Get your teen out of the house and off the technology for a summer vacation.
The teen years can be a time to bond with your child and build memories that will last a lifetime. For many busy parents, however, a summer vacation is about the only time available to do more than spend an evening with the kids. Whether you have a lot to spend or are operating on a shoestring, there are countless places to plan for this important trip both near and far.
Hong Kong and Macau
Hong Kong and Macau are ultra-modern with Asian charm.
Consider an Asian vacation for a time your teen will not soon forget. Hong Kong is known as an exotic and exciting vacation destination. The ever-popular Disneyland has the rides and entertainment you've come to expect with this organization but with a Hong Kong flair. Ride one of many thrill rides, eat lunch with your favorite Disney character and catch the fireworks show at night. Ocean Park is also a popular teen hangout. This theme park features dozens of rides and attractions including the Hair Raiser coaster, a cable car that takes you high above the park from one section to another and a unique opportunity to join a professional animal guide to touch exotic animals such as penguins, dolphins and seals. Once you have spent enough time in Hong Kong, hop on the one-hour fairy ride to Macau. While there, try a thrilling bungee jump from the world's highest jumping facility. Jumping from this 764-foot high tower will leave you with a T-shirt, a video and a thrill that will last a lifetime.
Bahamas
The Bahamas offer countless diving opportunities.
If you want to keep it a little closer to home, but still have an international experience, consider the Bahamas. Atlantis Resort is one such popular Bahama destination site. This resort complex features a 141-acre swimming area and a host of teen activities. It is also home to Ruins Lagoon, the largest outdoor marine habitat in the world, with more than 20,000 sea creatures. In the evening, can hit the 14,000 square-foot Crush dance club. This ultra-modern club is designed for teens with its large dance floors, its video game rooms with floor-to-ceiling screens and its full-service cafe. Elsewhere in the Bahamas, the adventurous teen can snorkel or SCUBA dive at Stuart Cove. This guided tour will allow your teen to see sunken shipwrecks and feed reef sharks in a safe, guided tour.
Wisconsin Dells
The Dells has a large number of indoor and outdoor water parks.
If you live in a hot region and seek a cooler destination for summer vacation, consider the tourist mecca of Wisconsin Dells. This community is known as the "water park capital of the world" due to the size and number of its watery playgrounds. For example, Noah's Ark is considered America's largest water park. This facility features nine sizable thrill rides including the Scorpion's Tail, a 10-story high, 400-feet long water slide that begins with a near vertical drop that plunges you downward at more than 50 feet per second. The Kalahari Resort includes sizable indoor and outdoor water parks as well as live entertainment from local legend Tommy Bartlett among others. The resort also boasts several activities of interest to the teen including laser tag, miniature golf, bowling, go-karts, a NASCAR simulator and an arcade. Wisconsin Dells also has a host of entertainment options in case your teen is not a fan of swimming. Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theater and the Dells 4D Special FX Theater, for example, are unique opportunities for the teen who likes the cinema, while Jeremy Allen's Grand Illusions and the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater have the fan of magic covered.
St. Louis
The Gateway Arch commemorates America's westward expansion.
St. Louis, and more specifically the Gateway Arch, is known as the Gateway to the West. The city features the iconic, 630-foot tall Gateway Arch, known as America's tallest national monument. This park starts with an interesting movie outlining how the structure was built followed by an odd elevator ride up the curved structure and some time of stunning views of St. Louis and beyond. While in town, take in some Cardinals baseball, Rams football or St. Louis Blues hockey if you have a sports-minded teen. The nearby Six Flags theme park includes dozens of rides and attractions including the Screamin' Eagle and Mr. Freeze: Reverse Blast. When you are done with the thrills and want to eat, navigate to "The Hill," a large Italian area of town featuring dozens of authentic restaurants and unique shops.
Tags: Hong Kong, your teen, Gateway Arch, more than, summer vacation
