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Family Vacations With Teens And Parents: Yea or Nay?

What Is Your Vote For Fun Family Vacation Ideas?

The summer is flying by! Between work schedules, summer camps and social lives, I feel our paths rarely cross. And before we know it, we will be (don’t say it!!!) back to school.

I would love to fit in an affordable, fun family vacation. Yes, just the five of us —two parents, a college student, a soon to be college student and a high school freshman. How do you feel about giving up some of your free time and going on family vacation? Before I plan, what would be your ideal get-away— touring a new city, finding a beach somewhere and crashing, an amusement park, camping?


Are you kidding? Time alone with the kids where they have no friends around and actually have no choice but to interact with us??!! Sounds great!.

Let the kids pick. Just let me know when and where. I’ll go wherever they want (assuming we don’t have to take out another mortgage to cover it).

Where Should We Go?

The only thing is we may want to disable their electronic devices first. I suspect we won’t have as many great discussions when they have ear buds in, or are watching a movie on their laptop. We may need to limit their texting also. Again, it’s hard to make that memorable moment when their thumbs are flying and they’re looking down at their phone. We might have to remind them that there’s actually scenery out there to look at.

But all in all – can’t wait!!


I love going on family vacation!!! I have found that since I have been in college family vacations have gotten more fun and easier since at the end of the school year I feel so relieved to be done. But finding time to go will definitely be a problem. With me living in Columbus working and having an internship it will be hard for me to find time I can be gone or I will have to call off work. But if we can figure it out I am would love to get away for a week or so.

When it comes to the destination, anywhere besides Columbus would be fine by me. Beach is definitely my favorite choice because its both fun and relaxing. Then I would chose a new city. I loved visiting cities like Boston, Chicago, and of course New York City.

Getting Away Together

When it comes to camping or amusement parks, I think they are fun. But family camping would be a better weekend trip, and I would not consider it’a relaxing vacation. And amusement parks are one day trips that are meant to be included in a week long vacation or a short trip with your friends for a day or two.

This summer I am really feeling a trip to Virigina beach. We can have fun on the beach, go to Water Country USA and Busch Gardens, the aquarium, and even Williamsburg if we are feeling a day of historical goodness.


I’m totally cool with a family vacation, but I do have some suggestions.

First of all, I think we should go someplace where there is a beach to just lay down and crash for a few days. With all our busy schedules, we don’t need to go to a city or an amusement park where it just involves more planning and crowds and more bustling around. At the beach, we can just relax for a while.

Secondly, let’s not make this too long of a vacation. Even though we are looking for an escape from our busy lives, I don’t think we can just skip everything we have planned. I would say a week at the most. We don’t want to miss too much of what we have going on. So if we all take in these suggestions and consider them when it comes to planning this family vacation, I’m all in.


I’m dying to go to an amusement park! Cedar Point is the best. You can’t beat old-fashioned roller-coaster amusement. With all of us old enough to go on the rides, walk all day, and not be too scared, I think we can have fun together. Personally, a nice adrenaline rush would be a great break from the dull, weekly work schedule. Plus we’d be right by the lake, which, if we want to stay at a hotel overnight, could be part of the vacation.

Mindy Gallagher is the Social Media Manager for Your Teen Magazine. She is the assistant coach for the girls’ lacrosse team for Solon High School in Ohio.

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