Hershey hotel- do luxiourous spa treatments, eat great meals, super outlet shopping and other adult bonding time!

I agree with the above posters. Maybe even aim for June or July.

My daughter's college started super late (she didn't move in until after Labor Day) and even though all of her friends had left 1-3 weeks before, she still wanted to be home the week before leaving to mentally prepare herself, sleep in her own bed, take bubble baths (much to her chagrin they don't have those in dorms) and hit up her favorite pizza places, ice cream shops, etc. here in DC before leaving for 3.5 months.

Neither HHI or OBX are particularly eventful Especially at night. What about Virginia Beach? That's
More lively but still has the beach.

HHI doesn't have much of a nightlife. Its very family oriented. There is mini golf, shopping and walking around.

If you want to do things in the evening, I'd go for a city. What about NYC and catching some shows?

And agree with PPs. Don't make it a surprise. She's likely to have strong emotions herself on the eve of college, and a big surprise -- even if it is a welcome surprise -- might just be too much for her.

It's not gonna go well for you if you can't let her go and put her first. This is coming from a momma of a kid in college. This is just not about you.

+10000

A surprise? Non refundable reservations for a trip she may not even want? Nothing like setting yourself and your daughter up for a major meltdown!

Advice: plan a trip--earlier--and don't make it be a surprise. You may be the one who is surprised the most--and not positively.

It's not gonna go well for you if you can't let her go and put her first. This is coming from a momma of a kid in college. This is just not about you.

OP here. So if I moved the trip to earlier in August, can anyone give me some ideas? How is Hilton Head or the Outer Banks? We've never been to either.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter on board with this? I'm only asking because the week before I went to college I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with my high school best friends who were going to other places. Looking back, my mother was so patient and sweet about how I was much more concerned about spending time with them, and not her.

Maybe Ocean City for a few days? Stay in a nice hotel, hit the beach, do some biking, walk the boardwalk/beach at night.

It was going to be a surprise, and I had considered that she might want to spend time with her friends, but the weekend before she leaves her mother she wants to be with friends??
She and a group of her friends are going to OC right after graduation, so I wanted someplace different.

Hmm, this sounds like you are thinking of what works best for YOU, not for HER. I like the idea of maybe doing it earlier in the summer. I loved traveling with my mom in high school, but the last few days before heading to college are a bit of an emotional roller coaster.

I had a nice trip with my mom while she dropped me off at college. We both flew (it wasn't driving distance) then took a short (1-2 day detour) to see some sites nearby that interested us both.

I agree that the week right before college starts might not be the right time for a full-on vacation trip, though. Can you switch it to earlier in the summer so she's less distracted about leaving home?

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter on board with this? I'm only asking because the week before I went to college I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with my high school best friends who were going to other places. Looking back, my mother was so patient and sweet about how I was much more concerned about spending time with them, and not her.

Maybe Ocean City for a few days? Stay in a nice hotel, hit the beach, do some biking, walk the boardwalk/beach at night.

I agree. I think you'll have a better reception to the idea if you do it maybe three or four weeks before she departs for college.

The week before college we spent loooooads of time shopping to move her to college. Then we went to college town a few days early to check things out and but more stuff and perishables. Oh and a dorm rug and fridge. The week before that was a constant steam of friends coming and going -- lots of tearful goodbyes and big big hugs. Sniff sniff.

Anonymous wrote:Is your daughter on board with this? I'm only asking because the week before I went to college I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with my high school best friends who were going to other places. Looking back, my mother was so patient and sweet about how I was much more concerned about spending time with them, and not her.

Maybe Ocean City for a few days? Stay in a nice hotel, hit the beach, do some biking, walk the boardwalk/beach at night.

It was going to be a surprise, and I had considered that she might want to spend time with her friends, but the weekend before she leaves her mother she wants to be with friends??
She and a group of her friends are going to OC right after graduation, so I wanted someplace different.

If you want a cruise but no flying, look for cruises that leave out of Baltimore.

Is your daughter on board with this? I'm only asking because the week before I went to college I really wanted to spend as much time as possible with my high school best friends who were going to other places. Looking back, my mother was so patient and sweet about how I was much more concerned about spending time with them, and not her.

Maybe Ocean City for a few days? Stay in a nice hotel, hit the beach, do some biking, walk the boardwalk/beach at night.

I'm trying to plan a trip for my daughter & I the week before she leaves for college. I'm ok with driving, but not more than 6 hours. We like the beach and mini golf and all those other activities(tennis, biking, etc), but what I really want is a place where we can enjoy evening activities (she is only 17). A cruise seems to have everything I'm looking for (but not longer than 4 days), but would rather not fly if I can help it. Any ideas? Thanks.