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Top 10 Vacation Spots for Teenagers in the US

UPDATED March 28, 2022
Elise Mahoney

Home - Dream Destinations

Top-10-Vacation-Spots-For-Teenagers-In-The-US

It’s not easy to plan a trip and having a teen who will join you is not going to make it easier. It could be a bit painstaking to look for things to do so teenagers won’t get bored during the trip. Let’s help and make things a bit easier for you. Here are the top 10 vacation spots for teenagers that you can check out and consider for your upcoming family vacation trip.

Vacation Tips For Parents When Traveling With Teens

Before we dive into our top 10 vacation spots for teenagers, here are some friendly tips for parents when traveling with teens.

  • Have fun. Look for a vacation location where you, including your teens, can enjoy. Check for activities that your teens would love, and parents can do it with them and enjoy them as well.
  • Family time. Vacation with family is the best time to bond and just spend time with each other. As much as possible, avoid bringing work while on vacation.
  • Learn something new. When looking for activities to do on your trip, search for something new to try out. This will surely excite your teens and will let them look forward to your family trips in the future.
  • Explore local food. Food is the way to everyone’s heart. Explore local restaurants and eat food that isn’t always available, or you seldom eat at home.
  • Give them some free time. You don’t need to have an itinerary for them every minute of the day. Give them some free time to explore and enjoy by themselves.
  • Involve them in the planning. One way to get them excited about your trip is to let them get involved in the planning. Ask them to search for the location or activities they want to do on the trip. You can also let them come up with the itinerary of activities that the family will do for a day. This will give them a sense of responsibility and control on the trip.

Beach Getaway – Sea Therapy For Teenagers

A beach getaway is certainly a good idea when planning a vacation for the entire family. It’s a perfect breather from work and school life. You and your family would surely enjoy the fresh air, the heat of the sun, and some fun water activities to do together.

>> Pack a couple of comfortable shorts for your getaway.

Special Items To Pack For A Beach Trip Teen Edition

Aside from the ones mentioned above, don’t forget to bring the following on your beach trip.

  • Swimsuit/Trunks (Bring numerous choices. Teens, especially teenage girls would love to mix in max swimwear for pictorial purposes.)
  • Sundresses for girls
  • Boardshorts and sando beach top for boys
  • Swimsuit wrap
  • Goggles and some floaties
  • Beach towel
  • Beach book
  • Aloe vera

Myrtle Beach

Myrtle-Beach

Myrtle beach is a nearshore city located in South Carolina and known for the Grand Strand or the 60-mile line of beaches. June to August is considered to be its peak season due to sunny weather. You don’t have to worry about where to stay as there are a number of resorts and hotels, from luxurious to budget-friendly, that you can choose from.

Highlights:

  • A lot of golf courses. It’s known to be “The Golf Capital of the World.”
  • Oceanfront boardwalk and promenade
  • Spring and summer festivals
  • A lot of water adventures to choose from
  • Go retail therapy on souvenir shops

What Not To Miss:

  • Don’t miss to ride Myrtle’s famous landmark, The Myrtle Beach SkyWheel. Teenagers would surely enjoy the picturesque and Instagram-worthy view of the Atlantic Ocean
  • Have fun watching the marine life up close in Ripley’s Aquarium, which offers five unique attractions to visitors
  • Let your teens enjoy some outdoor activities on Myrtle Beach State Park, or let them shop some souvenirs at Gay Dolphin Gift Cove
  • Try out some of the best seafood restaurants, such as Hook & Barrel and Sea Captain’s House
  • Go visit a golf course. If you don’t know how to play, maybe this is the best time for you and your family to try and learn the basics of golf

Oahu

Oahu

Oahu is known to be the 3rd largest island in Hawaii. It comes with excellent beaches and a great sunset view. It is where you can find the famous Waikiki beach. The island has a rich history as this is the location of Pearl Harbor or the World War II 1941 bombing attack. Although Oahu is the cheapest compared to other islands in Hawaii, it can still be a bit luxurious. You have various options on where to stay, whether you opt for beachfront hotels or rental villas.

