Staycation over spring break - ideas for tweens/teens?
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Anonymous
| We are ending up staying in town (northern VA) over spring break this year. I know most of my teen boys' friends will be out of town and if I don't plan some things, they will be on screens the entire 10 days. While I'm fine with them having some down time, I want to get out and do a few things as well. I feel like my list of "DC fun things" is feeling really baby-ish. Ideas for teen boys of things to do? Anything, including day trips up to a 2 hour drive welcome. No overnights because I don't want to deal with finding care for our dog. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Well first, what do they enjoy? I’m not going to suggest museums if they hate museums. Are they super active, into history, food? |
Anonymous
| Activate In sterling or level 99 in Tyson's. |
Anonymous
| Day trip to Kings Dominion? |
Anonymous
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Hike Old Rag or Billy Goat Trail.
Day trips to Baltimore, Harpers Ferry, or Annapolis. What kinds of things do they like? |
Anonymous
| Dave and Busters. |
Anonymous
|
How old are they and what do they like? My teens are old enough that I would let them be. They would not want to go hiking.
We were home a few years ago, when they were in middle school, and I tried taking them to the Baltimore aquarium. It was miserable for all of us. They didn’t want to be there. I suggested top golf but they didn’t want to go with just us. Yes, they loved it with friends. |
Anonymous
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sandy spring Maryland adventure park. Dinner at the olney ale house after.
Mini golf, driving range, day trip to Philly, speed karts, bowling, Hershey park if it’s open, day trip to ocean city, hand out on the beach walk the boardwalk some Restaurants will be open. I’ve done day trips to nyc. Hire a captain to take you all out fishing. |
Anonymous
| Day trip to sandy point if warm enough to at least walk around, then visit the naval academy and Annapolis town nearby. Old town Alexandria. Farm for fruit/vegetable picking and ice cream. Farmers market if they open. There may be some fair/festival around town. Camping in backyard (or nearby park, it feels like vacation). Volunteer. |
Anonymous
| If they are in HS, it’s a good time for college visits. Not the most exciting but pick a campus that’s a drive away, walk around, go get lunch and come home. It doesn’t have to be an official tour. |
Anonymous
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Hike at great falls
Go to mount vernon Hit at least one Smithsonian museum — the American portait gallery is actually surprisingly fun and easy to combine with a fun meal out at gallery place If you’re advetutpus, ride bike down bike trail to Georgetown and get lunch. Ride or metro back (it’s uphill) Agree Sandy spring adventure park if it’s open Take dog to patuxent research refuge or Seneca creek lake park for a walk around either lake Baltimore science center and get dinner in fells point Are they old enough to tour colleges? Maybe a day trip to one. |
Anonymous
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College visits!
Hiking Sandy Spring Try new restaurants |
Anonymous
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Life skills.
Ask them to choose a few recipes they would like to shop for to make family dinner. Cook together if they need help, but let them lead. Also let them select a dinner out. They book the table. The entire family has great night out screen free. Yup, parents too. Wash their own clothes and change their bedding on the two Sundays that fall in the 10 day window. Book a personal trainer on M, W, and F to help them get some strength training going. Let them go solo, just drop off. Make sure you meet the trainer in advance to know that it is someone who is fun and a great influence on a young kid. This is money well spent. Driver’s ed? This is an awesome window to set them up for the next few years. And let them know you don’t mind them actually enjoying a little holiday from school, and screen time isn’t a big deal. As long as the take care of a few responsibilities first. They have aged out of entertainment as a time passer. |
Anonymous
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Adding: terrific window to do some one on one SAT/ACT prep.
All of these things can feel like a lot to schedule in the school year. Why not treat time off as an opportunity to tick a few boxes stress free? |
Anonymous
I’d hate you so much for this |