Once your child phases out of the toddler stage, a world of new vacation possibilities awaits. But there are only so many school breaks before your kid flees the nest. And when it comes to picking a vacation spot for tweens and teens, planning can be tricky!

Here, travel experts share the best travel spots for middle schoolers and beyond, plus planning tips to ensure your whole family has the best time ever.

1. Paris

Great for kids who: Love museums

A trip to Paris, France with your tween or teen is always a great idea. Not only are there tons of amazing historical sites to look at, but your family can also explore local areas. Here’s the perfect itinerary:

  • Book the earliest ticket you can (usually 9:30 a.m.) to ascend to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
  • Show up 90 minutes ahead of time to take pics at the base when it’s relatively uncrowded. (Tip: Grab breakfast at a nearby café before returning close to your assigned time.)
  • When you’re done, walk along the Seine River to the Musée d’Orsay, an art museum in a former railway station.
  • Kids who love ballet will delight in the paintings of Degas, while Dr. Who fans might recall the Van Gogh gallery that was featured in an episode.
  • It may be a little mobbed, but it’s still worth going to the Musée du Louvre to see the Mona Lisa and so much more.

“If you have time, spending a day at the Palace of Versailles, a quick train ride from Paris, is wonderful,” says Catherine McCord, author of Smoothie Project, who took her 8-year-old daughter to Paris. “Walk through the mazes before you go inside.”

Feel like a local: Book a walking tour with a local guide to explore off-the-beaten-path areas. Look at guide websites for options that focus on neighborhoods like the Latin Quarter, and themes such as vintage shopping, chocolate tastings, or secret passages.

2. New York City

Great for kids who: Want a big-city adventure

New York City is and has always been an iconic vacation spot. It’s a relatively simple trip from any state and there’s so much to see and do. Here’s how you can have the best family trip to New York City:

  • Reserve a ticket to visit the Statue of Liberty’s crown and climb 162 steps to the top via a winding staircase. Make sure to get your ticket early because same-date spots are rarely available.
  • In Times Square, Broadway (and Off-Broadway!) shows beckon and The Lion King, Wicked, and Aladdin are all great picks for kids of all ages (Tip: Ask for the free “My First Broadway Show” sticker sheet at the theaters).
  • Head over to Central Park to sail remote-controlled boats and climb on the Alice in Wonderland statue, suggests Beth Beckman, founder of LittleKidBigCity.

Feel like a local: Venture outside of Manhattan! Beckman, who has a 7-year-old, suggests Brooklyn’s Prospect Park for its catch-and-release fishing clinics and paddle boats.

3. London

Great for kids who: Love exploring historical sites

A family trip to London is the perfect way to immerse your middle-schooler in culture and history. Here’s what travel experts say to do when you visit The Swinging City:

  • Take a goofy selfie squeezed into a red telephone booth with your kid while explaining that once upon a time, people actually stood inside those things to make calls.
  • Visit London Transport Museum to learn all about the city’s iconic red buses.
  • Are your kids big Harry Potter fans? Check out the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London to get the behind-the-scenes look at the Harry Potter film series.
  • Take in astonishing views at the London Eye.

“My kids were also amused by the black taxis and how the seating arrangements inside were so different from everywhere else,” says Sajay Garcia, a travel blogger who posts YouTube travel videos at Growing Up Garcia. “The Changing of the Guard and the historic carriages near Buckingham Palace also kept my kids entertained.”

Feel like a local: Sit alongside Londoners at the open-air theater in The Regent’s Park. “Buy food from a neighborhood grocer and have a picnic at the park before the show,” suggests Emily Goldfischer, an American mom of two living in London. “And if you’re going to The British Museum, check out the adventure playground at nearby Coram’s Fields,” she says.

