Fun Places for Spring Breaks for Teens

Trying to choose a spring break destination the whole family will enjoy -- including your teenager -- doesn't have to be an impossible dream, but it will take a little more than a hotel pool with a water slide to keep him happy the entire week. The good news is even resorts located in a variety of places offer more for teens than they did a decade or two ago, according to a "New York Times" article: "Traveling with Teenagers." You should, however, still research any destination or resort carefully.

  1. Tropical Getaways

    • If you have your sights set somewhere warm, sandy and tropical, you have a wide range of options spanning from Florida to Central America. Even if your teen is an avid beachgoer, surfer or snorkeler, consider resorts or cities that offer more than just pretty beaches. Certain resorts in Costa Rica offer zip-lining and tree-climbing classes, although these are less likely to be located in urban areas. Places such as Barbados offer water sports, including para-sailing, jet skiing and surfing, but some teens might enjoy more mellow water activities. In Florida, Miami offers beaches along with many more teen-friendly activities than the more isolated Florida Keys.

    California

    • California has plenty else to offer the younger crowd. If your teen can't get enough of the water, consider Southern California where surfing beaches abound and theme parks, teen nightspots and shopping are within a day's drive. Huntington Beach, the official Surfer City USA is such a place. If your teen loves skiing and snow-tubing consider a resort at Lake Tahoe where the ski season lasts through April.

    Warm-Weather Cruise

    • Especially for younger teenagers, the security and confines of a cruise ship may help you feel comfortable giving him more freedom than, for example, a tourist-packed city in Central America. Plenty of cruise ships offer teen lounges and teen-based activities, ranging from rock-climbing to parasailing and jet-skiing. Still, it's worth researching the specific cruise line ahead of time, since they aren't all guaranteed to offer the same range of teen-specific opportunities. Check with your teen about the destination -- an Alaskan cruise is beautiful, but the experience might not engender the same enthusiasm as the Caribbean, especially during spring break.

    Exotic Destinations

    • Consider an exotic destination, or at least one that's a little farther afield than a two-hour plane ride. Places like Italy, Spain or Portugal are beautiful in the springtime and offer a range of activities from viewing priceless works of art and shopping in the cities to rafting, hiking and beaches outside the urban centers. A safari in Tanzania or South Africa can also be a life-changing experience for your teenager, but a drawback might be the significant flying time--upwards of 16 hours-- which can limit the time you actually spend at your destination, unless you want your teen to take time off from school.

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