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We have already visited Grand Canyon, Canadian Rockies, and Yellowstone. They had a great time doing activities, but the scenic beauty of the drives was wasted on them. I have a week on hold at Meadow Lake near Glacier National Park for August 2011, when they will be 11 1/2 (boys)and 18 (girl). Is there a lot to do in this area besides enjoy the scenic beauty? I am considering, as an alternative, Hilton Head Island and touring the Southern cities nearby.
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My kids used to love Hilton Head. Now they'd be bored stiff there. They would love a national park trip, as long as we could get out and hike a bit. But in the car, they either sleep or play games/watch movies... -
My kids hated scenic trips. They loved museums and amusements parks. We always tried to go places where one of these were nearby.Jacki
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When my son was a teen (12-17), we went on many National park trips. He was bored at times. example: By the third look out at the Grand Canyon, he refused to get out of the van, saying "You've seen one ditch, you've seen them all." I wanted to kill him!
Now that he is an adult (28-35), he sends me e photo's of beautiful scenery and asks me if I remember the great trip we took to so and so? I usually reply, "Who is this?"
Seriously, now he recalls with great detail those trips, and tells me he cannot wait to share that travel with his children! So, regardless, he got much more out of those trips than I thought... even more than he thought!Comment
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My son loved to travel untill we over did it and took a way his Summer. As long as you do not over travel 1 or 2 weeks a year should be good.Timeshareforums Shirts and Mugs on sale now! http://www.cafepress.com/ts4msComment
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There is a large water park fairly close to Meadow Lake. It is also fairly close to Flathead Lake where there is a guest ranch that has old sailing vessels you can take a ride on. We did that several years ago and it was fun. The gondola runs up to the top of Whitefish Mountain in the summer as well. If you're really into adventure there is white water rafting on the Flathead river.
LynnComment
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Not going
No one seemed enthusiastic, so I released it. Glitter, could you clarify why your teens would be bored at Hilton Head in the summer? I read there was a lot to do there. Would Myrtle Beach be more appealing to teens?Comment
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I stopped traveling with mine because of their attitudes. Everything bored them and they ruined trips for me. (this started at 9+ 11, their vacations ended in 2006 when they were 13 and 15.)
Out of everything offered, all they seem to want is to go to Hawaii and IMO it's an expensive trip for them to go to the beach. (don't get me wrong I love Hawaii, but want to explore and see scenery - something they have no interest in.) A day in Hawaii Volcanos NP clinched it for me as they were miserable. Also, they did love HHI, but only if they were biking or on the beach. They got 6 0f 7 days on the beach but were miserable on the 7th day when we tried to see something -- (Savannah) so, as I said, they no longer go, I go alone or with friends to places, as does my husband.
Good luck!Comment
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Oh good to know... My kids (16 & 19) are the same way. They don't even want to go to Hawaii any more. The only thing they still enjoy is a trip to Tahoe for skiing.Comment
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My boys, 17 and 19 definitely love the SCENERY in Mexico. Girls in bikinis,the ocean, etc. They would be a royal pain in a National Park at this point in their lives. We were determined that we would continue to travel together so decided we had to find someplace that we would all enjoy. I just do not want to give up traveling with them as of yet.
We did take them to Hilton Head a couple of years ago and their enthusiasm was not great. At this point our best vacations seem to be ski vacations and Mexico. We definitely cater to their interests....
SueComment
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I didn't even mention my oldest son in the OP, who is currently 19, as I know that traveling with us will be off the table in 1 1/2 years. Hopefully he will be employed, but if he isn't he would much rather housesit at home than come with us. he still travels with his dad if skiing is involved, and he did come to Mexico when he was permitted to take a scuba course. I could probably get his attention with a trip to NYC.Comment
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Spring and Summer Vacations
When our kids were in their teens, if we didn't spend our vacations at an oceanfront beach we might as well have left them at home. But having said that, our daughter grew up and became a very successful Aquatics director and swim coach with the YMCA system. So my wife and I llike to think that all that time in the water wasn't wasted.
JonComment
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We've just changed the way we "see" the scenery whilst DS is a teenager by incorporating action. Sitting in a bus or in the back of a car isn't appealing so hiking up mountains, snow boarding or cycling down them, white water rafting, sailing, scuba diving, snorkelling, quad biking, para-sailing, speed boating, riding elephants, camels, horses etc are still ways to see the scenery.Comment
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Wow, here I thought I was the only one who had a kid that got bored on scenic drives. When my stepson was around 12-13, we went to Yellowstone. I even rented a convertible for us to drive around in so we could soak up the scenery.
He didn't mind the hikes out and around the park, but on drives surrounded by the most stunning scenery, he had his face buried in a GameBoy.
Interestingly enough, my current two-year-old will just stare out the window on rides and exclaim, "Look! Mountain!"
Wonder how long that will last.
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When I was a kid, I spent summers in the back seat of the car with my parents visiting all sorts of beautfiul national parks. I read comic books. But when I became an adult I developed a passion for travel and scenery that has not abated.
When my kids were younger they spent their vacation time in the back seat of the car or on the hiking trails complaining about our vacations to national parks and other scvenic wonders. Now that they are all grown up my son is a professional outdoorsperson and my daughter's favourite nights are those spent in a tent.
My husband and I take credit for their current attitudes towards the great outdoors!Comment
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