Highlights:

  • Has 15 pristine beaches you can choose from
  • Pearl Harbor
  • USS Arizona Memorial
  • Various Hollywood movie locations

What Not To Miss:

  • Take the Pearl Harbor tour and have let your teens learn the history. They would be interested to know this rather than just reading it in books
  • Don’t miss to go on scuba diving and see the underwater beauty of Oahu
  • Teens are surely into movies. So don’t forget to visit the sites where Pearl Harbor, Jurassic Park, and Magnum PI were filmed
  • Try out some iconic restaurants serving local food, such as the Rainbow Dine-In & Take Out and get some souvenirs in Rainbow Tiki, which you can find adjacent to the restaurant

Miami Beach

Miami-Beach

Miami Beach is located on the Atlantic coast side of Florida. The nightlife it offers would surely attract the interest of your teens, especially if they like to party. Miami Beach is actually an expensive location. But if you plan well, you will surely be able to find some budget-friendly and family-friendly hotels.

Highlights:

  • Great nightlife
  • Various parks
  • Designer shops
  • Art Deco architecture

What Not To Miss:

  • Join the walking tours and see as much of the 800 art deco building in the Art Deco Historic District
  • Aside from exploring the underwater wildlife, visit the Miami Beach Botanical Garden
  • If your teens are musically inclined, you could check out some great shows and concerts held near your location
  • Join food tours and explore great restaurants around Miami Beach

Outdoor Adventures For Adventurous Teens

Teenagers nowadays are usually glued all day to their phone or PlayStation. One good way to let them go out and have other activities aside from gadgets is to take a vacation and plan outdoor adventures for the whole family to enjoy. Hiking or a ski trip in winter are just some great ideas you can try.

Angel Fire Resort

Angel-Fire-Resort

Angel Fire Resort is a mountain ski resort located in New Mexico. It is one of the top ski locations for a winter vacation. In summer, your family can enjoy summer outdoor activities such as biking, boating, fishing, and many more. You can visit their site to get good deals on their outdoor activities.

Highlights:

  • Private ski lessons
  • Night skiing
  • Beginner-friendly slopes
  • Summer activities available, so the location is not only limited to winter activities
  • Dining choices

What Not To Miss:

  • Don’t worry if you or your teenager don’t know how to ski. There are beginner’s classes held in the resort that you can join
  • Other than skiing, you can also try out Tubing and Sledding
  • Over the summer, the resort lets you do some wall climbing, Euro Bungy, and zip-lining. These are just some activities teens would enjoy
  • Craving for steak, seafood, burger? Name it, and you can have it in Angel Fire Resort. It has various restaurants you can choose from

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand-Canyon

It’s probably on everyone’s bucket list, especially those adventure junkies, to visit one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Grand Canyon in Arizona. It’s famous for its geographical history as it is known to be existing for about 6 million years and has an estimated 1000 caves in it.

Highlights:

  • Multiple outdoor activities 
  • Variety of wildlife
  • Restaurants that will fit your family’s budget

What Not To Miss:

  • If your family is up for a little adventure, visit Tuweep Overlook. You will be able to view the North Rim of the canyon and the Colorado River all by yourself and avoid the overcrowded tourists
  • Check out the Cave of the Domes on Horseshoe Mesa. It’s the only cave out of 1000 caves in the canyon that’s open for the public
  • Join the Rail Tours or the Helicopter Tours to get the most out of the canyon’s scenic spots
  • Restaurants from budget meals, mid-range to fine dining are available in the Grand Canyon National Park. You’ll just have to take your pick

Wisconsin Dells 

Wisconsin-Dells

The city of Wisconsin Dell is located in southern Wisconsin. It’s known for its numerous theme parks and entertainment centers that not only teens but also people of all ages can enjoy.

Highlights:

  • Water & Amusement Parks
  • Boat Tours & Water Sports 
  • Rick Wilcox Magic Theater
  • Zoos & Aquariums

What Not To Miss:

  • Spend a day at theme parks just like Noah’s Ark Water Park and Mt. Olympus Water and Theme Park
  • If you want to enjoy the outdoors, you can camp or hike on Mirror Lake State Park, which’s also famous for its nature trails
  • Dells Pizza Lab and Triple Play Sports Bar and Grill just some of the best-recommended restaurants for teens, and the rest of the family would surely enjoy

Unique Destinations: Camp And Experience The Great Outdoor For Teens

Do you want more? Let teenagers experience more of the great outdoor by being letting them get close to nature. Here are some unique destinations such as national parks and recreational sites that have campgrounds or campsites. Camping is something your teens would definitely enjoy. 

