Help me plan a solo trip with 13-year-old boy

[Anonymous]

If he doesn't want a huge trip I think San Diego is a great destination with a teen, you could do a surfing lesson, go to the San Diego Zoo, catch a baseball game. There's great food and weather.

[Anonymous]

Don't ask him "where" he wants to go, that can be overwhelming for a kid. It's a big world, and they have no idea what most of it is like! Instead, try asking him "what" he'd like to do - pick a couple of activities, then you can come up with a few options for destinations to do that thing.

One of my kids would say "learn to surf", so we'd look at Hawaii. Other kid might say "sailing", so we'd look at the Caribbean. Or "skiing", so we'd look someplace completely different. Narrowing your kid's interests will focus the trip planning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't ask him "where" he wants to go, that can be overwhelming for a kid. It's a big world, and they have no idea what most of it is like! Instead, try asking him "what" he'd like to do - pick a couple of activities, then you can come up with a few options for destinations to do that thing.

One of my kids would say "learn to surf", so we'd look at Hawaii. Other kid might say "sailing", so we'd look at the Caribbean. Or "skiing", so we'd look someplace completely different. Narrowing your kid's interests will focus the trip planning.

This. Focus on activities, not in sights. For many kids, the idea of sightseeing is boring (even though they then end up enjoying it). 13 is also a tricky age, where many things with parents can seem boring but then they end up enjoying it.

What are his activities at home? He doesn’t enjoy amusement parks, but would he enjoy the beach? Whitewater rafting? Hiking? Zip lining? Interactive museums? Sports events?

[Anonymous]

Hawaii

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I told my kids that when they turn 13, they each get a trip anywhere in the world with just DH and me. We have four kids so nobody gets a ton of one-on-one time and I thought this would be a nice memory maker and opportunity to bond in new ways. Our two oldest chose great trips abroad. My 12-year-old doesn't seem to have a lot of interest or know where he wants to go. I'm not a huge travel planner myself. Any great ideas for how to get him thinking and planning? Should I set him an appointment with a travel agent? Any fabulous ideas you have that I could share with him? He doesn't like amusement parks. He's never been to Europe so that could be fun, but only if we can think of young teen-friendly activities. Thanks for any great ideas.

Odd that you would send your own child to a travel agent.

Can’t you brainstorm together? Have fun reviewing websites? Go to a library, where there will by multiple books about great travel experiences?

What does he like (sports, history , nature, art)?

It is sad, TBH, that you bring no creativity or imagination to this fun task.

(It makes me wonder how you planned rainy day activities or family vacations) 🤔

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd take him to Barnes and Noble before taking him to a travel agent.

This!

Is he into music? Science? Animals?

How well do you know him? Have you asked the other parent? I am baffled by your need to outsource this assignment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:River rafting. We like middle fork of the salmon byt could also do the Grand Canyon.

Grand Canton trip by OARS is also excellent.

[Anonymous]

Does he even want to go? How about instead spending more 1-1 time with each kid and waiting till he wants it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he can’t decide, would 14 or 15 be better?

This. Maybe he needs to mature not knowing himself and his preferences better?

[Anonymous]

Cayman Islands - google and show him stingray city and starfish point. Very cool experiences if he likes the water and snorkeling. Stay at Kimpton or Ritz.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn’t skip this if you e done it for the other kids. Some kids are more unassuming and he might never step up and say “I want to do X” but then you’ll miss out on this with him and it will always sort of lurk in his head.

Some ideas—
If he’s into soccer, go to England or span and see a game.
If he’s into baseball, go someplace you can go to a couple of parks and see games.
If he’s into Harry Potter, consider London and Scotland.
If he’s into animals, consider Alaska, sea of Cortez, Yellowstone, Everglades. Or think about getting scuba certified together and go to Cozumel or Belize or roatan.
If he’s into Percy Jackson, consider Sicily or Greece or Rome.
If he’s into ghost stories and spooky stuff, consider New Orleans or York (the most haunted city in Europe), or maybe the catacombs.
If he’s into marvel or Star Wars, consider disneyworld.
If he’s into anime, consider Japan or Korea.

The magic of the internet is that there are tours for basically every interest—I would build off what he’s interested in and maybe give him 2-3 options in which you give him some idea of what the trip might be like. That’s what I do with my kids. You can use a travel agent to help you with that, but Google might actually be better at tailoring to a niche interest or age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cayman Islands - google and show him stingray city and starfish point. Very cool experiences if he likes the water and snorkeling. Stay at Kimpton or Ritz.

I agree, but would not recommend the Rirz. The worst Ritz I’ve ever been to with regard to service and crowds. Might as well go to the Westin two hotels down for the same level of service and half the price! I’m not bagging on the Westin, it’s actually a fun place to stay for teens.

[Anonymous]

How can we possibly give you suggestions when all you said was he doesn’t know where he wants to go and he doesn’t like amusement parks? You need to give us more details about his interest like others have suggested. What does he do on the regular? What does he like to do when you take family trips?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I told my kids that when they turn 13, they each get a trip anywhere in the world with just DH and me. We have four kids so nobody gets a ton of one-on-one time and I thought this would be a nice memory maker and opportunity to bond in new ways. Our two oldest chose great trips abroad. My 12-year-old doesn't seem to have a lot of interest or know where he wants to go. I'm not a huge travel planner myself. Any great ideas for how to get him thinking and planning? Should I set him an appointment with a travel agent? Any fabulous ideas you have that I could share with him? He doesn't like amusement parks. He's never been to Europe so that could be fun, but only if we can think of young teen-friendly activities. Thanks for any great ideas.

Odd that you would send your own child to a travel agent.

Can’t you brainstorm together? Have fun reviewing websites? Go to a library, where there will by multiple books about great travel experiences?

What does he like (sports, history , nature, art)?

It is sad, TBH, that you bring no creativity or imagination to this fun task.

(It makes me wonder how you planned rainy day activities or family vacations) 🤔

Its not odd. They don't spend a lot of time with each kid and don't know their likes/wants so its easier to have someone else do it. Maybe the nanny would be better off planning the trip.

[Anonymous]

Costa Rica was a huge hit for my kids at this age, so was Puerto Rico. London as well.