Traveling with your teenagers

Anyone who has ever traveled with a teenager knows a teen can make or break your family vacation. Teenagers can be very enthusiastic travelers, but only if their interests are being met. More often than not, their idea of fun and yours or your younger ones are usually not aligned. While you might be happiest striking out at the crack of dawn to explore an archaeological site, your teen would likely rather sleep until 11 am, load up on a huge breakfast and then mosey out around noon. Even then, he or she might be more interested in hitting the boardwalk than peering at ancient ruins.

It really helps to have a clear picture of everyone’s goals before the vacation, and a set of rules! Sitting down with the kids and creating options, and a little negotiating, really helps in planning the logistics. There are really good choices in keeping your kids in a more confined environment without having to worry about them running off somewhere, here are a few of our suggestions.

White-Water Rafting

Family rafting trips are the perfect way to bring your family closer together in a fun, exciting, and safe atmosphere! Most rafting companies carry minimum age/weight requirements however; they can create an itinerary for almost anyone. This action-packed adventure is guaranteed to please everyone and create long-lasting memories!

Family Cruises

Nothing compares to the ease and value of a family cruise vacation. One price covers your meals, exciting shipboard activities, and entertainment. On board a cruise ship, there are amenities and activities for every family member. And most of these exciting shipboard activities are included in the all-inclusive rate, along with your meals and ship entertainment. Best of all, you will visit several destinations without having to pack and unpack.

Dude Ranch

Horseback riding, the Great Outdoors, home-cooked meals, cookout under the stars, and maybe a massage and spa treatment... Dude Ranch vacations these days range from rustic working ranches to resort-style luxuries. Many have kids' programs and pricing typically includes meals and some activities.

All Inclusive Resorts

For families who want a tropical vacation, an All-Inclusive resort can be a great option. Destinations like the Caribbean and Mexico offer a myriad of activities, plus kids’ and teen programs that are sure to keep the kids happy and you relaxed.

City zoos…your kids will remember

Zoos today are going beyond the classic petting zoo. Many zoos offer special programs for children, families, and adults to have hands-on encounters with a variety of animals. Kids will connect with and learn about animals, natural resources, habitats, and feeding practices in a way that can also teach them about conservation efforts. Travel 100 Group has listed a few that you should consider for this summer's family travel.

Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Area
A world class zoo in a park setting; there is a lot going on for kids at this interactive zoo! The Brookfield Zoo has the Hamil Family Play Zoo, where children and adults can interact and play with over 300 animals. Their zoo classes are also a great way for kids, families, teachers, and other community conservationists to get in tune with wildlife and nature. Brookfield has one of the largest indoor outdoor animal exhibits in the world allowing kids to feel as though they are really in the jungle with the animals.

The Bronx Zoo, New York
The Bronx Zoo is the flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country. With award-winning, cutting-edge exhibits featuring over 4,000 animals, there is no other zoo in the world that offers the diversity, superb viewing, and world-renowned expertise that assures an unforgettable experience. Whether you're nose-to-nose with Western lowland gorillas in their famous Congo Gorilla Forest, spotting snow leopards in their naturalistic Himalayan Highlands Habitat, or experiencing almost an acre of an indoor Asian rain forest, your kids will be within roaring distance of the world's most amazing wildlife.

Columbus Zoo, Ohio
Where the infamous Jack Hanna got his start, the Columbus Zoo is home to over 5,000 animals representing over 700 species and sees over 1.8 million visitors annually. The animal exhibits are divided into regions of the world, with the zoo currently operating eight such regions. A real plus for dads is the zoo owns an 18-hole golf course, known as Safari Golf Club, can’t beat that!

Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia
America's first zoo is home to more than 2,000 animals representing six continents. It's small and well landscaped enough to feel pleasantly intimate, and the naturalistic habitats allow you to get close enough to hear the animals breathe. If birds are the main attraction for you and your kids then this Zoo in particular will be an unforgettable experience. The new McNeil Avian Center hundreds of birds will be flying overhead as you walk through the habitat, it is a true interactive experience.

Quick Family Getaways

Instead of taking long, expensive family trips, a growing number of our clients are interested in short-term getaways with their family. Our clients have enjoyed booking some of these fun locations:

Sun Valley, Idaho
Offering nothing but mountain air and sunshine, this Rocky Mountain getaway prides itself on being a quiet and quaint town sprinkled with charming shops and mom and pop style restaurants. There are great options for adventure with more than 30 miles of paved trails for hiking, bike riding or horse adventures. While you are in the area, consider visiting the Shoshone Indian Ice Caves, Craters of the Moon National Monument, and the Sawtooth Botanical Gardens.

Bangor, Maine
Maine has always be known as a great spot for family travel. Bangor is an outdoorsy town that offers hiking, camping, boating and of course, awesome fishing! One of the wonderful highlights of this little town is its 680 acre working forest which offers 9 miles of exploring, not to mention incredible wildlife. The 4,200 foot long “floating” boardwalk is a very cool outdoor activity and the Beth Pancoe Municipal Aquatic Center is great in the summer. The 7,000 square foot pool features two water slides, a zero-entry area, and several water sprays.

Black Hills, South Dakota
Considered a part of the old west, there is so much to see and do within a 50 mile radius of the Black Hills. Mount Rushmore is always a wonderful education and experience for kids, as is the Crazy Horse Memorial, a mountain under construction in the form of the legendary Oglala Lakota warrior. Wind Cave National Park and Jewel Cave National Monument also offer amazing geological wonders. An oasis of pine-clad mountains on the Great Plains, bison and antelope graze within the Black Hills, which kids always get a kick out of.

Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is an ocean-going city, surrounded on three sides by water. The city is laid back and fun to visit with kids, especially in summer when it’s daylight until 9:00pm. Kids seem to love the adventure of the Ferry to Victoria and it is a great way to start your trip. There is so much for families to enjoy, including; whale watching, exploring the Beacon Hill Park or the Butchart Gardens, or simply strolling around the Inner Harbor. If you have extra time Travel 100 Group can always plan time in nearby Vancouver or Seattle, which are both amazing kid’s cities too!

Unique Family Vacations

Summer with the family means creating memories, trying new things, and seeing new places. This summer, try taking it “out of the box” with one of these fun family vacation ideas:

Overnight Camp
Great Camp Sagamore, Raquette Lake, New York
Campers stay at the former summer retreat of the Vanderbilts. Days are devoted to games of capture the flag and croquet, arts and crafts, and outings to Sagamore Lake.
Camp Seafarer Arapahoe, North Carolina
Motorboating, rope courses, mother/daughter sailing, and father/son golf tournaments (at neighboring Camp Seagull).
Strathcona Park Lodge, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Alpine and ocean adventures: Canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking.

Farm Vacations
Liberty Hill Farm, Rochester, Vermont
Beth and Bob Kennett run a farm straight out of a storybook: there's a big white farmhouse, an old red barn with a hayloft, and 100 Holsteins, all in the Green Mountains of Vermont. You'll find Beth in the kitchen, rolling out dough for a pie. Bob's busy with other chores that go into maintaining a 200-acre dairy operation. Guests sleep in seven sunny bedrooms right in the farmhouse and can participate in any of the farm jobs.

Home Sweet Houseboat
The Everglades, Utah
We call this quality family time: Just you, a slow-going boat—and a national park all to yourself.
Lake Powell, Utah
1,960 miles of shoreline, sandy beaches, red-rock canyons, and proximity to the Grand Canyon, this is heaven for house-boaters especially if you seek out your own secluded cove. Far-flung clans gather here in the summer for floating reunions, no boating experience necessary.

Sleep in a Tree House
Tropical Tree House, Rincon, Puerto Rico
On Puerto Rico's western coast—one of the world's best surf spots—the sprawling Tropical Treehouse holds up to eight (in three double beds, two single beds). Its design is a tribute to the versatility of bamboo: the grass is put to use as walls, beds, and floor lamps. The beach is a five-minute drive, if you can tear yourself from one of the hammocks with amazing views of the sea.
Out 'n' About Treesort, Cave Junction, Oregon
A collection of tree houses in the woods of Takilma, in southern Oregon, the resort has room for 50 guests in its sky cabins. Fun activities include: juggling, batik, and mosaic making.

Explore the Wilderness
The Resort at Paws Up, Greenough, Montana
An exhilarating contradiction of Rocky Mountain wilderness and American downtown luxury, the Resort at Paws Up features seven miles of the Blackfoot River and offers nonstop wilderness adventure and action.
Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Vancouver Island, British Columbia Your whole family will enjoy staying in unique white canvas safari tents with private washrooms, Internet access and air conditioning. Enjoy nature when you kayak in the tidal Bedwell River, horseback ride through pristine forest and try your luck at ocean or fresh water fishing.

Israel Travel

A trip to Israel is so much more then a vacation, it’s an amazing opportunity to experience the history of the Holy Land, in a modern country filled with great restaurants, stunning beaches, fabulous spa resorts, trendy shops, golf, diving and even skiing.

We had 16 family members ranging from 10 years old to 82, an astonishing experience in itself, and Israel had something to offer each one of us. The planning of our trip took months and so much detail was involved. Working with a travel consultant who specialized in the area helped make the planning easier and made our overall experience a memorable one.

We travelled the entire trip with an amazing tour guide, Ashar, who was a wealth of information. Our trip began in the North where we visited the ancient Roman village of Caesarea. From there, we spent the next few days’ jeep touring through the Golan Heights, chocolate making on kibbutz, and visiting the wonderful small village of Safed. Safed, one of the four holy cities in Israel hosting elite artists’ galleries within a maze of cobblestone streets that lead to medieval synagogues and old stone houses.

Jerusalem is divided into the Old City and the New City. The Old City is where the Bible and history actually come to life. Inside the wall you can hear the echo of thousands of years of history as you make your way past the markets and stalls of the area known as the Shuk. Shopping is abundant there and I suggest one wear comfortable shoes!

We had 2 Bar-Mitzvahs on Masada, a rock fortress built high above the Dead Sea. It was indescribable to share a moment like this in such a historical place.

A couple of other trip highlights were the shooting range and the air force base. At the shooting range, we had the opportunity to shoot Uzi's and AK 47’s and even though several of us were reticent, it was fun and memorable.

Since we were traveling during the Gaza War, our visit to the air force base could not have been more interesting! We spent the afternoon watching the fighter jets take off and land, meeting the pilots and learning about life in the Israeli Army.

One last thing I would highly recommend is experiencing an archeological dig. Our guide Ashar was an archeologist and he led us to historical caves which we crawled through by candlelight to reach our digging spot. It was amazing to find perfume bottles and pottery from 2,000 years ago. It is such a magical experience to really touch history, Israel makes it all come alive! GO!
- Tammy Zacks