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park

The-Great-Smoky-Mountains-National-Park

The Great Smoky Mountains is located in Tennessee–North Carolina border in the southeastern United States. Going here lets you experience wildlife and Appalachian Mountain culture up close.

Highlights:

  • Diverse plants and animal life
  • Multiple hiking trails like Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail, Alum Cave Trail, Gatlinburg Trail
  • Multiple waterfalls just like the Laurel Falls, Abrams Falls, Spruce Flat Falls

What Not To Miss:

  • Go sightseeing on different scenic stops
  • Choose from different trails to hike. It’s best to choose the trails going to falls so you can enjoy swimming as well
  • Enjoy other extreme activities like rafting, an open-air jeep tour, and more
  • Explore campgrounds such as Elkmont Campground, Cades Cove Campground, or Balsam Mountain Campground
  • Camping out but didn’t bring any food to cook? Don’t worry, as the park has some food and beverage, groceries, and convenience items are available inside. You can also go out and check out some nearby restaurants

Yellowstone National Park

Yellowstone-National-Park

Yellowstone National Park is about 3,500-sq.-mile wilderness recreation area atop a volcanic hot spot. It is mostly located in Wyoming, but the park reaches into certain parts of Montana and Idaho too. Yellowstone highlights canyons, alpine rivers, rich forests, hot springs, and surging geysers, including the well-known Old Faithful. It’s home to hundreds of animal species, including black bears, Canada lynx, bison, Jackalope, antelope, and even venomous snake Prairie Rattlesnake.

Highlights:

  • Old Faithful Geyser
  • Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
  • Mammoth Hot Springs
  • Point Sublime Trail
  • Great Fountain Geyser

What Not To Miss:

  • Visit the iconic Old Faithful
  • Enjoy nature and wildlife by joining some tours
  • Check out campgrounds within Yellowstone, such as Madison Campground or the Norris Campground
  • For breakfast, lunch, or dinner, you can try various restaurants available within the park

Adventures on the Gorge

Adventures-on-the-Gorge

Adventures on the Gorge is a hidden gem located in Lansing, West Virginia. It’s packed with a lot of outdoor activities for all ages. They have campsite fields, and they also offer cabin & cottage rentals and cabin tent rentals in case you don’t have your own tent.

Highlights:

  • Water adventures
  • Land adventures
  • Aerial adventures

What Not To Miss:

  • Get adventure packages on Adventures on the Gorge site to fully experience the place has to offer
  • While here, you can also visit some nearby locations, just like the Endless Wall Trail, which is a mile away from the site, or the Canyon Rim Visitor Center

Yosemite National Park

Yosemite-National-Park

Yosemite National Park is located in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s known for its ancient sequoia trees and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridalveil Fall, and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome. In Yosemite Village are shops, restaurants, lodging, the Yosemite Museum, and the Ansel Adams Gallery, with prints of the photographer’s renowned black-and-white landscapes of the area.

Highlights:

  • Yosemite Falls
  • Glacier Point
  • Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias
  • El Capitan and Half Dome

What Not To Miss:

  • Join tours to explore the must-see features of Yosemite National Park. You can choose whether you want to join small group tours or private ones
  • If your teens are up for challenging adventures, go for a hike on Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias or Mist trail
  • Go on camping in campsites within the park
  • Yosemite has restaurants where you can dine in or dine out. Some of the top-rated restaurants are the Mountain Room Restaurant, The Ahwahnee Dining Room and Curry Village Dining Pizza Deck

To Wrap It Up

The key to a fun-filled vacation is that everyone gets to enjoy it. Try to balance the activities and location. Have a day with extreme or outdoor activities and have a day that’s low-key and relaxed. I hope these top 10 vacation spots for teenagers that we have provided will help get your teens to be excited and onboard on the whole family trip.

What’s Next? 

Check out more vacation spots for teenagers here!

Filed Under: Dream Destinations

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