintage California Spanish-style architecture. The pool overlooks the ocean - just gorgeous. We were in SD for a wedding and had friends staying at other La Jolla hotels. I could get the names of a couple of those if you would like more suggestions. La Jolla is very walkable and fun.

    Here is a link that might be useful: La Valencia

  • jakabedy
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    With the Grand Canyon, you also get fairly nearby the Petrified Forest, Painted Desert, meteor crater . . . all those are good kid places. Depending on how much time you have and how much driving around you want to do, stretch it to Four Corners, Monument Valley, Durango, CO, etc. Stay in Sedona/Flagstaff for some pampering.

    Some historic sites are good for kids, too In NM, consider some of the pueblos. The most impressive/kid-friendy would probably be Taos or Acoma ("Sky City") or the cave dwellings at Bandelier.

  • raee_gw zone 5b-6a Ohio
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I can't imagine not going to London if I had the chance, including with adolescents. Have them read some age-appropriate books set in the area to pique their interest .There is so much to see and do, and more just short train rides away.

    Are you all athletic enough to enjoy a cycling trip? There are many good companies such as Backroads with trips all over the USA.

    An odd thing my parents took us on was a trip to the gem mines in North Carolina. We spent a few days digging in the dirt for rubies, garnets and sapphires (found some nice ones, too), did some hiking, and lounged around the cabin we rented the rest of the time. How enjoyable this would be depends entirely on the personalities involved!

  • voila
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I would not pass up a trip to London. Was there a couple of months ago and saw no sleaze. Public transportation is fabulous! So much to see! There is the National Railway to the countryside for trips to Bath, Stonehenge, or Stratford-upon-Avon. London Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, museums galore! When you see a building that is 500 years old, even teens have to be in awe. Your children may never have the opportunity again to spend time with you in such a rich city.

  • patty_cakes
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    The nothern Ca coast is perfect for a road trip, with many sights along the way. To make it easy on yourself, fly into the small Santa Barbara airport(if possible), and rent a car from there. Santa Barbara itself is a lovely, wonderful, bustling little village with plenty of shops, great food, the pier, and of course the magnificent beach! Oh, and USB is right on the ocean. You'll only be about an hour(a gorgeoous drive!)from San Simeon where Hearst Castle is located, but you would need to book your tours online beforehand~we dId two, one after the other, but don't recall which. I swear the views from the estate are a look into heaven! You will also be close to San Luis Obispo, a great little village with a ban of fast food chains. There's a tree~lined street you can't miss, which is reminiscent of a scene out of Gone With the Wind with the mighty Oaks and also the college with it's gorgeous grounds. I can't remember how far you will be from Solvang, but it's a short drive and well worth seeing this bit of Sweden-in-America! Monticeido and Summerland, are other small villages worthy of a bit of time, and close to each other. As an aside, i'm also somewhat of a 'food snob' and was happy to learn the majority of the small restaurants along the way have their own organic gardens and if not, the produce is bought locally from organic farmers/farmers markets.
    It's definitely a trip i'm planning to do again, and will take in Monterey and Carmel, possibly as far as San Fran/Sausilito.

    As for San Diego, I lived there for 27 years before moving to Austin, and it can get crazy on the freeways. Parking places at the beach are rare, restaurants can be a 2 hour wait, and if there's a baseball game, traffic can be at a standstill in every direction. The Del Mar Fair is in late June ending on July 4th, but two weeks later horse racing season starts~all this creates more traffic, etc in SD. Just a heads up, as it can become frustrating(and overwhelming!)and may be more than you bargained for. Just something to keep in mind if you plan a visit. Looking forward to your decision. You've been given some great ideas!

  • Jane_the_Renovator
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Would DEFINITELY do London with teens. It is a really walkable city and there is so much... for everyone. I second the suggestion of having all members of the family involved in researching/planning the trip.

    If you look at the magazine/website Time Out London, it lists all kinds of interesting things to do in places you have never thought of. Here in New York, Time Out listed a wonderful exhibit on Sesame Street... at a branch of the public library. Not huge, but enough for a 4-year-old to really enjoy. Then, we topped it off with hot dogs from a street cart!

