My Journey’s My Own

Kids will continue to get older and their likes will change, prices will continue to go up. So what can we do to still have a great time with our teens during Spring break without going broke? Here are my tips for doing just that! Not to mention ideas of WHERE to go!

Of course you know your kid better than anyone, so make sure you get their input about what they want to do. If you’re in a place to book a week long vacation somewhere amazing, do it! They are only at home for a few more years, take advantage of every moment.

But if you’re not in a space to take a trip and need to stay local try the following:

1. Ask yourself, “what’s local? A place you don’t normally go?” “If someone were to come visit where would we take them?”

2. Check out the following websites to see if there’s something around you didn’t think about: Trip Advisor, Groupon (which can save you money too) and All Trails, for hikes or walking trails in your area.

3. Keep it simple, sometimes kids just want your time. Sometimes just getting a dessert you don’t normally get can make them happy, ice cream parlors or Fro-yo are great for this.

4. Have an outdoor/active kid?

• horseback rides
• trails for hikes
• mountain biking
• skateboarding or parks
• outdoor swimming pools
• golf
• beach trip
• zoo
• trampoline parks
• water park
• zip lining

5. Is your teen more the indoor type?

• YMCA
• miniature golf
• arcades
• laser tag
• escape rooms
• bowling
• pizza
• bookstores or library
• Shopping
• pedicures or manicures
• museums
• aquarium

6. All around crowd pleaser…..the zoo! No matter how old they get, everyone loves to see the animals. Here in Oregon we have The Oregon Zoo and Wildlife Safari and they are both wonderful.

7. In the Pacific Northwest we are also blessed to be an hour away from most things. The mountains, the beach, the Columbia River Gorge, the city…you name it. So here is how we spent our stay-cation spring break.

The bottom line is our kids are young for a short time. They want and need to spend time with us, especially during their teenage years. It’s important to do that while we are able. Spring break is a great time for family outings and adventures. Stay safe and enjoy making memories with your kids!