4. St. Louis

Great for kids who: Love nature

St. Louis, Missouri is a great travel spot for tweens and teens. The Gateway City is known for its nature, trails, and arts and culture scene. Here’s how to have the best time as a family in St. Louis:

  • Ride to the top of the Gateway Arch, then check out the visitors’ center. It houses America’s largest terrazzo floor map, showing North America’s historic rivers and trails so that you can trace pioneers’ journeys to the West.
  • Burn off steam on the walking and biking trails along the banks of the Mississippi River.
  • Check out the St. Louis Aquarium at Union Station which features 13,000 animals, including 80 sharks and stingrays, plus touch pools to get up close and personal with the animals.

Feel like a local: Head to City Museum, a play space with more than two dozen slides constructed from repurposed materials. Even tweens who think they’ve outgrown playgrounds will have a blast. “My 9-year-old loved zipping down a ten-story spiral slide into a cave,” says multimedia journalist and parent blogger Brandon Billinger.

5. Turtle Bay Resort, North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

Great for kids who: Love dogs

Any trip to Hawaii will impress your tween or teen. The islands are full of amazing beaches, fresh food, and endless family-fun. We love staying at the Turtle Bay Resort for all of its unique excursions. Here’s how to have the best time there:

  • As if it weren’t already rad enough to learn how to stand-up paddle board in Kawela Bay, Turtle Bay Resort gives kids a trained surf dog to keep them company on the board during their lesson.
  • Afterward, they can make a TikTok with a centuries-old banyan tree in the background. Can you imagine the likes?
  • You can even take your tween horseback riding or pony riding.
  • Explore kayaking tours where you can spot Hawaiian green sea turtles.
  • Check out the epic star gazing, where an expert astronomer will guide your family through the universe with a high-powered telescope.

Feel like a local: Check out local restaurants such as Zippy’s and L&L Hawaiian BBQ for fresh cuisine. Don’t forget to explore Oʻahu’s Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown for local festivals and events.

6. Gaylord Opryland Resort, Nashville

Great for kids who: Are obsessed with water parks

Nashville, Tennessee is full of family-friendly fun. Especially at the Gaylord Opryland Resort where there are only two options for your family vacay vibe: chill or thrill. Here were our favorite things to do:

  • Make a big splash at the Soundwaves Water Park which features a zen lazy river that you can relax in while your kids explore the huge wave pool.
  • Ride the Rapid Remix ride that zips you through a vortex-loop complete with LED lights and speakers.
  • Catch a break at the adult’s only infinity pool in the hotel’s water park, complete with a bar and landing deck.
  • Experience the nightly light show which can be viewed from balcony rooms between 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Feel like a local: If your kids love country music, check out the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum which features iconic exhibits on music legends like Dolly Parton. And if your family still has energy after exploring the water park, the trails at Centennial Park showcase all the natural beauty Tennessee has to offer.

7. Hard Rock Hotel, Los Cabos, Mexico

Great for kids who: Want to be a rockstar

Let your child embrace their inner rockstar at the Hard Rock Hotel in Los Cabos, Mexico. Here’s how you and your tween will have the best time:

  • Try karaoke with your teen! Adults and kids ages 12 and over can perform onstage in front of an audience and fulfill their rock-star dreams at the Hard Rock Hotel’s Music Lab. Whether they play an instrument or opt to sing, a Rock Specialist will help guide their performance.
  • Take your kids to the Roxity Kids Club or Teen Club to enjoy a space exclusively made for them. Here, they’ll enjoy an array of activities and meet other kids their age.
  • Enjoy a bowling night with their very own bowling alley. Adults 21+ can enjoy at the nearby Moonlight bar.

Feel like a local: Los Cabos, Mexico has tons of beautiful beaches to explore as a family, check out Santa Maria Beach for snorkeling and diving adventures. And eat like a local at Selva Taqueria, Tropical Kitchen Cabo, Acre, Don Sanchez, or Agave Kitchen.

8. Club Med Cancun Resort, Yucatan, Mexico

Great for kids who: Were born to be daredevils

This resort in Yucatan, Mexico is another great choice for your teen—especially if they have a wild side. Here’s what you need to check out:

  • At the all-inclusive Club Med Cancun’s trapeze school, a trained aerialist will guide your budding circus performers through moves on a legit trapeze. (Of course, they are safely harnessed.) The kids practice daily and will get to perform at least one time during your stay.
  • Learn how to shoot a bow at the on-site Archery School where they train beginners to sport.
  • Ride through the tropics horse-back with the Horseback Jungle Discovery excursion, where experienced equestrians guide you and your family through the jungle.