    Since your family isn't into big cities/museums, here are some recommendations for a slower vacation:

    *Northampton/Amherst, MA area: bike trails, hiking, swimming at Puffer's Pond, delicious food, the incomparable Montague Book Mill, farm stands with artisan local ice cream....

    * Isla Mujeres. A sleepy little island off Cancun. Beaches, snorkeling, biking, fishing expeditions, whale shark viewing, option of trips to Cancun if you want more shopping (beautiful pottery and other handicrafts) or giant upscale restaurants. You would have to check the weather for June. Very safe.

    P.S. The Montague Book Mill is one of the best bookstores in the world (it's on a few lists). Definitely put it on your to-do list.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Montague Book Mill

  • patty_cakes
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Any decisions? Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

  • lkplatow
    Original Author
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    No decisions yet! My husband is trying to finalize if/when he gets sent to London. I am thinking that if he goes, that is where we'll go....I'm going to try to see if it would be possible for us to rent an apartment through VRBO -- it would probably cost less to do that for a week than his company would spend putting him up in the swanky but tiny hotel where he stayed last time (I think that hotel cost about $400/night) and we'd have more room to spread out.

    Thanks to this thread, I think I have ruled out Vegas for the next several years -- maybe when the kids are much older. I still would like to do something in the Carribean at some point, and I have a travel agent sending me prices for cruises and all-inclusives in case the London thing falls through. There was an awesome deal on an all-inclusive in Punta Cana on Livingsocial today, but I can't book anything til I figure out if London is happening or not.

    And at some point, I defintely want to do California -- fly into LA and basically drive up the coast seeing the sights. But I might want to wait til my daughter is a little older since if there's west coast colleges she'd want to see, we could work that in.

    We are close enough to New England and NYC that we can do little mini-trips there for long weekends, so I think that is what we will try to do....spread out a few mini-trips over the next couple years.

    Thanks for all your feedback -- I suppose if London is what we end up doing, I'll be back asking for suggestions there!

  • romy718
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    I know I am late to this post but another vote for the Grand Tetons. Would you & DH consider a few days or a week at a Dude Ranch?
    DH & I combined Jackson Hole (loved the Tetons) with 4 days at a dude ranch. We didn't have our kids (grown) with us but there were lots of families.
    They separated the kids from the adults & I was amazed that even the teenagers were having a great time. There were also opportunities to learn to fly fish. No TV, no internet but everyone had a great time. I returned the following year with my adult daughter for a full week at the range & a few days at the Tetons. This a trip I would consider with my grandkids & their parents, unless I'm too old by then. Most guests had little to no horseback riding experience.
    Another great trip - Costa Rica - zip-lining, rafting, horseback riding, monkeys, National parks & they like Americans.

  • kitschykitch
    9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    OP,

    My husband is in London often on business and I go with him from time to time. I can say this, $400 does not go far at all in London, especially if you are including taxes and fees. That is ordinary for a business class City Center hotel. Luxury hotels will start at six hundred, and will not accommodate more than two people in most all situations. At least that has been my experience at hotels like the Savoy, Dorchester, Mandarin, Ritz. For those who think of the US norm of two queens, that is almost never found in Europe, at least not in my experience in high end hotels in the business areas. So it is hard for a family to tag along and not incur significant additional costs.

    Hotels are less expensive outside of City Center, but London traffic is infamous. It can make New York City look tame. I doubt your husband would want to endure that. If your husband's business takes him to the banking section, you could stay out there and save money, but then you are nowhere near the touristy parts.

    My husband's firm only allows him to stay at certain hotels for which his company negotiates terms. If your husband's company does too, that may make it harder to do. If not, then I suppose you could ask their travel department how they would treat reimbursement? Maybe they can even help you with ideas. But you would want to know what they plan to reimburse if budget is an issue - some companies are strict on that.

    I hope you can convince your children that museums are worthwhile! Because you absolutely have to see at least a few in London, or it is silly to go, really. Just two or three of them. Maybe try to familiarize them in advance and get them to choose some areas they are interested in. Do they have friends who have been to London? Maybe they have ideas to share.

    As for airfare, if you are looking to reduce costs, maybe flying into Gatwick would help? And if you can, go in June rather than later in summer.

    I know you seem a little unsure about it as a destination, but if you already spend time at the beach every year, think of this as an important education.