In Search Of Teen Friendly Getaways!

[tarheelmjfan]

Our DS(14) started High School this year. My DH & I have decided we'd like to take more mini-getaways as a family, before he's grown & off to college. We always take family vacations. With the clock ticking loudly in our ears, we're also wanting to take advantage of some of the long weekends that our DS gets off from school. Unfortunately, choosing vacation destinations that a teenager will enjoy is becoming increasingly difficult.

I'm desperate for suggestions for teen friendly destinations w/i a few hours drive of Tampa. A drive longer than 6 hrs. wouldn't be feasible for a 3 or 4 night getaway. We need to drive, because we travel with a , whenever possible. My DH & I are becoming pretty burned out on the theme parks in the area. I realize we could take a friend along, but that kind of defeats the purpose of family bonding trips.

Our DS doesn't like the beach or cruising. Did I mention it's getting hard to plan trips he enjoys? We booked 4 nights in St. Augustine for Thanksgiving, & he's already saying he doesn't want to go there. We plan to take a lot of tours & see several attractions, so it's not like he'll be sitting around with nothing to do. He will be going. We don't allow him to opt out. It would be nice to plan trips he wants to take, rather than forcing him to go.

After reading this, I'm sure you can see the delimma I'm in. It seems rather hopeless. I'm hoping those of you with teenagers can relate, & have some great ideas I can borrow.

 

[Em_in_FL]

I don't HAVE a teenager, but I WAS a teenager growing up here in Central Florida... so maybe I can relate!

Maybe have HIM plan the trips? Based on HIS interests... theme parks? beach? space center? FL history? Fishing? Snorkeling? FL Keys? State parks?
There's LOTS to do within a few hour drive...
Do your best to get HIM involved... give him a budget, and get him involved in the planning... have him navigate the enire trip, etc...

Good luck!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

I don't HAVE a teenager, but I WAS a teenager growing up here in Central Florida... so maybe I can relate!

Maybe have HIM plan the trips? Based on HIS interests... theme parks? beach? space center? FL history? Fishing? Snorkeling? FL Keys? State parks?
There's LOTS to do within a few hour drive...
Do your best to get HIM involved... give him a budget, and get him involved in the planning... have him navigate the enire trip, etc...

Good luck!

Thanks for the suggestions. I've tried to get him involved, but he shows no interest. We spent a week at UO in July, per his request. His contribution to the planning process was that he wanted to stay at HRH & eat at both of Emeril's restaurants. (He does like good food. ) That's it!!! It must be in his genes. His dad's even less help with trip planning.

I think it's especially difficult to plan a trip he'll enjoy, because of where we live. Most people who live in Florida enjoy the beach. My DH & I moved here for the warm weather & ocean. I'm not exactly sure how we produced a child who doesn't like the beach or the water. He's also not a fan of the great outdoors. He pretty much come by that honestly, because my DH & I like the beach & playing in the ocean, but we don't enjoy most of what nature has to offer. We're a family that likes to be entertained.

He does like the theme parks, especially UO & BG. We'd like to see more than Tampa & Orlando though. We've been to the Keys once, but stayed in Key Largo & drove to KW for the day. We do plan to return to Key West soon, but he's not thrilled about that either.