Feel like a local: Check out the Chichen Itza, an artifact known for being one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. And cool off at the iconic Tulum beach, which is full of local restaurants to explore.

9. Glacier National Park, near Columbia Falls, Montana

Great for kids who: Want to spy a glacier

You don’t have to head to Alaska to see a glacier. At Glacier National Park in Montana, there’s so much to explore. Here’s where to start:

  • Check out some of the 26 active glaciers in Montana. Look for a few easy ones first, like catching a great view of Jackson Glacier from an overlook on Going-to-the-Sun Road.
  • You’ll also see some cool sites as you drive to the park, such as the Salamander Glacier.
  • Fuel up for a 7-mile round-trip hike to see Piegan Glacier. It starts at the Siyeh Bend Trailhead on Going-to-the-Sun Road and crosses a wildflower meadow.

Feel like a local: Want some indoor fun? Check out the Big Sky Waterpark which includes bumper cars and a mini-golf course.

10. Grand Canyon National Park, near Fredonia, Arizona

Great for kids who: Want to ride a mule

This trip will definitely excite your teen. Here’s how to have the best time at the Grand Canyon National Park:

  • Relish in the breathtaking 10-plus-mile trek down the Grand Canyon’s North Rim to Phantom Ranch, historic cabins near the Colorado River.
  • Ride mules with your children and take in all the amazing views.

“My 14-year-old is a little nervous about heights, but he was so overwhelmed by the beauty and charmed by his mule that he forgot all about his fears and the fact that we had no cell service,” says Amy Mayhue, an advisor at Magnolia Travel Group, in Madison, Mississippi. Kids must be at least 9 years old to ride, but Mayhue recommends waiting until they’re 10 or 11 because the ride takes more than five hours each way.

Feel like a local: Check out the Red Pueblo Museum to see Anasazi artifacts. You can also shop local Native-American jewelry and art at Homestead Tribal Arts.

11. Yosemite National Park, near Mariposa, California

Great for kids who: Love to rock climb

With slabs of granite surrounding lakes, forests, and lush meadows, this park is a wanna-be climber’s wonderland. Here’s the perfect itinerary:

  • Climb mountains for great views and screen-free fun.
  • Check out the Giant Sequoia trees which is the largest grove in Yosemite.
  • Try spotting local wildlife such as deer, mountain lions, and birds.

Michael Moebes, who blogs at Dadcation, booked a private full-day lesson with the Yosemite Mountaineering School & Guide Service for his family of five. (Kids need to be 12 years old for group lessons, but there are no age restrictions for private ones.) Even Moebes’s 9-year-old was able to climb Munginella, near Yosemite Falls, for a great view of Half Dome.

Feel like a local: Explore the area further with scenic drives, local e-biking tours, and museums such as the California State Mining and Mineral Museum.

12. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Great for kids who: Love to go glamping

Under Canvas glamping resorts have popped up at more than a half dozen national parks, but the one here is the dreamiest of all since it’s surrounded by a forest. Here’s how to make this an iconic adventure:

  • Start off with a family hike to explore the local wildlife and nature in the area, keep an eye out for blooming wildflowers.
  • Take your teen on a fishing adventure in one of the many streams available.
  • Explore any of the 90 historic buildings and houses that have been preserved throughout the park.

Glamping is a great option if you want to balance adventure with relaxation. The canvas tents have housekeeping services, a toilet, a shower, and a wood stove. You can even book one with an “adjacent hive,” a separate area with twin beds for kids. “After hiking 10 miles to see so many of the park’s waterfalls, it felt great to come back here to sleep,” says Moebes.

Feel like a local: Take in crazy views at the Gatlinburg Space Needle, a kid-approved activity complete with an arcade. Or try skiing or mini-golf at Ober Mountain.



Source link