Fun Travel with Teens
My three sons have been traveling since they were very young. During their teen years, we did not slow down. The coaches of the sports teams didn’t like their absence, but I always prioritized travel time during school breaks.
Traveling with teens is a great opportunity to connect.
With some good planning, you can create fantastic family memories. Read these worldwide travel tips and learn some ways that you can make that quality time away together, enjoyable for everyone!
How to Make Travel Fun For Teens
- Involve them in the planning process
- Alternate big cities with smaller towns
- Choose museums wisely and plan out what you want to see in advance (and don’t plan on staying all day!)
- Learn fun facts about sites that you can share when visiting (interesting history, movies filmed…)
- Take action photo bursts of them jumping into water, etc.
Backflip in Hanoi, Vietnam
- Plan fun activities
- Take some downtime (or a midday sun break if it is hot)
- Take a bike tour in the city or countryside (check out electric bike tours)
- Plan out meals/restaurants in advance, as well as coffee/drink and sweet treats (you ARE on vacation after all!)
- Go swimming at beaches, lakes, rivers, etc., and take a GoPro
Ceynote “Dos Ojos” in Mexico
- Teens will appreciate you letting them drink a coffee, and maybe a little wine or beer if they are of age in the country you are visiting
- Travel with a drone if the country allows it (check before you travel)
- Encourage them to make a video
- Ask them to plan out some Audiobooks (my sons use Audible.com) to listen for times when there is waiting, and traveling…
- Set out to take creative photos and share everyone’s best at the end of the day
Rome Colosseum reflection in sunglasses
- Visit parks and take a seat for a while
- Consider sitting atop a double-decker bus to get an overview of a big city
- Free city walking tours (Be ready to abandon if it is boring!)
- Find accommodations with activities such as ping pong, bocce, tennis…
- A ball is fun at any age
California Coast
Kauai, Hawaii
- Know when to splurge on a tour guide (make SURE they speak English clearly and are entertaining)
- Know when to get up and out early (plan an enticing breakfast or coffee/hot chocolate first)- if it is hot, crowded, or you are driving to another destination
- Picnic! Plan in advance, where to shop and where to sit
- If you need a midday break, enjoy a long leisurely lunch at a local restaurant
- Bring a few decks of cards, or play some other games
- Plan a small amount of shopping time, if your kids want to buy something
- Street performers in the evening are free entertainment for the whole family
- Bring a laptop (domestic travel) with a cable to connect to a TV for family movie nights (plan out before you leave home)
- Track your steps on your iPhones while in big cities and try to top your biggest day (you can also make an incentive for when you hit a certain number)
- Watch a live local sport, live local music, or see a play or show (depending on interests)
- Go on adventures and stay active
- Look for wildlife (or, in a city like Athens, count cats!)
- Go out dancing
- Be patient and put your fun hat on!
For more tips on travel, please read:
Check out our Top Family Travel Experiences or Family Travel Bucket List for ideas of where to go and what to do
For an adventurous family vacation Costa Rica 10 Day Itinerary
Leave A Comment