Tips for Planning a Family Vacation with Teens

Planning a family vacation with teens is anything but fun. Even if your teenagers are easy going, chances are good they will have opinions and disagreements with you and with others along the way. How can you be sure that this trip is going to be a good one that everyone enjoys? It starts with knowing a few helpful tips for avoiding the most common problems associated with traveling with these picky people. Upgrade the Parks One of the common problems individuals have when planning a family vacation is that they still go to the same theme parks and thrill rides. Some teens want to go to the same location while others may be bored by the lack of ability to do the things they want to. Upgrade to a park that is a better fit for their needs. This means choosing less fairytale-themed locations and focusing on something with more thrilling adventures. Keep Education a Part of It Another mistake that is easy to make is to think that teens no longer want to engage in educational programs and activities. Touring a museum that they are interested in can be fun. Even more interesting is touring a historic cemetery or home. The key here is to find things that the kids are interested in that have an educational foundation. Engage Them in the Search As you work through planning for the trip, be sure to get the kids involved. Ask them to find a few locations they would like to visit. This could be a theme park but it may also be a shopping center. By allowing them to have a say in the things they get to do, they will be more interested in the trip overall. You may want to ask them to research a few good places to visit on their own. Treat Them As Young Adults You may not get them all excited with balloons announcing the trip anymore. However, if you treat them with respect and interest, they are more likely to be willing to help with the plans. By keeping an open mind and by engaging in activities that they like, they will be more willing to engage in activities you want to do, too. The family vacation does not have to be boring or dull. What it should be, though, is interesting for the higher intelligence and different interests of the kids you have. Put aside the price and princess themes for this year and think about the outdoors, educational outings, thrill rides and camping. They may be more interested during the trip in these activities. For those that want a successful trip, these details play a big role in making it a possibility.