Staycations for Teenagers

Your teen has high expectations for her social life, but every break from school does not call for an exotic vacation. When your teen's away from school, design staycations that can be just as memorable as a jaunt to a distant locale. Allow your teen to explore some undiscovered gems in your hometown. Or, design out-of-the-ordinary activities that will occupy your teen when she's off from school. Either way, a staycation can be as busy and enjoyable as your classic vacation.

  1. Classes or Camp

    • Give your teen some structure when school's out -- and allow him to challenge his creative or athletic prowess at the same time. Look for classes or camps offered by high schools, community centers or local colleges and universities. Whether your teen wants to go one-on-one with college hoops players at a basketball camp or develop his freehand drawing ability at an art camp, attending classes and camps can be a constructive and enjoyable way for your teen to spend time during his staycation.

    Day Trip

    • Just because your family is staying in town on vacation doesn't mean that you can't explore an unknown locale. Look for hidden treasures in your area, and plan a day trip to give your teen a little excursion during the staycation. Whether you're hiking through state parks, hitting up a local water park or simply hopping one town over to shop and dine, your teen will enjoy this quick getaway, and you'll embrace this quality time with your teenager.

    Beach Party

    • Don't let your teen get upset about not heading to the beach for vacation. Instead, let him throw a beach bash in your backyard for his pals. Set up some decidedly tropical decor -- Tiki torches lining the yard and beach balls and towels strewn across the yard for that shoreline feel. You could even fill up a few kiddie pools to allow your teen guests to dip their toes in the water. Play some tropical tunes, serve some yummy finger foods and let your teen enjoy his staycation with friends.

    Cultural Activities

    • Do something out of the ordinary in your hometown, and allow your teen to explore the cultural scene in your locale. Find out what events are taking place at your local museum -- you might even find something suited for teens. A community theater or acting troupe might be putting on a production that your teen will enjoy. Your teen might even choose to volunteer to work backstage at the production, getting a behind-the-scenes look into the world of acting and producing plays.

    College Day

    • Get your teen thinking about college by letting her spend a day at a local college. Walk around campus, visit the bookstore and buy a T-shirt and grab lunch where the students hang out. You can pique your teen's interest in college with this staycation trip, and she'll enjoy rubbing elbows with the local college kids.

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