10 spring break ideas to wow hard-to-please teens

Teenagers can be very moody and hard to please. When my kids were teenagers, vacations with their parents were boring (incl myself) is not on their list of favorite activities.

What should parents do? In the name of family togetherness, I tempted them with cool out-of-the-box holiday activities, even though they weren’t. Here are 10 teen-approved spring break ideas that are sure to impress even the toughest teen.

Unusual hotel room

When I was a kid, motel rooms with color televisions and beds that vibrated when you put a coin in were my idea of ​​luxury. My descendants are road more demanding.

They love the hyper themed rooms at The Curtis in Denver. Staying here is a treat for teenage travelers who embrace a bold aesthetic; each of the 13 floors features a pop culture-inspired theme with interactive elements, curated art and live games.

The hotel’s hyper-themed suites take it even further, with unique rooms such as those outfitted in sparkles. Party like a Rockstar.

Immersive animal experience

When I asked my young adult children what their most memorable teenage vacation was, they both agreed it was swimming with manta rays in Kona, Hawaii. We stayed at OUTRIGGER Kona Beach Resort & Spa and booked the Night Manta Experience at the resort. Donning wetsuits and snorkeling gear, we boarded the boat with the rest of the crew and crew, jumped in, and floated through the dark Pacific waters. Attracted by the artificial light, dozens of gentle manta rays sweep merrily past us. Truly one for the bucket list.

Stay: You don’t need to stay at OUTRIGGER Kona Resort & Spa to enjoy the Manta Night Experience, but why not? It rolls out the red carpet for teens with pools, water slides and activities that lean into Hawaiian culture like ukulele lessons and lei-making workshops.

Live music for the win

Are there any teenagers who don’t like music? As my children grew up, our tastes diverged, but music remained a bond that crossed our generational divide.

Many live music festivals are family friendly. One of our best spring breaks was to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival aka Jazz Fest. We listened to a variety of eclectic music together while enjoying the distinct spirit that defines New Orleans.

Stay: Eliza Jane is an interesting example of transforming an industrial structure into a trendy hotel.

Spring training hit a grand slam

My daughter and I are big baseball fans. Although we haven’t been able to see our own team’s preseason in Port St. Lucie, Florida, we went to Scottsdale one memorable March. This picturesque Arizona town in the Sonoran Desert is where the San Francisco Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies train at two venues just seven miles apart.

Ticket prices were much cheaper than regular season and the intimate atmosphere allowed us to see the action up close.

Stay: The Phoenician pool complex has self-managed views of Camelback Mountain.

Behind the scenes

A good aquarium combines entertainment with awareness of marine management. Located on the Connecticut coast, Mystic Aquarium does both beautifully.

Entry tickets give you access to educational exhibits and adorable animals, from Beluga Whales to penguins. If you’re traveling with a teenager, take it to the next level and book one of the aquarium’s animal encounters.

I experienced Sea Lions Up Close for 30 minutes with a trainer who is an expert in conservation. Kisses from California sea lions are the best.

Stay: Freshly baked pastries are served every afternoon at the charming Whaler’s Inn.

Florida, but swap Disney for Amelia Island

I know I’m a foreigner, but we’ve never been a Disney family. Our best vacation in Florida was to Amelia Island on the state’s Northeast Coast. Feels secluded yet is only a 35 minute drive from Jacksonville airport. Do you want memories to be made from it? Play mini golf and snack on saltwater taffy purchased at a local sweet shop on laid-back Fernandina Beach.

Stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island delivers beachfront luxury that’s casual enough for teens with sand between their toes. When my kids were little, they loved pirate-themed bedtime snacks. As teenagers, they kayaked and took surfing lessons on the property’s beautiful beach.

Tiptoe past flower

Home to Legoland California, Carlsbad is a Southern California coastal town that looks like it was dreamed up by the Beach Boys.

It shines every spring, when the Flower Fields at Carlsbad Farms come alive. Beginning in March and lasting 10 weeks, 55 acres of blooming ranunculus—about 80 million flowers—explode with color. My kids are fans of the Wicked film series and they think the fields are similar to the iconic tulip fields in the films.

Stay: Beach Terrace is the only hotel in Carlsbad that sits directly on the sand.

Wow them at Eagle Beach in Aruba

I know, going to the beach for spring break isn’t exactly original. However, choose the right beach and your teenager will probably treat you like you’ve got Taylor Swift tickets.

With white sand, emerald waters, and land and sea sports, Aruba’s Eagle Beach was my teenage dream. All beaches in Aruba are public, increasing opportunities for cross-cultural connections; my kids often take part in beach volleyball games with local teenagers, all of whom speak English in addition to Dutch and Papiamento, an Aruban dialect.

Stay: Embassy Suites Aruba is a 10-minute walk from Eagle Beach. As a bonus, it’s across the street from a small, semi-secret beach. Teens can splash in the pool, enjoy a free breakfast buffet and sip free mocktails at the evening reception.

Get cool in Helsinki

Finland is consistently ranked the happiest country in the world. Locals claim that combining a cold soak with a hot sauna is the root of well-being. When we visited Helsinki one particularly cold winter, we immersed ourselves in Finnish bathing culture. Going to the spa is a family affair, so expect to meet lots of young people.

My family enjoyed a daring swim in the outdoor pool before warming up in the sauna at Allas Pool, a beachside bathing center in the heart of the city.

Stay: Back at our beautiful hotel, NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa, we continued the effects of hot and cold therapy with the addition of an ice bath and sauna at their oasis-like spa, USVA by Terhen.

Follow the Donut Trail in Butler County, Ohio

Butler County claims to have more donut shops per capita than anywhere else in the Midwest. Food is my family’s love language; I wish I had known about the Butler County Donut Trail when my kids were teenagers.

Download a donut map and passport or contact a donut concierge—I kid you not—who can customize your itinerary. Once you have your passport stamped at a dozen participating donut shops, you’ll get an official t-shirt.

Stay: The Well House Hamilton, Tapestry Collection by Hilton offers comfortable rooms in Hamilton within walking distance.

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