Summer Vacation Destination for The Teenager

Teenagers are often hard to please. If you are the parent of one, you are likely to understand this better than anyone else. Vacationing with your teenager can be an experience, one which you may not always wish to remember. To prevent boredom and an unhappy child, you are encouraged to select a summer vacation destination that has your teenager in mind.

When selecting a summer vacation destination that has a focus on teens, you are encouraged to keep your child’s likes and dislikes in mind. Just because one teenager enjoys playing video arcade games, does not mean that yours will. Not only is it important to find a vacation spot that is geared towards teenagers, it is also important to make sure that your teenagers will enjoy or make use of the available activities and facilities.

Amusement parks and theme parks are popular vacation destinations that target teenagers. In addition to traditional amusement parks that can be completed all in one day, there a number of amusement park resorts. These resorts may include Disneyland, Disney World, and Orlando Studios. In addition to these resorts, you may find smaller parks that offer onsite camping or hotel accommodations, such as Six Flags.

In addition to amusement parks, teenagers may find thrills while white water rafting. White water rafting tours are available all around the United States. Popular white water rafting locations include West Virginia, Colorado, Utah, and Idaho. If you are interested in scheduling a white water rafting vacation, you are encouraged to keep your children’s level of, or lack of, rafting experience in mind. For inexperienced white water rafters, a guided tour is recommended.

One vacation destination, for teenagers, that often goes unnoticed is aboard a cruise ship. Cruise ships operate all around the world. Many of the most popular cruises take place in the Caribbean and in Europe. Many cruise lines operate multiple cruise ships. Many of these ships are geared towards families. Your teenager may find many onboard activities, such as swimming, dancing, playing video games, watching movies, and rock climbing, exciting.

There are a number of well-known cities, all around the world. These cities are often famous for one reason or another. If you and your family are interested in taking a vacation with your teenager you may want to consider visiting one of these cities. New York City, Hollywood, Toronto, Ontario, and New Orleans often attract large numbers of tourists. Many of these locations often have a number of events and attractions that may appeal to your teenager.

As previously mentioned, it is important to consider what your teenager likes and dislikes doing. In addition to determining their vacation preferences, you may want to consider allowing them to help you choose your next summer vacation destination. Allowing your teen to help plan your summer vacation will not only ensure that you will pick a destination that meets their approval, but you will be able to spend time together. Finding a summer vacation destination together will be time well spent.

No matter how you choose your next summer vacation destination or where that destination ends up being, you and your family should have a memorable experience. By researching a vacation spot before you book your reservations, you can make sure that your memorable experience is memorable in a good way.

Like this article? Summer Vacation Destinations for Ideal Teens

Add The New Braunfels Texas Wurstfest to Your Fall Travel

GEMÜTLICHKEIT (warm friendliness, good cheer)

“Willkommen zum WURSTFEST! Prosit, und hab' Spasz!” is the slogan for this really appealing annual event. It means “Welcome. Cheers! To your health, and have fun!”

Combining a unique German community in South Texas, great food, fabulous bands imported from Germany for the occasion, amusement rides, affordable entry, a well-run event and often beautiful weather, the New Braunfels, Texas, “Wurstfest” has all the ingredients of a great family outing. (Plenty of local accommodations available, as this is an area where “gemütlichkeit” is plentiful and tourists are welcome.)

New Braunfels is located just a few miles north of San Antonio, Tx., which offers a full array of activities to include in your schedule – Fiesta Texas, Sea World, the Alamo, the RiverWalk, and wonderful Mexican food and markets, should you wish to make this a multicultural adventure.

Having just returned from a lovely evening at Wurstfest, I’m compelled to tell you how much fun it is. We began on a perfect fall evening unable to resist the smell of the sizzling pork chops and huge German sausages served on a stick, complimented by a great selection of beers, potato soup, German dinners, Reuben sandwiches, corn on the cob – and more -- and ended our evening with pfankuchen, funnel cake and coffee.

We rode the beautiful Ferris wheel and then settled under Das Grosse Zelt, the big tent, at the end of the Marktplatz to be charmed by the 10-piece brass band from Germany whose rousing tunes got everyone up and dancing – just as many kids as adults, and partners not at all required. They were only topped by the band that followed.

This Wurstfest, the celebration of German sausage, began in New Braunfels in 1961, just a one-day affair which nonetheless drew a crowd of 2,000 due to press coverage throughout the nation and in Germany.

Since then, it has grown to a ten-day affair with well-maintained permanent facilities drawing over 100,000 and raising many dollars for local charities. Your good time will also be a good deed!

You can learn more about Wurstfest at their official website: http://www.wurstfest.com/index.html , and from the Wurstfest Association, Post Office Box 310309, New Braunfels, Texas 78131-0309, 830/625-9167, or toll free 1-800-221-4369.

Admission is a mere $8.00 per person (children under 12 free), with special rates for early purchase, groups, and day discounts.

ADD ANHALT

If Wurstfest dates should ever coincide with the 3rd Sunday in October (and even if they don’t), make it a homerun by including public dancing at Anhalt Hall, just down the road apiece, about 28 miles west of New Braunfels.

Anhalt was settled by German pioneers around 1857 and this may be the oldest dance hall in Texas, with a newly renovated 6000 square foot hardwood dance floor usually featuring a German band (you MUST do the German Grand March) and then a C&W band (local talent).

It’s open air and you can sit in the grandstands and watch or pay to get on the dance floor. Kids welcome and great food and beer. It is run by the Germania Farmers Verein, originally established to protect the settlers and their livestock from Indians. It’s out in the country and an experience you don’t want to miss.

How far out in the country? Well, according to the website, in the 1970s “the population along Anhalt Road between Farm Road 475 and the hall was estimated at ten.” Population figures for 2000 were not available.

Admission and ample parking are free; there’s a minimal charge ($7?) if you want to get on the dance floor (which you will)!

To read more about Anhalt, go to the Texas Honky Tonk Dance Hall website: http://www.honkytonktx.com/dancehalls/

They also feature public dancing during Mayfest (3rd Sunday in May), and Summerfest (last Saturday in July).


About the Author

©Susan Dunn, MA, Personal Life & EQ Coach, http://www.susandunn.cc . Offering coaching, Internet courses and ebooks for your personal and professional development. Mailto:sdunn@susandunn.cc for free EQ ezine. I train and certify EQ coaches. Email for info on this fast, affordable, comprehensive, no-residency program.

Written by: Susan Dunn, MA, Personal Life & EQ Coach